Daughter Kate and her family are visiting me for a while, so I’ve been occupied with them and not thinking about my blog. But today they are visiting friends in another city, and I walked around the garden where a pollinator party is ongoing….
This time it was a Cabbage White butterfly that got my attention, in the midst of bees who were also enjoying the lavender.
All the nectar-drinking creatures seem to be luxuriating in the heat; when they luxuriate it means they are all limbered up and move more easily, and faster. At least, that’s how it seems to me. I feel that way, except for the faster part.
Many of the calendulas are spent, but this one just opened:
Before my family arrived, I tried a new zucchini bread recipe to have ready for them. I used this one from the New York Times Cooking site, but cut the sugar by half, and doubled the lemon zest: Olive Oil Zucchini Bread. (If you use this link you can access the recipe, that I am “giving” you.) It’s quite delicious. Unfortunately, I had to buy the zucchinis for it! I guess I didn’t sow my seeds in a good place, as the plants are not growing. I will have to wait longer to have a satisfying summer squash harvest. It’s been years since I’ve been satisfied that way.
I had a longing to make real strawberry shortcake, using the shortcake recipe from my oldest edition of the Joy of Cooking. We ate it for Rigo’s belated seventh birthday party. That recipe called for a little butter, plus “milk or cream.” Note to self: Don’t use all cream! Everyone loved it, but it was super rich.
We are all about soccer this week, as my dear people brought me their zeal for the sport and for the World Cup happening right now. I’ve watched two games with them already, and expect to see two more, including the final game this weekend. My children all played on recreational soccer teams as youths and I do love watching. These professionals are incredible athletes, and I am constantly amazed. Kate’s family have just moved from Argentina, and are excited that Argentina is still in the playoffs. When Raj and Rigo built a Lego street scene, it included a soccer field with a game and spectators. Go, Argentines!
Gladsome Lights 
Soccer is a great mystery to me. I’ve seen kids around the world playing, of course, but despite my best efforts, the longest I was able to pay attention to world cup matches was about 3 minutes. It was wonderful fun hosting matches here in Houston, though, and meeting people from around the world. It was impossible not to spot them, particularly in some of our enormous gas stations/supermarts, and barbeque restaurants. They seemed most fond of the barbeque, and air conditioning, although given a hard choice, most seemed to prefer the barbeque.
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I saw a few videos of those international guests, and noted that Texas barbeque was a hit! One of my grandsons is the family statistician of soccer, and can tell you lots of things about each team and the last time they won, who they beat, etc, and that adds to the enjoyment. I would never have tuned in if not for these people. They also had to set up my TV again, because somehow it is forever losing my settings so that I can’t figure out how to watch anything, including DVD’s, in between visits from the younger generations.
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