Drinking wine and watching the sun set through the Queen Anne's Lace. That's about as close to perfection as one gets.
Hello all! We are just back from Maine, happy from our time in the salt air and sunshine (and not at all ready for the furnace-blast of hot air that greeted us on our return!).
When peach season arrives I pretty much drop all other fruits. I will not buy a peach at any other time of the year. They have to be local. So when they're in season, I go crazy. I find a way to sneak peaches into everything. Add them into salads. Or by themselves with a little balsamic vinegar, some olive oil, sea salt, pepper, some basil, and a sprinkle of feta ~ divine. Grilled peaches and shrimp with curry and honey. Peach crisp, peach pie, peach tarts. . . and omg, peaches with blue cheese.
Some greens from the vegetable garden at Longwood. If I had a proper garden, it would look just like this! Some day perhaps.
Summer is about keeping it simple. It is too hot for anything else. A white linen shirt, an easy dinner of green salad and fresh corn, a spot in the shade. Bare feet!
I love an evening walk, just as the sun begins to sink toward the horizon. Light sparkles through the trees, and the worst of the afternoon heat is over. Last night, the gentleman and I took advantage of the (relatively) moderate weather and went for a stroll in Georgetown. We lingered in the golden sunlight, tripping over brick sidewalks, and peeking through garden walls. Content.
This was given to me by a dear friend, one of many photographs I will treasure. There is no inscription or date.
I am dreaming of cool, green shade. After a week of days in the 90s and 100s, I am wiped out! Being a northern girl, I am not made for southern summers.
As much as I love the Maine coast, I love the Maine woods. The soft floor covered with pine needles and smelling just like a balsam pillow. Lichen and moss in all shades of green. Strange mushrooms in a shocking array of colors and shapes. Ferns. Oh, and pinecones in every size.
I have to admit I miss the old wooden lobster pots. They are a relic from another age I suppose, now widely replaced with wire mesh. The half-barrel, wooden trap is said to have originated on Cape Cod in 1810, and served the east coast fishermen well for nearly two centuries. The new traps made an appearance about 10 years ago, and are far more efficient (lobsters having figured out how to escape the old ones!). Hard to argue with that.
. . . Maine is glorious. I love the sound of the fog horns, and the clanging of invisible buoys. The stillness of the water, and the smell of salt air. I love the comfort of wrapping oneself up with a blanket at night.
After a busy week of work (running around New England), the gentleman and I finally have a few days of down time in Maine ~ reading, writing, beachcombing. Eating (it's a good year for strawberries!).
In Maine. . . for a bit of a break. Stopping in Boston and Salem along the way (finally had a chance to see the new Art of the Americas wing ~ fantastic!). We have been greeted by grey skies and chilly rain. However, there are bowls of fish chowder and hot haddock sandwiches to warm us up.
Welcome Summer (as of 1:16pm est)! Along with your hazy, lazy days. This was taken from my roof top around 9:30pm last night, just as the sun was giving up the day. I'll be top side again this evening, along with my stitching group. We'll greet the season with dinner and drinks (and maybe, maybe a little stitching).
At Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania this past weekend, the last of the June roses.
A tiny snapshot, with big style. Measuring just 2 x 1 1/4 inches. No inscription or date. Simply stamped: "Jenkin's Camera Shop / Jacksonville / Florida." {click image to view larger}
I love the textures and patterns of an old house ~ all the details that tell the story and reveal the history of a place. I am working on a house tour (it has been a busy week!). In the mean time (speaking of history):
After a long week of travel, it is good to be home. Ahhh, time to unwind and reconnect with our lives. A day spent with friends, a dinner with neighbors, and a serious gardening session were in order!
Hot and sultry in the Midwest! Traveling from Minnesota to Iowa and on to Nebraska, and it just keeps getting hotter in the heartland.
No inscription, no date. Barbara's beautiful women in white made me think to dig this snapshot out. There is just something about summer fabrics and soft breezes. Simply looking at this photograph makes me feel cooler. {click image to view larger}
. . . the 1882 John Crispe House. Perfectly curated, with the eye of an aesthete. Its restoration was a labor of love.
We are just home from Michigan, visiting the gentleman's family for the Memorial Day holiday. We cooked and grilled, and ate quite a feast ~ a real celebration with friends! And lest we forget why we remember this day, there was a home town parade complete with tractors and vintage cars decked out in their patriotic best.
Georgia peaches. The gentleman stuck these in my shopping cart last night. The first of the season. Ridiculously juicy and sweet.
Pink peonies for Courtney! Buckets and buckets of them.
Inscribed: "Kincaid's back yard. / Bethlehem, Pa." Date stamped: July 1954. This one pretty much sums up my personal feelings about the advent of bathing-suit season. {click image to view larger}
Posts
All Comments
