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!