Around Here, Lately

I painted a growth chart to put in the antique booth.

If I had grand kids, I'd keep it, especially when it matches

my living room so well!

My blackberry bush was the inspiration.

You know how much I love clouds!  And I've

named this summer the summer of the clouds because

they have been spectacular here in Ohio!  

This is how I begin each day...coffee in bed with

a furry friend.

It's been so hot lately, the last cup of coffee for the day

usually turns into a chilled variety!

We had another picnic at Buck Creek State Park.

The seagulls are everywhere!

We recently got an electric smoker.  Our first attempt

was a brisket.  These sandwiches were to die for!

Yum, yum!

Looking back where I've been.

♥

Today I Made Pickles

Yummy Bread and Butter Pickles!

Hopefully this jar will last us a while! haha.

If you want the recipe, type it in the search box top left.

I got the big pickle jar at a garage sale last week....perfect timing!

♥

Peach Preserves

Looks like sunshine in a jar, doesn't it?

I used the recipe that came in the Certo box for cooked fruit.

I bought 50 pounds of peaches, so I've been busy the last two weeks

canning, freezing, grilling and making ice cream

out of peaches!  Yum.

♥

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

One of summer's simple pleasures!

Especially if you usually only drink coffee and water!

Yum.

♥

Blackberries

From my garden this this past weekend.

♥

Little Firefly

The first of the season!

Boy did this bring back memories!

We used to catch fireflies and put them in jars

at my grandparents house when I was a little girl.

Such fun memories!

Don't worry...this one was catch-and-release. haha.

♥

June = Cherries

♥

♥

Looks like Garden Girl has jumped right

into the Halloween decorating, doesn't it?

I'm going to have to have a talk with her.

It is still officially summer for one more week!

Look at her smile...I bet that web tickles!

♥

Random Thoughts

1. Patience is paying off and finally the blackberries are beginning to ripen!  Not enough for a pie but maybe some muffins!
2. You know that Angie's List commercial with the dog that shreds the feather pillow all over the living room?  I had a similar experience one evening this week.  I walked into the boys' room to find it plastered with shreds of batting!  The Spencer was flopped on their bed watching a DVD acting like everything was totally normal with tufts of batting in his hair.... One young man calmly laying in a room of chaos.  I asked what happened but of course he didn't answer.  He had a spare comforter spread out on the bed and I found their usual one turned completely inside out on the floor...minus the batting! Then Spencer started giggling.  I said, "Did you do this?  Yuck!" and he answered, "Yuck!" and laughed and laughed.  I guess he found a little rip in it and started pulling the batting out little by little and eventually got the whole thing turned inside out. It must have taken hours! It was hilarious! I wish I'd taken a picture.
3. Remember Pepper, my latest little rescue cat?  He's still doing great!  His eye infection is completely gone and although he definitely has some sight issues, he isn't bumping into things any longer.  He trots along beside me when I walk around the house, sleeps on the couch and runs to the kitchen if he hears the refrigerator open.  I still haven't taken him to the vet yet but he's coming along just fine.  He's put on some weight, too.  He's a sweetheart and all the other cats have accepted him just fine with affectionate head bumps and friendly sniffs.  
4. The lady that knocked on our door 2 years ago asking if I might be interested in taking in a sick cat came back this week to see Star. It was a sweet reunion for both of them, I think.  Star just purred up a storm as she was held and the lady almost cried for joy at seeing how healthy she is now.  It really seemed like Star remembered her and why wouldn't she....she saved her life, literally.  So fun to show her how Star is thriving now.  She really was at death's door when she came here.
5. We just got our first grill.  Yep, that's right...we have never had an outdoor grill!  For 25 years we had a JennAir stove/oven that had 2 burners and a grill side that vented out under the house.  It was just like a grill but in the kitchen.  When we had to get a new oven last year we discovered that those were no longer made and had to sadly get a conventional oven.  I thought I could made do with a grill pan but it just wasn't the same.  The good thing about the outdoor grill is that The Mister feels like he should be the king of it so we've made the adjustment of teaching him how to cook.  His prior resume is sticking a frozen pizza in the oven and even that isn't done right 75% of the time. haha.  He's still overcooking or undercooking things but they are tasting better with each try.

So what's been happening with you?

I have been terrible about visiting and posting,

haven't I?  I have a few things happily taking

up my time lately.  Hope your summer is going well!

♥

Feeding Baby

House Sparrows in my crab apple tree today.

