August Days

 " The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. "

~Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

The Sounds Of Summer

 

It serves one simple purpose.

Keeps bugs out, and allows breezes in.

The unmistakable "thwack" of the screen door in summer.

Bee-ing Busy

The garden is all abuzz, with bees, and butterflies, lightning 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 Slice Of Sunshine

If you're looking for a quick, unassuming dessert one of my favorites is Frozen Lemonade Pie...

Refreshingly cool, and what could be more simple to make !

The perfect treat on unforgiving HOT days.

Ingredients:

1 deep graham cracker pie crust or two regular sized ones
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, chilled
1 6-ounce can of frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 12 ounce container of Cool Whip, thawed
candied lemon peel for garnish (optional)

Preparation:

Beat together condensed milk and lemonade; fold in Cool Whip.
Pour into pie crust. Freeze for at least 3-4 hours until firm.
Enjoy !

Heat Lover

The Crepe Myrtle bush is in full bloom, it's flowers will put on this show for the better part of a month,
the bees and Hummingbirds are drawn to it's huge Watermelon Red blooms.
It loves the summer heat, I have offered it my portion.

Seeing Spots

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, undoubtedly you know we share our property with White-tailed deer.

Several years ago I counted a herd of forty, regularly co-existing on our little green space, happily munching away on anything they set their mind to.

Nowadays the numbers are more like seven, three of which are new fawns, a set of twins, and one other.

They visit daily, and live in the surrounding bush and woods, drinking from the birdbaths, and have become quite tame.

I've moaned and carried on about the flowers they eat willy-nilly, but I can't help but smile each time they appear.

 

 

Summer Days

The summer heat has kicked in.

Hot and humid days, and evenings most often filled with a thunderstorm or two, cooling the night air.
Parents have begun shopping for school attire and supplies, since it's not too long before the children return to their scholastic schedules.
The first of the homegrown tomatoes and juicy watermelons,  delightuflly fill our plates each day, the fruits of summer.
And the rhythm of life continues.

Sweet Land Of Liberty

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”

~Dwight David Eisenhower

http://www.bluehighwaysrevisited.net/

Wishing you a safe and Happy July 4th dear friends.

Simple Pleasures

Strawberry season has arrived here in Middle Tennessee.
Handpick your own, or buy by the basketful.

Add a dollop of vanilla ice-cream and indulge in a summer delight  
*yum*

 "As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful."

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder 

  🍓