Hotter Than A Pepper Sprout

As with most of the country, we've endured relentless heat these early weeks of Summer.
Miss one day of watering, and the plants are shriveled beyond repair.

Nashville set an all-time record today with a high temperature of 109, breaking the old record by two degrees set back in 1952.
The sad part is, we have been without rain for the past three weeks, vegetable gardens are drying up, farmers are losing their crops, and wildlife are endlessly searching for a source of drinking water.

The splish-splash of the frog fountain heard at the pond, has attracted more than the birds this week.

We are having nightly visits from the deer population.

This afternoon a thirsty hawk visited not once, but three times.

We've filled the water trough and placed it down near the woods, hopefully the wildlife will seek it out.

Serenity

"Don't let yourself get so busy that you miss those little but important extras in life ~

the beauty of a day...

the smile of a friend...

the serenity of a quiet moment alone.
For it is often life's smallest pleasures and gentlest joys that make the biggest and most lasting difference."

Friendship

Ah, how good it feels! The hand of an old friend.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sounds Of Summer

"The steady buzzzzzzz of the Katydid chorus,

the bass solo of the croaking Frog,

the steady woof-woof-woof a barking Dog

- a summer night's serenade."

~Michael P. Garofalo : Cuttings

Hello Summer

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Rose of Sharons are in bloom, a fitting entrance for this first day of Summer.
Hopefully, the hummingbirds will be right behind, they have been a scarce sighting around the feeder.

Each year despite the lack of rain for days on end, we are graced with prolific blooms on the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ) bushes.

This particular bush was a volunteer, a single seed or two carried by the wind or possibly a bird.
It is also a second generation plant, the original bush belonging to my husband's mother who shared it's propagated beauty from her garden to ours.
Oftentimes they are considered an invasive plant, because they tend to spread so easily, but not to this gardener, we enjoy those endless blooms throughout the whole month of July.

Bee-ing Busy

The garden is all abuzz, with bees, and butterflies, lightening bugs and ladybugs.

All so very busy dutifully distributing the pollen amongst the flowers.

I thank them more than words can say.

Like trains of cars on tracks of plush
I hear the level bee:
A jar across the flowers goes,
Their velvet masonry
Withstands until the sweet assault
Their chivalry consumes,
While he, victorious, tilts away
To vanquish other blooms.
His feet are shod with gauze,
His helmet is of gold;
His breast, a single onyx
With chrysoprase, inlaid.
His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!

~ Emily Dickinson : The Bee (1830)

                          



A Weekend Treat

Quote from a 1957 Seven-Up Company Cookbook

"Make a cake with the contents of a packaged mix, using 7-Up instead of the liquid in the recipe. You'll be amazed at how light and airy your cake is."

7- Up Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

10oz lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage  (7-Up )

Mix all ingredients together and beat at medium speed of electric mixer for two minutes. Pour into greased 13-by-9-inch pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in a 350-degree oven.

Note: the baking time varies greatly from recipe to recipe; some call for 40 to 45 minutes of baking.

Pineapple Frosting

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 stick of  melted stick butter or margarine

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 eggs

1 20oz  can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup

1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups of coconut

Mix the first five ingredients together and cook until thick and transparent. Remove from stove and add 1 1/2 cup coconut and chopped pecans.  

When cool, frost cake.
Share !

A Walk In The Woods

Now is the time of the illuminated woods.......
when every leaf glows like a tiny lamp.

~ John Burroughs

Oak trees come out of acorns, no matter how unlikely that seems.
An acorn is just a tree's way back into the ground.
For another try.
Another trip through.
One life for another.

~Shirley Ann Guann
  
                          

Getting Back To Normal

The Jubilee Celebrations have consumed me this week.

Last night I watched the concert held at Buckingham Palace, all those legendary performers, bringing back so many memories.

Prince Charles made me chuckle addressing his mother as 'Her Majesty', and then quickly adding 'mummy' as an afterthought, so innocently.

I was moved to tears when the entire audience broke out in song God Save The Queen, and joined in at the top of my voice.

I may be separated by an ocean, but will be forever bonded in spirit.

And so now it's time to tend to much neglected chores, the terra cotta boot got a shiny new paint job this week.

Flowers were planted

Oliver snoozed

                           

Back to normal.   

The Fairest Month

"Mine is the Month of Roses; yes, and mine
The Month of Marriages! All pleasant sights
And scents, the fragrance of the blossoming vine,
The foliage of the valleys and the heights.
Mine are the longest days, the loveliest nights;
The mower's scythe makes music to my ear;
I am the mother of all dear delights;
I am the fairest daughter of the year."

~  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow