Can you get good peaches? Last night, following an idea I picked up from Lindsay Cameron Wilson's Food Stories, I cut fresh peaches, skin and all, onto a plate. Shrouded them in olive oil and a crumble of feta cheese, then added a zesty spice blend (she recommends gochugaru, but I used what I had).
I'm impressed by the frequency with which my own themes are mirrored in another essay, and vice versa. Recently, for me, it was this same beautiful message handed to me by a pair of lizards. There is always so much to enjoy, if I allow it.
Summer low lights: silence when the power goes off; puffy white, pink tinged clouds at sunset; visits from new friends; visits from far away, dear old friends; celebrating your son’s 40th birthday, with 40 of his old and new friends; coffee on the beach before anyone else arrives. 🌸
PS - there are bee 🐝 hives all around MW this summer, including under our shed. Did you know there is such a thing as ‘bee poop?’
Those pumpkins! I haven't seen any yet, but I know they're coming. Part of the problem is that the stores have a seasonal aisle, and after Labor Day the next holiday is Halloween. They skip right over my birthday at the end of September!
Sitting on the deck watching the sun set behind the Olympics. Someone has to do it. Sorry.
We are rehabbing my grandparent’s property in southern Oregon (US) and summer evenings are great for spotting deer and wild turkey families strolling around the yard. We have a small six point buck, his antlers still thickly covered with velvet, multiple does with fawns both new and yearling. The big groups of male and female turkeys from earlier in the year have been replaced by one or two hens at a time, each closely followed by two or three small puffy chicks. It’s a joy to see them relaxing at the close of each day.
Slow, ambling walks with the dog once the heat of the day has passed; baking as many crumbles as possible with whatever stone fruit is in season from our local green grocer; grilled corn on the cob lathered in butter with salt and pepper on a weeknight backyard BBQ with my partner.
My drip system is broken and I can’t afford to fix it. So another job to squeeze in is watering everything by hand several nights per week, which takes about an hour each time.
Now after 3 hours of insanity trying to get 3 kids fed, bathed and into bed each night, I put on headphones, choose a nostalgic Brit pop or grunge album from my younger days and hose everything down as the sun sets.
Humming birds appear to try and drink from the hose as I’m spraying. Honestly I’ve never been that into birds much, but hummingbirds amaze me. They flap so fast you can’t see their wings, but hover so still and close you can maintain eye to eye contact longer than I could with any of my neighbors.
About a Siamese Dream later, the album and job are finished. The smell of scorched soil gives way to damp earth and wet leaves. It’s like you can hear the plants gasping.
Currently my small summer moment is... allowing myself 10-15 minutes after baby bedtime to plop on the couch and watch some Olympics before rushing to do dishes/bottles 😂
Two of our local cafes have begun to serve affogato. (Vanilla gelato, quality one, with an espresso poured over). A walk with the dog to one of these, ambling past suburban gardens and admiring blooms and butterflies, followed by a reviving affogato, is my summer moment this year.
Last summer we started a phrase "five popsicle days" with my two small kids. We buy sugar-free popsicles and let them have as many as they want all day long. They feel like they're so lucky to eat treats all day, it usually means they're outside somewhere enjoying them, and it just feels like peak, ow frills, summer happiness :)
Last fall I bought a few gorgeous blue green Cinderella looking pumpkins at the market. At the end of the season I threw them in the flower bed next to my front door. Now I have a giant tangle of huge green leaves and bright yellow blossoms going wild in front of my house. Every time I leave my house or come home I look into the giant tangle and find beautiful little pumpkins growing. I’m not exactly sure what it is about watching the pumpkins grow but I find it very satisfying. I am completely obsessed!
Can you get good peaches? Last night, following an idea I picked up from Lindsay Cameron Wilson's Food Stories, I cut fresh peaches, skin and all, onto a plate. Shrouded them in olive oil and a crumble of feta cheese, then added a zesty spice blend (she recommends gochugaru, but I used what I had).
I'm impressed by the frequency with which my own themes are mirrored in another essay, and vice versa. Recently, for me, it was this same beautiful message handed to me by a pair of lizards. There is always so much to enjoy, if I allow it.
