Sunday Letter: July 2024

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Once Independence Day is behind us, I imagine we are coasting on the downhill side of the summer Ferris wheel. How did that happen already?

Our 4th of July celebration started with a yummy potluck with friends (is there anything better?) and ended with the most delightful sort of fireworks—the rumble of thunder, a lightning show, and much-needed RAIN! Until the rain, the temperature was downright rude. Since the rain, we’ve had a pleasant cool down. I think we might survive summer.

Actually, this has been a wonderful summer so far. One way I judge the success of my summer is by the sweetness of watermelon. Every single watermelon I’ve eaten this summer has been absolutely perfecto. And since watermelon is my spirit fruit, this is a big deal to me.

I select a watermelon based on firmness and the color of its resting spot. A large whitish-yellow spot means it matured in the field and wasn’t picked too early. Also, if the rind is shiny, it’s underripe. A dull rind is best. Unlike tomatoes and other fruits, watermelons do not continue to ripen once harvested.

What you buy is what you get.

We Bought a Ginormous Mister Fan

Mister fans have come a long way from those of ten, fifteen years ago, and ours, purchased from Continental Dynamics, makes sitting around the outdoor table on a 99 degree day at 6:30 pm doable. We debuted it on the 4th of July, and its cool, fine mist reduced the immediate air temperature about ten degrees.

I suspect we will use it often.

Assembling the fan was a real challenge. The written instructions lacked both detail and clarity, but we figured it out. At the end of the process, we had no leftover parts and John and I were still on speaking terms.

😂

My Favorite Summer Salads

Summer is all about salads and with an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, the possibilities are endless.  Here are two of my favorites. I like to keep them in the fridge at all times.

Caprese Salad

Ingredients:

Tomatoes
Mozzarella
Fresh Basil
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar

Sometimes I cut the tomatoes and cheese into similar sized slices and arrange the pieces oh-so-neatly on a platter. Other times, like in the picture, I just quickly dice and toss the ingredients in a bowl. Tastes the same either way.

Cucumber Onion and Vinegar Salad

Ingredients:

Cucumbers
White Onion
Vinegar (White, Apple Cider, or a combination of the two)
Fresh Dill

This salad surely dates back to our great-grandmothers who grew a bounty of cucumbers and onions in their gardens.

Slice up a few cucumbers + a white onion, place in a plastic container, cover with vinegar, add dill to taste, and store in the fridge. When the container gets low, I toss more cucumber and onion into the vinegar, which continues to become more and more flavorful over the days.

Both of these salads make an ideal side with most any summer menu. When you grow your own basil, dill, and cucumbers (maybe tomatoes, too!), it tastes that much better.

Do you have a favorite salad for summer?

Happy Birthday to Me!

I believe it’s important to celebrate each birthday. Those who ignore birthdays and grumble about growing older, well, I don’t understand that negativity. We all have friends and family members who are no longer with us; that will be our fate soon enough.

I say wear the party hat and eat the cake no matter your age.

My birthday cake of choice has always been Nana’s Strawberry Cake. One bite and I’m fifteen-years-old, celebrating with family at the lake. Or, I’m six, celebrating in the backyard at the farm with childhood friends—Sara, Anita, Craig, Lesa, and others.

While those present at my celebration have changed through the years (and the years fly by more rapidly with each rotation around the sun), the cake hasn’t.

And that’s a happy thing.

Learning New Things

Yes, I’m turning 62 in three days (!) and I’m still trying new things. Most recently, I’ve been making YouTube videos regularly. (If you follow me on Facebook, you probably already know this.)

Why bother? Well, it’s something different, and I tend to get bored with the same thing year in year out. AND, if I can get enough people to subscribe to my YouTube channel, I can monetize my account. Making a bit of $$$ would help offset my writing and gardening addictions. It’s good to have wild goals, right?

Plus, it’s fun.

Here’s my most recent video:

For my birthday, maybe you’ll become a subscriber?

Subscribe

Practice makes perfect, so I fully expect to hone my skills…

Wildlife Habitat

It’s official!

Our yard recently qualified as a certified wildlife habitat because we provide native plants, water, and safe places for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife to live and raise their young. AND, we don’t use any chemicals.

We installed an official sign so that the deer who jump the fence will know they are welcome here. Ha.

Things Momma Says

Some people aren’t acting right.

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Thanks for reading today’s July Sunday Letter. Before you go, tell me something you are looking forward to in July.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.