Holding Onto the Last Days of Summer Inspiration

Good Saturday morning, friends! Although I am looking forward to fall, I’m still holding onto a bit of summer inspiration and DIY’s that have inspired me this week.

Across my emails and social media feeds are LOTS of fall inspiration with crafts and decorating. But, quite frankly, THIS is the most beautiful point in summer yet.

I get it, my zinnias are beginning to look less stellar, the deer have eaten the hosta salad buffet to the ground again. We have survived over 100 degree weather and drought and watered to keep things alive.

But, can we pause for a moment and breathe in all the beauty?

My ferns are beautiful.

Summer inspiration still happening here.

If you remember, we added tomato and pepper plants into plant bags and planters tucked in our landscape. I’m clueless on what types they are as they have produced, but the tomatoes and peppers have taken over the produce pile in abundance.

Then those late blooming surprise lilies inspired us all.

Do you have them? Some call them surprise lilies, or resurrection lilies, or naked ladies. They have just about finished their performance. But, summer inspiration?… yes, please!

This week I shared a butter pecan cake recipe that our family has loved and shared for decades. It’s a fast and easy decadent cake with the ready made icing baked into it. I have had many boxed cake mix snobs that ignore that title and go back for seconds when this cake is on the cake stand.

But, right after that cake was made?

I have to tell you when I learned that the Amish way of life might not be for me!

You see, it was a different week this week!

The Friday before came the washing machine repair. All fixed, but down for the week. No problem! All is good. A quick and easy part kept that machine running.

The next issue on the horizon meant the computer printer needed fixing bright and early on Monday. My husband directed his attention to that.

For me, Monday morning meant the last 40 pounds of tomatoes began their juicing process for tomato juice and tomato ketchup (oh, my goodness! sharing that later!).

Midway into the juicing, my husband came in with the box of cucumbers from the garage refrigerator and announced the box had prevented door closure and the 75 degree refrigerator was giving birth to all the contents inside.

Now…I had not exactly planned cleaning out that refrigerator OR for red hot cinnamon pickles or sweet pickle relish processing today. But, they both began.

But, not before, my husband’s next proclamation.

The Air Conditioning was out. NOT the summer inspiration I had planned.

So, on I canned at 89 degrees indoors…AND making it official that the Amish lifestyle would not be happening HERE!

Now, you see, the tomatoes going into my canner were Amish grown! But, I can’t imagine canning again without air conditioning.

On the canning of sweet pickle relish went on Tuesday (without AC!)…AND then I decided that enough heat was enough.

On Tuesday afternoon, the AC repair team proclaimed a surge in power from our power company had fried circuit board, thermostat and other parts and all would be repaired…but, not today. Parts had to be located.

Then the rotors and brakes went out on the truck…AND fixed the same day! Thankful for great mechanic friends who take great care of us.

Wednesday, the AC parts meant air conditioning was restored and life as we know it began to be better.

And then, this happened…

There was a beautiful bright spot in my week with the release of the latest VUE magazine. For those who don’t know…I love writing a monthly article there. It’s a local magazine that celebrates life and community.

Here’s the August article released this week. I truly love and am thankful to write for them each month.

For those who are local, it’s the story of my husband’s family business–Noble Park Funland.

Need more summer recipe inspiration?

In July, I began adding 2 recipes each month to the Vue magazine. Oh, my goodness! Hop over there to read them. I’ll be adding a page to record them all here soon. In this month’s Vue, this corn salad is featured. It is one of my most favorite summer inspired recipes EVER! Click on the link for the recipe!

And then, my friend, Alda at Magnolia Hill, gave inspiration for the next recipe. A watermelon cake! My niece, Emi, came and played with me adding finishing touches. We all loved eating it afterwards!

Doesn’t it scream summer inspiration?!

How to make it is shared in the link to the Vue. Wouldn’t it be beautiful at a bridal shower, anniversary party or even a wedding?

Do you see why I am having a hard time leaving summer?

Enjoy the fleeting moments left, friends!

Temperatures and humidity are perfect here today, so I am off to find more inspiration at the St. Jude’s Home before diving into more things on my list.

If you need more inspiration that I found on the web this week, here you go!

This cake. Be still my heart. From a friend, Leslie, at My 100 Year Old Home.

I’m inspired by Stone Gable to make this herbed butter while my herbs are still glorious.

• Drying hydrangea now for a fall garland
• Always love crabcakes!
• Would love to try this low country boil.

Don’t rush summer off just yet!

There’s just too much abundance of summer inspiration, recipes and beauty to miss if we aren’t careful!

Happy Saturday, friends!