A night out.......

Since getting ancient we favor evenings with the rocking chair, the knitting, a little TV to encourage dozing, a game or two of Free Cell and a bit of surfing on the Internet.

But last night we were treated to a most marvelous evening - dinner at the Dream Cafe with our oldest son and his wife, and afterwards a performance by Boogie Woogie pianist Michael Kaeshammer, drummer Mark McLean and bass Marc Rodgers.

We had a lovely drive to Penticton, - incredible greens through the pass, - the yellowy green of the lake glittering in the evening sun, the brightness of the surrounding trees, that have flourished in the cool June weather, and the pale, pale green of the grasses along the lakeshore.

I didn't have my camera, - but never mind - enjoy the concert. Ignore the three instrumentalists in the back, - the Dream Cafe is not big enough to hold them, but the trio were remarkably attuned to each other and great entertainers.

It was a lovely present for which we send hugs and kisses and many thanks.

Skywatch Friday

Sunday evening skies in the Similkameen

Come watch with me the shaft of fire that glows in yonder West:

the fair, frail palaces, the fading Alps and archipelagoes

and great cloud continents of sunset-seas.  Thomas Aldrich

For more beautiful skies from around the world visit here, at Skywatch Friday

ABC Wednesday

The letter this week is Y

Y is for Yogurt

Until a decade ago Yogurt was the' plain Jane' of the dairy family, but now it has assumed Star Quality with so many health conscious people acknowledging its benefits.

And with the advent of Frozen Yogurt as a dessert its wonderful creamy texture and the great variety of flavours have made it a splendid way to replace all the calories in Ice Cream, - at least at our house.

So what kind of frozen yogurt will you have today?, - Capuccino, Peach and Almond, Deep Dutch Chocolate, Wild, Wild Berry, Maple Walnut, Nanaimo Bar - all exotic and sweet to the taste.

Or perhaps you will  choose an unfrozen yogurt, - the one that makes me weak at the knees - Lemon Meringue!

Can you imagine folding these luscious lemon meringues  into a carton of yogurt and then trying to put it back into the fridge before every delicious morsel is scraped from the bottom of the container!!

I could tell you how to make homemade yogurt, but instead here is a recipe for a Lemon Meringue Loaf that should delight your taste buds.

In a large bowl combine 3 cups of flour, 1 cup of sugar, 4 tsps of baking powder, 1 tsp of salt and 1 tbsp of grated lemon rind, whisking all ingredients until well blended.

In a separate bowl combine 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, 4 large beaten eggs, 3 tbsps of lemon juice and 1 1/4 cups of lemon meringue yogurt, plus 1/2 cup of milk.

Mix the dry and wet mixtures together, just until combined, - pour the batter into 2 greased leaf pans and bake in a 350F oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

Glaze it with 1/4 cup of sugar, 3 tbsps of lemon juice and 2 tbsps of lemon rind, brought to a boil and cooked for two minutes.

Fabulous!

For more examples of the letter Y click here to go to ABC Wednesday.

The Devious Ways of Blogging

When I went to post my entry to Skywatch Friday I discovered that the Titivillus* had been causing havoc with my ability to compose anything new.

* Titivillus, the Patron Demon of Scribes who have morphed over the centuries into The Typo Demon, and now, it appears take great delight in messing around with computer programs causing the modern scribe to become very wily in their search to bypass the mischief makers.

I finally discovered that I was able to use 'Edit' and so I published a blank post, and now I am editing it and imagine the Titivillus dancing with rage.

First let me show you the fiery sky that brought everyone outdoors to ooh and ahh last Monday.

During the week we slid into July, still with the cool and showery weather that the gardens are loving this year.
I swear the Shasta Daisies are as tall as the proverbial elephants ear.

I cut down the Delphinium and will watch for them to bloom again in September and October.  The Oriental Poppies are a tangled mess of sodden leaves and great large seed heads.  I decided to forego the seed heads in order to clean the plants and make way for a second blooming in the fall.  And the roses are coming to the end of their first flush and provide continual fodder for deadheading.

I love the way the garden changes, almost imperceptibly, - one plant finishes and another blooms overnight.  It is the day of the Bee Balm and the Shastas and the Lilies, with a few shaggy hollyhocks smiling smugly at those in the family who are not enamoured of them.

Out the back the volunteer wildflowers make a gay pictures as they sway and bow in the breezes that have been blowing.  Individually they are delicate in their silken beauty, and I plan to make a little slideshow to feast on when November comes and the days are dreary.

And the ubiquitous hollyhock!

We went to a dear friend's ninetieth birthday party and I learned how to make a delicious icing from instant pudding, whipping cream and milk....

And Barbara Crafton posted an inviting recipe for home made bread when it is too warm to bake which I will tell you about when the hot days come.  Next week, perhaps, according to the weather man.

Even as they fade the poppies are heartbreakingly beautiful......

As is the Abraham Darby rose.....

If I can continue to outwit the Titivillus I will be back!