Appropriate End to the Season

Cherry picking!

"Houston, We Have a Problem..."

Mr. Fix-It still wants at it, but I think it's time to schedule services for the fridge. There's standing water in the freezer section, and the main compartment has been as warm as 72*/22C. If it get chilly tonight, I figure I'll just open the reefer door rather than turn on the furnace.

Holly's Latest Cue that says "I'm Hungry"

Holly is a picky eater. She always has dry kibble available, but she usually prefers to wait for something better (a spot of wet dog food or a table scrap). To demand an upgrade, she usually barks, scratches at her bowl, or makes eye contact and licks her chops. Now she waits until I'm watching her and goes over and takes a big chomp out of my salad and herb garden. Last evening it was the cilantro. She likes her vegetables, but that wasn't the best combo with dog breath...

And Back Again

I woke at first light, feeling chilled. It was 57*/14C in Home Sweet Home! Crawled out of bed long enough to turn the furnace on again.

Summer! In One Afternoon...

For three hours. I broke out the shorts and turned on the A/C for Holly. By the time I finished a lovely outdoor dinner with the neighbors, it was over. Back to bundled today.

Who's Counting?

I am! Still haven't worn shorts or even capris this season.

Thigh Master

That's 109 steps up--and back down--to earn the views.

Fox News

We have an abandoned litter of juvenile foxes in our neighborhood. Here's one who came out looking for a drink, and no, I didn't want to get any closer. (I am watching Holly like a hawk.)

Now She's Going to Want One for Christmas...

And This Year's Craft Project Was...

Tie-dye! My neighbor is going to an event with a hippie dress code. After checking out re-sale options, we decided to make her threads. We had a great time trying to deal with the dye baths and eat dinner before the rains moved in.

Juxtapositions

Yesterday friends and I headed across the peninsula for an antique fair. We didn't expect to see a vintage-themed food wagon--decked out with 1950s aprons--serving Mexican fare. Say what?! In any case, the white fish tacos were excellent, as was the fresh limeade served with salt and chili pepper on the rim.

Fridge IS Dead, But I Don't Think So...

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/if-your-fridge-dies-should-you-put-frogs-in-your-milk?hpt=hp_bn18

How Cold is It? Part II

Find the puppy! I had a bit of a panic last night when I lost track of Holly (yes, in Home Sweet Home). Found the chilly dog burrowed in her bed, in deep hibernation mode. Unwrapped her a bit for the photo.

How Cold is It?

The heat is on, and I'm making a pot of Dutch pea soup with herbs from the garden. Plan to enjoy it with some fenugreek gouda made locally by a Dutch cheesemaker! The windows are steamed over, and it smells incredible in here!

Look What Holly and I Found on our Walk

Jack in the Pulpit times two!

Reefer Madness

A couple seasons ago the refrigerator in Home Sweet Home gave up the ghost. The fix-it guy say it would be big bucks to replace the electrical panel, or I could just run it on propane. Plan B it was until yesterday, when it attempted suicide again. The tip-off was a puddle of water on the floor. I opened the door to positively balmy temps (60F/16C), although the ice cubes in the freezer had barely broken a sweat. Strange. I began evacuation efforts, cramming all my perishables into my travel fridge and farming out my frozen salmon to a neighbor. I went to bed annoyed, knowing I'd have to deal with it this morning. Well, today the crazy thing is working again. That's life in a tin can...

I Could See My Breath!

My little village is so eager to celebrate Independence Day that we start on July 3rd. It’s a nice event in the harbor park, with live music and fireworks to follow “at dusk.” I arrived shortly before sunset, well bundled and with a split of the local wine designated for sunset viewing. (As columnist Dave Barry used to say, I’m not kidding.) Clearly, the entire population of 201 was there—and each brought at least five friends. The sunset was glorious and never ending, and I was soon envying the fortunate few who were wearing down jackets. Apparently dusk does not follow sunset here, as I sat freezing for one and a half hours, waiting for the fireworks to begin. (Seriously, I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a jacket and trying to tuck my jeans into my boots.) I was flirting with hypothermia by the time the flash-and-boom began. I oohed and aahed for a few rounds and then forced my cold, stiff body back to the car. I could see my breath!

Progress Noted

We can now see fruit on the cherry trees. Yay! However, there is no progress with the summer weather. We're still using the furnace on a regular basis. So glad I brought lots of winter clothes.