HEAT: Cool Pools, Moonflower, Ice Cream -

Above - Rattray's Camp, Mala Mala, South Africa - 2010 & 2012

Stunning plunge pool/outdoor shower - elephants passing by in the

river below.

Vumbura Plains, Botswana - 2010

Personal plunge pool overlooking the Okavango Delta.

Hyatt Hotel, Raleigh, NC - a night now and then 

for a 'staycation' - before COVID of course!

 

So, no pool, no beach trips, no visits to a lake or pond

right now. Thankful for cool indoor air, whirring

 ceiling fans, tall iced drinks, ice cream.

I made my own this week, Pistachio, and it's good!

Served here in one of my dear friend Gina's

pretty bee bowls.

The garden is struggling in this heat of course.

Bob and I were out there very early this morning,

watering and dead heading petunias, geraniums,

soaking hydrangeas and the pots of basil etc. 

Last evening I spied this first moonflower 

unfurling its petals - watched for a couple of hours, 

then caught the full blown flower before dusk. 

My moonflowers and morning glories are now

 tangled happily together, clambering up the porch.

MOONFLOWER

Ipomoea alba, sometimes called the tropical white morning-glory or moonflower

 or moon vine, is a species of night-blooming morning glory, native to tropical

 and subtropical regions of the New World, from northern Argentina north to Mexico, 

Florida and Puerto Rico. Wikipedia

Here's to another week ahead.

Stay cool, be strong, remain well dear friends.

Summer Saturday. . . . . . . . . . .

Early this morning was perfect with almost cool temperatures. 

Now and then a tiny breeze rustled the outdoor flag but wasn't enough

 to play the wind chimes. 

Almost zero humidity is so special here in the south during the

 summertime and this morning we were gifted.

We enjoyed our coffee on the front porch, reading the newspaper, knowing 

how it will get hot later and we will be inside keeping busy until the evening.

I need to bake blueberry muffins - Bob bought far too many - and I'll

perhaps make a veggie pizza and cook on the grill as the sun goes down.

We do plan a quick shop at our local LIDL to pick up the veggies as I

also want to make that wonderful oven-roasted ratatouille recipe this 

weekend. I shared it with you last year and will do so again later.

Tiny new potatoes are hopefully still available as I love the looks of 

this easy peasy dish - from UK Country Living.

We don't have one of these!  Lucky you if you do.

I took this photo at our hotel recently and think it looks so cool!!!

Have a great time this weekend whatever you are doing.

Staycation time. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . yes, we're doing another one just a few minutes from home!  

An overnight at very nice hotel tucked in between the new 'Midtown' area

of hi-rise office and apartment buildings, shops, restaurants, breweries,

 coffee shops, and cinema - you name it, they have it here.

 It's not a tourist location we'd choose of course, but as we had a free night 

to use from a national hotel chain, and it was about to expire, we 

checked in this afternoon.

The pool area was a magnet for the usual - families with young children - we are
 enjoying it from our window rather than out in the hot sun and 88F.

I'm sipping a nice chilled rosé right now and dinner plans are decided. 

We've not had Indian in some time so will be heading 10 minutes north
 a bit later to the Taj Mahal (no, not THAT Taj Mahal unfortunately!).
Hopefully some tasty vegetarian fare is on the menu.

Tomorrow we'll enjoy the included breakfast here, check out, and head
 back home down the street with our overnight bags.  

Photos via iPhone