Tasting Summer

The rain had finally stopped and the chilly grey days were disappearing.  As the summer solstice came and went, we were beginning to actually see the first signs of summer.  The sun was shining!!!  What a difference it has made in our lives here in the Pacific Northwest.  I think we are actually smiling and laughing again (happy face inserted here)!!  That was one long winter and wet spring!

A good friend came by the other night with steaks.  It was a 100 degree day and we not only needed to celebrate, but we had to “feel” summer.  A barbecue is one of the best and friendliest ways to do that.  I made some side dishes; a Russian crab and rice salad, foontyoza (a noodle vegetable salad that my husband loves and grew up with - from Central Asia) and we grilled corn on the cob.  As we sat down to perfectly grilled steaks encrusted with a black pepper seasoning, salads and grilled corn basted with a basil butter we felt such a happiness that comes with good friends and good food.  As we ate each mouthful, you could just hear the sighs of “this is heavenly”.   We felt like we were tasting summer.

(not my photo.....steak was eaten before I remembered to snap!)

Later relaxing around a good romantic “chick flick” (my husband was so kind!), we indulged in fresh strawberries and ice cream over pound cake.  Again, summer in a bowl.  

(photo from Food.com)

So busy enjoying, forgot to snap a photo :) 

Sometimes the summer months can end up being just as busy as the rest of the year.  So being able to stop and plan meals and outings with friends, especially outside with the barbecue and the smell and tastes of a simple season surrounding us, allows us to create memories with those we care about.  I saw my (steak) friend the next day and she commented how absolutely enjoyable the previous evening had been.  I told her we felt the same.  We said, “it’s like summer has finally arrived!”

God is in this season.  I am reminded of the verse in Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  His blessings of friends and food we share together.  Don’t let these weeks go by without stopping and enjoying each other.  Fire up that grill, make life simple with salads, fresh fruit and if you feel like it, those pies and cobblers that capture summer perfectly.  Stop and be thankful for all that we have and all those God gives us to share it with.   I’m in a good (and thankful) mood - summer has arrived!!

Psalm  27:13   “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”