The one basil plant I bought this year turned into an amazing bush. I harvested it last week - took me 40 minutes to pick off all the leaves. I ended up with this pile. I froze enough to fill two quart bags (not packed), make pesto and dried a bunch for my spice jar. Nice! The whole freezer still smells of basil.
The hummingbirds abruptly vanished as they tend to do this time of year.
Then we discovered this rather large, funny looking hummingbird on our feeder
Monday evening. Who knew that woodpeckers liked sugar water? This
guy managed to get some out from the looks of it.
This weekend was my annual Chick Weekend on the Cape. Small group this
year and a short stay, but we had great weather. It was lovely to spend
time with my friends down there.
My sister attended, too. We brought our kayaks and spent a wonderful
evening paddling out on the bay. We returned not long before sunset and
really enjoyed the golden colors from the sunlight.
My sister added bubble decals to her car. The bubbles are iridescent, and can turn hot pink depending on how the light hits them. It looks so cool!
Another part of this trip was to lay my father to rest. He had often talked about being buried on the thirteenth flat at low tide and fed to the crabs. Our relationship had been strained for many years, but it made me so happy to fulfill this request. There are many good memories down at the Cape for all of us. He's somewhere between the steps and the sunset - and he'll get to enjoy all those sunsets he admired so much when I was young.
This week's I Like Thursday prompt - what movies do I watch over and over again? There's a few that always suck me in if I catch it while changing channels. Three that immediately come to mind: The Shawshank Redemption, The Princess Bride, The Fifth Element. I'm sure there's others. Certainly there's movies I've liked better, but these will unexpectedly nab me and I'll suddenly lose an hour or so of whatever I intended to be doing.
May my autumn be less dramatic than my summer was. I'm still trying to catch up on lost time. A clean slate to start again? I'd like that.
That basil - wow! I can smell it way over here! So glad you got to have your Chick weekend, too. Looks like it was beautiful weather for you. I'm sorry to hear about your dad, but glad for you that could fulfill his last wish. Your sister's car decals are cute! And, yes, to the Shawshank Redemption - a favorite here, too.
ReplyDeleteI tried to grow several planters of herbs this year but the little critters kept digging them out...basil was one of the herbs, sigh. Anyway, glad you got some! How neat to get together and also do what was needed for your Dad. We spread my Dad in the Atlantic Ocean per his wish. Love Shawshank...good old Stephen King.
ReplyDeletegreat chick weekend shots! And basil, thanks for reminding me. Mine bolted so I'll try to retrieve some leaves today.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo of y'all in your kayaks. The bubbles look like fun! I wonder if folks will take to decorating their vehicles.
ReplyDeleteOh your basil is awesome. Love the pic of you and your kayaks, and so glad you got to do what your father requested. I am with you, here is to a quieter, and calmer fall!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the idea of chick weekend! Princess Bride is on my list too!
ReplyDeleteFresh basil is the best! So nice you got to the Cape with your friends and fulfilled your father's request. I think we all need a nice and quiet Autumn. Let's hope the Winter isn't too stormy!
ReplyDeleteSally - I wasn't quite ready for summer to end, but now that the cooler weather is here, I am embracing it. Especially since we got 6/10 inch of rain yesterday, the first in a month! Our hummingbirds also headed south - I took down full feeders today. Yep, first day of Autumn.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a balm to have laid your father to rest per his wishes - I can see why he chose that site!
Way to clean up your basil. I always mean to but then the frost hits it and gets it gunky. I love Shawshank Redemption too but the movie that stops me in my tracks is Cat Ballou. Hahaha! Have a good week ... maybe another Girls Weekend? Can't get enough of that, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm so behind on posts! I love the aroma of fresh basil. I can't get mine to grow that well (in pots), but you have a good crop! How fun to spend time together with friends, and who knew you could have bubbles put on your car? How fun is that! I'm sorry to hear of your father's death, but glad that you have fond memories and could lay him to rest as he wanted.
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