Today’s stronger-than-expected thunderstorm and rain showers have put me into a delightfully domestic mood. Don’t get me wrong – I love summertime, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the warm sunny weather, long days, and outdoor activities. We certainly have enough rain here in Seattle other months of the year. But today it feels good to open all the windows to let in the smell of the rain – something it would be too cold to do, most of the year. I can leave my back door and kitchen door open to let fresh air in too, without worrying about my rain-shy dogs wandering outside to get into mischief in the back yard.
I have a full workday today and errands to run, but in between, I’ll find time to do a few domestic things this rainstorm has put me in the mood for. I’ll bake, organize a cupboard, clean the kitchen, and enjoy a cup of hot tea instead of iced for a change. Sadly, it’s too warm out to light a fire in my fireplace, so I’ll light candles instead.
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
- Mid-week vacuuming or laundry to do so you aren’t swamped with those chores this weekend?
- Are you tired of the music in your car? I need to update the CDs and USB stick I keep in my car (I don’t stream via my poor already-overworked phone). I’ll swap things out for some music I haven’t heard in a long time.
- Do you have social plans this weekend? Figure out what you’re going to do for fun – even if you end up just enjoying an evening or two by yourself.
- Making sure to enjoy summer’s fruit bounty? Pick up some fresh cherries, watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, Tuscan melons, blueberries and raspberries at the store. They’re more affordable right now than they will be come fall and winter.
TODAY’S PROJECT: Party Prep
In late August, my cousin and I are throwing a “1001 Nights” themed party. It’s a “Day to Night” party – child/kid friendly during the day, cocktail party for grownups after 7pm. I’ve laid out some of the party supplies on my dining table so I can assess the situation. I need to put them away tonight though; my dining table shouldn’t be cluttered like this for very long. I’m taking a look at our decorations (silks and flowers I’m bejeweling) and the plastic cups and plates I’ll use to serve. I’m attempting to throw a glow-in-the-dark Arabian Nights party in the evening, using blacklights, these colorful cups that glow under light, and tons of Cyalume lightsticks. I’ll keep you posted on my successes or failures along these lines!
One of my errands today is to run to Pier 1 to track down a few more of these lovely teal and gold lanterns. I’ll also pick up some LED candles – I normally prefer real candles, but can’t risk an open flame in the fabric-swathed tents I’m creating.
The rain today is preventing me from practicing setting up and decorating the tent canopies and air mattresses I bought for the party. I want to do a couple trial run throughs long before the party so I get the look just the way I want it. Instead, I’ll do some errands and gather some supplies for the party (like pomegranate soda) from Cost Plus and Pier 1 today.
LOVELY BLOGS: Damn Delicious
Chungah blogs from Los Angeles. She started her cooking blog two years ago. I love that her blog includes a recipe index. Current posts include Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes; Bacon and Pea Macaroni and Cheese; and Zucchini corn pancakes. It’s refreshing to find a high quality cooking blog that isn’t focused on baking 90% of the time. (I love baking blogs, but if I want to see stuff about baking, I go to a baking blog. Needing to learn to cook a wider variety of foods, I need to spend more time on blogs focusing on cooking).
http://damndelicious.net/blog/
LOVELY BOOKS: Woman’s Favorite Cook Book
This charming cookbook was written by Annie R. Gregory (“assisted by one thousand homekeepers”) and published way back in 1902. It’s remarkable how many color illustrations are included in this book – expensive and unusual for the time. There are chapters on relishes and chutneys; bread, biscuits, muffins and waffles; cakes; canned fruits and vegetables; dinner table novelties and decorations; arranging the table; ice creams, ices and sherbets; jellies; meat and fish; pastry, pies and tarts; puddings and pudding sauces; “soups made of meat” (Huh?); special menus for holidays; and much much more.
The book is over 600 pages long! I am so excited we can read this for free and peer back into the history of cooking and homemaking.
Woman’s Favorite Cookbook, at the Internet Archive
LOVELY FOOD: White Peach Sangria Sorbetto
I have a confession to make – I bought this in order to serve it at a dinner party I’m having tomorrow, but I’ve eaten it all up myself in the past two days! So delicious and fresh tasting! It’s a perfect summertime after-dinner treat. It’s one of Ciao Bella’s seasonal summer offerings. That means I probably won’t be able to find it in my local stores come fall. I’d better go shopping and get some more to enjoy (and serve at my dinner party tomorrow).
White Peach Sangria Sorbetto, from Ciao Bella
LOVELY HOME: Secret Ships Towels
I’m intrigued by these towels that can be used as shawls, scarves, beach towels, or sarongs. I don’t think I’d want to towel off with something with tassels though, that’s kind of weird. Still, I love the colors and the look of these. The idea of using your sarong as a beach towel is appealing, too.
LOVELY MOVIES: The Hundred Foot Journey
I am so desperately looking forward to this film! I love Helen Mirren, and I’m intrigued by the premise: “The opening of a new Indian restaurant in the south of France, next to a famous Michelin-starred eatery, is nearly cause for an all-out war between the two establishments until Le Saule Pleureur’s icy proprietress Madame Mallory recognizes her rival’s undeniable brilliance for preparing masterful meals.” A foodie movie! The film comes out August 8.
The Hundred Foot Journey page on Facebook
The Hundred Foot Journey Trailer, at Apple
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
BBQ Cookies: Hot Dogs & Hamburgers (The Bearfoot Baker)
Cookies and Cream Baked Chocolate Doughnuts (Raspberri Cupcakes)
Holographic Chocolates Look as Good as They Taste (NPR)
How Family Game Night Makes Kids Into Better Students (The Atlantic)
