BACKYARD ADVENTURES & 2 GREAT SUMMER RECIPES

 

You know how I love to start out a post with a pretty picture.  Last night in the dark hours and during a fit of insomnia, I was fiddling with my phone and made a few Waterlogue pictures.  Yeah that dreadful light and stimulation only adds to the sleeplessness but I find it to be a great time to catch up on the local and national news, the weather forecast, FB and IG.  Love technology, especially when it doesn't aggravate The Husband and his beauty sleep.  So here we have my fave pot (or galvanized pail).  It gets prettier everyday.

 

 

 

Not so pleasant---I did a number on my arm, wrist and hand.  Doesn't it seem like yesterday that I was all wrapped up from that carpal tunnel surgery I had?  Well believe me, this was 100 times worse as far as pain as that ordeal was.  In a nutshell (or a moment of sheer stupidity), I stood on a  oak chair on a shiny oak floor to turn on a ceiling fan and the whole chair went out from under me.   I tried to break the fall with my left hand.  Nothing broke, which sometimes I think might mean less pain.  I went to a small emergency clinic and had X-rays, etc.  I was in tears and The Husband whisked me over pronto.  Then he had to make a run home when he realized he had his slippers on.  Egad...he'll kill me if he knows I wrote this.  So I'm doing well after a few days of lollygagging around.  Abby was home for a few days---in fact this happened with me trying to turn on the ceiling fan in her room/guest room to make it more comfy for her.  Well, she sort of did a few things for me to make it up.  She picked up her discarded clothes from the bathroom everyday and made me scrambled eggs this morning.  I guess we're good. 

 

 

 

 

Remember the pretty caterpillars that ate New York...er, my dill plant? I think they have moved on.  And it's so cool, I have a half dozen butterflies flying around my patio as if they are playing tag.  I did find two milkweed plants in my yard so that explains why I have them.  This is so cool!  The new bird sightings...so exciting.  I had a problem with the house sparrows and I finally got a feeder and filled it with black oil sunflower seeds which they don't like.  Now I'm hoping to see up close some of the other pretty birds flitting around my garden. 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Waterlogue picture.  I was walking away from the back of my yard and thought you might like to see a view from around the corner of the patio.  Everything is so lush with all of the rain.  If I just had the chance to enjoy it!  We have some great weather predicted for the next few days.  Love it!

 

 

-

 

 

I don't know if it was the rain, lack of sun or the new varieties of flowers I bought this spring but I had to pick up a few cell packs at Home Depot today and fill in some pots.  They look great now.  Then I created this little corner on my patio with a little chair and a tiny I-don't-know-what-to-call-it.  This area had been all white stone dating years back.  It would have taken forever to remove it so I went over it with mulch.  I'd like to paint and distress the chair and little whatever that is to give them an old and worn appeal.  Any suggestions?

 

 

The Husband loves chicken Marsala and I saw the bottle the other night and realized I hadn't made it in awhile.  The traditional calls for mushrooms and I happened to be fresh out so I substituted black beans.  It was a hit and we both loved it.  I'm not going to give you a recipe.  It's simply sautéed chicken cutlets in Marsala wine and butter, a pinch of garlic and then I added about 1/2 cup of black beans.  Simple and delicious.  Let me know by email if you need more info.

The Husband has been really, really helpful with my hand injury.  It's my left hand and of course, I'm left handed.  I'm typing with seven fingers right now.  He loves his grill and so it's simply up to me to make a side dish while he cooks the main dish.  We rarely eat potatoes or pasta or rice...I don't do many carbs.  If I do it's healthy grains.   We were getting tired of the various salads I had been making  so I searched the fridge tonight for something different.  Here you have it.  Sliced plum tomatoes and  leeks on a bed of arugula topped with blue cheese and grated mozzarella.  I then drizzled a tiny bit of Italian vinaigrette over and a good grind of black pepper.  Very good.  The Husband isn't crazy about onions but he liked the mild flavor of the leeks.  It's pretty when you arrange it and would make a nice dish to serve when having company.  But don't wait for that!

And speaking of company...we have that 4th of July BBQ and the guest list is now up to 26.  I imagine not everyone is going to come but that's where we are at.  We are simply going to have hamburgers, hotdogs and potato salad, and then I have family members bringing other side dishes, appetizers and desserts.  I think we are going to have a lot of fun and I hope the weather cooperates (and the mosquitoes leave us alone).  Do you have plans?  I'll take some pics to share and be back soon.  Hopefully able to use all ten fingers! :)

Jane x