Summertime

It's been a very hot summer, and I am starting to struggle with the 100 degree plus weather.  I don't mind it when it's in the 90's even, but when it starts getting around 95 or higher, most people that are familiar with Missouri know what that means!  HUMIDITY!!  The heat is one thing, but when you see 99% humidity almost daily on the weather station, it's overwhelming.  I have asthma, which means when the humidity is like this, it also means that I struggle with breathing.  I do not like my inhaler, for several reasons, but mostly because it makes me so jumpy.  I know this won't last forever, but I think we are going on just about a month of this, and I am ready for some weather changes!  I know we can't control the weather, but I just thought I would vent on it for a minute anyway. 

We have had lots of goodies from the garden.  I have not canned anything yet this summer though.  We have picked several batches of green beans, lots of tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, garlic,  cabbage, onions, potatoes, peppers (all kinds), and brussel sprouts.  I think that is all, but I'm not sure.  There are some eggplant almost ready, and the tomatoes are becoming more dependable, so I should be able to can them soon.  I think a batch of salsa is in the future.  We also bought some peaches so I have been making things with them.  So far, there have been several batches of peach cobbler.  I sent two pans to work with Jeff for his buddies to share, we sent some to a friend, and of course, we had some too.  I also made my sister's recipe for grilled and brandied peach butter.  It sounded pretty interesting, so I gave it a shot.  I don't know this for sure, but I am guessing that her version was much better than mine.  You start out grilling the peaches on the bbq grill.  I forgot to brush them w/butter, so they stuck all over the grill.  I think that is what the brushing butter was for...anyway, I managed to save them from the grill, and followed the rest of the instructions more carefully.  The end result was very good.  It is very similar to apple butter, but obviously different too.  I am glad I tried it.  My sister is a chef, but I definitely am not.  I just like to cook, and try new things.  I also processed and froze 60 quarts of corn.  I took everything to the bed and breakfast to accomplish this, because my kitchen is not air conditioned, and the idea of having a large boiling pot of water on the stove for several hours was not very appealing to me.  I am glad I am done w/that!

We had some excitement here the other day with an animal that has not yet been identified.  I have seen this animal before, out in front by our windmill, about 2 weeks ago.  Jeff is pretty good at telling me I haven't seen things that I am positive that I did, so I was on a mission to find proof.  I was putting freshly dried sheets on our bed, and happened to look out the window to see this critter.  I ran to get the camera, at last being able to prove it to him.  After putting the picture on the computer and then printing it, I am not sure, but I think it could be a mountain lion.  I sent the picture to a friend with connections to the conservation department, and they sent it to a biologist.  We will see.  Jeff's reaction was not what I expected, but I'm not totally surprised by it either.  He asked me why I didn't get closer so I could get a better picture.  I said "you do realize this could be a mountain lion, right?"  he said I'm pretty sure it is, but you should have gotten closer.  The lesson learned is that I cannot prove anything to him, so I should stop trying.  Either that, or find a way to be braver, and perhaps try to pet the kitty next time?!

Last night was another first for me.  We went to see a live concert.  I know I am pretty old for never going, but it's true.  Jeff had the idea last winter, when he heard a radio commercial.  He suggested we invite our friends that we don't get to see very often.  It was an awesome night.  We started out by meeting Mike at a friend's house in Wright City, then we went on to Wentzville to a restaurant called Stephanina's.  It is a very good restaurant, and we HIGHLY recommend it.  Several years ago, Jeff and I ate at the one in Troy.  We had a really good house salad, cheesy breadsticks, and a large pizza.  Everything was so good, and it was really nice to be able to catch up with our friends.  From there we went to the concert.  We aren't sure if it started early, or if the first act was just short, but we only got to hear about 4 songs from Night Ranger.  Next was Foreigner.  I wasn't too excited about them, although I know all of their songs.  It's not that I don't like them, it's that they aren't a band I can say that I am just crazy about.  I was pleasantly surprised!!  They put on a really good show.  Next was Journey.  I wasn't sure how they would be either without Steve Perry, but I LOVE Journey, so I was excited.  They did really good.  I LOVED it.  The lead singer is definitely not Steve Perry, but he did an awesome job.  He ran all around the stage, jumped, got the crowd excited, and sang really well.  I am so happy that we went.  I love that Jeff is trying to step out of his zone and that he thinks of these things.  It is not something that I thought he would do, but I am so glad that he did.  Most people that know him, know that he has a difficult time having fun.  He is the sweetest guy I know, but he forgets that we need to spend time together, and he forgets that life is not all about work.  It is one of the things that we disagree on the most, and I am so happy that he is trying.  He deserves to take a break and let loose sometimes too.