It started out a quiet weekend. Besides grocery shopping, there was a trip to the library on Saturday. I picked up one book to read (there is already a stack waiting for me here), and a couple of cookbooks. I don’t really bake much anymore since it’s just the two of us, but I wanted to make up some breads while I have the time, and put them in the freezer. I started with this chocolate-chip banana bread, using up some overripe bananas.
I worked on some house de-cluttering, finished some sewing projects, and picked some of our tomatoes that are finally ripening.
Yesterday was surprisingly hot and uncomfortably muggy. We hadn’t been far from home in awhile, so we picked up chicken barbecue, and headed up to Stewart Park in Ithaca to sit by the lake and enjoy our meal.
This ring-billed gull was quick to notice we had food, and came begging with his friends.
Back home it was still hot and oppressive, till after dark when the winds started to pick up. I thought to bring in the fuchsia, which has been getting my tender loving care till it gives up to a frost.
We had to close all the windows down as things started to blow around. That made the house stuffy and uncomfortable for sleeping, and soon even that was impossible with the sound of the wind, and the vision of the willows bending against the night sky. Martha was very nervous and inconsolable, so she gratefully trotted down to her cage in the basement to spend the night away from the noise.
This morning we found that the grill cover had been blown off, the water in the birdbath had been blown away, a few potted plants had overturned, and a branch of the willow tree had broken off. Considering what others have endured at the head of the storm, we have no reason to complain.
