Cat's in the Bag

He does sleep sometimes. I swear, he does.

I did get myself motivated to use the eggplant. 

It's a casserole in a crust and it was very good. I changed it up just a little. The recipe called for sun-dried tomatoes, of which I have none. I did have a small amount of tomato sauce left from a few days ago and used that instead. I liked that. Otherwise, it's grilled eggplant, fresh herbs and lots of cheese! An oil crust isn't as fussy as a short crust.

It's another beautiful day, perfect except for lack of rain. Yesterday was cool and windy, the equines enjoyed it big time. There was no rush to get in the barn like usual. Mark pulled weeds and I worked in the kitchen, getting hooked on Clint Eastwood westerns. All Day. A moth to a flame. 

That was yesterday. 

Lovely Morning

My blog friend, Lori, makes simple and delicious looking food which she tempts us with everyday on her blog. A few days ago it was chicken and gravy. She inspired me and since I found, through Boud, that yesterday was my half birthday I decided to have it for dinner, with wild rice. It was so good, thanks for the inspiration, Lori!

We got a little rain last evening, not enough to matter. It did give a short moment of hope, then it went away. We have a lovely, cool morning which I suppose was ushered in by the rain. Thank you rain, even if you hardly did rain.

If I follow through on my plans I will make a recipe I came across that I'd saved a few years ago. Eggplant pie. Sounds awful, right? I would call it something else. The only relation it has to a pie is a pie crust in a pie plate. Otherwise, think more like a pizza. That's how I'm approaching it. I have an eggplant which is on its last leg, I can't let it go over when I specifically asked for it. Not after I made Mark realize how good eggplant is. He would not like me for awhile.

Now that this is sorted out I will go make an olive oil crust, insuring I will follow through and not allow Mark to not like me. Isn't that a sentence!

Ciao  

Books. Food.

I finished Stanley Tucci's book, Taste. There was a twist at the end I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed this book quite a lot. I realize it's probably because, by his own reading of his writing, I found we have some similar personality traits and humor. How could I not find it interesting! I am not the strict adherent to what pasta goes with what sauce and such, but I do understand the culture and the importance of food, both eating and preparing. And....like me he despises heat and humidity!

I am now onto this one.

I believe my blogging friend, e, recommended it. I put it on hold in February. I think it's popular. I'm not too far into it, but I do like the book. My blog friends have directed me to some good ones. 

We've had a few days of moderate temperatures, but no rain. It's bone dry. I had a pleasant conversation with Neighbor Bill this morning. We are both suffering lack of motivation. He said the soy bean fields are drying up and how he is worried about the future and the changing climate. I am right with him on that. The ostrich approach that most of the world has taken has brought us here. Ok, this part of the conversation wasn't pleasant, but the rest was.

In the spirit of Stanley Tucci I have a simple, simple meal that was last nights' dinner. It doesn't look like much but deserved a place on the screen, as Mark was in joy with every bite. It does not hurt to have someone who loves food sitting at your table. I'm pretty sure he married me for my cooking. I admit I did like his car. The creme fraiche I made last week was the star, along with asparagus. As Mark said, there's no chance of going wrong when those two are together.

That's my prattle for today. 

Ciao 

Mostly Beauty

Most of the peonies are done now. There is one bush just starting, but the rest are kaput.

I have about thirty peony bushes, maybe eight different varieties. I thin and transplant every few years. For some reason they like our miserable soil and thrive. 

We have another mild day. It needs to rain but the rain gods don't care what I or any other human has to say. I find this very annoying. 

I cannot let the indictment pass. I have made a habit of leaving politics alone, more for my sake than anything. How did President rise to the level of Monarch? How can a president pardon themselves? I don't know what will come of this. I do know that the deep flaws in our system of governance are bared for the world to see.

Back to our regularly scheduled programing.

Quiet

We have finally caught a break on the weather. It's both less humid and hot. Still no rain in sight. Other than the weather report there's not much happening around here. We did get two loads of square bales yesterday. If we don't get rain hay will be scarce, which means it will be even more expensive. 

Last evenings side dish became today's lunch. Warm at dinner, cold at lunch, on a bed of romaine. It was actually better warm. That may have been because of caramelized onions and fennel. I planted fennel bulb seeds this year and cannot wait to see how they do. I've only planted the herb which produces fennel seed. They have germinated, that's the start toward my first homegrown fennel.

My friends on the east coast who are living with the thick smoke in the air, I think about you and hope you get some kind of relief, hopefully a change in the weather pattern. Like maybe rain. 

 

Grazie Assai. For the Laughter

If I had crushes, I could have one on this guy.

I like him as an actor but I like him more as a writer. I started listening to this book late yesterday. I'm only two chapters in and have laughed often. He has a wonderfully dry sense of humor and what's not to like about a guy who writes a memoir revolving around food? Nothing as far as I am concerned.

Poor Me

It has been miserably hot and humid. June is typically a spring month in Minnesota, generally mild, pleasant days with just enough rain to keep things green. It's dry as dust, this is not boding well for us.

