Moisture Control

Remember the bag lady? Maybe this little incident will refresh your memory.

Well, she's been at it again re-purposing  bags from all kinds of  products into clever and useful totes.

In our drought state of the last weeks we really have had no problem with moisture control except for that of a personal nature.

Maybe that is why the women working in the Flower and Horticulture department at the fair 

began tittering in amusement when we walked in glowing (dripping) with perspiration (sweat) 

and carrying this very appropriate satchel.

Thanks Honeybee and Bag Lady for the gift and a chuckle.

Delta at Dawn

That's about when you have to get to the Delta Diner to nab one of their coveted booths. 

But be assured, if you do have to wait, it will be well worth it. 

Once you are seated indoors you will get a personal, detailed description of the day's menu items.

After ordering you will find:

The cooks are speedy.

The decor tells part of the story.

The people watching is great.

Even being watched can be entertaining.

And the food?

How 'bout this P*BLT?

 Clean as a whistle counter and grill.

Inspirational posters.

Real dairy products, and sweet and salty stuff.

Appropriate priorities.

Shiny surfaces.

Teamwork!

Conviviality.

Mex Benny. Eggs on cornbread with chorizo gravy.

Carefully researched data.

Swell uniforms.

A very large, no-cheaters-required menu.

Reasonable prices for high quality food.

Brussels sprout and bacon omelette.

This is true.

Well, at least it's a very scenic middle-of-nowhere.

With a wonderful atmosphere.

And very friendly staff.

Sweet-as-pie waitresses.

Pie!

Dedicated owners.

A fascinating history.

Shopping opportunities.

Baked goods.

Tasteful souvenirs.

Streamlined authentic design.

Overflow room and flowing syrup.

Great destination.

*perch

Signs o' the Times and Lake Places

Found at the flea market: delightful booth

manned by an offbeat free spirit,

artistic kindred soul,

local colorful character.

Yiddish verification needed.

Our sentiments exactly.

Guess which one came home with us and win a free night in a deluxe lake retreat suite.

(complimentary liverwurst sandwich bedtime snack included)

The Livin' is Easy

We're at large and letting someone else cook and do the dishes.

Just might not come home anytime soon.

We'll see.

Help yourselves to the tomatoes.

HB HB!

These busy bees remind us of our very own, very industrious, Honeybee next door. 

You can print this image from The Graphics Fairy,

color it, and send it to our favorite busy bee birthday girl today.

Speaking of honey...look at this beautiful, four pound jar of golden sweetness 

from our very own West Hill Honey Company.

Ain't she a beauty?

Perhaps we will invite Honeybee over for some birthday toast.

Confiture Par Avion

Beautiful black raspberry jam from none other than Madelaine of Chez Madelaine 

as recently featured on her blog.

We could not resist nestling the jar into the other purple produce we were washing up for supper 

for the ultimate violaceous photo op.

Berry jam is indeed, as Madelaine calls it, "summer in a jar". 

You probably already know that we here at NDL HQ are in the habit of saving jams and jellies until the fruitful season is well past. We love being able to revisit the tastes and scents of warmer days when the wind is blowing outside and we need inspiration to remember that spring and summer will come again.

When eventually we do enjoy this special treat we will also savor memories of the fun time had by all

when the jam came to us by special air delivery.

Jam, and George and Madelaine over the Mississippi at Lacrosse, WI.

How to Pinch a Penny

As we experience daytime temps in the hot-as-Hades range, the cabin-fever-in-July phenomenon kicks in as we hide indoors in front of fans and window air-conditioning units while waiting for the next cold front to blow through bringing tolerable dew points and thermometer readings.

Just as in January when we have spent too much time stuck inside these four walls, we can see every little thing around the house that needs repair or is long overdue for updating. We also have time to ponder our wasteful ways, and dwell on how we may become more thrifty and make things last instead of replacing willy-nilly household items that can see much more use if properly taken care of.

Here are a few highlights from our new bible of  domestic making-do and perking-up.

Coming soon: Conch shell planter seminar chez NDL.