a taste of summer

~ jama


photo by hal990

Happy June and hello summer!

Now, I know it’s barely started, and won’t be "official" until June 21st, but I’ve already entered the free and easy, lazy-hazy-do-nothing-wild-and-wooly summer mindset. I’ve been feasting on bing cherries, soy ice cream sandwiches, tall glasses of sun tea, and swirling little ice cubes around in my mouth. My wardrobe of choice is white linen; if you’re looking for me, I’m the rumpled one dozing in a mental hammock dreaming of Federico Garcia Lorca. Either him, or Gilles Marini. Let’s samba and sizzle!


photo mosaic from Veri’s kleiner Winkel’s photostream

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. Bring it on, I say! I’ve already gorged myself on strawberries and cherries, and look forward to sweet juicy melons, blackberries, mangoes, nectarines and peaches.

*salivates at the thought of homemade peach pie or cobbler*

photo by mycozycreations

This summer, I want to be more adventurous and try some new veggies. Truth be told, I love eating fresh salads, but I don’t really like making them. There’s something about washing lettuce that spoils the joy. I don’t mind chopping up other stuff, but even a salad spinner won’t enamour me to bathing iceberg or romaine. Now, if I could have an easy-on-the-eyes sous chef to do my lettuce, I’d be all set. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll ask Paul McCartney how he feels about arugula when he comes over for his birthday on the 18th.


photo by RV Diana

What about the resident teddy bear kitchen helpers? They tend to be a little scarce during the summer months — prefering to picnic, mess around with boats, and read A.A. Milne aloud with British accents. They’ll pop in now and again, to replenish their stores.

Since we won’t be leaving town this summer, I’ll have to do some armchair traveling. And, I want to reread some of my favorite childhood classics. I miss being carefree. Do you remember it? When you’re a kid, summer seems so long and luxurious, and adventures, large or little, can be found around every corner. Those were the days of creamsicles and dilly bars and Kahuku watermelon. Camping at the beach and my mom’s famous Korean barbecue sizzling on the hibachi, and lemon shave ice with azuki beans. Yum. I’m there.

Summer at alphabet soup will be relaxed, laid back and fun. Stay tuned for some very special guests, cool reviews, alphabetica, June tunes, forays into foreign lands, recipes, poetry, lots of fruits and veggies, sandwiches and salsa. Will you join me for a cup? 


photo by Blondieyooper

*Don’t miss the May 2009 Carnival of Children’s Literature, hosted by Tarie at Into the Wardrobe. And Kelly Fineman is devoting the entire month of June to Brushing Up on Your Shakespeare. Some great reading to go with your lemonade or iced tea. ☺

Okay, that’s a wrap!


photo by Ozyman

22 thoughts on “a taste of summer”

  1. I had my heart set on making a homemade peach tart last weekend for a bbq. I was so sad to see no peaches in the stores yet…well, almost none. One store had some the size of plums and they were too expensive and didn’t even look good. I settled for frozen peaches. Eh. It was barely acceptable. :-p I can’t wait for peaches! They are my favorite.

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  2. Yeah, we won’t see any decent peaches for awhile yet,either. Usually I have to wait until late July/August to make a good peach pie. They’re worth waiting for!

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  5. Woo hoo! I can’t wait to see what you bring us. Now, I’m trying to think of all picture books about fruits and/or veggies.

    My husband is the SAME way about making salads. He hates hates hates cleaning off the lettuce and always asks me to do it. But, ahem…if I may take a moment to brag a bit here (seriously, this is the ONLY bragging I can do when it comes to culinary things—fortunately, my husband’s a great cook and baker—so humor me): Evidently, I MAKE GREAT SALADS! My mother-in-law always says this, and my friend randomly told me that the other day, and my husband tells me the same. Evidently, I’m a “creative” salad-maker.

    Again, this is the only culinary bragging I can do here…

    I want that mug of berries. Mmm.

    Jules
    7-Imp

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  9. Blaine is a man after my own heart (boo on washing lettuce)!! I’m now totally intrigued with your salad making skills. Will have to investigate further . . .

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  11. White linen?!

    According to The Law Of Spilled Food, the colour of the food you spill is on the opposite side of the colour wheel from the colour of your clothes. Multiply by ten if you’re wearing something that’s only dry cleanable.

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  15. They say celebrities get asked every imaginable question, but I think it’s actually possible Paul McCartney has never been asked how he feels about arugula!

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  17. I miss blackberry summers when we wore old men’s shirts and hip waders to pick them (in August) at the edge of our woods–protective gear for brambles and black snakes. Then my mother would bake a blackberry cobbler that would make you slap your grandma. And homemade blackberry ice cream. I always hated turning the crank, but the effort was worth it. Yummy food, yummy pictures!

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  18. You think? Since he’s a vegetarian, he’s probably voiced his opinion about most veggies at some point :). But it’s worth asking him anyway :D.

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  20. LOL! Never heard the expression about slapping your grandma. Brilliant! Wow, homemade blackberry ice cream and cobbler. Now you’ve really got me going :9 . . .

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  21. For me, summer is about the rhubarb. Strawberry-rhubarb compote is so easy to make, and one doesn’t have to fuss with crusts and what-not (though I’m perfectly happy when fuss happens).

    I was just thinking about summers long ago, and how my mom just let me be instead of signing me up for things. I looked forward to summers because I could read without the distraction of schoolwork. 🙂

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  22. I’ve only had rhubarb in pie, and have never cooked it myself. I might have to give it a try this summer. I also equate summer with “free” reading time :).

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