SUMMER READING

I'm running out of reading material and will have to head to the local library and probably the one in the next town, also, tomorrow. My friend loaned me books for this week and I have read a light-weight romance, The Mascot by Mark Kurzem, The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore (Don't you love her name!), and have just begun Sea of Lost Love also by her.

RECOVERING

I was too busy to take pictures. For just a brief moment before serving dessert I remembered my plan, but there was no time for staging and lighting.

Nice party with great people. Everything turned out well, very well. The watermelon/feta salad is best with fresh mint, but the basil we've used in the past is not too shabby. The fritattas were lovely, and the combination of salads with the fritattas perfect.

Just as our first guests arrived the smoke alarm started. For at least 20 crazy minutes, probably longer, we were jarred by the multiple alarms. Seems that the chocolate cheesecake leaked some butter from it's crust onto the oven floor last night--something I didn't notice until I pre-heated the oven to finish off the fritattas.

It was a beautiful evening--almost cool on the screened porch--and we spent close to three hours eating and talking and laughing.

BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A PARTY

It's still very hot and miserable, and probably will be for most of the summer. CA and I waited (procrastinated) all day, deciding to do our grocery shopping and errands late afternoon. Worked very well as we were able to fit in a Chipotle meal three grocery stores, the post office, and one gas station later.

So... It's beginning to look like a party here.

IDENTIFYING BUTTERCUPS

Buttercups in Maria Alm, Austria

When we were in the Austrian Alps last month there were fields and fields of wildflowers--some of which were dandelions. And then, I was reading a novel about English and French gardens and dandelions were mentioned favorably. I guess not everyone considers dandelions a blight and a nuisance in need of eradication. Still, their roots go deep and they MULTIPLY.

In these fields of yellow wildflowers, an even more predominant plant had a tiny yellow blossom, and although I was curious about what it was I hadn't followed through in identifying it until today. In the same novel, Buttercups were mentioned. Ah-ha! Yep! These sweet little flowers are Buttercups. LG and I picked a few bunches and found small glasses to hold the lovely bouquets.

HEATING UP

Hot-hot-hot. Summer is officially here and it feels like it! Including the annoying, buzzing mosquito that found its way into our bedroom last night. His/her life was short!

Thunder storms later today may cool it down a bit. Until then, I am hibernating to a great degree (no pun intended). Plans later today for a pedicure and hair cut will probably lift my spirits some as taking steps toward good grooming always helps.