Another week has flown by—the last one before summer officially arrives. Taking time, this morning, to look back and be thankful for small, simple things with Friday’s Fave Five.
Watering flowers. Every morning, I fill watering can after watering can with water in the sink in the laundry room, and go outside to water pots of flowers on my front sidewalk and upper deck. It’s a slow and steady practice that I enjoy. Deadheading as I go, taking time to really look at different petal shapes and colours, it’s a peaceful way to spend time.
The heat is on. Finally, but also just in time. The warm-to-hot weather is upon us at long last. It’s backyard and deck time, go-to-the-garden-early time, close-the-windows-and-turn-on-the-AC time. Summer time.
Tazo tea. For years, after two cups of morning soy milky frothy coffee, I sipped at glass after glass of ice water throughout the day. Lately, I’ve struggled to drink a reasonable amount of water and found it just doesn’t appeal like it used to. Enter tea. I enjoy a cup of hot herbal tea once in a while, but it will never be my go-to beverage. Years ago, I started drinking iced tea made with Tazo Passion tea (hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips, and passion fruit) and in recent years I added Tazo Zen green tea (with lemongrass & spearmint) to my repertoire. These days, I brew a half mug of Zen tea, add ice and a splash of lemonade and voila! My new cold, refreshing, light all-day summertime drink.
Salad days. The lettuce is gorgeous and abundant in the garden these days; radishes are big and beautiful, and Hakurei turnips are the perfect size for picking. It’s salad time! Every single day. Served with a sprinkling of feta and a simple raspberry vinaigrette, it’s a supper time staple.
Reading outside. There’s something uniquely delicious about sitting outside and getting lost in a book. I’m doing my fair share of it, and plan to do a lot more with the weather turning summer-like.
It’s mid-June and, Summer, we thought you’d never get here but here you are. Right on schedule. You’re one of the sweet, sweet constants in life.

Your garden is blossoming, Linda and it takes me back to our own garden days. Oh, how I miss that fresh produce. I love how it’s all so predictable. It serves as a reminder that the darkness of winter will yield to warm, sunny days. The earth renews itself and provides us with these gifts. There’s nothing like a fresh farm-to-table salad. Thankfully, we have a small community garden with a raised bed so Wayne can get his hands in the dirt again. Soon we will have sakad from the garden
I just love the view from your backyard. It reminds me of the foothills near us, but it requires a hop in the car and a short drive to get there. The flowers, produce – your gardens are flourishing so nicely. I have a similar morning routine in watering flowers. I don’t have a lot of luck with vegetables. The iced tea sounds so refreshing.