Friday, July 6, 2012

Fireflies, Fireworks, & Fridays

Many thoughts are running through my head right now...
the tepee is coming along nicely

So, I cleared out the front garden, right?
 It must have looked to the neighbors like I sowed weeds.
My "wild flower blend" finally has flowers.

aftermath of the Barefoot Hippie & Co. firework display

Mr. Hippie's chain reaction fountain fireworks.
It was a "blinding" success.
 -Thank you for all your thoughts, encouragement, and loving on a Barefoot Hippie yesterday. "I Give Up" was my most read post ever in a 24 hour period. I was encouraged to not give up. To keep trying. And to remember once again-this is a stage.
tomato
-My garden has gone nuts this week. My pole bean tepee is filling out nicely. There are blossoms on the bush beans. Lots of green tomatoes. And the japalenos that  were just flowers last week are 2-3 inches long today.
jalapeƱo
-My kids are loving summer. Yesterday I sent them outside with squirt guns and buckets of water to fill the guns with. It was HOT, and I figured this was one way they could be outside for a while and not overheat. I told them that they could use the hose to refill the buckets as needed. So, I am sitting inside hearing the hose run and run. Because why would they fill the buckets when they could spray each other. I had to laugh. They cooled off, the grass got some water, and fun was had by all.
bush bean blossom
-Is it the Year of the Firefly or what? I tell you, there has been an abundance of fireflies (or lightening bugs) here in MI. In the evenings the kids are catching them and putting them in jars. Doesn't that sound like a page out of Idyllic Summer?

Fireflies in the Garden

Here come real stars to fill the upper skies, 
And here on earth come emulating flies, 
That though they never equal stars in size, 
(And they were never really stars at heart) 
Achieve at times a very star-like start. 
Only, of course, they can't sustain the part. 

Robert Frost

-Ironically enough, I haven't run since Monday because of the heat, and now my pool is closed until Monday for the same reason. I was banking on the cool pool today. But, the heat wave is supposed to crack before Monday. I am very pleased with that concept. Low 80s next week. Yes!
my smile flowers have really taken off this summer
-My Small Kitchen Adventure of the week was Feta Bruschetta. This is a tried and true Barefoot Hippie recipe. It gets hauled out in the summer when tomatoes and basil are fresh, and at Christmas time too, because it is just delicious. A bruschetta is a  chopped tomato/basil mix that is usually served on toasted bread or crackers. This one has feta which always gives things an extra pop. And you have the option of adding kalamata olives too. If you love olives, do it. If not, just leave them out. If I am feeling industrious, I make my own french bread. If it is too hot, or I am too busy, I just buy a hardy baguette. Though this time I had a rather soft french bread loaf. Without further ado (but with lots of pics)...

Feta Bruschetta
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
16-20 1" slices of French Bread
1 cup feta cheese crumbles
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T fresh chopped basil, or 1 t dried basil
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
1/4 c kalamata olives, chopped (optional)


Mix butter and oil.
brush on both sides of bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

mix tomato, basil, feta, olives and garlic

spoon equally over bread, and return to oven for another 10 minutes.

serve warm. Isn't that gorgeous!

-How have you been keeping it cool this week? Share your thoughts.

Have a wonderful Friday/weekend!

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