First Week of Summer Faves!

 

Well, the first day of Summer was last Sunday and we welcomed it with open arms.  The weather has been really great this past week.  We had some rain but for the most part, it was perfect temps in the 60s and 70s and blue sky with plenty of sunshine. It's been wonderful not to have the central air on and just have all the windows open.....especially for sleeping!  Lots of tree peeper sounds and I even saw many fireflies a few nights this week...more than in years past!  

Besides the glorious weather and the flitting fireflies, I had other blessings too which made me take note, say thanks to God and appreciate all of the things that came my way this week.  

Join in by linking up at Susanne's blog. I'm thankful she continues hosting!

• FATHER'S DAY:  This was a great day to bless my husband, the father of our two daughters.  The girls had arranged for all of us, plus Courtney's boyfriend and his parents, to have a hibachi table at our local fave Japanese restaurant.  A great time was had by all! The girls gave Dave beautiful handwritten cards with special messages inside......they made him choke up.  They also paid for our dinners! We had a lot of fun.  I neglected to get a pic of Evelyn, Ty's mom and didn't really take many photos as we were having too much fun talking and eating.  I'm so thankful everyone had a good time. 

Dave with his oldest girl: Courtney
Sunday 21 June

Hibachi fun!  
Notice how Claire has her eyes closed.....
it was so very hot and bright!

enjoying the Japanese food
l-r: Claire, Mark (Ty's dad), Tyler, Courtney 

• FUN IN THE SUN:  After our Father's Day dinner, Claire wanted to go back to her place and rest as she hadn't felt great the night before.  Courtney said she had chores to do around her apartment and Ty was going over to help her and Evelyn and Mark wanted to go home and tackle their yard work.  Dave informed me that he just wanted to lie on the couch and watch something on paramount + that he knew I wouldn't want to see so that left me with a free late afternoon/early evening.  I made plans with my childhood friends Diane and Debbie (Deb was up from TN most of the month to help Diane with their elderly mom) to meet  at this place and  we had a blast walking in the beautiful sunshine, seeing the sculptures, sitting on the new walkway "patio" and just catching up on our lives. They drove about 40 min west and I drove 40 min east and it ended up being perfect.  I was home by 7:30 and enjoyed burning brush as a "summer solstice tribute"  since it was a perfect first evening of sumer. I'm glad Deb and Diane were free and that I finally got all the brush burned! 

Mother and Child
(and peregrine falcon) mosaic sculpture
Diane and I met the artist who was also the mayor of this city
a few years ago when she was finishing up the mosaics. 

l-r: Deb, me, Diane
my childhood friends and sisters in Christ 

Happy Summer Solstice
8 pm Sunday evening

• MOUNTAIN CLIMB! I had a SoulSteps mountain climb scheduled for our group's first Summer Semester hike.  Originally there were 4 of us going. It ended up being just 2 of us but I was ok with that. My friend Joan offered to drive as she is familiar with that part of Vermont.  What a great day: the weathe was perfect in Wilmington, Vermont: 59 degrees F when we started climbing and 64 when we got to the summit. Back down at the car and over at Mt Snow where we bought coffees after the hike, it was only a high of 72.  This hike was awesome.  The mountain is 3,445 in elevation and it took us just a bit over 1.5 hours to climb.  Total miles was 4.7.  So thankful we had a great climb and met some interesting people who summited shortly after we did. Here's some of my fave photos from Wednesday's hike: 

The first half mile was gravel road...an old logging road
 Haystack Mt trail in the Green Mountains National Forest
Vermont 24 June

This is what the blue blazed trail looked like 
after turning off the gravel trail. 
This went on for a little over a mile. 
I enjoyed all the lush green ferns

We are now on the snowmobile trail
which was supposed to be blazed with orange markers
yet in typical Vermont fashion, we didn't see one at all.
Joan is standing in the middle of the trail which at this point was dry. 

after hiking about a half mile 
on the snowmobile trail through ankle deep water
we came to the turn off for the summit....
and again, we followed blue blazes
all the way to the top ...at this point I am pointing
to the .3...less than a half mile of climbing!

here we go.....up the rockface 

summit geological marker
at 3,445 ' 

Joan and I on the overlook part of the summit
Haystack Mt Vermont

Somerset Reservoir
from summit of Haystack

There's Haystack!  
We  climbed that!!
view is from the main road. 

• FRESH FRUIT:  This past week, Dave and I have enjoyed wonderful fresh fruit: nectarines, black plums, and blueberries. We've had them in our lunches, for breakfast and last evening for dinner, I cut up a nectarine and added in a cup of blueberries. Fresh fruit is abundant in the summer months here in the Northeast and I'm thankful for it. 

