Oh Those Summer Nights

Time is moving so fast for me right now and I don't want to miss out on summer.  I almost had myself convinced that I couldn't do summer activities because I get home too late from work (6:00pm) and by the time I have dinner it is too late to do anything. Not true!! The weather has been so beautiful over the past three weeks and it has lasted well into the evening.  It is daylight until almost 10:00pm so I have time.  What I often lack is the 'get up and go' energy after being at work all day.

Wednesday night I knew I needed to get outside, but after dinner I felt tired, and the urge to do nothing started creeping in.  John encouraged me to go out on my bike anyway, which I slowly got ass my ass in gear to do, and I woke up in a big way.  It was only my second bike ride of the season so I wasn't sure how far I could go.  When I got on my bike, it just sort of drove itself to the beach.  Once there I kicked off my shoes and got almost knee deep in the beautiful, clear, warm, gorgeous water. The wind was blowing, so there were also big, beautiful waves that kept crashing into me. I didn't have my swimsuit with me, so I just enjoyed the water on my feet and the sights and sounds of the beach.  It was just lovely and I wholeheartedly agree that life is better at the beach.

The bike ride home is uphill the whole way and I really got a good work out doing it.  Halfway home, John met up with me in the car, to offer a ride if I was too tired to bike the whole way.  I was happy and energized and was more than able to make it home (up all the hills), but I find it sweet that he cares.

Thursday night we finally got a parking pass so we drove down to the beach for a quick swim.  I'm overjoyed that the water is not freezing at 8:00pm as I really want to spend as much time in the water as I can this summer, and after work is my prime time to enjoy it.  I will get to enjoy some daytime swims this summer too, as I had a day off yesterday and my Bro's came up and we spent three wonderful hours at the beach.  Looking forward to going back sometime this weekend and then every beautiful evening for the remainder of the summer.  Can't wait!

Georgian Bay Beach Report

It's Perfect.

Hot Day Cold Lunch

I've been craving a cold lunch for a while now, and since it is so fricken' hot out there today (feels like 33ºC), it was the perfect day to have one.  Having a cold lunch, cold plate, deli dinner (and various other names, I'm sure), allows for both yummy food and relief from the heat on a super hot day.  Plus it is an amazing excuse to make and eat deviled eggs without having to go to a pot luck!

There are loads of Deviled Egg recipes online (try All Recipes, and there's even DeviledEggs.com), and today's recipe is a mishmash from both those sites, plus a little added flare of my own.

Step 1. Hard boil 6 eggs and let them cool.  Peel and cut lengthwise and scoop out the yolks.

Step 2. Mix egg yolks, 4 tbsp mayo, 1/2 tsp dry hot mustard, 1/2 tsp vinegar, 1/8 tsp garlic salt, and pepper to taste.  Scoop the yolk mixture back into the eggs as equally as you can (I used a teaspoon but you can use an icing bag if you want to be fancy!).  Sprinkle with paprika and serve.

I ate mine with some store bought macaroni and potato salad (both sprinkled with shredded cheese).  It was super yummy and perfectly cold on this very hot day.  What are your favourite foods to eat when it's hot out?

Happy Canada Day!!

This yummy cake and I would like to wish you a very Happy Canada Day!  Hope you're having a good one! :)

Half-Assed Summer Garden

We couldn't get it together to plant our full garden this summer, but we have a few vegetables started and some flowers planted.  And of course by we, I mean John.  I have been really lost when it comes to doing anything lately, so kudos to John for having initiative.  But it's not like I did absolutely nothing - I did help to pick out the flower seeds and I took all the photos for this post! It was really the least (most) I could do. :)

In lieu of a full vegetable garden John made a vegetable box that he planted a few of our favourites into. We are kind of rocking the patio garden thing this year.

Vegetable box full view

Green Beans

Green Leaf Lettuce

Peas

Patio Habanero and Patio Tomato

There is also some unruly oregano that came up on its own
 where the herb garden was last year

We also planted some flower seeds that are just starting to sprout.  We have an area in the backyard that is the resting place of some pretty amazing pets that have passed on over the years.  John is making a rock/flower garden to honour them.  He planted all perennials, so hopefully it remains beautiful year after year.

Rock/Flower garden

A perennial flower sprouting

  How is your garden this year?