We have been eating a lot of these cold pasta salads. They are so refreshing, I make enough for dinner and then for lunch the next day. Who wants to cook in this soupy weather? That said, I do have chicken stock cooking in the InstantPot, only because the bones were taking up much needed space in the freezer. Mark needs to go to town today so he will pick up a pizza. No cooking for me again tonight. I'll take it.

 I am making creme fraiche. You can see the fermenting action going on in there. I like it better than sour cream, which I also like. Just like this better. It's milder.

Our air conditioner is older than Methuselah, which means I use it sparingly. Before we became tropical I rarely needed to use it, which may be why a 1985 unit is still working. I used it just enough to keep it operational but not to wear it out. That's my story anyway. After the appliance deaths last year I'd like to keep this one humming along for awhile. The enormous trees that were in front of the house, providing needed shade on the south, are now both gone. They are missed.

I am a wilting flower, I've turned into someone reclining on the fainting couch with a case of the vapors. Cream puff. Don't tell anyone, there were people who thought I was pretty tough once-upon-a-time! No need for disillusionment.

Cat Days of Summer

The boy has a theme.

He moved in and took over 6 months ago. Although still a kitten he is growing up and is quieter. Until he's not.

Mark picked rhubarb yesterday and is meeting a sister today for breakfast, giving her the rhubarb. I get the next bunch. All the seeds I planted have germinated. I'm really pleased by that, lots of flowers, fennel bulbs and summer squash. Those flower seeds were old.

It's Monday so it's laundry day. The only thing from my scheduled life I have stuck to. The routine in my life was disrupted when my mother died and I made a trip to Saint Paul six days out of the week for eight months. That will break a routine. I'd stay home on Monday to do laundry. That's three years ago already. I know time doesn't change but it sure feels like it's flying by. I think it's because the time ahead is getting shorter and I think about it more. That is a waste of brain space, don't you think? Anyway....onto something I can do and enjoy. I think I'll make an eggplant gratin for dinner. I can use my new grill as an oven so I will do that. It has been hot and humid. Not my cuppa. The weather does not care. Perhaps I need to do as Gatto; chill out, sleep and eat. Make a little mischief.

Summertime

The flower gardens are in full, riotous bloom.

You get a glimpse of the iris through the screen on the porch.

La Dolce Vita

 The sofas need slipcovers because of a certain naughty boy.

I spent all day Friday mowing with Bill's mower. Phew! He has got the necessary parts to fix my mower so we are one step closer. It has been miserably hot, unbearable for me and almost the same for Mark. He had to spend most of yesterday fixing a pasture fence, the boys decided to go through the fence instead of the gate. That was a new move.

The peonies are in full bloom and so are some of the later blooming iris. I need to get myself out to take photos. It's just so humid, which may be why the peonies are so stunning. 

Otherwise, life is humming along. I have been surprisingly busy. That does not mean I'm getting much done, but I'm busy being busy. 

This is how I spend late afternoons. Either listening to or reading digital library loans. I was late coming to the online library, but I am so pleased I did. Better late than never is true. I finished Agatha, recommended by Boud. It was read by the author and I enjoyed it.  I have several books on hold that my blogging friends have recommended and which are obviously popular, so in-between I scroll through what's available. It is my afternoon indulgence. 

So my friends, be like Gatto and find your La Dolce Vita, however you may define it.

Resolution

As has been noted by some, Mark got the message. He didn't appreciate that phone call, then I drove it home. He is suitably humbled and will do as I have asked, put the cleanup as a priority over lopping saplings. He's a good man, but a deeply stubborn man. Aesthetics mean nothing to him, especially when he's on his own mission. He has always been the garden weeder because he is very adept at it. He can clear weeds about five times faster than I can. Yesterday he weeded the iris in front of the veranda and the plantings in front of the rest of the house. There is a large flower bed in this area, as well. He said he would do that one today. 

Mark has also committed to cutting up and removing as much of the tree as he can with his chainsaw. He said that will be most of the tree and he will do it this weekend. He has client work he needs to do, the 15th of a month is always one deadline or another. He committed to removing the falling down arena fence after that is done. The neighbor did me a favor, Mark didn't like it and he saw, because of the call, what I have been telling him is real. That, combined with formidable me showing up, was enough to get him to cooperate. I told him I'd make a rhubarb pie. When it's done. As far as the lawn, Bill has been gone. The have a small RV which is not there, so they went camping. Mark will ask for the use of his mower when Bill gets back. Honestly, the tree and weeds in the flowers bothers me the most.

The iris and peonies are blooming. It's a riot of color. I need to thin phlox, that pretty flower is so invasive it's choking out three of the flower beds. The positive is weeds don't stand a chance! We are well above normal in temperature, at least what use to be normal. It will be 90F today and in that range into next week. Also very humid. I had to turn the air conditioner on last night. In May! Being so hot and humid at the time of year where we normally have spring weather is unhelpful.

I will end with the thought that the entitled neighbor actually performed a service. Getting angry, at Mark, cleared my funk and gave Mark a wakeup call. Listen to the aware one in the family!