Hummingbirds -

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Our resident pair were busy this morning.

This summer I hung a new feeder on the front porch for the visiting

 hummingbirds - thankfully no ants have found it. I use only sugar and water 

now, a clean batch every few days during the heat, none of that red tinted

 commercial stuff.

In summertime we always have a visiting pair, the red-throated one being the 

handsome male - of course they're both beautiful!

They're the most difficult birds to photograph due to their speed, but every now

and then I just manage to catch a few shots through the dining room window - 

after standing there for what seems eternity, camera at the ready, usually 

early morning or late afternoon.

Hundreds of kinds of hummingbirds nest in the American tropics, and more

 than a dozen in the western U.S., but east of the Great Plains there is only 

the Ruby-throat. Here in the southeast it is fairly common in summer in

 open woods and gardens. Hovering in front of a flower, or a feeder, to sip

 nectar, it beats its wings more than 50 times per second. Impressive migrants

 despite their small size, some Ruby-throats may travel from Canada to Costa Rica.

I love to see these tiny, busy birds in my garden.

Raggedy wrens - making pesto . . . . . . . . .

Like most everywhere in the northern hemisphere, we too are going
 through heatwave/drought conditions.

I recall childhood summers of near perfect weather. 
But those are history, in another time and place. 
I seem to dislike almost everything about summer now - except perhaps
 fresh picked tomatoes and country rides under deep blue skies - and
 although I don't wish time to fly too fast, I will embrace the arrival of Autumn. . . . 

. . . . . . .and I know the garden birds will too.  

The pair of Carolina wrens came to the porch yesterday looking tired and dishevelled. 
 Usually such sleek little birds with never a feather out of place, they were
 ruffled, messy and obviously feeling the heat. I see them drink from the bird baths
 but don't recall seeing them actually bathe, something the robins love to do.

The pair each clung to a hanging basket chain and proceeded to have a
 very noisy conversation. No doubt it was about the weather, just like the rest of us!

*****************

8:30 AM Saturday we were at the local Farmers' Market - and things were jumping.
We went for German Johnson tomatoes - best for slicing and tucking 
into a traditional sandwich. Bob's favorite is easy, two slices of a good dense
 oat bread spread with a smidgen of salted butter, layer of juicy sliced tomatoes 
slathered with real mayo with a grind of black pepper.  Let sit a little while to 
bring to room temperature, then bite in!  
Summer in a sandwich. . . . . . . . nothing else required.

I was late sowing my own three pots of basil seeds this year - waiting until
 returning from Ireland knowing they would need daily attention. 
All pots are looking good now and I'll have plenty of basil to use, freeze as pesto,
 and share. 
Until my harvest I'm buying bunches of basil. At the market I found a 
large bunch from an organic farm and made pesto as soon as I arrived home.
Green and gorgeous, BUT within minutes in a bowl the top had turned 
that ugly army green shade.  
Later I checked Cook's Illustrated online to see how that can be avoided and
found two remedies you may already be familiar with, but quite new to me.
I will definitely be testing them in the upcoming pesto making days!

         BLANCHING - deactivates the enzyme that causes browning when cut

 basil leaves interact with oxygen.    

             Blanch basil for 30 seconds in boiling water and then shock it in ice water

 before drying it and proceeding with the recipe. 

This brief dunk causes minimal flavor loss. 

OR

ADDING LEMON JUICE - which contains antioxidants citric and ascorbic acid.

Add 4 teaspoons of lemon juice per 2 cups of packed basil.

Lemon juice also adds a pleasant acidity to pesto.

*************

Have a happy summer week in the kitchen - so many fabulous vegetables

to play with now that August is almost here.

       

Hot and cold!

Of course it is summertime.  

So the heat continues.

Stay inside if possible. . . .  

. . . . says she heading out to fill the bird feeders!

Our winged friends look bedraggled and

tired, and I feel guilty watching them

trying to find a seed or nut.

Making icy cucumber gazpacho today.

Cool pasta salad (I'll share a really good recipe later).

Fresh strawberry shortcake.

No oven - no grill - thankful for refrigeration!

Chilling out - perhaps some rain this evening which will be welcomed.

Hydrangeas and summertime. . . . . . . .

HAPPY CANADA DAY to all our dear friends across the northern border!

I spent time in the gazebo yesterday rearranging hydrangeas early in the

 day. . . . . .before the oppressive 95 degrees arrived along with distant storm

 clouds, and rumbling thunder. These days are far from my favorites - the older

 I get the less I enjoy the summer months.

If I lived in a cooler climate, with no biting bugs and the need to coat myself in

 insect repellent prior to stepping out the door, nights that cooled down, where

 flowers could survive more than a day, picnics perfect, the ocean refreshing, 

summertime would still be embraced as it was in my childhood days in England. 

 Dream on.

The beautiful shades of blue have faded so quickly now. 

We left for Ireland when they were just opening HERE, returned to find them stunning

 in deep shades of blue. Neighbors stopped to gasp and comment on their loveliness,

 and now, just two weeks later, hardly a touch a blue remains and we're into soft 

greens, greys, and a touch of dusty rose.

Not complaining, they are still so lovely and I have cut many (always early in the 

morning before the heat causes drooping) and have vases placed around the house.  

Some I hope will dry out and can be used in autumn and winter when there's very

 little to cut in the garden.

Gardens change. . . . . . . . gardening continues!

SWELTERING HEAT!

Still much too hot to be out here on the front porch.

104F today!

Even the trumpet vine looks frazzled.

Getting a bit tired of chilly meals so decided a quick oven flatbread wouldn't 

overheat the kitchen too much.

Readymade crust by Stonefire topped with thinly sliced tomatoes and fresh

 mozzarella, topped with a scattering of shredded low-moisture mozzarella,

 salt and pepper - baked for 15 minutes. 

Removed and topped with a garlicky basil and pine nut pesto whizzed in the
 food processor, a few fresh basil leaves, and a dusting of grated parmesan.

It was really, really good, honest!!!!

Storms tonight brought much-needed rainwater to the garden.

Fortunately no damage in this area but the lightning was serious and scary!

Summer Whites. . . . . . . .

Phew! Talk about hot.  

I was looking back through my archive and decided I needed 

to come up with some cool looking photos for another day with the 

temperature heading to the mid-90's.

I took these photos at a fabulous shop in New Hampshire which has 

now moved south to New York State. I visited twice (and shopped of course

because I fell in love with just about everything), when we traveled back to 

Bob's NH hometown. I was really sad when I learned 

it had relocated to a town I will probably never have a reason to visit.

So, let's enjoy the Summertime whites - linens for wearing, 

china for serving, sea shells and ocean treasures for visions of 
the always beautiful beach.

What are you doing to keep cool these days?

Edited: After moaning about the awful heat OUTSIDE, our air-conditioning 
upstairs went on the blink this morning, grrrr!  I won't even tell you the 
high number registering on the thermostat as of 4 pm as I go through the
motions of packing for a weekend away.
Right now I'm speed chilling a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc - it will 
help me keep my sanity this evening OR make me oblivious to the 
sweltering heat when I try to sleep!