• NEW GAS RANGE!  Finally, on day 11 of having no stove and ordering one the very first day the oven died, we had our new gas range delivered yesterday morning.  Dave texted me from work and said the installers are on their way, around 9 AM.  They arrived about 9: 15 and they were the most polite installers we've ever had.  Two hefty, strong nice guys probably in their 30s or 40s.  One quickly unhooked the old range, after shutting off the gas and got it out of the house.  Then together they brought in the new range and it was all set within 10 min.  They tested it for me, told me to let the oven run at 350 for 30 min to get the oily gas smell out (it's a factory thing) and then enjoy.  What I love about this upgrade:  the oven has 3 settings: bake, broil, crisp (similar to air fryer).  The rangetop has 5 burners: 3 regular ones, a simmer one, and in the middle, a griddle!  AND my fave part: steam clean for the oven!  I had to watch a video put out by GE about using the steam clean mode and I know I'm going to love it. It only takes 30 min for it to steam clean and they suggest doing so every 1-2 months or at least 5-6 times if you cook a lot with the oven in a calendar year. I'm so thankful the whole process was done in less than 20 min and also that it forced  me to do a deep cleanign of my cupboards and counter tops. I got rid of clutter and just went as minimalist as I could. Here are my pics from my project yesterday: 

New gas range
to the left of it is our coffee bean grinder
and my french press.
I added the artificial grass plant for a pop of color.
for the wall behind the stove, we will be buying
a tempered glass backsplash 

Coffee corner

main counter

rest of the main counter

Trash bin now holds the fruit basket,
post it notes and mug of pens

My special mugs that I tend to rotate seasonally
now sit on top of the microwave cart
along with a wire basket of paper napkins for
quick grabbing for deck or picnic or dave's lunchbox.
(we use cloth napkins for meals and those are in the dining room)
We also have a glass jar of paper and reusable straws...both of which can be recycled; and in the back right corner is a little wooden "mail" holder that holds some of Dave's important papers for things coming up (ballgame tickets, hotel confirmations, etc)  Mail that needs to go out typically stays on my upstairs desk and then in the morning, I take it out to the mailbox and put the little "flag" up. It felt so good to get rid of clutter on the main counter.

Those are the FIVE things that top my FAVES list. 

HAVE A WONDERFUL LAST WEEKEND OF JUNE!

ps huge thanks to Susan from Susan's Sayings blog for telling me there was a way to make the photos I post, larger!  

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

I'm writing the answers to this meme on Tuesday evening, waiting for hubby to get home from work so I can fire up the grill.  I enjoyed the questions, so thought I'd participate this week as it's been a couple since I've joined in.   Head over to this blog to learn more and link up your own hodgepodge. 

1. Summer's here!  In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? What's your biggest summer pet peeve? 

The mountains are glorious from the end of June all the way through to mid-November and it's truly the best time to hike. 

Biggest pet peeve? the idiotic tourists, especially the ones from out of state or the "downstaters" (think NYC/Westchester Co)  who think they're hikers, and think they know what they're doing in the ADK and end up needing to be rescued.  I literally had one woman ask me if the trail was paved.  She was dressed in a fancy pants suit and pumps.  Where was she from? NJ.  OR they don't know how to drive on the Northway.  OR they don't know how to park at a trailhead lot.  OR they block the access roads thinking they can just camp there. OR they allow their children to feed the wildlife. OR they throw litter on our beaches/in our mountain lakes. I've witnessed all of this. Thankfully, most hikers are polite. The ones that aren't? they almost always tell me what state they live in. The ones from the south are the absolute worse. 

 I also hate that Saratoga Springs charges for parking from Memorial Day-Labor Day and I get why they do it: to get money from the above tourists.  So I avoid the city in the summer and wait until September when it's all free again. 

2. What song always reminds you of summer? 

Surfin' USA (Beach Boys) and august that beautiful folklore ballad by Taylor Swift. 

3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate. 

Something I remember: taking our dime (yup, 10 cents only) and crossing the street to the mini market to buy root beer popsicles;  riding bikes all over the village; the weeks up at my family camp in the southern ADK; church camp in Saratoga; swimming in the mountain lakes; catching fireflies in our backyard; hearing the whip poor will on the back porch at camp. 

