Dear Sunday Letter friends~
Oh, I had a fantastic birthday week. Thank you to all who sent greetings via text or Twitter, face-to-face or Facebook, cards or flowers or lunch dates. I don’t know exactly when the spring chicken phase of life ends, but I am well past it. Now, as a seasoned hen, I am becoming more and more aware that every day is a gift.
How about we welcome every day as the celebration it is?
Cheers to the BLT
There comes a point here in the steamiest part of the southern summer when I can no longer think clearly. In fact, I begin to reassess the entire structure of my life. Specifically, I wonder—
- why do I willingly live in a part of the world with rainforest-like humidity?
- why do I bother with growing a pollinator garden when each time I step outside the no-see-ums ravage my ankles?
- why oh why haven’t we at least moved to the lake or built a swimming pool?
And then right before I plunge into full blown madness, the Cherokee Purples ripen. Just knowing this causes a shift in my thinking, enough so that I will walk to Farmer’s Market to buy a basket of them. And I will make a special trip to the grocery store for a fresh loaf of my favorite bread and a pound of center cut bacon. And I will fry the whole pound of bacon in my favorite skillet with little regard for the increased kitchen heat generated by said activity.
Now I gotta ask—
- Is it really summer without a BLT?
- Could we truly survive summer without one?
- What do vegetarians do?
I suppose an ATL (avocado tomato and lettuce) provides a decent substitute. The Minimalist Baker has a vegan version that substitutes fried strips of eggplant for bacon. It actually looks amazing.
Vegetarians, what say you?
Splatter Screen
Since we are on the topic of frying, I thought I’d tell you about this Williams Sonoma splatter screen I received for Christmas last year. I don’t often fry anything the traditional way because 1) I don’t like a greasy stovetop; and 2) fried foods are simply not healthy no matter how you spin it. But because we are doing whatever is necessary to survive the summer doldrums (i.e. making BLTs), I finally used my splatter screen.
It is a frying game changer.
Not only does it keep grease from splattering (hence the name), but it also absorbs odors so that the entire house doesn’t smell like fried pig fat.
Who knew?
Maybe you need a Christmas in July gift? Also, ‘real’ Christmas is only 162 days away…
Never Turn Down an Invitation for an Ice Cream Cone
When your husband (or significant other or even the little voice in your head) asks you out on a hot Friday night date to get a dipped cone at the Dairy Queen, you say YES.
(Yeah, we #fancylike Dairy Queen.)
You may think DQ soft serve and a BLT are nothing alike, but really they are. They both belong in the category Simple Ways to Survive Summer in the South. (I could do an entire post on this topic—maybe I will later.)
The basic Dairy Queen soft serve (or Taste Freeze or fill in the blank with your favorite dairy bar name) truly is summer in a cone. Dip it in chocolate or keep it plain, but there is zero need for fancy fixins or crazy add-ins. Just grab a paper napkin and enjoy it from the tip of the ice cream curl to the last drop at the bottom of the cone.
Nostalgia.
Happiness.
Sweet summertime goodness.
And yes—the ultimate handheld device!
Things Momma Says:
I have never liked a fish taco.
***
Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Letter. I vote we all celebrate the week ahead, whether it’s your birthday or not.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
I agree with your mom.
LOL.
As always, I enjoyed your Sunday letter!
Thanks, Colene!
You just helped me decide what to prepare for dinner, and I can’t wait…BLT, here I come!
And, you are right about the splatter screen: one of my kids gave me one last year, and it’s a happy game changer! 😍 It’s the little things…
Thank you for a delightful Sunday letter, Talya.
Thank you Jo Ann! Yes, it’s the little things. Enjoy your BLT.
Our English Springer Spaniel has an autoimmune disease that causes a skin condition for which he gets a biweekly trip to the doggie bathhouse with medicated shampoo and creme rinse. On the way home, we always stop for a to go lunch at our favorite deli. While waiting for lunch to be prepared, I slip to the back of the restaurant and help myself to a soft serve cone. I have reached an age when I am not the least bit ashamed to help myself to dessert first. Golden years do have their perks too and bad knees and sore backs are not my favorite ways to celebrate, but an ice cream cone will do nicely thank you.
I know that ice cream makes the outing much better!
I agree with Barbara! No fish taco
for me!
Ha. I never knew so many people didn’t like fish tacos.
Happy birthday!
Thank you! I hope you are well.
It is NOT summer without a BLT – nothing better! I’m going to have to get one of those splatter screens. I love your Sunday Letter!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy your splatter screen!
Oh my summer tomatoes….if I don’t grow anything else I always try to grow them. This year my neighbor has been feeding the deer. Because I grow a meadow….they’ve moved into my yard & pulled every single tomato plant up by the roots. Thankfully I have some generous friends but no Cherokee purples yet. I need to check the market.
Oh no! I sure don’t ever encourage the deer. They do enough damage without feeding them.
Your Sunday letters are the best
Love ice cream cones!
Thanks, Carol!
I must have at least one BLT each summer with fresh tomato! ❤️. I agree with your mom! 😂
Summer is long—it’s hard to have just one.
I agree with Barbaa!
Ha!
We’ve been chowing on BLTs, too. There’s nothing better with Arkansas tomatoes! And the Dairy Queen was part of my childhood. My brother always got the chocolate dipped cone called a Brown Derby. I still love them.
I’m glad you had a good birthday!
I so miss summer slicing tomatoes.