We have such short growing seasons in Minnesota, I have to give huge props to our farmers and avid gardeners. (edit- my original said avoid gardeners. I promise, all gardeners are welcome here.) I'm seeing more and more bits of local produce in stores and keep my eyes open for the first produce stands. Actually, there was a stand with I think corn from southern Iowa that comes up early on weekends. We hold out for local. Meanwhile, the bits I can get at the farmer's market have been thoroughly enjoyed. That's where my Positively Tuesday will start.
- Gorgeous cucumbers, locally grown, combined with store bought onions and tomatoes to make my favorite summer salad.
- Had a nice catch-up with friends at one of their kids graduation party. Of course not long enough, but I hadn't seen her since early May. We're all in this mom's friend group empty nesters now. I also had a good catch-up with my friends BIL, who I went to school with, and his wife. They're a super nice couple. Their 28 year old son has significant special needs, so I know they don't get out very often. A few of us have tried to get them to join us for trivia, or at least alternate.
- Card night at my sister's was fun. It's been quite a while since we got together. My sister made sloppy joes. Sorry Kim. They were delicious so I had to include in my weekly simple pleasures.
- Book club was fun and good conversation on Good Girls Guide to Murder. If you read it, I'd like your opinions. It was a good conversation about young adult focused literature in addition to discussing the book itself.
- We had a nice Sunday going with our daughter to a nearby village then lunch on Sunday. We had both a downpour there and on route home but nothing apparently in our town. We need rain still. Desperately need rain.
- We had a scare with pup when DD2 saw a lot of blood in his ear fur. It was a gross big tick that we were able to remove, then clean up the area well. The joy was he seems ok, spry even, but ewe, we need to do a better job checking him.
- This is a frugal and a joy. DH went into the dairy in the village in Sunday and bought two bags of fresh cheese curds, 1 pound each, for just $2 a bag. One was dill pickle and the other Cajun. I was surprised how delicious the dill pickle were. Not over powering and I wish now we had got more. I guess a reason to travel to Wisconsin on occasion.
- Stuff for I jam with last summers blueberries is ready to go. Tonight, I promise. Now to schedule a picking Saturday this year.
- The stifling heat makes it easy to get up and outside for a morning walk with pup. The barking patrol is none to happy to see him walk by though. We take another walk after 8:00.
- Cooking up a big package of chicken for three meals in the crockpot means I can just do simple salads and wraps. It's just too hot for other food.
It's odd that we can hit nearly 100° and -20°, Fahrenheit mind you, in a 6 month period. That's Minnesota for you. I hope where you are, you're getting the right mix of clouds, rain, and sun. Have a Positively Tuesday.
My poor daughter and family are in London- no air conditioning and not safe to use public transportation. She said she and the kids just vegged out yesterday and probably the same thing today. Apartment is just a 10 minute walk for son-in-law to go to the office so that’s doable with a water bottle. This AM I made a meat loaf and cut up several vegetables- yes, I still use the oven and eat hot foods even when it’s 100 but my air conditioning works great snd I’ve never had a bill over $90 a month. I am going to trim the yard a bit but I just work for a few minutes at a time on front bushes. My sis says I’m nuts to not hire it done but ok I’m nuts. Nan
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of UK bloggers and I do feel for their heat when there appears to be little relief. Comfort matters, but too much AC gives me a headache, so I try not to add more effort to it running.
DeleteI think you mean "avid gardeners," not "avoid gardeners." The latter would be an interesting concept. -Mr. M.
ReplyDeleteTee hee! I will run to not avoid the good gardeners. Thanks for catching and giving me a chuckle.
DeleteI'm happy you were able to have a lot of joys this week. We have had quite a bit of rain but starting today for at least 10 days we're going to be over 100 and it is so humid.
ReplyDeleteWe're drowning in veggies which is a nice problem to have. The big guy brought home a 5 pound bag of green beans from a friends garden so I blanched and froze them last night. Needless to say we are set on green beans for the winter.
Hope you have a great day!!
I'm looking for good things each day, and it does help. I have worry about a few things out of my control, but trying to focus where things are in my scope. Fresh green beans are such a treat.
DeleteYou had a lot of nice joys this week.
ReplyDeleteI guess I don't think of the weather differences when produce starts rolling in here. We are to the point where everything is booming and delicious. I am having to buy more locally than normal because the resident groundhog is feasting on everything we are growing.
Our farmers and gardeners got such a late start with the cold and rainy spring. We have a corn saying- knee high by 4th of July, but it wasn't quite there yet. Nice you feed your neighbors- JK. The little mooch.
DeleteIn my town, the Festhalle Farmer's Market is only for farmers and their produce who live in the county, so really local. We are open April-October. Of course, the produce changes according to what has come in gardens. So, that is seven months of local. There are even eggs, a meat truck from a local butcher shop in the country. Plant starts, fried pies, cut watermelons, honey, and all sorts of foodstuffs are for sale.
ReplyDeleteI have seen egg producers occasionally, but the cheese guy, bread lady, and egg roll lady are usually present. St Paul has a gorgeous farmers market. We'll go late summer. That's an advantage of the south. You get a nice long growing season. Your farmers market sounds terrific.
DeleteSounds like you had lots of fun activities. I am so thankful we have a/c in our home now. I remember all those summer days of it being way too hot to cook or feel like eating.
ReplyDeleteI had made a huge pot of pinto beans- tonight ended up just being nachos, with refried beans, cheese, rice, and homemade Salsa. Cheap and didn't hear up the place. I am grateful for AC too.
DeleteI always try to pick up as much local produce, eggs, dairy and meat as possible (we are fortunate to have great growing seasons here). Ooh, cheese curds! Did you make poutine? Serve them over hot fries, then cover 'em with gravy! It's a French-Canadian delicacy (but it's often eaten as a late-night food - so greasy and delicious!).
ReplyDeleteThese were fresh curds, not the deep fried battered ones, but I love poutine. It's on menus every so often as a nod to our northern neighbors.
DeleteNo rain here, and we could use it! One of my joys this week was making easy side salads, using fresh garden ingredients - inline with what you've mentioned.
ReplyDeleteWe keep getting rain teases. I never thought I'd feel sorry for the heat in London- that's something for them to hit 100. We're already at 14 days at 90 or above, which is the normal full summer average.
DeleteUgh just the word sloppy has me gagging:)
ReplyDeleteI will try to avoid writing about it. Did you know that's what Australia calls hoodies? Learn something new at trivia last week.
DeleteLots of wonderful things to be joyous about this week for you! We're very hot in south Texas too and have not had any rain. We've been enjoying a lot of salads on the hot evenings and been picking some fresh okra from the garden to roast.
ReplyDeleteI read two men and a farm and they've shared May- July pictures. Just no rain and the ground has to be rock hard in Texas. I feel for you. I do not know if I like okra or not. Generally I like roasted vegetables.
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