I think today is a tad bit different depending on where you live. both of my daughters did things like Horse Camp, Ballet Camp, and we had a beach house on my husband's side of the family where we spent the bulk of August before I started teaching in my own classroom again. (for 7 summers I was a SAHM). I think parents need to be more aware nowadays of the dangers like pedophiles, etc  My mom just never worried about that. It was rare to see a "Stranger" in our little village growing up.  My daughters couldn't ride their bikes all over town because we live in a large suburb with no sidewalks and very busy interstates and highways. So they rode in the neighborhood or on the bike paths when we went as a family.  I am married to some one who makes far more money than my dad did, so we have also taken some pretty nice trips (Rome, Paris, Cape Cod, Maine, Vt, NH) with the girls. We don't own a camp though but we had a pop up camper so our  girls, when we weren't at the beach house on the Atlantic, would be camping with us every couple of weekends in the state parks. For the most part though, life is slower than during the  school year and they enjoyed many of the same things I did as a child. 

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa. 

My sister Joy and I look most like our dad.  I have some of his temperament although I'm more extroverted than Dad was. 

Something about dad:  he was a godly, hard working man who loved Jesus and all things hunting or ADK.  He taught me how to build a good bonfire and taught me how to hike/read the trail, and how to get away from a bear so it won't  chase me. 

Something about Dave who is my husband and daddy to our two girls: he believed in daddy-daughter dates and took our girls out 1:1 often during their teen years for ice cream, burgers, nature walks, etc.  He taught them a good work ethic and how to use the computer, safety on the internet, etc. He also taught them about tithing and modeled this well. 

something about Grandpa M:  I only knew my Dad's dad.  We called him Grandpa or Grandpa M.  I didn't know my mom's dad because he was estranged from her family and that was a wise thing. He was not a nice, was a horrible abusive bully,  nor was a safe man. I can't go into details but let's just say Mom refused to have anything to do with her dad.  

My grandpa M was awesome:  hard working, Army vet, Loved his retirmenet home on Sacandaga Resevoir, loved having us help him shuck corn, always smelled like a pipe or cigar, and snuck $1-5 dollar bills to us to use at the Five and Dime store in Northville, the village he retired to and where my parents had a family camp across the lake from our grandparents. He also loved all of us cousins playing together and coming to see him. 

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

• flip flops or sandals: flip flops for sandy beaches; Sandals for casual vacation wear or casual dresses at church
• beach or pool: beaches (mountain lakes...or the ocean....but I prefer the fresh water lakes in the mountains).  
• watermelon or peaches: both!
• shorts or sundress: I tend to wear shorts more often than sundresses but honestly sundresses on  women over 50 just look.....eh....I do have some nice casual tee shirt dresses, camp shirt style dresses, or classic linen. Actually now that I think about it, I have one dress that might qualify as a "sundress"....it's sleeveless. 

• iced coffee or ice cold lemonade: Iced cold lemonade. Coffee needs to be hot.  Although once in a while I do enjoy a cold brew with 1 pump of raspberry syrup compliments of *$. Especially when traveling or driving a long distance 
• amusement park or water park: we used to take the kids to StoryTown, aka Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George. It's an amusement and water park in one! Haven't been since about 2010! NO desire to go now. 

6. Insert your own random thought here:

I'm hiking this mountain tomorrow (Wednesday the 24th).  This is Haystack Mt in Wilmington, Vermont and if we make it to the summit, which stands at 3,445 ', I will feel great because I haven't hiked this high of a mountain in 2 years.  Hopefully the cervical spine pain and cervicogenic headaches stay away for this hike!  I've been in training all year for this mountain. Gonna be a long drive followed by a longer hike, but my friend Joan and I are pumped.  We leave at 7:15 AM and will hopefully be on the trail by 8:45 AM

To read a little bit about Haystack, head here. 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

"Beef" Steak Tips and Veggies

 

I still don't have my new gas range and since it was a rainy, cool day, I decided to make something on the stove. I've had requests for this recipe so thought I'd share it here so it's easy to find. 

This is totally vegan but you swap out the vegan "beef" for cow meat. 

PLANT BASED BEEF STIR FRY

1/2 package of frozen Beyond Meat steak tips

1/2 small sweet onion, thinly sliced

1 zucchini, sliced and then halved or cut into thin strips

1 small red pepper, cut into strips or bite sized pieces

1 small green pepper, cut into strips or pieces

1 small yellow or orange pepper, cut into strips or pieces

1 carrot, peeled and then shredded 

1 tbl of avocado or olive oil

1-2 tbl of Asian Sesame Ginger dressing

(I like the Kens brand)

1-2 tsp. Minced Garlic or Garlic Salt

1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks

dash of sea salt

Pita bread or Naan

Prepare the sweet potato by peeling and then cutting into bite-sized chunks.  Place in a small pan and cover with water.  Add a  dash of sea salt and boil until potato pieces are just getting soft/tender. 

