Summer In Full Swing

It was not my intention to let a week go by before posting again.  Time is just zooming by at lightening speed,and even though I intend to post regularly, I get caught up in my gardening time in the evenings, which is usually when I sit down to compose a post.  I am enjoying the lazy mornings, having Noah here, and nowhere we have to be.  It is nice.  He and his cousins have been doing a fair amount of swimming lately.

Sometimes lunch is a hot dog and icee at Sam's Club.

The garden continues to provide the basis for many of our meals.  On Saturday I made hummus.  Easy Peasy, and oh so delicious.

I didn't use a recipe.  I just eyeballed it.  I had 3 cans of garbanzo beans.  I drained them, and reserved the liquid.  Put about 4-5 fresh cloves of garlic into processor with metal blade.  Mince finely.  Add beans and Tahini. For 3 cans, I used about half of this jar.  Maybe 2/3 cup or so.   Add the juice of two lemons.  If you don't have one of these babies...get one!!  Pulse to desired creaminess.  Add some of the reserved bean liquid, and sea salt and a pinch of pepper.  Taste to see what it may need.   I put it into three containers, and drizzled a bit of olive oil on top, then sprinkled with smoked paprika.

I used a sugar snap pea to do my taste test.

Perfect!

You could add anything you want to it.  Roasted red peppers, herbs, pesto!  Try it!

I had just brought in some fresh spinach and from the garden, and I had some pita bread, so I made these hummus and veggie sandwiches for lunch.  They were delicious!

I later thought, oh darn, I should have added some cucumber slices too.  Next time.  

After the hummus, I got a big batch of granola going.  We love it on yogurt, ice cream, or just plain.  

Quesadillas are a quick and easy snack around here too.  I love to load it up with arugula and chives from the garden, and tomatoes, and black olives.  Then top with ripe avocado.  Fresh & Easy has a creamy cilantro dressing that I love for a dipping sauce!

Greg was gone on business all of last week.  I was so ready for him to come  home on Friday night!  We had a pretty laid back weekend.  On Saturday afternoon, I went to a beautiful garden tea party, bridal shower, for the lovely daughter of our next door neighbor.  I wish I had my camera...but I didn't bring it.  Then on Sunday morning, my neighbor invited us back to the same lovely spot in her garden, for brunch with several other couples.  It was delightful!  The rest of the day was spent doing  yards and chores.  I got a new toy, and Greg got it running just right for me.  But I was a little nervous to drive it myself.  So he was showing me how.  

We have an awful lot of grass to mow, so this will sure help!  I will probably let Greg do the front, and I will do the back.  So if I get into a pickle, and have to make a three point turn, no one can laugh at me.  I did the backyard and did just fine.

My gardens are my favorite place to be in the evenings.  But I am doing battle with daggone gopher, and ground squirrel!!  

The corn is forming on the stalks, and looks so pretty and healthy!

My kitchen counter tops usually look like this.

Pizzas are on the menu for tonight again.  

Look at this pair or Smurfs my friend brought me the other day.  She handed me the package, and I gave her a quizzical look.  Then realized what they were.  A cook and a gardener!  She said she saw them, and immediately thought of me!  Wasn't that thoughtful?  I love them.

They have taken pride of place on my kitchen window sill.  

Last night, Greg and I were still out working in the backyard, when all of a sudden there was a loud boom.  We both jerked to our feet, and began to run to the front.  He thought it came from next door, and I thought it was a gunshot.  We got to the front and could see the tall plumes of thick black smoke billowing from the house across the street.  Greg ran back to get his phone, and I ran to the house, along with my next door neighbors.  Gary said he knew that they were not home.  But their sister and parents, each have a house on our street as well.  Gary's wife ran up to bang on their door, and by then, many neighbors had gathered out front, watching helplessly as the fire burned their beautiful home. 

It seemed like forever for the fire department to get there.  But finally, one after another, came careening up our street, alarms ringing.  Nine altogether, and many police.  The above photo was taken after the fire crew had gone to the roof to cut three large holes in the roof, to release the heat.  The fire appeared to have begun in the garage.  Her car, and their golf cart were destroyed.  There were projectiles flying across the street and explosions, which we later learned were the car tires popping.

We learned that they were away on a camping trip, and their two dogs were in the backyard.  One neighbor jumped the fence to rescue the panic stricken dogs.  It took a very long time to get the fire under control.  I would imagine that beside the garage and kitchen and dining room being destroyed, there is extensive damage throughout the house.  

They were finally reached about 9 last night, after having spent the day wine tasting in wine country up along the Central Coast.  They could not pick up their camp and come home until this morning.  Can you imagine getting that call?

The fire crews remained on scene til late last night.  And some of the crew remained all night.  A guard was there to prevent any problems as well.  They are still there today, trying to discover the cause, as well as remove items from the house that were saved.  

The street was closed off at both ends, and my son was a few streets away at his girlfriends house, when he heard a neighbor of theirs say they found the fire and it is on XXXX street!!!  Drew heard our street name, and they came running on foot.  It was really scary, but thankfully, there was no one injured.  The fire department was fabulous!  Christopher was compelled to go give one of the guys a big hug.  I am so glad Greg captured this photo!

For those of you who may not know who Christopher is, he is a very special young man that lives next door to us.  He is 21 now.  Chris has Down Syndrome, and we love him dearly.  He has spent a great deal of time with us over the last 15 years that they have lived next door.  He is an incredible young man, full of love and compassion.  As you can tell by this photo.  Sitting on my swing in the front yard last evening, you could still see the smoke coming from the house in puffs.  The fire crew remained most of the night, putting out hot spots.

Everyone feels so badly for the homeowners, who are on their way home now.  What a shock.  But most importantly, no one was hurt.

Oh, and guess what?  I gave up.  Threw in the towel.  Whimped out.   I couldn't take my white hair any longer.  My daughter got me all fixed up again, and if that darn lady at the theater asks me if I want a senior priced ticket again, I may punch her in her freckled face!!

Over and out.  See you soon.  But only with iphone pics.  Greg dropped my camera last night in the rush of the fire.  : (
XO  Kris