Summer Soul

Summer is in full swing- just finished a crazy, busy, hectic week of Vacation Bible School for the kids.  I love watching the children having all sorts of fun, but it is overwhelming at the same time for this quiet-loving, introverted mama.

With that behind me, I'm slowing the pace a bit and moving into a quieter rhythm here.  Summer Soul Camp is on my agenda for the next 10 days.  I look forward to spending time creating, crafting, and doing other soul nourishing practices along with the other campers.  Virtual camp is perfect in my book:  go at your own pace, check in with other campers online, do as little or as much as the day allows, take time to reflect and refresh ... summer soul camp. yes.

What are you doing for you this summer?

Summer Sweetness

My favorite color these days:

Sitting by the Sea

When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.
- Rainer Maria Rilke

 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.  Matthew 13:1

Spending these summer days sitting by the sea, sitting on the back porch watching the rain drip off the roof, purposefully sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Soon enough it will be time to get back to the busy routines of daily life; but for now ... I am content, waiting for the gift found in sitting at His feet.


From one of my favorite summer reads:

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach--waiting for a gift from the sea."
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

What gifts have you discovered this summer?

Shifting Seasons

(This tree was the first hint of fall this year!)

So ready for autumn leaves and a cool breeze!

It's been a busy, busy summer.  A good kind of  busy, with many worthwhile happenings such as:

a mission trip to Galveston, where we made new friends and did 4 days of street camps with the most beautiful people-

(little girls always love to 'do hair', don't they?)

(our room on a good day ... still doing laundry from this one!)

We've also been clearing and cleaning and preparing to move our Youth/Children into a new building at church (so many plans for that in the coming days!).  

And at the top of my mama's to do list this week- making home learning plans for one elementary student, one middle schooler, and a high school student. 

A tad bit overwhelming at times (on those days I'd like to go back to the beach and just stick my head in the sand) ... 

Other days, I realize that I'm just the mama, HE is the teacher.  Much comfort in that truth, I tell you.  

It's been quiet here because life has been anything but that for a season.  

Yet, fall is in the air and I'm looking forward to slowing down, sitting in the yard with a cup of tea and a notebook, baking cinnamon-spicy treats (gluten free- another 'adventure' we've embarked upon by necessity this summer!), planting cool season herbs and veggies, and spending time simply being.  

What are you anticipating in the coming season?  

What lists and plans are you dreaming up these days?

Recipes to share? 

(You know how I love to feed the Recipe Pile- gluten free would be an added bonus!)

Oh, one more thing ... I'm seriously considering moving this blog, either to Wordpress or Typepad.  I'm familiar (though not thrilled) with WordPress and it's free; but I've read such stellar reviews of Typepad (and $14.95/month isn't too bad) ... decisions, decisions.  

Thoughts, suggestions? 

Hope to hear from you.  I'd love to know what has kept you busy this summer and what great things you've in mind for fall!

Wishing you cool breezes and an abundance of simple blessings,

Catherine 

Summer Garden~ Pineapple Sage

One of my summer garden favorites- Salvia elegans, Pineapple Sage

A tender perennial in my area, it seldom survives the heat of August; but just maybe this year it will persevere.  Thus far it is lush and lovely, though no longer blooming.  The red blossoms are loved by hummingbirds as well as humans, and make a sweet addition to a summer fruit salad.  I like to add a few leaves and flowers to a pitcher of herbal sun tea.  Pineapple Sage also makes a sweet smelling addition to a floral arrangement (in my case, a few flowers and herbs tucked into a Mason jar).
For other delicious uses for Pineapple Sage, check out this post at The Essential Herbal Blog (my favorite herb magazine)!

What herbs are thriving in your summer garden?  

Cool Drinks for Hot Days

Sunny summer days call for refreshing drinks.  Herbs make fabulous teas and flavored waters.  One of the simplest is also a favorite here in the Love household.  A few sprigs of lemon balm, ginger mint, and spearmint in a pitcher of water.  I set it on the windowsill in the morning and by lunch time it is ready to drink.  We sometimes add a slice of lemon or lime to make it extra tasty.

Please share your favorite herbal drinks for summer!

Summer's Perfect Pair

fresh basil

red ripe tomatoes

Juicy, warm from the sun, tomatoes
fresh picked basil
organic extra virgin olive oil
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper


slice or halve tomatoes depending on size and variety
chop basil and sprinkle over tomatoes 
drizzle with olive oil
season with sea salt and pepper to taste


Enjoy!