Meanwhile, put 1 tablespoon of avocado (or olive) oil into a large skillet. Heat on low. 

Place all of the veggies and the steak tips (half bag for 2 people) into the warmed skillet. 

Saute the veggies, "beef" on medium heat, stirring often.  Once the carrots and zucchini are just tender,  add in the minced garlic or garlic salt and turn the burner onto low or simmer. 

Add a drizzle (usually 2 tablespoons in my house) of the Asian Sesame Ginger dressing and stir to coat.

Add in the potato after draining out the water.

Stir gently and add cracked black pepper if desired. 

Serve with pita bread or Naan. 

TIPS:  Sometimes we have this dish over jasmine rice or garlic cous-cous.  

Other veggies I use:  chopped broccoli or peas in place of the zucchini. 

We like this for a quick, easy, healthful dinner and usually have cut up canteloupe with blackberries or blueberries on the side. 

ENJOY!

as with all of the recipes under the faithfixes label, this post may be copied or printed. 

Monday Musings

 

Some calendars say yesterday was the first day of Summer. 

Some say today.

Either way:  it's now officially SUMMER SEASON!  I love June-mid-November and I'm thrilled that June, here in eastern NYS, has been glorious.   This is the last week of school for our elementary students here in New York, and the week of the state exams for the high school kids.  Graduation is either Friday evening or Saturday depending on what district you live in.  Then the public schools will be on break until after Labor Day (unless the child needs special ed services).  I do not miss teaching summer school! 

How is your Monday so far? Here's my musings for the day.....I took many of these prompts from The Simple Woman Daybook. she no longer does this but I enjoy the writing meme. 

Monday 22 June 2026
8:45 AM

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:  it is partly sunny and is supposed to rain this afternoon. Lots of clover in our front and backyards now that it's the end of June. We don't treat with chemicals so we allow our yard to be more "meadow" like and a natural gathering for the family of bunnies that seem to live under our shed.  We have chipmunks, squirrels and so many birds. In fact, our suet feeder was emptied in just 2 days this weekend!  Our free standing birdfeeder, back by the shed is seeing a lot of action this morning to from bluejays, cardinals, nuthatches, a downy woodpecker and many red winged blackbirds and wrens. Robins are flitting to and fro and finding worms in the ground over by the kayaks. 

I am thankful for:  my two daughters Courtney and Claire for blessing Dave yesterday on father's day.  they wrote beautiful tributes to him in very nice cards. 

From the kitchen:  I think today will be vegan "steak" (plant based beef tips by Beyond Meat) with stir fry veggies and pita bread.  For lunch, Dave is having leftover Chicken Curry I made Friday evening and my lunch is usually just fruit and a protein bar. 

I am creating: the August hiking list for my group SoulSteps 

I am going: to the grocery store this morning and later to my youngest daughter's apartment (I think).  I might go on an outdoor walk if it doesn't rain.  

I am wearing:  Dark denim capri jeans; a floral bohemian style shirt with dark blue background, white edging on the bottom of the 3/4 sleeves and dark purple/ dark pinkish red/yellow flowers; my wedding rings; a dark blue gemstone ring, dark red drop earrings, and magenta toe nail polish. My foot wear for the grocery store will be my white leather Toms sneakers. 

I am hoping:  my daughter Claire will be home this afternoon so I can go have a cup of tea with her and see how she's newly arranged her apartment. 

I am hearing: the thwack of a ball against my neighbor's fence as he takes a break from work and plays with his dog; some cardinals and robins in the yard, the hum of the dryer through the vent (I'm on my deck). I can also hear traffic on the interstate this morning. 

Around the house: Dave works from home on Mon/Fri's so he's upstairs on a conference call; I have grocery shopping to do; I need to vaccum and mop the dining room; I have to collect all the trash from around the house and set out the garbage and recycling bins; and I have to start packing for our vacation trip! 

One of my favorite things: the smell of summer rain 

I am reading: The Lying Game by Ruth Ware; Beyond the High Peaks by Walt McLaughlin and Im still making my way through the Chronological Bible. I'm currently. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: a trip to the library to return a book; the post office to mail a bill and put a stop on the mail for the week we are gone; a hike in Vermont on Wed; a coffee date with my friends Maggie and Jill so we can choose an Air BnB for our Autumn Girls Retreat on Cape Cod! I also have to stick around the house all day Thursday as the gas range installer is coming sometime that day with our new stove and Friday will be a day to pick up last minute items needed for our ocean vacation. 

Here's a picture thought I'm sharing with you: 

HAPPY MONDAY!