Summer…

Summer, the favourite season of many, is here along with lazy days, long, warm evenings, and family vacations.

“Summertime”,  composed in 1935,  (music by George Gershwin, lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin) was an aria performed in the opera, Porgy and Bess.  The song soon became a popular jazz standard (Billy Holiday) and is considered one of the finest songs written by Gershwin.

“Summertime” is my husband’s favourite song…but not one of the versions mentioned above.  The summer after our high school graduation we went to dances every weekend…in the city on Friday nights and at the lake on Saturday nights.  A popular local band sang this song every time they played, and it soon became a signature rock and roll “hit”  for the lead singer. Summer is his favourite time of the year, and I wonder if it’s partly because of the memories of those carefree summer nights!

If you are at the beach (lake), camping or just relaxing on your patio this summer, you will want to enjoy the outdoors more than time spent in the kitchen.  I found these recipes on Pinterest and believe they would be a tasty, lovely presentation for dinner at the shoreline or in the garden.

***All of these recipes are simple (most important!), can be made ahead, and easily packed in a picnic basket.  Of course, a good bottle of wine would be the perfect accompaniment!  The following would make a refreshing cocktail to start the evening:

With all my gardening enthusiasm, I have created a very high maintenance garden. I love being outdoors, and I’m finding that I don’t have much spare time to sit behind a computer screen. I’ve decided to sign off the blog for a few months to give the garden the attention it deserves (requires!).

For me, summer is just the warm-up season to my favourite season…Fall. After this writing hiatus, I look forward to sharing new ideas and conversations with you.

Thank you for following along and all the support you’ve given me over the past two years.  Have a wonderful summer…see you in September!  Judy xox