Beautiful Things

It has been busy around here and busy means some things just don't get done. And lately it seems that I am not posting much.

Maybe that will change as the weather does, or doesn't. It has been so hot and humid this summer. The air is thick and breathing is hard to do in the midday sun. As you look around outside there is beauty everywhere though.

The trees are green and sky is so blue. I love seeing the beauty that God has created. 

This banana leaf is way above my head. And look at all the shades of green that are showing with the sunshine and shadows.

Black-eyed Susan and Four O'clock, now that I look at this picture I believe I took it at the wrong time of the day! Oops! Must have been before 4pm! But it's still pretty.

So no matter how hot or humid it gets there is still beauty all around us. We just have to decide to see it sometimes. So I have been trying to take time to see the beauty. Even if sometimes I have to do it from inside by looking out the window.

Sometimes it is just to hot to go outside. At least that is the way I felt on this day. 

And I am in West Virginia, I can only imagine how you all are feeling who are further south.

 Everyone take care and enjoy the beauty that is around you, even if you have to do it by looking out the window!

Water For My Plants

Most of the water for my plants around the yard has been coming from the watering can. But last evening we had about 2 hours of a slow steady soaker. I was hoping it would continue throughout the night but I will take what I can get.

From the looks of some of the plants, I would say they are happy as well.

my Banana "grove"

Impatiens in a not so sunny window box 

The front door welcome pot

I hope you enjoyed a small bit of my flowers today.

A Little Fun

It was fun for me at least! 

And it added to my Etsy shop. 

I thought I would share with you what I been doing since it has been so hot that you had to stay indoors or fry!

There is one more but I can't seem to get it to take so here is the link. Get ready for some sparkle!

So what have you all been doing on these stifling hot and humid days?

Weekly menus

Now this weeks menus is going to be a bit different. Since it is only me this week. I have planned for meals on the fly.

So I cooked a chicken in the crockpot, then placed in the fridge to cool and deboned it and placed the bones along with another package of bones I had in the freezer back in the crockpot and made about a gallon of bone broth. The broth was strained and packaged in 2 cup containers in the freezer for winter use. But the chicken is in the fridge waiting for me.

I also peeled and sliced a golden honey dew melon.

Washed and placed a lot of fresh veggies in the fridge to be grabbed when needed.

Made a loaf of sourdough for toast and open face sandwiches.

Boiled a dozen eggs and put in fridge.

I also have items to make guacamole, so that will be done one day and a guac salad will be enjoyed.

And I also have yogurt and cottage cheese in the fridge.

So food this week for me will be on the fly. Grab it and go.

But this is an example of how you can eat healthy and quick with just a little planning ahead!

Share with us some of your tricks for eating healthy and quick.

Weekly Menu

I am so tired of this hot weather. But then complaining does not change a thing. So I just do what I can to deal with the heat and one way is not turning on the oven or cooking much inside at all for that matter. 

So as much cooking as possible is being done on the grill. It is kinda amazing at the things you can cook on the grill if you just think about it. 

Also been cooking with as much fresh produce as possible,  it won't be long till we will be resorting to what has been stored in the jars or freezer.

So this week goes as follows.

Monday.......fish tacos and grilled zucchini

Tuesday......Turkey Kielbasa and grilled veggies (zucchini/onion/potato)

Wednesday......grilled chicken and root veggies (carrots/beets/parsnips)

Thursday......chopped salad with chicken from last night

Friday......steak with roasted potatoes and corn on the firepit.

Each night I always have a plate of slice tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers as a side dish.

So why don't you share what kind of meals you are having to keep you out of the kitchen. I would love some more ideas