The last Sunday in July?

It was a hot and humid week here with feels like temps at 115 every single day, but after this Tuesday the humidity is supposed to be low and the temps only hitting 80 for a bit.  I've been keeping everything watered and the heat hasn't hurt a thing so that is good.  My back rosebush is still looking good.  I have noticed the days are getting a bit shorter.  It isn't as light when I go to work at 5:30 now. 

Monday TBG had an outpatient surgery to remove a cyst.  Everything went well and we were back home in less than two and a half hours.  I'm thankful for the hospital staff that took care of him and made everything seamless. We also had our will done this week.  Not exactly a fun thing to do but necessary and it is finally checked off my list.  

This next week I have a much-needed three-day weekend. Saturday we're going to meet my brother and his girlfriend for lunch at a new place in Effingham and then Sunday is a first Birthday party for a special girl. 

I already started my fall sweep in the house.  Two or three times a year I like to go through EVERYTHING and re organize and spruce things up.  I already have a huge bag of miscellaneous items to take to the thrift shop.  I also got the freezer re organized and all cleaned up.  Everything in it now is from 2025 since I'm using the last of the blueberries from last year today to make a cake.  Try this recipe if you haven't.  It's delicious.  Culinary Adventures with Lori: 52 New Recipes in 52 Weeks #2 Sour Cream and Blueberry Coffee Cake

I follow this blog Olla-Podrida: The St. Louis Gerber Sandwich – A Cheesy, Toasty Discovery and this recipe screamed out to me because I love Provel cheese.  Well, what did I find when I went to the store Thursday?  This is the first time I've ever seen it here. We usually have to go to a store almost an hour from here to get a block.  This is ropes but it was really tasty.  We had it on stuffed peppers this week (and it was delicious) and this week we'll try the Gerber.  She has a lot of great recipes so be sure to check out her blog.

Between our garden and the farmers market I've been getting a lot put away for winter by either dehydrating or freezing.  It's been a banner year for almost everything.

I mentioned before we have a lot of baby bunnies in our yard this year.  We've had so much fun watching them running and jumping around.  Believe it or not they have shown no interest in the garden or even in the pots on the patio.  I'm sure that will change soon but they are so stinking cute.

Dinners this week...

BIG salads x3

Chicken sausage with pesto pasta and salad and Texas toast.  I sliced the homemade bread a little thicker and it was so good with garlic butter toasted on it.

Stuffed poblano peppers with beef and onions over rice, homemade salsa and a cheese rollup with cilantro and Provel cheese. My salsa recipe. Culinary Adventures with Lori: Salsa and some good news

I hope everyone is doing well and staying cool.  If it's winter where you are, I hope you're warm and cozy. I'm off to tackle a few things in the house and then it's mani, pedi, facial day.  Enjoy your Sunday!!

Corn Sweat is Real

 

Happy Saturday!!

Everything in my world has been going pretty well.  Busy, but well.  I keep reminding myself that Fall and Winter will be here before I know it and I'll be able to slow way down and enjoy the cozy season.  We've been working on projects around the house.  We decided instead of sharing an office like we've been doing, to each set up our own so soon I will have my very own personal space.  The bedroom we've been using is a good size and worked well but I think we each deserve our own room to personalize a bit. I haven't had an entire room to myself since I was 18 and I think TBG is pretty excited to have his own room too.  

Last weekend, I bought a new laptop for personal use and I'm still trying to get used to it.  I think I'm going to really like it. It's smaller which is what I wanted, but the smaller keypad will take a bit to master. 

We celebrated TBG's birthday this week.  He chose to have lunch at La Fuente which was delicious, followed by going to see Superman.  We all thought the movie was really good with a heartwarming message on humanity and then we ended the day with cake and ice cream which all birthdays should have.

It's summer so it's been hot and humid.  We've had a few afternoon storms that have rolled through.  I watched this one come in as I was at the office Thursday.

It dropped a ton of rain but ended right as I was getting ready to leave. When I got out to the Jeep, this is what I saw. 

How gorgeous is this?

Meals this week...

Lamb burgers with Havarti, red onions and garlic aioli and zucchini fries

Steak for me, Cajun spiced shrimp for TBG with baked potatoes and a salad

Chicken sausage with peppers and onions and pesto pasta with a salad

BIG salad

Poblano peppers stuffed with ground lamb, onions and cheese with rice and a cilantro cheese roll up.  SO GOOD!!

We started watching Family Recipe Showdown on Food Network and enjoyed the first two episodes.  I can't help it but every time I see Octavia Spencer I think of her making her chocolate pie in The Help.  IYKYK.

Well, I'm off to get a few things done and then hopefully sit outside for a bit.  I haven't finished The Finnish Way yet and it is calling my name.

I hope everyone is well and enjoys the weekend!!

The long days of Summer

Summer is in full swing here and we've had some really nice weather.  We've spent a lot of time outside talking about our day over an ice cream cone or having lunch/dinner out on the patio table. There have been some really hot and humid days but that's expected, and we just roll with it. 

I've started dehydrating and canning things for the winter. Strawberry season and blueberry season are over here, and we really enjoyed them.  I was able to put about 3 or 4 pints of each in the freezer for later.  This is one batch of garlic dill pickle spears that I water bathed.  Today I made pesto for the freezer. It really livens up a dish in the winter.

We've been eating our share of summertime meals.  

BBQ chicken thighs, potato salad and a small side salad.

BIG salads

Spach cocked chicken on the grill

Chicken, red onion and poblano pepper skewers with beans and rice with a delicious avocado crema.

BLT's with zucchini 'fries'

Pepperoni, green pepper, onion and mushroom pizza with a ton of fresh basil cooked on top.  SO good.

This is before and after cooking.  The basil really shrinks up, doesn't it?

I started watching Son of a Critch on Netflix. It has three seasons right now and I'm about halfway through and really enjoying it.  It is set in Newfoundland during the 80's and follows the Critch family, particularly the youngest son.  If you want a fun, feel good series, this is it.   

I'm about halfway through the book The Finnish Way by Katja Pantzar.  "Discover the simple, nature-inspired ways that Finns stay happy, healthy and strong, no matter what life has in store."  

This post ended up being pretty photo heavy, but I have to share these two pictures of Binx.  The first one is of him sitting on his perch watching rabbits running around the yard. The second one cracked me up.  I hadn't seen him for a while, and I asked TBG if he was in his tunnel.  Just when I looked at the back of it, his eyes popped open so I could see him.

Happy July!