Summer Over Already?

If you are not currently in the parenting business . . . parenting school-aged children, that is . . . you may not realize that it is camp-enrollment season.

I know.

Despite the current frigid temperatures and constant threat of snow and ice, we have spent the past week reading activity descriptions, comparing swimming lessons, confirming dates for things like the county fair and the scouts' camp-out, and trying to pin-point what my boy's interests will be come this summer.

And today I spent this morning enrolling him in several fabulous-sounding experiences.  Sports, explorers, horses, music.  Sounds great!

But I always get a bit of a heavy heart as I color in the various weeks that have been scheduled for my boy.  It seems like, with a stroke of a pen, I have spent his entire summer for him.  Already.  And, somehow, I miss him.  Already.

***

 
Before I allow myself to become completely depressed, I must remind myself that my boy has plenty of unscheduled time mixed in this summer.  We will laugh and we will hang out together.  We will go blueberry picking and fishing.  We will clean out closets, too, and pick through the mountain of papers that have come home from school. 

I always strategically leave the cleaning of closets and the organizing of dresser drawers for the last day before a busy camp week . . . somehow, it eases the blow of time apart, if you know what I mean.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

By the school calendar, it is the last week of summer . . .

Make a splash!

It's Hot

"How hot is it?"

It is so hot . . .

that the mudroom door I painted THREE weeks ago -- and didn't close for a full 5 days while drying -- seems to have melted shut.

Not budging.

Nope.

No way.

No how.

Happy Feet

I am not a hot-weather girl. 

I burn.

I wilt.  

I frizz.

I whine.

But there is at least one thing I do like more about summer than any other time of year . . . sandals!

How great to slip on a pair and run out the door. 

I just bought myself a pair of Birkenstocks just like this:

LOVE them!  The "break-in period" is over and they are almost as good as going barefoot.

I anticipate wearing these babies down to the cork!

Do you have a favorite summer sandal?

Hot Dog Days of Summer

It is so hot here, I don't even know what to say about it:  102*F (39*C), gah!

So rather than regale you with descriptions of the searing heat, crunchy grass, and suffocating humidity, I will share what we had for supper last night.  Some recipes are just suited for hot weather, I've always thought.

Chicago Dog Salad*

1/4 cup yellow mustard
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 rounded teaspoon sugar
1 tsp. celery seed
2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 of a 16-ounce sack shredded cabbage blend for slaw salads
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 
1 romaine heart, shredded
2 vine ripe tomatoes, diced
3 large half sour or garlic pickles, chopped
Salt and pepper
8 pork or beef hot dogs, cut into 1-inch-thick slices on an angle

 
In the bottom of a large bowl, combine mustard, vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and oil. Add the onions, cabbage, romaine, tomatoes, and pickles and toss the salad. Season with salt and pepper, adjust seasonings, and reserve.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the sliced dogs in a single layer. Sear them a couple of minutes on each side. Remove to paper towels to drain.

Mound up the salad on plates, top with seared dogs, and serve.

* as found in Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine

You might also notice that if you leave out the sugar and choose your dogs carefully, this is a very, very low carb recipe.



Keep cool!