Busy, busy week

Now that Matt is back from Florida, things seem to be busy all of the time. Last Saturday we went to the movies and out to lunch and I was able to capture this gem of Matt in the theater lobby. I told him that I was going to use it for our Christmas card. I think he needed the break of no work at home or at the office since he was just so tired from the trip. It is good to see him smile again.

We have had quite a bit of rain with our hot humid weather and garden is going crazy. I have harvested my first crop of zucchini and I have had no problem figuring out what to do with it. One of my favorite dishes in a no-fry eggplant parmesan and I have found that I can substitute summer squash and it taste just as good. So here is the resulting dish. This will last us a few days and I picked up some more sauce at the market for when the next crop comes in.

Matt enjoyed it for lunch one day with a salad using lettuce and cucumbers from the back yard. So even though my eggplant never managed to grow, we still are able to create a meal from our fledgling garden. That to me is success.

The big highlight of the week was the installation of shade covers on the deck. We now have lovely bright yellow canvas stretched across the top level and it has made all the difference. The house is cooler upstairs because not so much sunlight is flooding the kitchen and I found that I had to get a blanket out on Sunday afternoon when I was reading a book. So between the new air conditioner and the canvas shade, we are finally getting the house to a comfortable temperature for us. I have even found myself sitting outside around noon enjoying a book and the view. Something that I would have never, ever done before. It has been quite toasty this weekend, but I can at least last for 20-30 minutes at a time.