We are experiencing more hot days in a row than I can ever remember. We have had the air conditioner going almost non-stop for over a week now. The humidity has been very high which makes everything in the house feel damp. We are lucky to have air conditioning but we wait all year to be able to sit on the porch and now we are sitting inside because of the heat.

The Perils of Walking in the Woods

I love walking in the woods and along the stream but am not so happy about the tall grass. Now I am even less amused by the grass as yesterday I stepped in a ground wasp nest. Only one sting for me and one for Percy but one was enough. I was stung on the ankle which at first didn’t seem so bad. It hurt like anything but didn’t seem to be swelling too much. I came home, took a Zyrtec, put on some Benadryl cream and soaked my foot in an ice bucket. Overnight however, it began to swell and was quite the puffy little foot by morning. So I am a little off and somewhat cautious about where I will walk. Percy got stung on his nose and he yelped and jumped away from the wasps. Today he looks fine so I don’t think it bothered him that much.

The Grand Children

We get occasional photos from Northern Ontario, as Katie would say, proof of life photos so we know they are still there and they are fine. It has been such fun to have the little ones here with us for some real quality lake time – both sets of grand children have spent time or are spending time on a lake. Two up at Lake Temagami in Ontario and the two little ones here on Lake Massawippi. Edie has learned to swim with her life jacket on and bravely swims out to the radeau (raft) and back by herself with her mother watching of course. The little guy not so much but I bet by next year we will be holding him back. He did, however, learn to crawl while he was here and what a treat it was to watch him figure it out. Now watch out, he is going to be into everything and he moves fast when he wants to.

The Best Salad Ever

I came across this a few weeks ago and made it to take to a dinner we were going to. If you like lots of flavors and textures in your salads this one is for you. Plus if you like creamy Caesar salad dressing this is definitely for you and if you like garlic then put this on your favorites list. Once again from Half-Baked Harvest:

BLT Caesar Salad

Caesar Dressing 

½ cup mayo
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Champagne vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ cloves garlic grated
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and black pepper

Pasta Salad

2 cups torn ciabatta
1 clove garlic, sliced or grated
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound short cut pasta
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup cubed spicy cheddar cheese
8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
1 cup fresh basil leaves torn

How to make

1. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Toss together the ciabatta, garlic, and a pinch of salt with the olive oil. Bake for 10-12 minutes until toasted.

3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain.

4. In a large bowl, toss the hot pasta with the dressing and cheese cubes. Mix in the lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and croutons, tossing to combine.