Sipping with friends!

A circle of wonderful friends.

Some only known virtually, so far.

Others already met in person. . . . . and even looking 

forward to meeting up again once travel is back on 

the books!

Thankful for all these years of blogging and the many

super people it has brought into my life.

Thankful for blogging friends who recommend good things which help 
us through the days and weeks making life even more pleasant.

Meike (Germany), on her wonderful blog From My Mental Library gave

 me a heads up recently on Fentiman's English Botanically Brewed

 'ROSE LEMONADE' which I was able to locate at our World Market 

store last weekend.  This is such a refreshing, and pretty,

drink for the hot weather. Meike suggested make a Rose Gin & Tonic

 with it. I just drank it straight up, secretly thinking ~ "This is just as good

as a fine French sparkling rosé wine!"

I would love to meet up with Meike if I get back to Germany some day.

I passed along this drink to another dear blog friend, Marilyn (Portland, 

Oregon) of Delights Of The Heart who is really suffering with the

 unimaginable heatwave in her area. She can use anything chilled

 to drink this week. She's already made popsicles and gazpacho!

 Marilyn, whom I've met - lucky me - is a tea specialist.

She knows a ton of stuff about tea that even I, a Brit, never knew!

Herbs - Pesto - Growing your Garden.

. . . . . . for late June.

I'm growing all these herbs - and they are doing well.

As it's so unbearably hot in many places across the country here right

now, I'm thinking a really 'green post' will be a little cooling!

First pots of Genovese basil are now being harvested for pesto.

Of course there should be garlic here also!!!!!  Lots of it.

Using walnuts this year - pine nuts are just so expensive.

I add a little lemon juice to keep the bright green color.

Good ingredients, as always, make good, healthy foods.

Extra virgin olive oil, real Parmigiana Reggiano cheese freshly grated, 

fresh nuts of your choice are a must.

These small square Ziploc storage containers are the perfect size for

 pesto - I share a lot and pack the freezer with the rest. 

Big pot of sage, smells so good.

Pots of thyme - regular and lemon.

The long leaves? My amaryllis bulbs over-summering - will repot for 

the house come early winter.

More pots of basil planted later, also more dill. . . . . .. 

. . . . . . because the flowers are tall and pretty. 

The current 'kitchen window' vase is of course filled with basil also!

Are you growing herbs?

Which is your favorite?

Mine has to be basil. . . . . . and hopefully there will soon be

locally grown tomatoes available to make fresh summer dishes.