July's Letter

When it smells like hay fields, memories, and summer sun

The peonies are in full bloom and it feels exquisite, a secret little surprise that I get to savor at the close of every June. Mine are planted in a spot that gets a flood of gentle morning sun, which turns dappled by noon, then to cool shade for the rest of the day. It means the peony blooms unfold two to three weeks following everyone else’s that are planted in full sun. I feel so lucky.

In a jug on the end table in the living room is a bouquet of alfalfa and sweet clover, gathered from the roadside near the end of our recent roadtrip, a delightful effort to ride this extraordinary sweet clover wave that’s taken over the countryside this year. The house smells like hay fields and memories and summer sun.

Growing alongside an old log cabin high in the mountains of Montana, the one my husband remembers from his childhood, the one right by a creek full of brook trout, the one a distant cousin, now in her 80’s lives in by herself year round (with its delightfully crooked floors and pristine chrome and enamel wood cook stove), were purple columbine. Purple columbine! I’ve seen lavender, pink, raspberry that was nearly red, but never purple. I gently turned a face of one flower toward me to verify, yes, indeed, columbine. And I knew right then that one day my flower garden would have them, too.

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Moments Lately

river time

loft time

rhubarb time

mountain time

tug time

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Reading Lately

Gosh, loves, June was the month of unfinished books! I’ve lost track of how many I started, then stopped, grateful for the permission I gave my self a long time ago that it’s okay to not finish a book if it’s not for me. Whew. Life is too short to read ill-fitting books!

But, thankfully, there is one that I can tell you about.

By Her Own Design by Piper Huguely, is a novel based on the true story of Ann Lowe, an African American woman who grew up in Jim Crow Alabama and learned the art of garment making from her mother and grandmother, becoming one of the most sought-after seamstresses to the social elite. She overcame incredible odds in her lifetime to follow her dream of owning her own shop, making couture gowns for her discerning clients, even America’s most famous wedding dress of all time.

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Eating Lately

Summer is for salads, isn’t it? I love making a big salad at the beginning of the week, ready to scoop from when lunch rolls around in the days following. This recipe came from a Taste of Home magazine about 25 years ago and is still one of our favorites.

Creamy Cashew Chicken Salad

4 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 jar (2 oz) diced pimientos, drained

3/4 cup salted cashews, plus more for garnish

Leaf lettuce, torn

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons tarragon vinegar or cider vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

In a large bowl, combine chicken, celery, green pepper, and pimientos; set aside. In a blender, combine the dressing ingredients, cover and process until well blended. Pour dressing over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Before serving, fold in cashews. Serve in lettuce-lined bowls and garnish with additional cashews. Yeild: 6 servings.

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Favorites Lately

Rope at the door (a client says this is the best one she’s owned!)

The Preamble (ever aspiring to be informed)

Summer knits (sweaters aren’t just for winter, yay!)

Getting Lost (oh, that borrowed kitchen at the end of ep. 1!)

The scraper spoon (my favorite shape for stirring things around a skillet - thanks for the link, Birnie!)

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Time Away

Ah, July. It’s the summer month that I’ll be away from this space for a bit of rest and rejuvenation. For when you’re in a moment of your own, needing some reading to fill a summer afternoon, you can find my archive here, here and even further back here. Enjoy! I’ll see you on August 1.