It’s been a weird summer, right?  We just crossed July 4th, and so technically, in ordinary sentiment, summer is half over. We’d be starting to wind it down, figure out how to squeeze in the last of the summer vacations before back to school, back to work, football and apple picking dictate our lives and weekends. But…will it this year?

It seemed that I let my weekends since Memorial Day tick down one by one before I realized, “hey, you better start to summer because it’s slipping away!”  My friends and I usually put together some semblance of a summer bucket list and this year I didn’t.  However, with the long weekend and some reflecting, I’m putting it down here and now on how I plan to enjoy the rest of these long, 80 and 90 degrees days, and extend them past Labor Day for as long as the sunlight will let me.

In truth, I haven’t actually done a bad job of doing. In looking at my vision board for 2020, besides the planned and wished for international vacations…I’ve managed to check quite a few things off of that list.  I’ve got trip planned for Up North (Michigan-speak for northern Michigan) next week. I’ve been playing lots of tennis. I’ve made it to the lake for paddleboarding, gotten outside for some good hikes and even got the new job that I wished for.  So what does that leave for the rest of the season?  Let alone the rest of the year?

To look ahead to the next six months just seems so daunting given that we can’t even predict week to week if we can dine outside at our local restaurants, so I’ll tackle my wish list of the next two, at least, for now.

I just got my Michigan state recreation passport on my car, so my little hiking crew and I will hopefully be exploring more of the state parks that grace SE and central Michigan. Hikes followed by ice cream is something that I’ve definitely been digging this year and gosh I hope we do so many more. Because I really like hikes, and I really, really like ice cream.  

On that note, I’ll be making more ice cream because I’ve just ordered myself this. And I also just remade this almond brittle ice cream, which I think is one of my top 5 flavors ever. That really says a lot.

It’s so hard to get out on the tennis court when the air temps are in the 90s since that means it’s usually 10+ degrees more on the court. Still, the outdoor season is short and my goal is to get out there at least 2-3 times a week.  And I got some new kicks to get me moving.

In the spirit of Pandemic baking. I’ve been making a cake each Sunday to set me up for the week, and isn’t that just a good thing to keep going?  New ones and old favorites keep things interesting. Lemon Drizzle anyone?  Oh, and peach upside down season is definitely around the corner!

Socially distanced coffee dates and patio sits are becoming more commonplace as we finally realized it’s OKAY to emerge from our solitary cocoons as long as we’re safe about it.  More of those to come because I just discovered the best new donut place and those are definitely best enjoyed with friends.

The zoom dates have whittled down, but I’ve loved keeping in touch with people in all mediums, so I am going to up my snail mail correspondence.  

We tried to go berry picking a few weeks ago but our research said it was a bit too early. That’s still on the list and then I think I might need to add peach picking to that as well. It’s like a warm up for apple picking this fall. Maybe then re-make these bomb-ass earl grey blueberry cake muffins. Yup, that’s just the perfect descriptor.

Speaking of peach season, that also means it’s birthday season!  My birthday is mid- August and I always try to think of something fun to do with my friends. Two years ago we went paddleboarding, and last year we did NOT act my age at this water obstacle course thing and so I need to come up with something equally fun and epic to do this year.  Summer birthdays are just the best, and best enjoyed with an ice cream cake.  What do you think I should do?

And because, as you can tell, cooking has been not exciting and not that often, to be honest, I’m keeping it easy with chop and drop salads. If you’re feeling my feels too, I’d suggest my favorite yardbird salad, this peach and halloumi, or maybe this foolproof panzanella.  Oooh… or this mango chicken.  These type of salads are just my go-to way to get through these months, so I’ll try to get at least one more out there for you before September 1.

And finally, cheers to us for getting this far. What are we on, Day 100+?  I’ll drink to that.  Alcoholic or not.

What have you got planned for the rest of this Pandemic Summer? It does have a nice (?) ring to it, don’t you think?

Hello, Sunday.

Another week has flown by. How? Why? The days are already starting to get shorter whether we notice it or not, and it’s already July 4th this week and what does that even do to the monotony of every day?  Not a whole lot, I gather, save for another day to sit around.

I talked to my friend yesterday who has been holed up in her Brooklyn apartment for somewhere around 98 days.  I mean, at least I have the luxury of taking long walks where I see nary a soul, but that’s harsh. Still, I admire her gusto in activity planning that she has for her and her boyfriend, from themed dinner nights, movie nights, puzzles, games, fancy cocktails, etc. If anything, she’s really doing quarantine the best she can.  In that vein, I strive to do a little better!

Let’s reflect on the past week, shall we?

This is my house.  For those of us that need a good story and who doesn’t?

The toll COVID has had on freelance journalism.  So many stories to tell, no one to listen.

How the virus won. Chilling.

Hmm. K. Not flying anytime soon.

Truth behind the funny. I am Leisel von Trapp and I owe the resistance an apology.

Best friends, a love story.

God, some first year law students are really just what you see in Legally Blonde.  But these ones get theirs.

People are good if they want to be.

If you don’t follow Abigail Disney on Twitter, you should.

Canada day is coming up and how about this Nanaimo bars to mark it?

Also, a lovely little porch sipping cocktail for ya.

Have a great week!

This recipe is a bit of a hodgepode. It’s a idea of a peach melba combined with that of an Eton Mess.  So it’s, I guess if I had to call it anything, a peach and raspberry eton mess.

(more…)