Summer is on in its full and mighty heat. The sky is often (to quote Tennessee Williams) 'like a big white sheet of paper.' Cicada choruses buzz. Ripping storms pelt the earth for awhile, then subside temporarily. Hours of withering sun scorch between periods of incessant damp.
I find myself staying indoors behind bamboo shades. But plants love this weather and thrive. We have been lucky to eat our own grown vegetables most days, supplementing it with some we buy from farmer's markets. In the last few weeks, squirrels (I think) have stolen all of the tomatoes, and the peppers are not nearly as productive as last year. But, I have not given up hope.
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| Too hot now for sugar snaps. |
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| Happy Eggplant--My #1 Favorite! |
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| Grown and gifted to me by a neighbor!! |
Health-wise, I try to eat 2.5 cups of vegetables each day and 2 cups of fruit. This is surprisingly hard for me. When hungry, I tend to eat a piece of bread or crackers (or cookies, I admit). I am trying to shift that. It takes concentration!
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| Making Asian soup stock |
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| Using veg NOT grown by me |
In summer, everything tastes so good and fresh. My son pointed out that there is an emphasis on the word fresh in reference to food lately that he finds annoying. He is right about the emphasis, though I don't think it is annoying at all.