Summer School

School is not the best word for describing the learning that happens on a daily basis in our home.  Less formal than in other seasons (and even then we are very unschoolish learners); this is just a tiny peek into the learning that's happening around here (All without my help or encouragement ... ahh the wonders of strewing books, tools and educational opportunities for them to discover on their own!).

electronics

acrylics

kindle games (Who knew multiplication and division could be so engrossing? Would never happen with a textbook!)

And stack, upon stack of books being read.  

Favorites this season- 

 

and for mama:

What good things are happening in your home this summer?
Read any great books lately?  Please share your favorites in the comments!

Blessings,
Catherine

Hot Weather Herbs

Beautiful Blue Borage

Sadly, the borage that was blooming so beautifully in the photo is not a hot weather lover.  My container grown borage died from heat exhaustion a few weeks ago. Even with frequent watering and pampering- it. just. died.  Oh well, to be expected I suppose.  I'll replant later when the weather is more suitable for it.  For now, I'll just enjoy the photo and dream of pretty borage flower ice cubes to cool off a glass of herb tea (and make a mental note not to forget to make some this fall).

There are herbs that seem to thrive, or at least survive, even the brutal heat of a Texas summer. 

Below are 6 herbs that are doing well in my back yard, despite the drought and triple digit temperatures for days on end this summer-

Basil- Basil seems to love the heat.  The biggest challenge is keeping it from blooming and going to seed, daily pruning helps and provides me with tasty leaves for pesto, pasta sauce, or pest control (rub a basil leaf on your skin to repel insects).

Bay- My bay stick (the poor thing may never reach tree status) has grown more this summer than it has in the 3 years I've had it ... strange but true. 

Marjoram- The marjoram is doing well, soaking up the sun, flavoring grilled veggies and chicken.

Rosemary- Holding its own and being snipped almost daily for pasta sauce and such.

Lavender- It actually bloomed this year and seems to enjoy the dry heat (humidity and heat it doesn't like).

Thyme- Growing in a semi-shady spot, it seems quite content.

If you are looking for herbs that can take the heat, these may be just what you are looking for.

Please note: All of the herbs mentioned above are container grown and are receiving daily, sometimes twice daily, watering.  They can take heat, but nothing can survive without water, and lots of it these days!  Around here, the grass is dead, the trees and bushes get just enough water just to keep them alive until it rains, but the herb containers get a drink every morning!  It takes much less water to keep a few potted herbs (and the herbalist) happy than it does to keep a lawn green (and then I'd just have to mow it, and that wouldn't make me happy either). 

Which herbs thrive during the summer where you live?

   



Happy August!

It's a Lavender Lemonade kind of day here.  I haven't checked the forecast this morning, but I know it will be 100+ by mid-day.  Time to make lots of cool drinks like the lavender lemonade above or perhaps a pitcher of herb tea like this-

Or, maybe today is the day to sample a few of the Jarritos sodas that I was asked to taste test.  How fun is that?  We came home from skating last night (not me. no that would be dangerous for all involved) to find a heavy box on the front doorstep.  Inside were 11 bottles of assorted Jarritos flavors and a t-shirt.  Perfect timing; something cool and sweet for these hot summer days.  We aren't big soda drinkers here, but I think these will be tasty and will certainly find themselves frozen into ice pops and mixed with our assorted summer drinks.  Lavender lemonade with a splash of Limon Jarritos, Minty herb tea with Jamaica soda  ...  I'll let you know what else we come up with. 

Have you tried Jarritos? 

If so, which is your favorite? 

I'm enjoying the summer, but also looking ahead to fall- education plans are in the works (lists, lists, and more lists these days), new artsy-crafty projects (thanks to Pinterest!), and another project with a friend that I am very excited about (more about that later).  Long afternoons indoors do lead to lots of dreaming and planning!

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.  Please join me in praying for those areas where all is not well ...

Summer blessings to you and yours!

 

Summertime Herbal Teas and Treats

  With a forecast of 108 (yes, really), I'll be focusing on keeping everyone cool and hydrated today.
It is time for icy cold herbal treats, I do believe.

This Lavender Lemon Quencher sounds refreshing. 

Lavender Lemonade is a favorite in our family, too.  I think I'll brew up a batch and then freeze it in ice pop molds for an afternoon snack. 

My iced herb tea of choice is simply to go out early in the morning and pluck a few sprigs of whatever herbs catch my eye- usually lemon balm, lemon verbena, ginger mint, spearmint, and a bit of lavender or rose geranium.  Those go into a pitcher of water and sit on my sunny kitchen windowsill to infuse until lunchtime.
If I've thought ahead, I will have some pretty herbal ice cubes made with borage blossoms or mint and lemon balm leaves to make my iced tea even more delightful. 
Sweetened with a bit of honey or agave nectar, this is the perfect summer day drink for me. 

