day six hundred and ninety-one

during a recent search for ways to complete my volunteer hours, i discovered a great organization called seattle works. its purpose is to foster community involvement by creating volunteer opportunities for people looking for a way to help. i signed up for one of their "hot projects" last weekend working for the seattle women's trek triathlon. i helped registrants prepare for the race taking place the next day, which was easy enough, and i was in and out in three hours. but i didn't feel like i was really helping the community -- i was helping women who paid money to test their athletic prowess. i have nothing against that -- meeting women of every age and size who had signed up inspired me to consider doing a triathlon in the future -- but these weren't people in need.

so i've also signed up for a teamworks group, which means i've committed to volunteer one saturday per month, with the same group of fifteen people, for four months. our introduction party is tomorrow, and from what i can tell so far there seems to be a heavy focus on building team morale and relationships through drinking. i am supportive and excited!

__________

on a related note, a couple years ago my mom gave me a beer-themed puzzle for christmas, knowing it was on my list to complete one. it's not that i've never done a puzzle -- quite the opposite. when i was a kid i remember the dining room table was almost always home to an in-progress puzzle, and whenever anyone had a free moment they'd sit and work on it.

i really miss that, so that's what this goal was about. i have no room in my studio to work on something like this, so a few friends sat down with some mimosas over brunch last weekend and put it all together at maddox's house. it now rests gloriously on her kitchen table, and i have not yet figured out a way to transport it...

easy peasy

__________

and finally, for said brunch i made salsa with tomatoes i grew myself! (see previous gardening posts to learn more). this recipe is AMAZING, and i've already made a second batch because it was so loved. i highly recommend it.

basically, all's you gotta do is combine these ingredients in a bowl and let it sit for a few hours before eating it.

• two plum tomatoes, chopped
• one ripe avocado - peeled, pitted and chopped
• one-fourth cup finely chopped red onion
• one clove garlic, minced
• one tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
• one tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• one tablespoon olive oil
• one tablespoon red or white wine vinegar
• four ounces crumbled feta cheese

boom!

__________