Summer low lights: silence when the power goes off; puffy white, pink tinged clouds at sunset; visits from new friends; visits from far away, dear old friends; celebrating your son’s 40th birthday, with 40 of his old and new friends; coffee on the beach before anyone else arrives. 🌸
PS - there are bee 🐝 hives all around MW this summer, including under our shed. Did you know there is such a thing as ‘bee poop?’
Love "summer lowlights" !!
Those pumpkins! I haven't seen any yet, but I know they're coming. Part of the problem is that the stores have a seasonal aisle, and after Labor Day the next holiday is Halloween. They skip right over my birthday at the end of September!
Sitting on the deck watching the sun set behind the Olympics. Someone has to do it. Sorry.
I have been enjoying a more leisurely breakfast in the mornings and spending a bit of time in the garden in the sun 😊
It’s winter on this side of the world, but I’m enjoying watching my steam breath in a quiet pleasant park I meditate in before work 😊
We are rehabbing my grandparent’s property in southern Oregon (US) and summer evenings are great for spotting deer and wild turkey families strolling around the yard. We have a small six point buck, his antlers still thickly covered with velvet, multiple does with fawns both new and yearling. The big groups of male and female turkeys from earlier in the year have been replaced by one or two hens at a time, each closely followed by two or three small puffy chicks. It’s a joy to see them relaxing at the close of each day.
Making no-knead bread, especially olive.
Slow, ambling walks with the dog once the heat of the day has passed; baking as many crumbles as possible with whatever stone fruit is in season from our local green grocer; grilled corn on the cob lathered in butter with salt and pepper on a weeknight backyard BBQ with my partner.
I really need to eat corn on the cob asap
My drip system is broken and I can’t afford to fix it. So another job to squeeze in is watering everything by hand several nights per week, which takes about an hour each time.
Now after 3 hours of insanity trying to get 3 kids fed, bathed and into bed each night, I put on headphones, choose a nostalgic Brit pop or grunge album from my younger days and hose everything down as the sun sets.
Humming birds appear to try and drink from the hose as I’m spraying. Honestly I’ve never been that into birds much, but hummingbirds amaze me. They flap so fast you can’t see their wings, but hover so still and close you can maintain eye to eye contact longer than I could with any of my neighbors.
About a Siamese Dream later, the album and job are finished. The smell of scorched soil gives way to damp earth and wet leaves. It’s like you can hear the plants gasping.
Beautiful!
Currently my small summer moment is... allowing myself 10-15 minutes after baby bedtime to plop on the couch and watch some Olympics before rushing to do dishes/bottles 😂
Just sitting on the ground with my back against an oak tree, listening to what’s going on around me. What a great reminder to simply “BEEEEE!”
This summer I especially enjoy covered apple pie (after my great-grandmother's recipe) and long walks.
Two of our local cafes have begun to serve affogato. (Vanilla gelato, quality one, with an espresso poured over). A walk with the dog to one of these, ambling past suburban gardens and admiring blooms and butterflies, followed by a reviving affogato, is my summer moment this year.
Such a good one! Def need to find an affogato this weekend
Love is not a one-time achievement; it needs to be continuously created to remain youthful.
——Becoming Beauvoir A Life (written by Kate Kirkpatrick)
Last summer we started a phrase "five popsicle days" with my two small kids. We buy sugar-free popsicles and let them have as many as they want all day long. They feel like they're so lucky to eat treats all day, it usually means they're outside somewhere enjoying them, and it just feels like peak, ow frills, summer happiness :)
Yes, the thrill of giving my son a popsicle (or as he exclaims "ICE LOLLY") is a summer highlight for me as well!
Last fall I bought a few gorgeous blue green Cinderella looking pumpkins at the market. At the end of the season I threw them in the flower bed next to my front door. Now I have a giant tangle of huge green leaves and bright yellow blossoms going wild in front of my house. Every time I leave my house or come home I look into the giant tangle and find beautiful little pumpkins growing. I’m not exactly sure what it is about watching the pumpkins grow but I find it very satisfying. I am completely obsessed!
LOVE this. A good reminder of when pumpkins are _actually_ in season!