How about you? 
What summery herbal treats do you brew up this time of year?
What is your favorite iced tea herb?
Please share, I'm always grateful for a new herbal treat to try! 

And so it begins ...

that (dreaded) time of year when even the sunflowers wilt from the punishing heat of a Texas summer.  This summer has been particularly rough due to the drought; though we were blessed with a whole .01 inch of rain on Monday.  It was lovely, I tell you.  Simply lovely. 

I was horrified to find a forecast of 108 degrees for today (yes, I checked twice!) on our local paper's website this morning.
I was somewhat hopeful that it was a mistake and checked another site.  How encouraging to find that weatherman only predicts 101 today!
101 is unpleasant, but normal for us.

 If it does get anywhere near 108 I'll be staying indoors until the heatwave passes, thank you very much. 
Otherwise, I'm sure I'll sound just like the 4 year old who told my daughter last week that she was melting and just wanted her brain ... her "self" back.  Drama queen moment aside, I can relate!

Being stuck indoors does have some good points.
* I usually catch up on at least a few of the things I've neglected during the spring and early summer.
* It gives us lots of time to read and learn new things.
* Crafty pursuits and creativity seem to bloom inside when nothing much is blooming outside.   
* A lazy summer afternoon is the perfect time to dream up new projects.
* Afternoon naps are perfectly respectable.  It's too hot for much else at that time of day anyway.
* I have time to write and update my blog again. 

How is the summer treating you? 
What do you do when it's too hot to venture outdoors?
Do you have a cool summer recipe to share?  (I'm focusing on "no cook" meals these days!)

Summer Thoughts

This fiery zinnia perfectly represents the weather here lately- HOT. 

Despite the sizzling temperatures, I've continued to enjoy quiet days of simply "being".  Wandering the community garden in the evenings, sitting poolside and watching the children swim, enjoying the birds and other small creatures that seek out the flowers, feeders, and fountains.  Letting my thoughts wander freely, sometimes scratching them down on paper ... often not.  Simply enjoying summer.

His words for me this season seem to be ... Be Still. Just "be".   And when I am, I find Him in those quiet spaces- speaking to me through the beauty of creation, splashing water, cool breezes, waves on the water ... Everywhere, when I take the time to be fully present.

Have a wonderful weekend.  I urge you to take a few moments (or a few days, weeks, whatever you can manage) and practice the art of simply "being".  It is hard for those of us who are accustomed to busy lives of "doing", but what a blessing it is to simply "be still" before the LORD. 

I'll be back soon ...    



Summer Days

Happy July! 

Sorry things have been so quiet in the stillroom lately, but summer beckons me outdoors to enjoy the beauty of the garden and nature.  Herbs are growing by leaps and bounds, flowers are in bloom, and the bees, birds, and other small creatures are keeping me entertained with their daily visits to the garden and bird bath.  I have enjoyed spending lots of time just "being".  No agenda, no plan, no work ... just sitting quietly and enjoying whatever the day might bring.  It has been a blessing. 

But, July is now upon us and the heat will soon keep me indoors except for the early morning hours before the sun becomes unbearable.  Texas heat can be brutal, and I am an admitted wimp when it comes to scorching sun!  I've been dreaming up some herbal creations over the last few days, and starting next week I plan to share some of those with you.  Cool weather treats is at the forefront of my mind these days! 

Have a great weekend, stay cool, enjoy the blessings of summer!

p.s. Did you know sunflower petals make a pretty yellow to gold colored dye?  Another of my plans for the summer- creating plant dyes.  :)



Sweet Summer Days

It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses,
When pleasant sights salute the eyes
And pleasant scents the noses. ~ Nathaniel Parker Willis, The Month of June

I'm taking time to enjoy the first days of summer with my family.

We've been:

Wandering the paths through the community garden enjoying the fruits of everyone's labor
Picking handfuls of tiny Sweet 100 tomatoes
Gathering a few beans, some dill, a cucumber or two
Exploring the creek and catching toads hiding in the potato patch 
Picking lavender blossoms and hanging them to dry
Rooting mint in little containers of water on the kitchen windowsill
Making kites
Knitting bracelets
Learning to knit on double pointed needles (I'm eagerly waiting for my oldest to master this skill, so she can teach me ...  Mom is not always the teacher in our household!)
Reading
Writing
Drawing
Painting
Swimming
Giving thanks for sweet summer days

Hello There!

I've not abandoned the stillroom ... I've been as busy as this little bee lately!

I'll be back soon to share some great herbal treats for the lazy days of summer.

Summer Thought ...

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Summer

Summer has set in with its usual severity. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

That it has ... heat, heat, and more heat.  and mosquitoes.