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Recipe: green tea ice cream

I guess that heat wave found me! Actually, I met it part way just because it’s still tolerable up here in the mountains when it’s pushing the 90s down in Boulder. The hitch this time was that our town busted a huge leak in its water supply a few days ago and the geniuses who run the town didn’t start to tell anyone about it until today. Hot weather is one thing, but hot weather without water is something else entirely. And hot weather in the fire-prone Mountain West without water is dangerous. We got the news of the water shortage this evening at 6 pm and by 7:30 pm we heard that the leak had been found and fixed. We’re still conserving water (well, we try to in general – you shouldn’t need a shortage of something to convince you that it is ass stupid to waste it), but at least we can flush the toilets!

Well, it finally feels like summer to me because I am squinting my eyes under the blazing sun down in Boulder and wishing for two or three feet of fluffy powder to shred. As I think more about snow and powder, images of snow cones drizzled in syrupy colors and fruity flavors dance in my head. It’s the onset of delirium brought about by the heat, I tell you. Notice how the latest trend of sweets have all been refrigerator or freezer treats? It’s not just me – it’s everyone on this side of the planet. Today’s is no different.

some tea with your cream?

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Recipe: raspberry buttermilk pancakes

Today was one of those non-stop days from the moment I woke at 5:30 am up to now. I am feeling great in large part due to my dosage of steroids (long story, but it’s to treat the side effects of a side effect from one of my chemo drugs). It’s good that I started the steroids now because I have so much to get done this week and… I’m getting most of it done!

This morning we ventured up to Lake Isabelle – a short hike under normal circumstances except the road to the trailhead is partially closed and the trail is 60% under snow still. A great time to see the lake which takes on a different personality every few weeks when the seasonal conditions change so quickly. She’s beautiful any time of year. Here are some of the favorites, but you can always hop over to the photo blog for the rest.

on the way to the lake

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Recipe: grilled marinated flank steak

A yellow dusting of pine pollen appeared on *everything* just two days ago. Pine tree sex has begun in earnest. Before long, nothing that remains outside will be safe from a plastering of yellow pollen – NOTHING! I don’t mind the pollen powder getting all over the place as long as I don’t think of it as a major orgy going on in my yard… But it does wreak havoc on my allergies. It didn’t seem to bother Kaweah much while she sprawled out on the deck this afternoon.

what, is there something on my face?

We were all chilling out on the deck this afternoon because our second visitor P.C. (post chemo) arrived at noon. My dear friend was in the state for a wedding and dropped by our mountain abode for lunch and a short stroll before flying home. Neither of us considers ourself to be an emotional creature, but we could not help a few tears when we greeted and embraced.

a lovely friend on a lovely day

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