it's my birthday

Today is my 33rd birthday, and it has been full of epiphanies large and small. Really it’s all thanks to the hammock.

I always thought I’d like a hammock, but I was nervous of looking silly getting in to or out of it, imagine if I fell!  Even on vacations I was so worried that the other vacationers might see me hammocking wrong, and they would remember it for the rest of their lives. Everyone thinks the world revolves around them, but this is extreme. A couple weekends ago we were outside brewing and it was just a perfect sunny day and I was finally ready to take the plunge, I ordered it. After an agonizing week of tracking updates it arrived. I set it up myself (mostly) and then came the moment of truth. I have never felt so relaxed in my entire life. There is no better feeling than being cradled in a cotton cocoon, the warm sun on your skin after enduring  a gray Midwest winter, the birds chirping, and a gentle breeze slowly rocking you.  I have started preliminary plans for Hammock Island and it will be magical.

To think of all the years I missed being a hammock person, what else am I missing out on?! I’m going to do the things I’ve been scared to do, next up is riding the beach cruiser I bought two years ago!

As a birthday treat I made Smitten Kitchen’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart and oh my god it is so fucking good.  The shortbread crust is buttery and perfect and I have to stop myself from cutting slivers all day long.

These pictures don’t even do it justice. It is so rich and I don’t want to know anything about the calories! Ok, I have to get one more slice!