Quick Without Thinking...

...Seven things for which I am grateful today...

ONE

For blue skies this morning that are clear of the hazy, gray smoke from the forest fires burning for weeks in various parts of Western Canada. The air is sweet today.

TWO

For the good rain that has watered thirsty, thirsty ground and helped with those forest fires. Not to mention, my own little patch of earth where my flowers and trees are most grateful.

THREE

For the cooler temperatures this week as anything over +31C feels too warm for this chickee. Today I feel more energetic and less sloth-like.

FOUR

For misty goblets of homemade iced lemonade with a dash of anise oil to sip on a hot day. 

FIVE

For the ability to enjoy the summer as it unfolds moment by moment, knowing that there is no having to get up before dawn to go to work, and there's no need to head off to bed long before the sun gives its amazing twilight summer show in the late evenings.

SIX

For spontaneity and the freedom to invite someone spur of the moment for chicken salad on croissants served with iced tea and lemon.

SEVEN

For the gift of this blog and my beautiful blogging friends who still come to visit. Honestly, I didn't mean to be away for so long between posts. (We were on a couple of mini-holidays. And, then I've been working feverishly away on a delightful project these last couple of weeks. Something I cannot reveal just yet, as it's meant as a surprise for someone who reads this blog.)

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ~ John Lubbock, The Use of Life 

Now, whether you're sitting in the shade of a tree listening to the leaves rustle, or you're off tackling some neglected project with gusto, or you're sitting with friends on a cafe patio, I'm wishing you a happy day and a joy-filled week ahead.

Gratefully,

Brenda

xox

The Rice Days of Summer

We're meeting friends for a picnic later this warm summer afternoon so it's a perfect day to make a light, but satisfying rice salad. The recipe I made includes chopped vegetables, minced herbs, and diced mango. The dressing is a lemon garlic vinaigrette.

The beauty of this salad is that you can substitute the vegetables to suit your own taste or based on what you find in your garden or refrigerator. And when you're trying to stay cool on a hot day, there is something quite refreshing about dicing up garden vegetables and herbs. I love the smell.

Once everything was diced and mixed together, we had to sample. A generous spoonful  or two. You want to make sure it's suitable for company, right? Oh y-e-e-e-e-s, this salad bursts with flavour and texture and is SO satisfying to the tastebuds. I might have to stay home because I think I could eat the whole bowl myself, it's so delicious.

I like rice.

Rice is great if you're hungry and
want 2000 of something.

~ Mitch Hedberg

Below I've included the recipe -- you're welcome to 'copy and save as' on your computer. Hopefully it prints out fine for you. Now, dear blogging friends, I'm off to eat rice in the company of some fine people!

Wishing you a lovely day,

Brenda

xox

Correction to recipe:  I forgot to include the amount of rice -- 2 cups. I've also added the amount in the recipe below. Remember, you can double-click on the recipe (as with any photo) to see a larger version.

The original recipe which I have adapted is found here.