Summer Weekend

A typical Virginia weekend, hot and steamy. The garden is so lush right now, so much green everywhere (except for the lawn, which is turning the usual July brown) with pops of pink here and there. Blooming now are phlox, daisies, purple coneflowers, yarrow, day lilies, zinnias, a few roses.  I worked in the garden both mornings, mostly watering, weeding, and cutting back, still pulling out larkspur.  On Saturday I went to the farmer's market at Lake Anne--it's always a pleasure to see that pretty flowery wall along the lake, and pick up some fresh produce as well.

Lake Anne Farmer's Market

Lake Anne

End of Summer

We had a beautiful Labor Day weekend here in Virginia.  I worked on Saturday but on Sunday we went into DC, visited a museum and its gardens,  and enjoyed a frozen margarita or two outside at Cactus Cantina downtown. We had some rain at night, I weeded the garden, I cut lots of zinnias, we grilled hot dogs on the grill, and we watched lots of MI-5 on Netflix. Summer ends...

Home Again

Linda, Ellen, Tom

We left Chautauqua around 9:30 and had a long ride home, through central Pennsylvania and then down to Virginia.  Arrived home around 5. We had a great time the past few days, as always. Tom had asked Linda and I to bring any old family pictures we had, so we spent some time looking through those and then Tom scanned the ones he wanted. I came home inspired to organize all my pictures, we'll see how that goes!

Evie's garden

Oh, What A Beautiful Morning

Sunrise, Tuesday

It's a blogging convention here this morning, with Biff and I blogging together on our laptops and sharing tips. It looks like another beautiful day, maybe a bit warmer. Breakfast is almost ready, scrambled eggs and bacon, melon and peaches again, and Biff's bread, toasted. Why are the peaches here so delicious?  Sounds like we are making a trip this morning to Wegmans and liquor store, for jelly and booze, what else, then to Bemus for a walk.

At Long Point

We took a long walk at Long Point Park, out to the point and back, through the woods, it was so peaceful and quiet out there. We then stopped in Bemus to look at Skillman's (store we like) and then Tom wanted us to see The Art Loft, a little artsy store they like, right past the Institute on 394. Then home again for lunch and a lazy afternoon on the dock. Heaven!

Chautauqua peaches

The Sibs

Making a manhattan

Tom and Evie

Thanks Tom and Ev for another wonderful visit to Chautauqua. We have been coming to Chautauqua for 30 years now! The first summer we went Brooks was 3 months old and we have pictures of him sitting in his little chair out on the lawn. A visit to Chautauqua is always a highlight of our summer. Mom and Dad loved it there, and would be so happy that we all get together here for a few days. We even played Telefunky, in Mom's memory.

Family Together

The day started out with a typical Evie breakfast of blueberry pancakes, melon and peaches, coffee cake. Evie makes the best breakfasts here--scrambled egg baskets are my favorite! (But honestly, they are all favorites.) Paul left around 10 and we were sorry to see him go, as he is a great guy and fun to be around. Then Linda and Rich arrived and we had lunch outside, hot dogs and black bean soup, leftover moussaka. It is a beautiful day today, a little cool for swimming, but great to be out in the sunshine. We spent the afternoon on the dock, reading and talking, then played beanbags late afternoon. Took another booze cruise around the lake.  Evie had made that layered sundried tomato and pesto terrine and we took that with us and it was delish! Then we had rotisserie turkey from The Lighthouse for dinner, along with mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, even had pumpkin pie!

Biff relaxing

Getting ready to cruise

Walt and Rich

Me and Linda

Rich, Walt,  Linda, Tom, Evie

Evie and Rich

After dinner we sat around talking and laughing, looking at lots of old pictures.  No dancing tonight, but maybe tomorrow! Another wonderful day at Chautauqua.

A Beautiful Morning

August 23

What a change! It was in the 50s when I went for a walk this morning and I actually had to wear a sweatshirt. So many people were walking this morning, enjoying the cooler weather. I saw so many crape myrtles--I just don't know why we have never planted one, as they are so pretty for the second half of the summer. House just went up for sale in our neighborhood--don't they know Herndon is the 34th best place to live in the nation?? I work today and tonight, so here are a few pictures from this morning in the garden.

My neighbor's crape myrtle--why don't I have one?

Deer have been here

Knockout Rose

Saturday Morning at Lake Anne Farmers Market

Reston founder Bob Simon

We were up early, Walt to go for a run, and me to take full advantage of a Saturday off and go to the farmers market at Lake Anne. It was busy at 8 am, and I got some green beans, tomatoes, beets, raspberries, peaches and basil, and of course I couldn't resist a bouquet of zinnias. It's hard to stop, because everything looks so good. I buy most of my stuff from Hutt Produce, just because I like the guy so much and I know him from the Herndon market on Thursdays.

Look at these cute brussels sprouts

I think we will have summer pasta tonight, the Silver Palate recipe with tomatoes, basil, and brie cheese. Fresh and easy.