Def-y's Categorizing: July 2010 Archives

My sister, Frankie, of Just My Opinion, has been visiting with me this weekend. We went to a birthday brunch for our most special sister: My-Sister-The-Nurse, visited with Elegante Mother, went to the French Market for flowers and veggies, and came home to Frankie's pasta salad for dinner on Saturday.

Sunday morning, we went out to garden early in the morning, and spent about an hour and a half putting the herb garden into shape for the remainder of the summer. We came in for breakfast and to clean up, and then worked through the middle of the afternoon to finish the Log Cabin quilt top that we started a year ago. It's based on one of Eleanor Burn's "Quilt in a Day" books. If we had been able to work for one entire day, we might have actually completed it in a day, but we've been working two hours one month, and two another. We have officially finished the top! YEA!!! It will be sent off to my favorite machine quilter so that Frankie will get to use this quilt this season!

That left us a little time to hit the shops for clothes for Frankie's first day back at school, and preparation of dinner for five: Dear Husband, Stepson #2 and his girlfriend, and the two of us. We took advantage of summer veggies and had fresh green beans, and a "Summer Salad" (tomatoes, green onions, and cucumbers in a vinaigrette with LOTS of dill!), and crimini mushrooms. We rounded out the meal with a flank steak, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, sliced tomatoes for those who don't eat the Summer Salad, and watermelon.

We gathered in the living room to veg out for the evening, and I turned on the TV.
"Leverage" is a show that I enjoy, and Frankie had never seen it. We watched two episodes and chatted about Round Robin quilts, and whether we wanted to do one within our family.

Frankie has to be on her way this morning. I'll really miss the early morning visits. We both head for our personal choice of caffeine and something to read while we rise up into our daytime personae. Sometimes we check e-mail, sometimes we sit and chat. But once the coffee or tea has had the chance to do it's work, we are off and running. We both have found that it's more fun to garden when you have company. It's not just the idea that many hands make work light, though that IS important, but sometimes it's just the fact that you have company and that your endeavor doesn't have to be solitary. I need to go visit her this fall and help her with her gardens. Turn about is fair play, and I really owe her the help!

So, in a few moments, we will be parting and starting our days, separately once again. It has been a lot of fun to have these days together!

I'm wondering if I am the only person in the world who does not like the heat of summer. I just THINK about going outside and I start to perspire. Believe me when I say, "It's not pretty."

What brought all this to mind is that during the summer, when I find I have time on my hands, my friends and family must all be outside enjoying the summer, because there's no one on-line to talk to. Possibly, it's that I haven't kept up with the times. I know a large part of my family camps out at Face book, and I admit I get there once in ten days or so. I'd talk with people at Skype, but I only have five people registered there. Perhaps I need to check in to Yahoo Messenger more often.

I hope you're all having a good time, whatever you've been doing.

I visited the Farmer's Market early on Saturday. I got one of the gardens weeded (and it looks SO much better!). I finished my filing, and worked on the bookkeeping for our companies, prepared for an insurance audit, and did some housecleaning. It was one of those weekends where I finished one chore after another, and the sense of accomplishment was great!

Friday and Saturday should be the calmest days of the week, and I'm looking forward to them. When I have the chance to be on-line, I hope I'll find some of you and hear how your summer has been going.

Remember to wear your sunscreen!

It's been more than a week since my sisters took me to hear the Eagles and Michael Buble. I've been savoring the experience and cementing those memories in place. I believe the entire week qualifies as one of the best times of my life, as much for the time spent with my sisters as the music.

We drove to St. Louis to hear the Eagles. It was a hot summer day without a cloud in the sky. The show was supposed to have started at 6:00, but the start time was moved back to 6:30. We had to wait for the sun to dip behind the left field wall before the Dixie Chicks came out to open the show, around 7:30 or so. The delay was due to the fact that the stage was facing the west and the performers would have been blinded by the sun, and heated out. We were seated below the first balcony on the right field side, and there was a wonderful breeze, which we've been told is rare for St. Louis, so we were comfortable.

I enjoyed the Chicks despite the fact that I couldn't understand one word of the lyrics that Natalie Maines sang. I don't know if it was her accent or the miking that was the problem. I focused on the camera work for the big screens, and just had a good time.

The Eagles were great! I had no idea how many of their songs I knew. I found myself singing along on some of the songs, and my oldest sister really does know all the lyrics! It's very likely that I might have enjoyed myself no matter who was performing, because I was having such a good time with my siblings, but....the Eagles were great!

Five days later, my youngest sister and I went to hear Michael Buble at Canseco Field House in Indianapolis. He puts on an amazing show! He sings all the songs that the audience hopes to hear and then some. About two thirds of the way through his set he comes down off the stage and walks up the center aisle (with body guards) to a raised area at the back of the court and sings a couple of songs. He touches hands as he travels up and down the aisle. I'm really glad to say that the audience behaved itself!

I think I will always remember how he ended the show. He chose to close with "A Song for You." The curtain was closed so that you couldn't see the band, and Michael was standing center stage with the spotlights focused on him. A couple of phrases before the end of the song, the band stopped playing, and Buble continued a capella. What amazed me was that on the last phrase his mike is turned off, and he sings unamplified. He has SUCH a big voice that he is able to fill the field house! Very impressive, VERY impressive.

So, now I've been to a rock concert (and I'd recommend an Eagles concert to anyone), and I've been to hear Michael Buble in person (and I'd recommend Michael Buble to everyone). This has to have been the highlight of my summer! May you all be so fortunate!

It's a little past dinner time on Saturday afternoon. It's been a beautiful day. I visited the Farmer's Market this morning, and then did some house work. I read for a while and had a nap. Generally, I've been occupied.

From six to ten on Saturday evening is the most difficult time for me when Dear Husband is away on his sailing weekends. I'm usually too busy to mind his absence during the day, but as the sun starts to dip and chores are finished, I realize how quiet the house has become.

I have several quilting projects to finish, and more that I want to start. I think that's the way to keep myself busy until bed time. Next week I may go to a movie, and the following week I may take a friend out to dinner. I bet there are millions of women who would like to have the quiet that I have, and I plan to keep that in mind! *G*

I hope you are all enjoying your Saturday night.

I finally made it to the Farmer's Market today! I visited the French Market two weeks ago, but until today haven't made it to my favorite Farmer's market. I was amazed at the produce that was available. I'm used to shopping there starting Memorial Day weekend, so this was like being thrown into a grocery store in comparison.

I dropped off two pruners to be sharpened by Tony, the knife sharpener. I'll pick them up next week. I don't need them at the moment and it will give me a chance to visit with him again. He's one of Elegante Mother's favorite men.

Then, I bought a little from as many stalls as I could. I picked up a cauliflower, vine ripened tomatoes, pickle cucumbers, green onions, 2 cloves of garlic, yellow wax beans, five ears of corn, peaches from two different stalls, red raspberries, and a quart of crimini mushrooms. I have too many potatoes in my pantry, or I would have picked up some new potatoes. We've particularly enjoyed roasted peppers, onions and potatoes lately, so I should be ready for some next week.

There's a recipe for a simplified peach pie dessert in the June issue of Southern Living that I want to try. I may add the red raspberries to Cherrios or oatmeal for breakfast. All the other veggies will find their way into our meals this week.

I hope to have cherry tomatoes soon, so I'll make a Farmer's Tomato Pie for dinner when Dear Husband is off sailing. It's the epitome of summer dining!