Things are looking up

They are. We finally have internet (although my laptop can’t pick up our wireless signal in the living room), cable TV, and best of all – a brand new washing machine! I just strung a clothesline between two trees and hung clothes out to dry.

Also, it is a gorgeous day out. Despite being nearly 90 outside, it is not humid and there is a breeze. Which is much more than I can say for these past few weeks, where 100 degree days and ridiculously high humidity have been the norm.

Work still sucks. I still work way too many hours to not be getting paid overtime. Come fall, I’ll go back to my old job, doing fun things, with fewer hours per week and more vacation time (albeit for less money, but also less stress).

All this craziness has not left much time for cooking, except of course, for a funeral. The boy’s boss died about a week and a half ago, which was sad, but not completely unexpected as he’d been ill with a particularly vicious strain of cancer for several years. I cleaned like a maniac last Saturday and did some cooking as well and we had close friends and coworkers over after the wake. I made raspberry clafoutis and peach basil salad.

Peach Basil Salad:

5-6 ripe peaches, washed and cubed (skin-on)
1 container pearlini mozzarella, drained of brine
6-10 leaves fresh basil, finely chopped or ribboned

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Toss and let marinate together in the fridge. Serves 6-10 as a side dish.

Seriously, that’s it. It was invented by my friend Abby (or at least, she’s the one I got it from). She liked to use white peaches, or a mix of white and yellow, but I used just what I had on hand. The peaches HAVE to be nicely ripe, though. If they are hard or sour, the dish will not be very good.

Sundays have become my cooking day. I’m supposed to work Wednesday through Sunday, but this summer it seems I’ve been at work nearly every Monday and/or Tuesday, so I often take Sundays off to compensate. The boy works on Sundays, so I actually get work done, instead of snuggling or going out and doing things. A friend of ours is having a garage sale today which includes some bikes. So we’re going to go check it out after the boy is done with work as he’s been wanting his bike from home and for me to get a bike so we can ride the Rail Trail between Walkill and Walden, or even up in New Paltz. Lord knows we need the exercise, though keeping the yard clear has been keeping us both busy.

We got a new weed-eater/whacker/trimmer as the brand new one we had purchased was apparently missing parts and kept tangling up. So we returned it and bought a newer, better one, which the boy loves even more. Go $50 upgrade! 🙂

Today I’m going to try and cook in anticipation of this week, which will be another crazy, six days straight at work. I’ve got ripe peaches and fresh raspberries from our yard (just the raspberries – the peaches are from Adam’s) that I’m going to bake into some kind of tart/crisp. I also bought a ton of blueberries I think I might bake into blueberry oat bread. Then I’m going to try and make French potato salad, which includes green beans, roma tomatoes, and no mayonnaise.

Or, y’know, I might go take a nap instead. 🙂 At any rate, while I’m enjoying sunshine and an abundance of cheap local produce, I just really can’t wait until fall weather starts rolling in. September, here I come!