Thursday, July 22, 2010

So ready for autumn

On vacation in
New England last October
(Stephanie's former neighborhood)

Oh, I know... following autumn comes winter but I'm already longing for cool days where a sweater is a must-wear, stew is slowly cooking in the oven, and a throw feels all warm and cozy as I read.  There is a point where humidity gets so high, one can still feel it in the air conditioning.  We are in the hazy and lazy days of a very long, hot summer.

I'm not very fond of cooking in hot weather but I did whip up a cherry cheesecake dessert for tonight, since I had all the ingredients and had to use up lemons which were getting on the old side.  I wonder if the guys would settle for dessert for dinner?  I doubt it...

The heat does have a good side, though.  I harvested my first red heirloom tomatoes yesterday as well as a couple more yellow tomatoes (all are delicious, I will grow them again).   Everything is growing as if they were part of a garden in a 1950's SciFi movie where the vegetable plants were inadvertently given too much radiation and took over the world.

No, really... be afraid, be very afraid.  Especially of the watermelon vine taking over the fence... and the herb garden... and heading towards the tomatoes.

I have been surprised (and delighted) with early birthday presents from my daughter (two Anne of Green Gable DVD's, after hearing me wax poetic about seeing them on TV) and another DVD and book (Miss Potter and a book about her)  from a sweet blog friend who always remembers my birthday.  :)

Along with my various Jane Austen DVD's, these are a welcome addition to my girlie movie collection... those which take me away from it all for awhile... in the air conditioning.  Instead of sitting on my deck, I will brew a pot of tea and perhaps make a few cucumber sandwiches... and travel back to Prince Edward Island or England's Lake District.  :)

I know I still have to post a couple recipes and I want to write some pantry posts.  Someday when I'm not feeling lazy and hazy and worn out.

13 comments:

cathy said...

Brenda,
Walking to the milkhouse this morning in the early morning fog to milk our three little jerseys, I too, longed for fall....even had a little foretaste of it this morning. Isn't it interesting how we catch glimpses of the season to come?
Blessings,
Cathy B.

Heather Anne said...

Just as I was trying to figure out how to grab on to summer you sweetly remind me of the joys of Autumn! Thank you for helping to correct my attitude!

mamajuliana said...

Amen! on the dreaming of autumn. I was one of the few who enjoyed last summers cool wet summer in the northeast!

I am feeling so trapped by air conditioning this summer. I dream of fuzzy sweaters,oven baked meals...and being able to live in more than one room of our home!

We started late with our tomatoes...so it could still be a while.

Anonymous said...

Brenda,

The Anne DVDs are some of my very favorites. :) And I greatly enjoyed "Miss Potter" both times I rented it from the library. It is on my list to buy.

Enjoy your visit with Anne.

Lori in PA (where it is very hot & humid!)

Becky K. said...

Ahhh, cucumber sandwiches are so refreshing. A bit of cream cheese and maybe some spring onion.
Yum.

Becky K.

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

It's interesting you're thinking autumn... in my part of the world, we're still waiting for summer to truly arrive; we've had rainy cooler weather till now.

I love Anne of Green Gables, and enjoyed Miss Potter too..... so I know you're in for a real treat!

Enjoyed the piece playing when I first came on your site... kiss the rain, I think? Lovely. It makes you want to settle in for a real visit.

Acacia said...

Ahh! - I can taste what your feeling! I used to live in the 'humid summers' part of America. Every summer I longed for exactly what you wanted; fall.
Can you guess where I am now? - England!! ~ And not too far from the Lake District! When you mentioned Jane Austen and other movie characters and movies that were filmed in the UK, I just felt I had to metion this to you. I am going to the Lake District in about a fortnight! =) I wish I could meet you there! As you were speaking of plants, England is great for growing things. A lady in our neighborhood (orignally from Boston!) has lived in the village we're living in for 14 years. - And she loves it. Especially becuase whatever you put in the ground grows...well. Also, it dosen't get that hot over here. 65 - 70 -75 degrees is the 'norm' for a summer day. Does it sound good?? (Personally, I wish it was a little warmer then that!)
I'd love to hear from you!
Love in Christ,
~Acacia

Acacia said...

Ahh! - I can taste what your feeling! I used to live in the 'humid summers' part of America. Every summer I longed for exactly what you wanted; fall.
Can you guess where I am now? - England!! ~ And not too far from the Lake District! When you mentioned Jane Austen and other movie characters and movies that were filmed in the UK, I just felt I had to metion this to you. I am going to the Lake District in about a fortnight! =) I wish I could meet you there! As you were speaking of plants, England is great for growing things. A lady in our neighborhood (orignally from Boston!) has lived in the village we're living in for 14 years. - And she loves it. Especially becuase whatever you put in the ground grows...well. Also, it dosen't get that hot over here. 65 - 70 -75 degrees is the 'norm' for a summer day. Does it sound good?? (Personally, I wish it was a little warmer then that!)
I'd love to hear from you!
Love in Christ,
~Acacia

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

We have had a long hot summer as well! Our garden is so big - the tomato plants do look like something that has been put on steriods but it is simply raised beds and lasagna style gardening!

Autumn is my favorite time of year. I have been trying for the last few years to not look too far ahead but to enjoy today - but it is so hard when it is hot and humid to not long for that crisp air! After this summer we will certainly enjoy our Autumn!

Anonymous said...

Me too!

Anonymous said...

Also longing for cooler weather, here in NC...more like a sauna all the time of late!! It is something how the humidity invades inside an air conditioned house!!

The heat index could go as high as 109 today. The hottest I have been in, in other years, was 118, but in a less humid climate!! Seems just as hot here of late.
I always wonder HOW anyone ever lived here long enough to settle this part of the country, in the days before air conditioning. I am very grateful NOT to have to wear all those layers of clothing that ladies did back then too!!

Hoping that projected thunderstorms tonight actually bring some rain!
Elizabeth

Lallee said...

While I am waiting for some cooler days to do some tidying up in the yard, I do not want to say goodbye to the slower summer schedule. I enjoy this time of a little less responsibility, with time for more reading, etc. Give me one more month and I will be ready to tell the heat goodbye ;-) It was nice visiting with you this morning, Brenda.
Hugs,
Lallee

Vee said...

Oh PEI is just the place to hang out on a hot day...