summer

It’s hard to imagine a time when you had to sit on Sundays and not do anything that could be considered work. I am bored to death and I have lovely options. I read my book, I read my e-mails, I look at cookbooks. Sometimes I do a little food prep.—cutting up onions or something, but no cooking. It is over 90 outside and I am like a kid, watching the clock, only I watch the thermometer. As it gets a little cooler later in the day, I will go outside and let the chickens out. I might pick some more blueberries. 

We had a nice lunch at Loco’s—my Dad, john and deb, john and gini. My Dad had suggested we go somewhere different from DePalma’s. He was having some digestive discomfort and thought Italian might not be good. We had a very good lunch at Loco’s and I thought about why we prefer depalma’s generally. It is the atmosphere, I think. Loco’s is full of TV sets and people dressed pretty casually. I think DePalma’s is a step up, although the food is not any better and the menu, which is interesting, doesn’t have the main dish salads that we seem to prefer. Ray always orders chicken caesar. Now that the service is at 10:30, we usually try to order wine when we get to the restaurant, but they tell us, “no alcohol until 12:30.” Daddy was puzzled today—why did this just start to be a problem? The answer is because we used to get there an hour later…just about 12:30 at the earliest. 

So here we are home with nothing we have to do…too hot to go outside, no need to cook (and truthfully, no energy). Ray has been sleeping a lot the last few days, fighting off a cold. He seems much better today, but is working on his computer. I assume he has a lot of work to catch up on for his class. 

Where did June go?

Here it is, almost the end of June and I don't know what I did all month. There are lots of containers in my freezer, full of blueberries and green and yellow beans. There are also some potatoes. We have been trying not to use electricity between 2 and 7 on weekdays. And my Dad was in the emergency room. Those are the highlights, pretty much. The chickens got bigger, and they are still alive. Between the garden and the eggs, we don't need many groceries. We get this great box of organic produce every week, but I have cut down from the family box to the standard size.

more blueberries, and still more to pick

Rain and overcast today, although not really enough to measure. Still better than hot and dry. I went out about 5, when it was a little cooler. Although the sun did not shine on me, the humidity was incredible. I am very sweaty. The chickens (the young ones) were allowed some liberty while I was out and seemed to stay close to me, maybe in part because I occasionally threw them a berry that wasn't good enough for people.

There was a large slug, bigger than I have seen around here before, with dark markings on its back, hanging out in the pine mulch under one of the bushes. Also our nearly tame brown thrasher was never far away.

More rumbles and cracks of thunder; maybe we will have more rain!

Chicken jumping up to eat blackberries

Sadly, I am no longer excited about picking blueberries. I have at least 6 quarts in the freezer and I am almost keeping up. There are almost as many yellow beans. My dad picked those today, so all I have to do is wash them. My shoulders are sore, and I have bites, but it's fine.

Just finished reading A Woman of Independent Means, by Hailey. A smart and fun book, the story of a woman's life told through her letters to others. It must have been challenging to convey all that happened that way. She lived most of her life in Dallas, but travelled extensively.

Of course, now you know my secret. I was reading in the middle of the day, for pleasure. I went to a doctor's appointment this morning, even though I didn't want to, and so I treated myself to a few hours lying in my bed, reading. I had trouble falling asleep last night and so am tired today. I thought maybe I woulld sleep, but the rest seems to have done me some good, anyway.

Ray is asleep on the couch as well. It was very overcast and drizzly earlier, although the sun is out for a moment now. We may still have more rain, but at least it has not been quite so hot today, just over 80 now.

It is "blackout" time, so all the lights and fans are off. I even put off opening the refrigerator to start working on supper. There will be time later.

We did get our usual walk in, although I didn't pick any berries this morning. Perhaps I will in an hour or so.

Last night was a huge party for Tanya, the AFS exchange student from Denmark, who is returning this weekend. I have enjoyed being her liaison, although it is a bit like standing outside the candy shop, peering in. Of course, I am very happy that she has bonded so well with her host family, and I remember how sad it can be to say goodbye.

Monday Monday

I am tired and don't feel good. I did a lot of fun things this weekend, but something didn't agree with me...or I picked up a bug. Bouts of diarrhea off and on Saturday, Sunday and today. No need to go into details. I didn't sleep well last night and probably not the two previous nights. However, it could be worse. I could have to do something or go somewhere today.

