SEASONS

Right now everyone is having such crazy weather.  We have been so lucky here with the cool temps and rain every couple of days.  I could use a bit more sun, but otherwise it's just perfect.  My garden is loving it!  I turned my small patio into a virtual jungle!  See the table somewhere in the middle of this picture?  The Husband refuses to come out and have coffee with me in the morning for fear of a shoot or vine clamping around his ankle and working it's way up.  When I had the  splendid idea of growing a few plants in containers here, it really sounded brilliant.  And then they grew and grew and grew some more.  I see a children's book in the works here.

Anyway, it makes me happy and I don't think I'd change a thing next year.  Well, I may ask The Husband to enlarge the patio.  ;-D

I've yet to sit out here at night in the soft glow of my pretty lanterns.   Last call for the dogs is about 8:00 p.m., and then the vampire hour starts.  Bats!  I sit facing west as the sun goes down and the silhouettes of the brown bats darting and swooping and feasting on bugs is entrancing.  Well, it was until a few years ago.  One swooped right under the umbrella of my table, just inches from me.  So now I watch the show from inside.

Milo loves his backyard, but for some reason, if there is no one out with him, he does his thing and then sits on the back porch and barks to come in.  So I have been going out with him about 5 times a day, 15 minutes a shot, and we both get some fresh air.  I do a little weeding or grab a magazine at the back door and lose myself for awhile.  He's content to stalk squirrels and  I love having my quality time with him.

I had plans to make bruschetta the other night.  Then I realized I would have to blanch, peel and seed my precious tomatoes so I made blt's instead!

I've really been enjoying the Mediterranean cookbook that I recently bought.  One of the things I am really interested in doing is making some flavored cooking oils.  The author gives proportions for making oils flavored with herbs and spices with an olive oil base.  These can be used for drizzling  over vegetables or pasta, brushing it on good bread and broiling it, or just for dipping.  So I loaded up on some Mason jars, smaller than the ones we usually see since you are only using about 1/2 to 1 cup of olive oil.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

I was very surprised at the grocery store the other day to see pears, nectarines and apricots in the produce department.  It seems so early!  Too early!  Seems we were just feasting on berries and citrus fruits and nothing says fall to me like pears.  Thursday, Emily and I went to Michael's and fall decorations were everywhere.  I remember last year downsizing a bit so I wasn't the least bit interested in what they had.  I'm in the middle of making two wreaths, hopefully they will be finished soon so I can show you.  They don't take long to make, it's just finding the time to do it...so I did pick up a few odds and ends.

I know that school has started in many areas.  That's a sure sign summer is coming to an end.  My kids always started the 3rd week of August and that was perfect.  Daughter Abby starts student teaching in 2 weeks.  She's very excited and begged me to take her shopping for "teacher clothes"!  So off we went to the mall and I have to say, we had a great afternoon.  In my mind I kept thinking...this will be the last time I take one of my children shopping for school.  .  My kids will always need me, in one capacity or another, albeit new needs, new experiences.  It's the things I've repetitively done for so long that make me feel a little empty inside.  Setting the same scratched  wooden table for dinner in the evening, one plate less every few years.  Three toothbrushes in the bathroom instead of six, a small carton of milk in the fridge instead of a gallon.  Well, it seems I'm getting a little melancholy (baby). I know we've discussed the "empty nest syndrome" a few times, but feel free to add your thoughts.  Was it hard or were you looking forward to it?  What do you do with the extra time (if you have it), and do you feel twinges of not being needed or sort of in the background now?

So, I will have two wreaths to share next time.  By the way, the boxwood dried up and withered away.  I think I procrastinated a bit too long.  We are almost ready for another clipping and now I know to work quickly so I can enjoy it for 2-3 months.  I also have the hooks for The Husband to attach to my new window, of course I could do it myself, but because it's glass and I don't want it to come crashing down on anyone, best to leave it to him.  And finally, I'm going to be allowed into Emily's new home with my camera (gasp), so I'll be sharing some of her gorgeous rooms and decorating ideas.  So stay tuned! :)

XO,

Jane