Basil bounty

I promise this will be the last post on basil ... at least for a while. Just had to report that we used the lemon basil purchased last Sunday this Sunday in a pasta with raw tomato sauce. Some of it had wilted, but much of it was still fresh.

And what's more, a friend who knew of my basil woes found some potted basil at the grocery store and bought it for me.

How quickly the tables turn ... here's to caprese sandwiches all week long!

Basil blight continued

Well, as I'm sure you're dying to know, BOTH bunches of basil from the farmer's market on Wednesday wilted faster than you can say "margherita pizza." Good thing I wasn't planning on making that this week.

We went to a different market today and I found a vendor selling lemon basil for $1 a bag. I briefly reviewed my wilting issues with her and she seemed pretty confident that I wouldn't have that problem with her basil.

We shall see. I paid her in quarters just so I didn't feel like I was gambling with my grocery budget yet again.

It did look pretty sprightly just a few hours later as I snipped some up to add to a corn and tomato salad.

And the lemon flavor definitely came through, which might not always be a good thing, but at this point, I'll take some citrus over weeping, wilting basil any day.

My basil blight

I am still mourning the loss of my herbs. Especially because tomatoes are so irresistible right now and nearly ever summertime recipe I run across calls for at least a 1/2 cup of basil. And, to make things worse, I haven't gotten around to actually dumping out my herbs and my basil and mint are doing better than they ever have, without any attention from me. Probably a result of the "fertilizer."

It kills me to go to the grocery store and pay upwards of $3 or $4 dollars for basil that just wilts as soon as you get home.

So yesterday, Emery and I went to the farmer's market to see if we could remedy the situation. The heat was so unbearable and put poor little Emery, glued to my hot, sticky body in the Ergo carrier, right to sleep. I periodically poured cold water from a dixie cup on Emery's head, just to make sure she stayed alive. She just kept snoozing and barely flinched, so I'm thinking she didn't mind being watered like a plant.

The heat was probably getting to my head because I just beelined for the first table I saw selling basil and got a bag for $2.

Not bad. But then, a little later, I saw a woman heading for her car with a glorious bouquet of basil and immediately began regretting my hasty purchase. So I bit another $2 bullet and bought some of that luscious basil, too.

Well, now the tragedy is that both bunches are already beginning to wilt and I'm furiously making pesto and hoping to salvage some leaves for caprese with these heirloom tomatoes.

And, just for fun, here's a shot of a gigantic sweet potato I got the other day. I think they know a thing or two about growing potatoes in Alabama!

Miscellaneous

I have a backlog of topics to blog about, so here are a few miscellaneous happenings/updates:

No more herbs - Yesterday I went to water my herbs and discovered that a canine friend, now foe, had taken care of business in my pot of basil, mint, thyme and chives. Tragic! Now I am petrified to begin anew, because what if he/she does it again?! Debating the probability of succeeding with indoor herbs versus the risk of chancing it again outside ...

I should also mention that every night we are serenaded by a chorus of insomniac dogs in the neighborhood who all sound a little like Emery. So when I awaken at 2am to yelping, I hold my breath, then let out a sigh of relief when I realize it's just Fido, and not Emery, who is awake.

Organized sleep - Also yesterday, for the first time in her life, Emery took only two naps, both about two hours long, and was generally happy for the rest of the day! She also conked out at 6pm without a peep. This is all very exciting because it tells me her daytime sleep is getting more organized, meaning daytime errands and events should be a lot more manageable and perhaps even fun!

A new decade - On July 25 I turned 30 and we celebrated with my parents who were in town, and good friends. Last summer I became fascinated with swimming holes and so when we moved to TN I realized we just might have hit the jackpot when it comes to free, freshwater swimming preceded by a short hike. Perhaps we did! He took me to a great swimming hole about 20 minutes from our house and though the water was probably just room temperature due to the extreme heat, it was still refreshing and a lot of fun.

Matt also surprised me with pearls - a job VERY well done for a 30th birthday. The rest of my presents from family fell into the culinary theme (i.e. new pots and pans, dish towels, waffle iron, etc.) and Matt completely understood why he wasn't qualified to participate in that genre of gifts - he catches on quickly! :)

Many Kodak moments - Enjoy!

Emery's haven

First, let it be said that I am no perfectionist and did not go to great lengths to stage perfect shots of Emery's nursery. If I had, well, this post would still be a long time coming! Also, do not be concerned that giraffe is suffocating Emery. She feels that he makes for an excellent eye mask to block out the sun.

I wish I had a picture

of the look on Emery's face when we took her to the church nursery for the first time today. Dumbfounded might be the best way to describe it, for I don't think she had ever been that close to so many other children, most of whom were mildly to majorly in distress for much of the time.

Fortunately, since she has just woken up from a nap and didn't have an empty stomach, Emery remained calm and low-maintenance and didn't require the loving arms of the nursery workers busily occupied with tearful babies. When I went into the nursery midway through the service to feed Emery, I found her sitting in a swing just staring at the chaos, not really appearing like she needed to get out of there, but not entirely enthralled with the whole situation either. Just tolerant.

As I fed Emery and watched the crawlers eating Cheerios off the carpet and one boy sucking on the wrong bottle, I was reminded, yet again, that my germophobia will soon rear its ugly head in the very near future. I immediately began making mental lists with items like "don't bring bottle or cup to nursery, try to make sure she's full and hydrated beforehand; give Emery her own Cheerio cup that keeps them from falling out and try to teach her to only eat from it, etc." all the while knowing the absolute absurdity in my scheming.

Then, feeling half-guilty for then abandoning her again in all the commotion, and half-relieved to return to the calm and order of the church service, I departed ... and returned 30 minutes later to the same dumbfounded stare. Gratefully, I rescued her from the chaos, showered her with many congratulations and kisses and we proudly departed, I wondering how I'd muster up the courage to return again and Emery likely wondering what in the world was that all about?!

Going, going, gone!