My Dad came at 6:30 this morning. Ray had been up for hours. I jumped up and put on my clothes and went down to have breakfast with him. Ray actually cooked him bacon and egg, as well as getting out my yogurt, etc. I didn't have peanut butter, it may be a little hard to digest. Just yogurt and fruit and some old bread.

Daddy headed out about 7 to pick the yellow beans and make the first circuit of the gardens. Ray and I headed out on a walk. I felt okay after that. I was picking blueberries and then my Dad asked me to help him dig potatoes. It was already kind of hot and not easy on the back. There's a good batch of potatoes drying now, though, and we only dug about half of them today. He watered that garden extensively, although we are looking forward to rain today or tomorrow...really looking forward to it.

I picked lots of berries, mainly from only two bushes. There are lots more, but by 10 the sun was starting to reach me and I called it quits. I went in and gave my Dad some of the spinach vichyssoise I made Saturday. He agreed it is amazing and I sent some home with him. I washed the beans and he took some of them and all the zucchini. I still have to cut up and freeze the yellow beans. There are several cucumbers, too. Ray eats them mainly, but I will sometimes, too.

June 13

My days are similar. None is exactly the same, but they usually have certain elements. 

On weekdays, Ray and I wake up early. Sometimes I get up first, more often he does. These days, it is light by 6:30, even when it’s overcast. I like waking up to the light. We don’t use an alarm clock, except if we have to catch a plane or something. 

I spend the first hour or so of the day reading e-mail and doing other computer stuff. I read recently that is not good, because you are letting other people dictate how you spend your time. On the other hand, I like to stumble out to the computer, half awake, just as some people used to read the paper and drink coffee to start their day. Some days, I get bored and ready to do something else in less than an hour. Other days, I could sit for three hours. 

I put in my contacts somewhere about now. At the same time, or later, I pull on some clothes lying around from yesterday, usually jeans and a t-shirt. I saunter downstairs and start the process of getting breakfast. It is not hard. I slice some homemade bread and put it in the toaster oven, turning the dial without really looking at it. It comes out right, not burned, but toasted. I get out the yogurt, mine and his. He likes nonfat plain. I prefer low fat vanilla. If I run out, I can eat his, but I usually add some honey. It doesn’t mix in that well and never tastes right to me. 

I get out the measuring cup, usually 1/4 cup, the yellow plastic one, on top of a stack of them in the first drawer on the right. I scoop two scoops of yogurt and put it in the striped bowl. I don’t worry about getting all the yogurt. I set the scoop on the top to the yogurt container, knowing Ray will use it after me, put my yogurt away, and clean out the scoop thoroughly. 

I help myself to a pear from the fruit bowl (or sometimes another kind of fruit). It was a wedding present from Uncle Paul 32 years ago. It was a good gift, useful and attractive and durable. I peel off the sticker, open the trash drawer, and stick it on the inside of the trash bag. I rinse the pear under the faucet in the sink. Every step of the way, I could be admiring all my wonderful kitchen features—I remember ordering the sink and faucet from Ikea, for instance. I picked out the cabinets. 

I select a sharp knife from the block on the counter…they are all familiar and good ones. Some were chosen for me by my daughter, who worked in a kitchen while she was in college. She couldn’t stand my dull old knives when she came home, and we found them at a garage sale! 

If the pear is perfectly ripe, as they have been the last few days, it cuts up beautifully, dripping a little. I hold it over the bowl, so as not to lose any juice. I put the innards in my husband’s bowl. He hates waste even more than I do, and will eat all the good parts right up to the core before composting a very small amount. I cut the pear into quarters and then each quarter into four or more pieces, letting them fall into the yogurt. I add a shake of cinnamon from the container on the lazy Susan. It’s one of my mother’s, although the cinnamon has been replaced many times. Today we used it up and got some more from the pantry. Ray carefully poured it into the little jar. I am very bad at those kinds of tasks that require fine motor control and care. I often make a mess on the counter, and we don’t want to waste any cinnamon, do we? I put the empty plastic bag near my purse on the other side of the counter. It will remind me to get more at the natural foods store. It is cheaper there and I won’t have to use a new container. I can just refill that bag, at least a few times. 

