Category: Summer

4 a.m. wakeup call

A storm brought an early start to my day. Looking west from our home, I watched the storm approaching around 4 a.m., well before sunrise. There were periods of constant lightning in the clouds, illuminating the area. I never did see ground strikes. Visibility was poor due to a downpour, which delivered over an inch of rain.

Sounds of summer in our neighborhood

Last night we watched fireworks exploding over St. Anthony Falls from our balcony. This morning, a crashing then scraping sound piqued my interest during my neighborhood walk: a vehicle had dragged a traffic light into an intersection, but thankfully, no one was hurt. Meanwhile, here in the courtyard of the Mill City Museum, lively salsa music accompanied a free dance class led by an upbeat instructor.

Favorite summer activities

Despite temperatures in the high 80s, we enjoyed a relaxed bike ride down one side of the river to Minnehaha Park, returning on the other. We stopped at Loons Coffee for a cuppa and to pick up freshly roasted beans. Curiously, an out-of-season theme of small Christmas trees and a poinsettia was emerging inside. Still, folks were enthusiastic about sharing their favorite summer activities.

Categorized as Summer

Quick Forage

They weren’t kidding about the Excessive Heat Warning. Even my shortened bike ride felt like a furnace. I stopped at a tortillería to pick up fresh-off-the-griddle corn tortillas for lunch (and to freeze) and a co-op for broccoli for dinner.

Categorized as Summer

Phew! What a Scorcher*

As temperatures nudged towards 100, cycled an abbreviated route along almost deserted trails. *The title probably originated in the UK as a spoof of a tabloid headline.

Categorized as Summer

A Taste of Summer

Tonight, we’re having sweet corn. Good local sweet corn has been in short supply this year because of the dry weather, but a friend picked up a supply at the farmers market and passed it on to me. We’ll cook all of it, and shuck what we don’t eat tonight for a salad or wrap another day.

102°

Today’s forecast high is 102°—A good reason to fill up a growler to take home from a nearby brewpub.