One would think that, after 30+ years in Phoenix, that I'd be "used" to the long, HOT, summers... Alas, this had been true until some years ago, when I deduced that the older I'm getting, the harder the summers have been for me. I go into a sort of reverse hibernation, as all things indoors are air conditioned. This is making simple tasks as cooking, or less simple trips to the grocery darn near crippling! On the flip side of that coin, if the oustide (or inside) temp falls below 60F, I'm freezing, and will remain so until the following spring - come March, we'll be soaring toward the high 90's again, "winter" will be but a memory, and the impending summer knocking at the door!
While still in the high 80's to low 90's, the weather is turning out quite stupendous of late. The mornings are cool and clear - almost "clean looking." I also recently hung a bird seed feeder outside my sitting room window ( I qualify "seed," as I aslo have a humming bird feeder, outstide an adjacent window...) What joy it's being to watch the birds feed in the mornings, fighting over the space. A few moments ago, there were 6 birds fighting over space at the 4 seed dispensers. (Reminds me, I've got nectar made for the hummer's!)
On the "food" horizon, I've already made (and greatly enjoyed) a large pot of beef stew, and a perfect amount of French Onion soup! I've bean soup in the works, but following nothing more than instinct as I went, It's turning out a big batch of no flavor broth with a carrot and celery stick, plus some navy beans, in a large vat!
I am particularly excited at the prospect of months of winter squash, and after a wonderful summer of fresh fruit, along are coming apples and pears, which I only recently learned come hand in hand each autumn. I don't know why I never realized that a pear is more of a fall fruit, than summer!
This is also the time of year that I get the itch to "spring clean!" I began yesterday, devoting the day to fresh sheets on the bed, but this time, I removed and washed the "summer" bedspread, and the adjoining bath shower curtain, replacing with newly laundered "winter" colors of comforter, window treatreatments and shower linens. At that point I was forced to call it "done for the day," regretting the lack of cleaning floors and window sills, not to mention the urge to clean the window glass! THAT happens only once every 5-10 years! I must be sick... have a fever, or such, lol!
I'm also wanting to pull out the sewing machine, and some of my leftover fabrics. I've the thought of making a set of holiday place mats out of some wonderful forest green fabric which is threaded with little silver stars in the weave of the material. I believe that with my everyday plain white dishes, it will make an interesting start of a holiday table, regardless of whether we do any entertaining, or not. Besides, it will give me a reason to clear the junk off the dining table for the winter! Perhaps I'll even use it a few times if only for myself!
So, there you have my past few months in a nutshell, and what expectations I have for the near future... just more days in the life of a crazycook! Be well!
