Brain Food

The study of the elegant human brain will be a great adventure.
I bet chocolate is involved!

I love a pretty plate!

Science

I was reading this morning about the Hazel nut.

"The hazel nut in Celtic legends is an emblem of concentrated wisdom, and all the knowledge of the arts and sciences was to be found by eating these nuts."

We have entered the time of the Hazel Tree.
It is a Wisdom Tree.

There are two sides to this tree.
"The tree of wisdom was put to destructive use when Finn made a shield from its wood and the noxious vapors killed thousands of his enemies in battle."

As I watched the landing of Curiosity onto the surface of Mars
 I thought about science.

I love science.
But like the hazel wisdom tree there are two sides.

Today we remember the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

The cenotaph in Hiroshima is a beautiful memorial to those
who died.
I send my love.

The drought continues.
I watered the zinnias.
A Variegated Fritillary flew in.

I watched her.

I sent blessings to those who suffer.
I sent blessings to Mars.
My husband brought home some hazel nuts.
I shall nibble and seek wisdom.

Into August

Sunflowers are my theme for August.

I have sunflower motif all over the house.
Sunflower seeds are ready for snacking.

Books about sunflowers are ready for reading.

My August journal is updated.

Birthday cards are laid out and are ready to mail.

We had an un-forecasted cool down.
High was only 88 degrees and it was cloudy all day.
I love cloudy days.
A few sunflowers have survived in the gardens.
The deer find the sunflowers and the tomatoes very tasty.
Chinese take out for supper!

Herb Butters

Creating herb butter is fun and delicious.

Our garlic butter is wonderful on toast.

I pressed three garden garlic cloves into 1/2 cup of softened butter.
I stirred it well and placed the butter into the butter bell.

I am thinking of other butters to make.
Herb butters of all sorts would be yummy.
Since our basil is growing well, even in this drought and high heat, I am thinking basil butter would be delicious.

This one would be delicious too.

I enjoy reading cookbooks.

We welcome Leo the Lion in today.
My archetype in Leo is my homemaker.
I love being home.
 I love creating herb delights.

I love herbs.

They grow well in my summer garden.

Saffron and Truffle Oil

I have fallen in love with saffron

and Truffle Oil.
Delightful and so light.
Perfect for these extra hot days.

I have fallen in love with a library cookbook!
I am treasuring every word.
I am so very inspired
that I ordered the cookbook for my kitchen.

Easy to fix suppers makes 100 degrees a bit more tolerable.

I am growing a large pot of mint in the deep shade.
Hopefully it will not bloom!

I have a pot of rosemary in the deep shade too.
Staying cool and inspired as we get through another heat wave
and still no rain.

Vinegar and Oil

While waiting for rain and the tomatoes
to ripen I am doing up bottles of flavored

vinegars and oil.

We are planting for Autumn harvest.

I can keep seedlings growing

until the rains return.

Picnics

We are eating light.
We are eating cold foods.
I made a most delicious garden potato salad.

As the temperatures soar I am staying cool.
I am fixing at home picnics.

I enjoy summer time.

I enjoy picnics at the kitchen table.

Rain

We received 1.5 inches of rain overnight.

The parsley was well washed.

I have fallen in love with roses.
I am doing my research.

I would love to grow roses in all the flowerbeds.

My friend sent me borage seeds.
I found a spot to sow them in the herb garden.
Now I wait for sprouts.
The rains watered them in nicely.

I also had some borage seeds.
These are annuals in my garden.
I will enjoy the borage while I find just the right rose for the herb garden. Next year shall be my year of the rose.
I am already making plans.

Lavender Hyssop

A few years ago my doctor suggested I grow my own medicine.
I was very ill. My husband said he would help me.
 We put in a bed of Echinacea, Purple Cone Flower.
I have never been able to bring myself to dig the roots.
Yet the process of caring for my "medicine" has made me well.

 I grow lots of herbs for teas.

I have added more Hyssop to the back peonies' bed.
I never seem to have enough for winter use.

It looks so pretty with my orange Asiatic Lilies.

My herb cabinet is filling up with dried leaves and flowers.