Let's take a summer break -

We're preparing for a little trip, our first since California in May.

Right now I would go just about anywhere to get out of

 North Carolina's ongoing heat and humidity.

Next week, an hour and half flight north will see us 

back in New England where, hopefully, it will be much 

cooler..........but still sunny for the coast and mountain

visits we are planning.

Our base, as always, is Manchester, New Hampshire. Bob's home town, 

and my home for several years when we were first married.  We have no

family there any longer but a whole lot of great memories, old haunts,

favorite restaurants, special nooks and crannies, and some special friends.

A quick look at this week now that Friday is here. At last we have a

 cooler day and some light rain fell this morning which is needed badly

 in the garden. 

Speaking of drinking and refreshing liquids - this is my latest find in the

Rosé wine department. I love a chilled glass on a summer's eve.

We were introduced to a new to us wine bar recently by friends. 

It is also becoming a favorite retail store for buying wine to bring home.

The congenial owner knows his wines and sells them at good,

discounted prices. Cheers!!!!

This was my favorite find to date.  Many French Rosé wines are way

 beyond my budget this year - like everything they have increased

 drastically. I like the screw top, the label is beautiful, and the wine is all

the label states and is delicious. Who knew notes of black cherry, quince

 and liquorice could taste so good.

This wine actually comes from Pézenas, an interesting medieval town

 in the region between Montpellier and Beziers, not too far from my brother's

 home. I recall visiting there several years ago.

Pézenas was important in the 15th and 16th centuries, being the provincial

 capital of the Languedoc region, and receiving visits from the court of Louis XIV. 

Old-fashioned Blueberry Muffins

Drinking requires eating of course!

When given too many blueberries baking muffins is necessary.

Everyone likes a muffin so I shared some with family and Bob and

 I split one for breakfast each morning as they are jumbo sized!

This week I cooked a lot. Mainly savory meals using tomatoes - a great

 soup from oven-roasted tomatoes and homemade basil pesto; sheet-roasted

 tomatoes, peppers, shallots, garlic and a block of Greek feta; and a good old

 basic summer tomato sandwich using 6-grain bread, a dash of mayo and

 black pepper - no extra sodium here.

I've been blessed with the harvest from my neighbor's garden and as he's

 away I get to pick anything turning red on the plants!  Also green, 

as you can see a few more cukes found hiding in the tangled

vines this morning. Not sure what type of cucumber this is -

very different from the earlier ones which were longer, so perhaps

 he planted two types. 

Just cut one open, quite nice with few seeds, but skin needs

removing as it's rather tough.  Will most likely make green Gazpacho 

with these over the weekend.

Books and reading. Anything of interest to share, I'm now at the bottom of the 

stack by the bed. Dug up this one which I started a couple of nights ago - found

at the Dollar Store (which is now $1.25 for most items) but still great

 bargains, especially for brand new hardbacks!

So far I'm liking it and have learned a lot about an animal I really knew

 nothing about - the wolverine. Reviews say it's a stunning thriller, a 

mystery and a survival story set in Montana. The author is a wildlife 

sanctuary monitor and a geographic information systems specialist so

 I'm certain knows her stuff.

I'll review it later when completed - meanwhile it's literally a cool book to 

be reading in this hot weather!

Lastly, how about this book to take on vacation next week?

I purchased it a long time ago but have not read it yet. 

Like the size and light weight for my 'personal item' bag for the

 plane, and again the setting is in WINTER, so it should be perfect.

It won The Guardian Best Book of 2018.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Stay cool if in a hot place, hang on to that umbrella

if in rain and wind.  

PETRICHOR. . . . . . .

A word you may be familiar with.
A new word for me . . . and one I really like.
PETRICHOR

  From the Greek petra - stone

and ichor - the fluid which was said to flow through

the veins of the gods in mythology.

One of summer's most refreshing sensations is the the feel of cool air as a storm

 rolls in after a spell of humid weather.

 When fat raindrops hit the parched earth, a distinctive scent called 'petrichor' is

 produced. An earthy smell produced by organic compounds, and both humans and

 animals find it particularly attractive.

Yesterday we had a long awaited rain - heavy lasting rain with booming thunder, 

lightning, water filled the streets, huge raindrops danced on the flat and small rivers

 rolled down the slopes.  

Later today, and perhaps all through the weekend, there will be more storms.

August is here, summer heat builds, dark clouds roll in mid-afternoon.

Yesterday I walked, outside, I breathed the air and could smell it 

through the dampness, heady, earthy. . . . . . . . petrichor! 

Finding a sense of calm. . . . . . . .

Sometimes, when life seems upended by unexpected matters of the day, 

just sitting at home is required to calm the mind.

The long, very long, like around the building queue, to get into the 

Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my driver's license, 

impossible. 90F, humid, no shade, and of course no seats.

I gave up and came home! Will try another day.

My cousin in England's lovely husband undergoing cancer surgery today,

awaiting good news. 

Hopes were dashed late last week as my newly found American second

 cousin lost her home in the horrific Redding, California 'Carr Wildfire.' 

I'm feeling helpless with 2,848 miles between us.

Some rain showers at night seem to be helping the figs ripen at last, 

however they just don't have a good flavor this year and I will not 

be making jam.

August here already. I don't know about you, but I'm 

already thinking about Autumn, my favorite season of the year.

We will be traveling this month and next, just short trips but to

lovely places. This is the year to spend time with special friends, 

including blog friends.

I need to start packing. . . . . . .I'm looking forward to 

getting back in the sky, and out on the road, to view the 

spectacular scenery we have right here in North America.

It's just so sad to see how quickly it can be obliterated 

by fire and other earth-shattering happenings.