This Friday marks the day, five years ago, when I wore a long flowing white dress, hands clammy carrying a bouquet of the most vibrant pink orchids I have ever seen, walking down a narrow sandy walkway that opened up into a beautiful view of the Olympic Peninsula, and said 'I do'. Five years ago I stood in the most breathtaking place I've ever known (Victoria, BC), with my love, my best friend, and my partner, and committed my life to him wholeheartedly. I've never had one ounce of doubt, from the very first day we met, until this day today. I loved him the first day I met him, and knew that instant that I wanted to share my life with him. His smile is intoxicating. His personality, charm, sense of humor, and compassion towards others inspires me to continually be a better person. I love him to pieces.

This Friday we are going back to that special place where he proposed. The place where we started our lives together. Victoria will always have a special spot in my heart. It is the place that I started my first adult career. I met so many wonderful friends there. I fell in love with the West Coast, its cold icy Pacific waters, lush green forest, and towering mountainous landscape. I traded mosquitoes, birch trees, and hot summers, for slugs, moss, and a cool temperate climate. Since buying a house here in Seattle, the West Coast feels much more like my home now than a temporary residence. I can see that we are slowly starting to put down roots here, and while exciting and comforting, mildly terrifying in the same sense. Now if only I could convince my family to move out here.

As we (quickly) approach this Friday, I've been trying to get the house in some sort of state that's conducive to relaxation and happy thoughts. As soon as we take two steps forward, something unravels that causes us to take three steps back. We leave this Friday for a week, and as soon as we return we are (finally) throwing a house warming party. It is motivating me to get things put away, and finally make a decision on patio chairs (why am I so indecisive?). I want to hang those tiny globe lights in the back yard, purchase a patio rug (why are the old ones, the most expensive ones?), and get a charcoal (or gas) grill. I've been waiting on my indigo blue velvet couch for 2 1/2 months, and have been putting off most of the decorating until it arrives. Last weekend I finally painted the front room, and arranged some furniture. I'm not sure about the

color

, but I'm never really sure about paint colors.

With all of my time spent being indecisive, I've been thriving on really low maintenance light dinners full of fresh produce. I made the mistake of turning the stove to 500ºF on Sunday to cook some pizza, and probably won't be doing that for the rest of the summer. The idea of pairing sweet slightly acidic fruit in salads with fresh vegetables and a creamy cheese or nuts is something I can get behind. This salad was a result of emptying the fridge and putting all of my favorite 'summer foods' into one place. It's a lighter meal, one to be paired with a nice slice of bread and a glass of wine. At least I can be decisive when it comes to my food.

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SWEET CORN,  PEACHES AND CHERRY SALAD WITH CREAMY GOAT CHEESE

makes 2 large salads

1 cob corn (1 cup kernels)

1 small peach, sliced

1 cup cherries, de-pitted

1 small shallot, sliced

6 cups of your favorite greens (lettuce, arugula, spinach etc.)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lime

salt and pepper to taste

2 oz soft goat cheese

Boil or grill 1 cob of corn. Once cooked, remove the kernels with a knife.

Slice the peach, cut the cherries in half and remove the pit, and slice the shallot.

In a large bowl, toss the greens, corn, peaches, cherries, and shallots with 2 tbsp of olive oil and the juice from one lime. Season with salt and pepper.

Plate the salad and then add the goat cheese at the end.