summer Archives

Handpicked Summer Blueberries with Joe and Angel

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We picked blueberries at Joe’s parents’ place today. Me, my husband Angel, and Joe, a couple of buckets, most of the afternoon.

It’s easy work and it’s slow, which is the appeal. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. The ripe ones come off easy, and the ones that fight you aren’t ready yet. Joe kept finding the fullest branches and pointing them out. Angel worked the low bushes, the ones you have to crouch for, where the fruit sits in the shade and stays sweeter. Between the three of us the buckets filled faster than the conversation ever slowed.

Joe’s mom was out there too with the dogs, who had a system. Anything that hit the dirt was theirs. They ran the rows like a cleanup crew and I don’t think one dropped berry made it out of that patch.

Joe’s usually the one taking care of us, so it was good to spend an afternoon on his family’s land, picking from bushes his parents have been tending for years.

We came home with way more blueberries than three people should reasonably eat. Scones first, then muffins, then syrup with whatever’s left. Purple fingers for a day or two.

Summer Garden update end of June

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End of June, when the heat loosens its grip and the yard goes quiet. The raised beds hold their shape against the day’s sprawl, cedar edges warm to the touch, soil still breathing from the sun. Vines find what they’re looking for, small tendrils hooking into the trellis like a steady handshake. Carrot tops feather the paths; the salad patch keeps its cool, a low green tide.

I water slow and let the light do its last work. Beads gather on leaves, then vanish. A bee drifts past my shoulder, unbothered. Somewhere a neighbor closes a door. Here, it’s only the soft scrape of a trowel, the faint sweetness of tomato stems on my hands, the small proof of planning made real: a cucumber with a pale bloom, the hint of orange shouldering up through soil, a bowl’s worth of crisp leaves.

These beds aren’t grand, just honest. A rhythm you can feel under your ribs—seed, care, wait, return. At the end of June, the garden answers in its careful language: not yet everything, but enough tonight. I set the hose down, look once more, and let the day close around it.

Frozen Watermelon Margarita Friday

Some Fridays ask for a little ceremony—something cold, bright, and simple enough to let the week finally loosen its grip.

Frozen Watermelon Margarita Friday is exactly that: a glass of pink ice, the kind that looks like late afternoon light, with a wedge of watermelon and a lime perched on the rim like small reminders that summer is still here. It’s sweet without being heavy, tart in the way that wakes you up, and frosty enough to slow you down.

I like drinks like this because they feel ordinary in the best way. No fuss, no performance—just the familiar clink of ice, the first sharp sip, and the quiet pause that follows when you realize you’ve been holding your breath all week.

If you’re making one at home, think in easy ratios: watermelon for softness, lime for brightness, tequila for warmth, a little triple sec if you want it rounded, and a handful of ice to turn it all into a slush. Salt the rim if you’re in the mood for that small, perfect contrast.

Pour it, take it outside if you can, and let the evening arrive at its own pace.

End of Summer Cuteness – New Jersey Shore

| ?️⛳️?

| #minigolf #boyfriendswhobeach #avalon

| Angel and myself ended the summer with a trip to the New Jersey shore with my parents (Donna and Ray).

My First Blue Apron with Crispy Cod and Summer Squash

| #916 #food #dinner @blueapron

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|I have been meaning to try Blue Apron, or something similar, and finally made the commitment. After reviewing many services, Blue Apron appeared to have the best track record and most choices.The first meal I made was a Crispy Cod ribboned Summer Squash dish. I had never cooked, let alone pan fried fish before, but i’m please that the result not only looked pleasing but was tasty! Initial assessment of Blue Apron is pretty good. However, I wish there was a better way or an alternate way to dispose of the ice packs.

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