Thursday, July 28, 2011

Just Perfect!


Our first fresh tomatoes!
While preparing fresh fruit for our weekend guests it struck me that there is hardly anything more perfect than sweet summer bounty.  I could not resist tasting the cantaloupe and strawberries I had selected and just washed and sliced.  Their flavor was sublime after a long bike ride on our Three Notch Trail. Additionally, they would be just perfect for a breakfast treat or late night snack.  There is hardly ever any fruit left when visitor's depart for home. I can understand. It is a particular weakness of mine and I love it all...but summer brings out the best...and I just never get tired of the watermelon, cherries, berries and cantaloupe.

After finishing that, and before I began baking the cinnamon streusel bread (also for our soon-to-arrive guests), I remembered that I had set the sprinkler to water our tomatoes and it probably needed moving.  Then it hit me that there is nothing quite so wonderful as the season's first, fresh, real tomato.  Our plants are just now bearing fruit as we got them in late....but they are full of pale green tomatoes and this morning I noticed several had ripened overnight.  So before I picked them for tonight's salad, I wanted to preserve their delicious memory.  I will serve them with fresh basil sprinkled on top.  Elegant and lucious in their simplicity.

Summer guests get to enjoy the best our area has to offer...both the fresh fruit and breads that I prepare and the wonderful cut flowers that fill the local Amish market. Sunflowers are often my flower of choice for the cottage or a lovely mixed bouquet in a Mason jar.  Sweet, juicy fruits and berries....just-baked cinnamon or fruit-filled breads....fresh-cut flowers...all are waiting for you when you come stay with us at Brictoria cottage.

We can promise your visit will be just perfect.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The sounds of summer

Cooper practicing the fine art of doing nothing




Summer, in all its steamy, sizzling glory has finally arrived. Last night's thunderstorms added to the warm morning fog that circulates among the trees as the sunlight streams through the leaves. Today's temperature hovered near triple digits. Although memories of ice and snow are distant, I remind myself of the winter days when I was struggling to chip ice from the sidewalk and my mind turned to precisely the kind of day we are now experiencing.

My cats have the right idea for enjoying such days. They stretch out on the porch and soak in the sun's warmth. As it gets hotter, they simply move less and finally slip into a lazy nap. Rather than struggling against what is, they just give into the fact it's easier to sit and do nothing. Given the choice of coming into the cool house and staying outside in the steam heat, they choose the latter. Every day in the summer is a good cat day because, they just lounge around waiting for the sun to go down...listening to the sounds of summer.

People who have never lived in the woods are often surprised by the noises we are accustomed to.....During the day, the birds cause a ruckus making you wonder just what is going on at the feeders. Normally, it's because a squirrel is hanging upside down trying to steal the sunflower seeds. Late afternoon and evening bring the loud humming of the cicadas and bird songs drifing softly as they settle in for the night....then the crickets, frogs...and other nature sounds join the symphony that entertains us until we finally succumb to our sleepiness and turn the night watch over to our cats.

All of this is offered free of charge. We look forward to sharing the sounds of summer with you very soon.