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.  

Wines of Summer -

Monday afternoon.

Temperature 94F - clouding up but doubtful it will rain.

We watered everything at 8:00 AM - sadly the garden is withering fast.

Sometimes, when enjoying a chilled glass . . . . . . or two, I think "let's throw 

caution to the wind and kill the entire bottle."

On these hot, very humid mid-summer days with nowhere to go, one could

 do just that. No need to get in the car and drive. Not wrong to be giggling or

 appearing somewhat unsteady on the old legs. . . . . nobody's looking or caring.

But I can't say I've ever done that, finished an entire bottle of

 wine myself. . . in one sitting!

Bob has cut back drastically on wine consumption in these past months.

He does enjoy a beer some days but drinks mostly water. 

That's really good and definitely healthy, but does make me feel somewhat

 guilty chilling a glass and popping a cork.

Do you enjoy wine?  

I admit that I do and usually enjoy a glass with dinner, and these tropical

afternoons sometimes sip one on the porch before dinner!

We buy wines which look interesting when grocery shopping mostly.  

We have our wine rack stocked with reds but now, for summer drinking, 

we fill our small second fridge with rosé and

Sauvignon Blanc, with a bottle of champagne thrown in ready for 

some kind of special celebration. . . . . if one shows up which is doubtful

these days.

I have to add here that this past week I enjoyed a fabulous

rosé wine from the Veneto area of ITALY!  

Veneto is the eighth largest region of Italy and has more than 90,000 hectares

 of vineyards, of which 35,400 are of DOC status. A rich hunting ground for

 the thirsty traveller, it is home to the Soave DOC, famous for its dry whites

 made from Garganega, and the Valdobbiadene DOCG region, world famous for

 its Prosecco . . . . . 

. . . . . . .and also for some great rosé wines.

Tesoro Della Regina - unusual in a shorter, fatter bottle ($13.99) -

more robust than many rosés, fruity and dry, delicious well chilled

(always chill your glass too!).

 Recommended by the manager of our nearby Total Wine store,

it's the best rosé I've tasted this summer.

Ah Venice - to spend time admiring your beauty again would be wonderful.

Bob in Venice - October 2012

One of my favorite photos of Bob - he says the beer was OK too!  

CHEERS!

...........and Bob!

Iced Drinks for Summertime. . . . . . . . . .

Tomorrow's Scribble Picnic art get together over at Michael's 

is canceled!  Too much going on in many people's lives these busy

Summer days - even I missed the last two weeks due to 

travel and busy days when I returned. Perhaps the 'picnic' will

 return at a later date, I hope so.

I'd already worked on my piece for this week - theme 

Iced Drink - so decided to share it anyway.

For me, on late afternoons into hot, humid evenings here in the southeast, 

you may find me enjoying my favorite 'iced drink', Rosé wine.

I've taste tested many, some excellent and far too pricey, others not so

good, from all growing areas in the world.

This pretty shaped bottle of dry rosé (must be dry, no sweet wines for me)

from Provençe, has become my go to choice for this Summer. . . . and at

just $7.99 at Aldi it's a winner!

My original photo, taken on the dining room table, is edited in PicMonkey

 to a 'sketch' then I added back color with watercolor pencils.

I'm pleased with this effect - I love watercolor paintings.

I know there are some 'Watercolor' apps available that turn your 

photos into paintings - anyone use one of those and can recommend?

I use a MacBook Air so it has to be compatible. Unfortunately Waterlogue,

purported to be the best app, is not available for MacBooks or iMac.

It is available on the iPhone though so perhaps I'll try it there - can at

least use it on photos taken with my phone rather than camera.

Cheers, and a happy Summer painting days to all my artist friends.