We've had a strange summer so far with no extremely hot weather. I'm thankful for that, although the lawn and plants definitely need the rain! Did I mention that we're also in a drought? The simple explanation is that our mountains didn't get enough snow, thus the summer melt that we depend on for water and irrigation is way below normal. However, today there was this...
It's difficult to take a photo of a torrential downpour with the rain bouncing off the deck. You can see that my petunias aren't fans of the rain. Hopefully, my tomatoes will survive. During a more typical July, I would be out here sitting at the table, reading and staying cool in 80-90 degrees. Since this area gets morning sun, it's a perfect afternoon spot to escape the heat. When it's only 70 degrees though, I would need a jacket. Today I would need a jacket, and an umbrella. :)
I admire this nicer weather photo of my deck plants, and think,"Oh, they look beautiful and have grown so much!" Of course, I also remind myself that my deck is looking like it needs to be re-stained in the near future. The joys of being a homeowner.
John and I went to see "Toy Story 4" yesterday because it was $5.50 day at the cinema near his house. Even if the movie isn't great, that's a cheap price! We both enjoyed the film(him more than me), and then headed for dinner here. We sat at the bar, and shared these small plates. Although I love beets and goat cheese, this salad was missing something. Some balsamic perhaps? A bit of greenery? The lasagna was delicious! And the locally brewed Mac and Jack's African Amber Ale was A+! As most of you figured out before I did(rebound emotions), John is such a lovely guy! Although I don't intend to discuss it much, there are some not-so-literal storms in my life that I'm trying to weather. Both daughters are in the midst of personal and professional tumult. It's tough to know what to say/do, and when to shut up be quiet. It's tricky to figure out when to be a cheerleader, and when to dispense Tough Love. Yet when one daughter texted me, "Tell me if you want me to stay," I responded that I couldn't make that decision for her, even though I'm nearly 100% sure she's making a mistake. (I didn't say that last part) Things seemed so much simpler when they were small; I'm not on board with the complexity of these adult storms. Sigh.