I get out the spoons and a table knife. The peanut butter stays on the table now, since we use it every morning, at least as often as salt and pepper. I put the toast on a small plate and carry it over, along with the bowl of yogurt and fruit. I make sure my book of Sudoku is by my place, with a pencil. I sit down and take a bite of yogurt. It tastes so good, the first food of the day. I spread peanut butter on my toast, and then I alternate bites of yogurt with bites of toast. After a bite or two, I start working on the sudoku puzzle. I have worked through this book for more than a year and am now in the section labeled, “Tough Puzzles.” I have done several successfully, but they may take more than one day. Today I did not finish the one I was working on before I got up from the breakfast table. 

Ray went upstairs. I thought he was getting ready to go for a walk. I started working on dinner, a spinach and mushroom frittata. I had looked for something that I could make ahead, since we aren’t using the stove between 2 and 7, because of our special electric rate. 

I got out some of the ingredients, cut up an onion and minced three cloves of garlic, putting the peels in the compost bin. I sautéed them in a little olive oil in the big nonstick frying pan. I put away some of the clean dishes Ray had washed the night before while I was waiting. I got the bag of spinach out of the fridge. He called down, “I guess I won’t be walking today. I’m just going to take my shower.” “Darn,” I said, “we’ll have to start getting going earlier.” “Yes,” he agreed. “I’m sorry.”

When the sautéed vegetables (with thyme) were almost ready, I turned the pan off. I stirred them around a bit. I put on some outdoor shoes, fed the dog, and grabbed the net bag I pick produce into. I let the chickens out of their coops and into the run, noting to myself again that they have cleared it completely and we need to do something to give them access to more green grass. I have tried letting them out a few times, but they don’t seem to know enough to come back and it’s pretty stressful. I watch them very closely; I’m not sure they know about hawks and other dangers. 

Anoles mating

Ray headed out and I picked blueberries. It was wet from the rain the night before, but pleasantly cool before 9. My Dad arrived while I was out picking. He picked some beans and studied everything. He helped me move the chicken “tractor” to a grassy place (with the 5 young chickens in it). We went inside and I helped him with his computer and he made a few phone calls. Meanwhile, I kept on with my cooking, cooking the spinach (just barely, no added water), and adding it with the sauté to beaten eggs, and putting the whole thing back in the pan with more oil. It’s all set and can be eaten at room temperature (so I don’t have to violate the electricity ban). I started working on a vegetable side dish—a la Grecque. I remember my Mom making vegetables a la Grecque, but this recipe called for boiling them in a mix of water and wine. I’m kind of funny about cooking with wine—I hate to waste it. a little for flavor I don’t mind, but 2 cups of white wine seemed excessive. I asked my Dad and he didn’t remember our recipe involving cooking—just dress the cooked vegetables with the typical olive oil, etc.

After he left, I abandoned the cooking for the moment. The frittata was the critical thing and it was set. I headed for the computer, my precious alone time. (You’d think I would find something better to do than describe my day in detail). I plugged away for a while, until the phone rang at noon. 

My neighbor, Liz, calls every day about this time. She is coming to take my dog for a walk. She says he is a good influence on her dogs. I think she feels like I neglect him by not walking him enough. Some days he gets 5 or 6 miles with Ray and me, plus about the same with Liz, I think. I consider a mile a long walk…but Cameron is always ready to go. I went downstairs and let him out and wondered how long it would be before Ray came home. 

Cameron is afraid of thunder

Amelia's recipe for chocolate chip cookies

I am not very good at postponing meals and was pretty hungry. I had a cookie to tide me over and looked for some more recipes for Vegetables a la Grecque. I found my Mom’s, but it was as Daddy said, not the kind where you cook them in marinade. There were several on the internet. Most use wine, but in smaller quantities, so I poured 2 cups of water, some vinegar and some white wine in a pot, with a tea ball with pepper, tarragon, rosemary, and some other herbs. By the time it had boiled a little, I had a potato peeled and cut up and ready to cook in it. I prepped some beans and some yellow squash to add when it was done. Still no Ray, but Liz came back from the walk and we chatted a bit. I hate standing and talking, but if I invite her to sit, she usually says she has to leave. 

So… cooking, gardening, chatting with my Dad and Liz…is it a good life? There is certainly much to be grateful for in it. Plenty of good food, beautiful, luxurious surroundings…dogs and chickens…but still, maybe not what I would have described as my ideal…? Not productive enough?