It's Going to be a LONG Summer!

 I guess I got spoiled with what I would call the MOST PERFECT spring weather that we had for um, maybe a little over a week? I was in my glory with all windows wide open every day and lots of energy for lots of chores. And, just as I was getting used to that, the nineties were back with a vengeance! It was 94 as I drove to my daughter's house the other night at 6 pm for a lacrosse game!

And so, all at once my energy was sapped and I really don't enjoy the outside chores that I have to do. It is imperative to start early and stop as soon as it gets too hot or I will be miserable! With today being Saturday, I really had some "cooking" to do for the week so I decided that except for watering some things, Saturday would be indoors.

I cut my basil early in the day. I got it all washed and laid out to dry and then headed out to the sunroom to do a very simple canvas craft. It is the same kind of thing I have done many times but I absolutely love the free image I got from a blogger that I follow.

Traditionally, pesto is made with pine nuts and that is how I always did it too...until the price of pine nuts went through the ceiling. Now I use either pecans or pistachios-which aren't too far behind pine nuts in price these days-and I love it just as much.

I always feel like Mother Nature when I go out to the garden to pick something I am going to cook with and I love making pesto. It is a no-brainer. I have done it so many times, I could do it in my sleep. Until today!! I wasn't sure how much basil I picked but it turned out to be enough to double my recipe-over 6 cups of packed leaves. Since it was so much and I decided to do it in two batches not to overload the Cuisinart. Zip, zip, zip-one batch done, put in a small container and into the freezer. I love to have this stuff on hand. I not only use it as a pasta topper but I add it to mayo for a caprese sandwich. I doctor up plain pizzas with it. I even sometimes use it on a baked potato. Did I say how much I love this stuff?

And now on to the second batch. I got the basil, garlic, parmesan cheese and pistachios into the base of the Cuisinart and went to latch the top...and it wouldn't go on. I thought maybe some of the nuts were preventing the blade from going all the way down so I got a bowl and emptied everything. NOPE! Then I thought maybe there was something stuck somewhere else so I washed all of the pieces. NOPE! I spent about ten minutes trying everything in my power-including forcing it which I couldn't do-and finally gave up and got out my mini food processor and did it in that. Of course that took multiple batches but I finally got where I started to go a long time ago! So much for a no-brainer. I have put the Cuisinart aside until the next time I see my brother. It looks like there might be something wrong with the spring but I can't even manually get it to compress so I am going to give it over to him. He is much more patient than I and will let me know if it's time to retire this one and move on up! Lol

In any case. I then headed to the sunroom to do the spring craft. I am thinking that my spring decor will be even more neutral than it has been in the past. I love the feel of the walled gardens in Italy or France with all of the beautiful Mediterranean colors so we will see what I can come up with. I also have always loved pictures of doors and windows. I think that is why this image spoke to me so much. I won't bore you with the details because I have done this so many times but I did take a few pictures in case you've forgotten.

 I love everything about this image. I would love to live behind that door. I think wherever this lands it will serve as the inspiration for that room.

And, when I got that done I headed back into the kitchen to make three very large trays of roasted veggies. I really didn't need both of my ovens on today but now I have enough veggies to eat on for a very long time and if I tire of them-which I seldom do, I can add them to a plain white pizza or add them to some jasmine rice or...well, for me the possibilities are endless because I just love them so much!

So now we're here at Sunday. I got out to the back yard fairly early and got started on some edging and weeding. I have SO much more to do but the sun is now right overhead and the thermometer is reading 88 degrees! And so, I came in for some respite and lunch before heading back out after, hopefully, the sun has shifted and the shade is there. Everything is so dry out there that plants don't seem to be coming back as quickly as they have in previous years. And then again, I might be seeing the result of my over zealous cutting back-we shall see.

So that is it for me. I want to leave this post with a picture of grandson #2 and his girlfriend heading to their prom-and one of daughter #3 (his mom) with them.

And, of course, I can't forget grandson #1 at his year end formal at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

I'm off for a quick lunch and then I'm going to try to head out again. I love spring but, I must admit, I like it better when it actually feels like spring...hopefully starting again on Tuesday-fingers crossed. Stay safe and stay tuned.