Designing in Life

The Continuation of the "Money Pit.'

Cooler weather is around the corner, and in our house that means picking up where we left off last spring with house projects.

This is the soon-to-be pantry.  Soon, meaning before Christmas.  This will be well used.

Our garage is in need of an upgrade, so Nick has been trying to at least make it look better.  We are having a new roof put on it, and the house in October.  Now we need to white wash or paint this side within the next month. 

It gets easier to work on inside projects when the lawn no longer needs to be mowed, the garden has died and there is snow on the ground.  Did I say snow?  It's only September.

Why I Love Zinnias

1. They're so colorful.
2. They're easy to grow.
3. They make a beautiful arrangement for your table.
4. They're just a happy flower.

I've been growing zinnias for years.  There are so many varieties.  My favorites are "State Fair" and "Cut and Come Again."  The State Fair can grow as big as a salad plate, and the Cut and Come Again, as their name implies, just keep on producing as long as you keep on cutting them.

They just make me happy because they're so colorful.  I love sunflowers, they're a very happy flower too, but I really like all the color that zinnias offer.

And then there is the occasional sunflower that decides to join in with the crowd.

 

I missed getting a photo of one of the red zinnias, they're pretty spectacular. 

This year, Beth and I had gone flower shopping after she had her knee operated on.  She bought 2 flats of zinnias and gave some of them to me.  I had already planted seeds, but I put the plants here and there knowing that they would bloom before the seeds.  Now that cooler weather is here, probably to stay, a bouquet of these in the house is a warm reminder of how much I love getting out into the garden in the spring, and how wonderful the pay off is at the end of the season.

What's for Dinner When it's SooooooooHot!

Understand, I am not complaining.  I have said this before.  I am a camel, not a polar bear.  I love the hot weather, and this time of year when it changes, well, I just start wishing for summer again.

This year things have been a little different.  We have just gone through a hot, humid spell that reminds me of growing up in South Jersey.

So, yesterday the temperature was

Not the usual temperature for the beginning of September.  The pool temperature was

Not extremely refreshing, but there was a brisk south breeze blowing that made it very enjoyable.  So, what was for dinner?

Curried chicken salad on tomatoes and mesclun, black-eyed pea salad and fresh peaches. This is a fast and easy dinner if you happen to have some left over chicken.  Tuna works also.  Just make your chicken or tuna salad the way you like it (I put celery, onion and parsley in mine.  I also used dijon in the dressing, because I'm not a big fan of just mayonnaise.)  Then add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (more if you're adventurous) of curry powder.  Other things you can add are, nuts, dried cranberries or raisins.

The beans have scallions, celery, red peppers and basil in them with a garlic/dijon vinaigrette.  Here's a simple recipe:

2/3 c olive oil
1/3 c red wine vinegar
1 minced clove garlic
2 Tbs Dijon mustard
about 8 chopped basil leaves
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk the oil and vinegar together, add the dijon, garlic and basil leaves.  Salt and pepper however you like it.

Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, so maybe I'll feel like turning the stove or oven on.  It IS corn season, you know.  Nothing like fresh corn with some olive oil, salt and pepper.