The Charlottesville Welcome Wagon was waiting for us! Pumpkin (aka “Punky” nicknamed Karen Monson) wanted us to know her vacation was just as relaxing as ours 
The garden, however, was hard at work!! We have a house sitter who minds the fort while we’re out of town, and she must have watered the plants well (either that or it rained the whole week!)
It’s HUGE! Almost zucchini time!
Matt is so proud.
For a snack on our [long] trip, I had a greek yogurt and a handful of almonds. Neither Matt nor I was that hungry when we got home to our 82* house. I unpacked while he prepared a simple dinner with a fridge containing next to nothing:
Garden lettuce (!!), bell pepper, local bacon we pulled from the freezer, garbanzos from the pantry. Matt sauteed the toppings all together and served them over the greens.
Home is SO sweet home tonight. I forgot how much I love our house! We are all unpacked and the laundry is almost done (just one load since we did one before we left the beach yesterday!) Can’t wait for my cozy bed! [Just hope it’s not too hot!] Summer is here.
I can’t get too cozy at home though because I leave in a week for BlogHer Food in Seattle!
Jeri says
That salad looks so good! It makes me feel so bad that I had a piece of cake and some ice cream today. but I get paid tomorrow and June 1 starts a new day and new food. I think I will have that salad Saturday evening since the kids have to work. No need to cook a big meal right?
S/N: Made a vegan chocolate mousse. Yummy! You inspired me to talk to mini-me about eating healthier. So we agreed that once a week there will be either a no-meat meal or a vegan meal. She loves salads as much as I do. I also told my MOVE group with the VA Medical Center about you. She told me to keep doing whatever it is you are doing to motivate me to MOVE. Next motivation inspired action? Buying a bike from Walmart to bike to do errands and pay bills.
Heather says
fun! down here in MS we have been picking and eating our zucchini and okra. Tomatoes are not quite ready yet. We love going out to check the garden every day!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
That bacon looks so delicious! Glad you made it home safely!
Molly @ RDexposed says
82*?? We were at 45* for the day. I came home to turn the AC off!
I’m also jealous of garden greens!
branny says
Can’t wait to see you at BHF, I’m getting so pumped! (and frantically still working on details of my presentation!)
jen says
that salad looks awesome. i’m always so impressed with y’all’s ability to just throw meals together last minute. if i open our fridge door without a specific plan i just end up standing there starting at it until i give up and eat cereal.
donna says
There’s no place like HOME!
Alisha @ Pink Spatulas says
Sometimes the simple dinners are the best, especially when it’s so hot outside! Nothing beats light summer cooking.
Also, your lettuce looks so fresh and crisp. I wish we could have a garden, but our dogs would tear it up in a heartbeat.
kristen @ verbs and vignettes says
i so hate leaving vacation, but my own bed afterward is usually worth coming back for. and getting laundry out of the way immediately sounds like a great idea, but i can never bring myself to do it, and everything always ends up staying packed for a week on accident. :p welcome back!
Kelly says
Welcome home!
“It’s HUGE! Almost zucchini time!” That’s what she said!!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Welcome home! …Glad you’re back safe and sound! AND that garden <3 …looking amazing!
Angel7 says
Matt should be proud of his garden, because it looks great!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Sana says
So fun coming home after being away!
Catalina @ Cake with Love says
I am very glad that you made it safely home! The cat is hilarious, the garden is beautiful and that local bacon on your salad sounds amazing!!
Annette @FitnessPerks says
I love a big green salad. Looks awesome! Welcome home 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Wow your garden looks amazing! It must be so nice to just walk out to your garden and come back with fresh produce.
Khushboo says
There’s nothing like the first night back and sleeping in your own bed!
Angela @ Health, Happiness and Harmony says
Summer certainly is here! I can’t believe we only have 12 days of school left!
Fresh zucchini from the graden is so good! I love sauteeing it with fresh basil and garlic over some whole wheat spaghetti. 🙂
Shannon says
I am a newish reader of your blog and I just want you to know that I think you style/content is fantastic! I find your love of health, local/organic foods, and sarcasm so refreshing and inspiring. Your future child will be lucky to have such a great mom!
KathEats says
Welcome!
Stephanie says
Crossing my fingers for some beautiful Seattle weather during your trip!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
adorable kitty pics! glad you made it home…whew, long day for you two!
Angela says
Hate to break it to you, but it’s not exactly summer here in Seattle. Looks like next week is more of the same. At least its fairly warm =)
Chelsea says
Food blogger is in Seattle this year?!?! That’s where I am. Such a wonderful foodie city.
Roxanne says
You’re going to have so much good eating with your garden! I grew up on a farm and we had a huge garden with all sorts of veggies, even corn! The best part was the weeding…. just kidding! The best part was going into the garden, grasping the leaves of a carrot, gently pulling it out of the ground, watching the orange emerge… and brushing off the dirt with my hand… eating it right there on the spot! So sweet those carrots were compared to store-bought ones!
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles says
Welcome home! =) Glad to see you made it back safe & sound!
Karen says
Terrific job on that garden, Matt…I will be envious of your bounty all summer long as I haul myself to my local farmer’s market each Saturday – a massive spread of produce and only a mere half mile hike away from my house – but dinner plucked from my backyard would be even better! Plus, you reap the satisfaction of having grown the crops with your own green thumb. In the summertime, I long for a yard and a big old fashioned porch – property that I would loathe to maintain during our cold, snowy winters.
Ah, home sweet home…enjoy, Kath and Kanz!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Your garden is looking fantastic! My plants are still just babies, but I hope my garden will look like that soon! 😀
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
The garden looks GREAT!!
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Your garden looks amazing! I am looking forward to our garden blossoming just like that! Can’t wait for the tomatoes fresh from the garden!
Alyssa (pb and oatmeal) says
I love the feeling of coming home after I’ve been away for a while 🙂
Kavi @ Lab to Fab! says
Your garden looks amazing!! It always amazes me how much better home-grown veggies taste in comparison to those from a grocery store.
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Welcome home! 🙂 Your garden looks great! What a fresh dinner 🙂
Cait's Plate says
That salad looks so incredibly fresh and delicious. It must feel so good to eat home-grown greens!
Glad you made it home safely!
Ashley @ Hudson on the Potomac says
Glad you made it home safe! The garden looks great!! I’m so jealous, I wish I could have a garden in my apartment! 🙁 Someday I’ll have one!
PS– That bacon looks to die for!
Gina says
If you end up with some free time in Seattle, check out Healeo. They make fresh juice, tea/coffee drinks, smoothies in a bowl with topping of your choice and other delicious goodies!
KathEats says
Thanks!