LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, July 10, 2015

We Love Lucy


Once again the South is under a severe heat advisory.  We will approach ninety degrees today and for the weekend.  The parks are filled with families having fun in the cold mountain streams.  The prime picnic tables fill up early in the morning.  Rescue worker are busy indeed rescuing people who do foolish and dangerous things.  Like taking a two-year-old tubing on the river.  Really?

Usually we have a significant cool-down at night.  But last night when I took Lucy out at nine, it was still seventy-five degrees and muggy.  Very unusual.

Lucy gets her morning run in very early.  She is full of energy and runs like a puppy.

Here she comes on a recall.




 Here she is running free.  Leaping with delight and full of the joy of living.
And being a dog.


 When she first returns from running, she drinks more water and then plops on the cool tile or hardwood floor.  Then she heads for a nearby bed.

 She stretches out to rest




 And falls asleep.  Who knew she would love that bone pillow so much?


I'm going to take an unusual turn and give you a favorite recipe.  We eat a lot of baked or grilled fish and crabcakes, especially in the summertime.  The recipe comes from Paula Deen and is especially good now that we have fresh dill and parsley growing in our herb garden.

1 cup mayonnaise  (I strongly recommend Dukes or Hellmans or homemade)
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 TBSP fresh chopped dill
1 TBSP fresh chopped parsley
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
seasoned salt to taste

Whisk all ingredients and put in small bowl.  Cover and refrigerate.  Sauce will thicken in fridge.  Serve with any kind of fish.  It's refreshing and yummy.

This week's quote comes from Russell Baker, journalist and Pulitzer prize winner:

"Ah, summer,
What power you have to make us suffer and like it."


HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE!
STAY SAFE AND DO SOMETHING FOR OTHERS


 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Always love seeing Lucy running with such a smile on her face. She looks like such a sweet and exuberant dog. It's been very cool here on the north coast with temps in the high 60s. Just a few miles inland though, the temps soared to 107. Hope the temps cool down there at your place, especially at night.

Barbara Rogers said...

Hi neighbor...yes, last night it was hot later than it has been, and I'm afraid we're heading into more of the same. I love when our temps in the mountains are in the 60s at night and windows can be open...but don't want to stay up late till it cools down for fewer and fewer hours. So there's that artificial cooling for which I'm very grateful Happy weekend!

Arkansas Patti said...

So glad Lucy has some cool times of the day to run. Callie doesn't like this hot weather and is ready to come in at the first sign of 80 degrees. She prefers mornings also.
Lucy is so cute sleeping on her bone pillow.

The Bug said...

Love seeing Lucy running - she has so much joy!

We'll have to save that recipe for Lent when we'll actually cook fish again :)

Carolina Linthead said...

I could eat some crab cakes! And happy dog!

KB said...

I adore seeing Lucy's joy at running around. It never fades - just pure joy! I'm sorry about the heat - I sure hope that it cools down for you.

My husband is the main cook in our house. I'll tell him about your recipe!

Ms. A said...

Try to stay cool! Hard to imagine a hot, muggy Carolina night. You usually have such a nice reprieve from the warm summer days.

LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE...GOD'S GRACE said...

It is so hot here in the piedmont. Makes you want to stay inside and not venture out.
Always enjoy hearing about Lucy!

Cheryl said...

Oh how I love those images of Lucy running.........that really touch my heart, for some reason.

I eat a lot of fish........and I really like the sound of the recipe.
I will most certainly try it. Just got to research buttermilk (not sure what that is)

It is still so dry here..........it is drizzling this morning but nothing that will water the garden. So warm it feels almost tropical..........crazy weather.

How Sam Sees It said...

I will have to try your recipe! However "fish" and "Arizona" seems just ...fishy. LOL - I'm weary of some of the fish in the supermarkets!

Lucy is adorable - our pups do the same thing. Lots of water and the cool tiles are the best in the summer.

Monty and Harlow

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Cheryl - buttermilk is a US Southern staple. It's the milk left over from churning butter and therefore is low in fat. We use it to marinate chicken, make pound cakes, pancakes and biscuits, and all manner of other things. Lots of people like to drink it but I'm not at all fond of the taste.

Sam - Yes, I suppose fish in Arizona is more of a challenge. We are lucky to have a fish market in a neighboring town. They get fresh fish daily. And they label it as to when and where it was caught.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hi 'NC' I'm only just catching up on some blog reading !

Just love this post Lucy looks great in your photo's whether running or sleeping.

... and your recipe sounds top notch ! Really like it - thanks for sharing.

All the best Jan