♥

Random Thoughts

1. Did you have a nice Independence Day? We had Taylor and Lauren home for the last several days and it was a very nice time!  I need to see those big kids every so often! He turned 26 on Sunday, which is hard to believe. haha. They traveled home today and tomorrow we get back to our regular routines.  You know Wednesday is going to feel like Monday, right? 
2. I bid on this old chippy colander at an auction recently.  I thought I might sell it but it seems to have found its way into my kitchen to stay.  I'm thinking it will be a good thing to have when I'm out in the garden picking veggies!  It can go straight into the sink for everything to get a rinse!
3. Our new little rescue cat Pepper is doing great!  I still haven't gotten him into the vet but he is improving every day.  And what a sweet kitty he is!  Nobody responded to my notice on Facebook about him, so I guess he's ours forever and that's ok with us!
4. Can you believe it's July already?  The summer is flying by!  Here in Ohio our gardens are starting to flourish with lots of green fruit growing and teasing us before everything ripens.  It's always fun to watch sprouts break through the ground and thrive in the soil and a good watering every day.  Speaking of watering, it's hilarious to watch the cats when I use the garden hose.  They act like it's a big snake and they are ready to pounce if it makes a move. :)  Never a shortage of entertainment in this house!
5. I think I'll be picking my first basket of blackberries this week. There actually might be enough for a small cobbler!  Yum.
6. And God Bless you, America.  Happy Birthday to you!

I Spy With My Little Eye

A great big dragonfly!

♥

Longer Days

One thing this winter-loving-girl appreciates about

this time of year is the light during the evening hours!

The long days are wonderful, aren't they?

The sun sets here in Ohio about 9:00 PM EST

this week.  It's also light about 6:00 AM.

It does make it easier to get out of bed!

But those birds!  They start singing about 4:30

in the morning!  Or so I've been told...I sleep

right through all of that!

♥

This and That

1. Mourning Dove after a rain shower.
2. Documenting a clean kitchen.....
3. and the other end of the counters, too!
4. We're on our third honey dew melon in 2 weeks.  Just too good!
5. Baby tears.  One of my favorite plants!  It's a sentimental one. 
6. We're still knee deep in tomatoes.  Loving it since it's only once a year!
7. The kitchen, just as the sun was coming up this morning.

♥

Cherry Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

Our one little cherry tomato plant has become like Jack's

Bean Stalk!  It's way taller than me and producing like I

never would have guessed!  I thought a savory tart would

be a good way to use up some of the tomatoes and I combined

several recipes I found online to make up my own version.

It was delicious...and so pretty, too!

See all these?  They are taking over the refrigerator!

I cut one pint of tomatoes in half and laid them cut side down

on a few paper towels to drain.

I took one sheet of puff pastry that was thawed and rolled in out

just a little with a bit of flour.

I scored the pastry to form a lip about 1/2" from the edge

and pricked the inside part with a fork.

I sprinkled the crust with some crumbled goat cheese, 

Parmesan and mozzarella.  The cheese was about 1 cup total.

I sprinkled the tomatoes with Italian seasoning, salt, 

pepper and drizzled them with garlic infused olive oil.

Then I laid the tomatoes cut side up on top of the cheeses.

This way the juices won't make the crust soggy.

Bake 400F for 20 minutes.

Serve immediately.

We didn't have any leftovers so I don't know if they keep,

but I doubt it.  I think it would loose it's crispy-ness.

It was very yummy!

I think I'm going to try a mushroom and vidalia onion one next!

♥

Bees At The Zoo

Bees have taken over my ivy topiary!

I put it outside for the summer and now it's a hub for

busy bees going in and out all day long.

Reminds me of sitting at an airport watching the

jets coming and going! ha.  

I've made this topiary years and years ago...kind of sad to

let it go, but it's not like I can bring it inside when it gets

cold this fall!  I wonder if the roots are sitting in honey. 

When I water the ivy, I have to dump it and run. haha.

FB friends, click on picture for video.

♥

See You Later!

I loved how Marmalade looked relaxing in the yard

this evening.  He was aware of me taking his photo, though!

Notice those ears turned back? The were following me! ha. 

I'm all packed up and ready to leave on my trip Thursday morning!

  I won't post while I'm gone but may occasionally pop on here

 and read/respond to anything you all have to say!

And I'm sure I won't be able to resist a few pics on IG.

I'll miss you!

  Have a wonderful week!

♥

Tecumseh Land and Trust Sunflower Farm

This sunflower farm is near my home and I love stopping

every summer to see the sunflowers in bloom!

Isn't that so cool?  Makes me happy. 

 I wish this was my back yard. 

FB friends, click for more photos and animation!T

♥

The Golden Hour

I'm mesmerized by the last rays of light at the end of the day.

Mrs. Squirrel is mesmerized by the fact that I don't seem

to notice the feeder is empty!

Don't worry...she got a fresh supply of seeds and peanuts!

♥

Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes

I only planted one teensy weensy cherry tomato plant this

year but it has given us an abundance of fruit!

It's much taller than me and has branched out

until it looks like a huge shrub!

Alex loves to pop them in his mouth and eat them 

like grapes!  But to serve with meals, this has been

a favorite this summer....cut in half and sautee in some olive

 oil or bacon drippings.  Add salt and Italian seasoning and

 garlic.  They are wonderful as a side dish to brunch or dinner!  

Yum!

♥