Cherry Limeade Margaritas

     Since our front porch is now featuring red accents (see next post), we assembled the ingredients for an appropriately colored drink with which to toast the new look. Actually it was entirely coincidental, but what the heck, claim the fame! Frozen limeade, cherry juice concentrate, ice and tequila were placed in a blender and whirled into a luscious froth. Instead of a traditional margarita glass, I served the drink in a heavy-bottomed cut-glass tumbler which was less apt to tip and break on the concrete. A lemon slice was added as a bright garnish and our frosty, fruity treat was ready for the patio tribute.

Glider Gets Cool

     Many a sunset or an approaching storm is watched from this glider on our front porch. Despite the wrought iron construction, it is quite comfortable and the rhythm of the sway is soothing (even the high-energy dog enjoys a sedate "swing"!)

     The cushions and pillow on the glider got a recent revamp when I realized how faded they had become from the wicked western sun. They were mismatched as well - thrown together more for comfort than style. A piece of cotton fabric (part of a gift box of several lengths from a sewing friend who was moving cross-country) was just enough to cover both. I added some red button tufts to match the tiny red floral print, and threw on another pillow, scarlet with white stars, that usually was part of my Fourth of July decor. Lastly, over the back I draped a tiny nine-patch quilt, which was pieced some forty years ago for my dolls and while not big enough for warmth, it complements the red color scheme. Altogether the effect is a cool, comfortable resting place - for humans and canines.

     

Shady Landscape Project

     The ground around this stately ash tree is a combination of bumpy roots and very thin soil - a landscape challenge that is ugly to observe and further aggravated by an energetic squirrel chaser. Pop has long wanted to alleviate this eyesore so when a friend asked if he was interested in some free concrete retaining blocks (removed for a pool installation), a new project was born.

     Using an old but trusty Radio Flyer, Pop transported the blocks from his truck to the back yard. He arranged them around the base of the tree, taking care with a level and some filler rocks that the horizontal surfaces were uniform (and moaning from a backache that evening!) A few days later, the new bed was filled with compost and garden soil, and Pop visited the local nursery with some definite ideas that he had gleaned from research. He chose a combination of hostas and caladiums - shade-loving plants with colorful foliage. After composing, planting and a thorough watering, Pop was rightfully proud of his gardening enterprise.

A Girl and Her Toad

     Mikayla likes pretty dresses and hair accessories. She is equally at home in her soccer uniform or digging for worms. On summer evenings, she and her little sister can often be found catching lighting bugs (or fireflies, as they adamantly corrected me).

   
     A bonus catch tonight was a small toad and Mikayla was delighted to pose with her squirmy friend - the beaming smile gave a slight indication of how thrilled she was with her new pal, who has a new, albeit temporary, home in a Little Tikes Playhouse.

Peachy Pie Bars

     On hot summer evenings, Pop "needs" his ice-cream fix so I thought a complimentary treat would be nice. For no special reason except that peaches are in season, I picked a new recipe for baking this weekend. (The peach crop in our part of the Midwest was hit hard by the severe winter and some of the orchards reported a 40% loss in fruit, but thankfully prices haven't risen sky-high - yet!) Perhaps another reason is that Pop LOVES pie as much or more than ice-cream. Anyway this dish differs a bit from a traditional pie because the crust contain an egg and is crispy yet slightly fluffy.

      Fresh peaches were added to a simmered sugar sauce and spiced with a big pinch of cinnamon and a little pinch nutmeg, and then spread over the bottom crust. The top crust was put in place and sprinkled with a drift of white sugar. A summer plus was that the bars baked in half the time a pie would have taken. After cooling completely, our peachy treat was cut and ready to eat. We thought that perhaps we would be saving calories by eating squares smaller then a pie wedge, but sabotaged that theory by having seconds!

The Sun's So Bright

     Because Dunc loves to hang his head out the window when riding in the truck, Pop thought it prudent to protect his best friend's eyes. A pair of doggie goggles seemed a good idea and fit well, however, Dunc will only leave them on long enough to get a treat and perhaps for a photograph!

Phone Stand

     After we painted the walls in the dining room, I found a simple iron and wood stand to place near an outlet. Its main purpose was an out-of-the-way place to hold my phone while it charged overnight, however I am equally thrilled that the stand became a pleasing accessory to the room's decor. Since the drapes and the area rug are predominately a dark red, I searched through my books and gathered some matching volumes, which then were bound with a wire-rimmed ribbon. A decorative metal milk can that is usually part of my autumn decor, was placed on the lower shelf and filled with a spray of greenery. Love my little phone station!