Good morning, dear friends. I hope this finds you doing well and looking forward to nice autumn days.
It is difficult to believe that this is the last Sunday of August. How did we get here so fast? Personally, August has always seemed like a hectic month to me and not my favorite. In Virginia, there was always much to do in the garden(vegetable), the flower garden was wearing her tired hat, and there was an enormous amount of work to do in order to prepare for the opening of school (students and teachers returning). To further complicate matters, the hurricanes most often arrived around Labor Day weekend, adding extreme chaos to the mix. Especially, when your school was an emergency shelter. Not to mention it was hot ~ really hot. However, I no longer worry about a large vegetable garden, the opening of school, or hurricanes, and I am happy those were days of my other life.
In thinking about this post and going through my things, I found many talented people who wrote lovely things about August. So, without any further chatter, I thought I would share a few of my favorites.
“In August, the large masses of berries, which, when in flower, had attracted many wild bees, gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue, and by their weight again bent down and broke their tender limbs.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
“August” by Mary Oliver
When the blackberries hang
swollen in the woods, in the brambles
nobody owns, I spend
all day among the high
branches, reaching
my ripped arms, thinking
of nothing, cramming
the black honey of summer
into my mouth; all day my body
accepts what it is. In the dark
creeks that run by there is
the thick paw of my life darting among
the black bells, the leaves; there is
the happy tongue.
“Whilst August yet wears her golden crown, Ripening fields lush ~ bright with promise; Summer waxes long, then wanes, quietly passing Her fading green glory on to riotous Autumn.” ~ Michelle L. Thieme
“It is difficult to think of anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.” ~ Lewis Grizzard
In closing, one of my favorite things about late summer is tomatoes. I know I am not the only one who adores them. A gentleman who lives on the golf course where Mike plays golf used to place a bucket of tomatoes and a salt shaker on his fence for the golfers to take as they drove by in their carts. In thinking of Mike’s friend and this scrumptious fruit, I thought I would share a great and easy recipe ~ you will thank me for this one. The recipe is from Ina Garten.
Summer Garden Pasta
4 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
Good olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
18 large basil leaves, julienned, plus extra for serving
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dried angel hair pasta or pasta of your choice
1½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
Combine the cherry tomatoes, ½ cup olive oil, garlic, basil leaves, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature for about 4 hours. It will not hurt to let it set longer.
Just before you’re ready to serve, bring a large pot of water with a splash of olive oil and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil and add the pasta. Cook al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta well and add to the bowl with the cherry tomatoes. Add the cheese and some extra fresh basil leaves and toss well. Serve in big bowls with extra cheese on each serving.
Dear friends, know I wish you and yours a beautiful day
And. . .
A glorious September. Be well !
“The summer air is now laced with autumn breezes. Time is passing.” ~ Victoria Erickson
Amour,
Sandra
Beautiful post, Sandra. You find lovely quotes. I always look forward to your quotes.
I can’t wait to make the Summer Garden Pasta. Sounds wonderful. Tomatoes have been good this year.
You are very right about the heat. It has been especially humid the last few days.
August has passed quickly, but all the months seem to do that these days.
Good morning, Bonnie. I believe you will enjoy the pasta recipe. And you are so right about time passing quickly. It seems as though I wake up and it is time for bed. Age couldn’t possibly be a factor. 😊 Bonnie, I thank you so much for your kind words. I have been collecting poems and quotes since I was a young girl. Recently, I organized them, somewhat, and it has certainly helped me find them. Hope you have had a great week!
This is a lovely post, Sandra. I suspect August brings different thoughts based on different locations. In Michigan, the gardens still look spectacular, still coming into their own. And the veggies are coming in at full force. I’m with you on the tomatoes and can’t wait to try this one. Maybe we’ll make it at art camp — a nice easy recipe we don’t really have to cook so we can spend more time painting! (And it’s my birthday month so that’s a plus, too.) I confess, it is even better since I’ve retired and don’t need to be in the office right after Labor day. I think we are theonly place in the country that didn’t get slammed by heat this year. We’ve had more than one fire in the fireplace and at least mornings and evenings wearing a sweater or sweatshirt. And no hurricanes here. Isn’t geography a wild and crazy thing? I hope your week is a lovely one. Big hugs!
Good morning, Jeanie. I just know your area has to be beautiful this time of year and I would love to enjoy a fire in the evening and a sweater in the morning. We had a few days in the 90’s but mostly our days were normal for us – in the 80’s. I believe the recipe would be great for your art camp. It really is easy and is great with any pasta you select. Hope your week has been a great one and I will be looking forward to art camp photos.
This year is flying by so quickly! This autumn loving girl is ready for the seasons to change. I always love the quotes and images you share, Sandra. The summer garden pasta sounds fabulous. Wishing you and Mike a lovely day!
Good morning, Pam. Yes, the year is flying too quickly. I love autumn too and I am hoping for a pretty one this year, as we have had ample rain so that the trees will turn instead of dropping their leaves. I think you will enjoy the garden pasta, it is so easy as well as delicious. I do hope you all have had a lovely week!
amiga querida, por fin he podido llegar hasta tí. Algunas veces el ordenador no me deja comentar…Creo que es algo de incompatibilidad con el idioma. Bien, ahora he tenido suerte, espero que siga…
Siempre es un gran placer leer tus posts. Estaba preocupada por no poder llegar hasta tí porque eres una persona increiblemente hermosa, tu corazon es hermoso y tienes mucho gusto al elegir citas muy bellas que muchas veces me hacen pensar…
Belleza física y belleza del alma, es el resumen de mis lecturas en tu página.
Un gran abrazo
dear friend, I have finally been able to reach you. Sometimes the computer won’t let me comment…I think it’s a language incompatibility. Well, now I’ve been lucky, I hope it continues…
It is always a great pleasure to read your posts. I was worried about not being able to reach you because you are an incredibly beautiful person, your heart is beautiful and you have great pleasure in choosing very beautiful quotes that often make me think…
Physical beauty and beauty of the soul is the summary of my readings on your page.
A big hug
Dearest Dolores, I am thrilled to hear from you, I was worried about not hearing from you too. I thank you so much for your very kind words and know I always enjoy your comments and hearing from you! Blessings, dear one, and have a beautiful week!
The William Cullen Bryant quotation is so true of an August noon. The pond does lie still and glassy. And we do need rain and maybe September will give us that. I’ve jotted down the tomato pasta recipe, always looking for something with morning prep and quick finishing touches for supper. Your pictures are stunning, as usual! Best wishes to you, Sandra.
Dewena, I hope you all do receive rain in Sept. We have been spoiled with evening or night lovely garden rains. I hope you will enjoy the pasta recipe. It is a favorite of Mike’s, and it is so easy. Thanks so much for your kind words. I hope you had a lovely week.
Lovely! Ina’s recipe sounds so good! It is not tomato season here in south Florida until Feb….so I will wait!
Good morning, Penny. Ina’s recipe is grand and so easy. Sorry, you have to wait until Feb. for tomatoes. Hope you had a great week and that you have a beautiful autumn. Autumn was always my favorite time to enjoy the beach.
Happy last Sunday of August, Sandra. Your thoughts of August in VA are all certainly understandable! I’m enjoying the cpol, foggy mornings here along the Kanawha. If they’d just linger cool a bit longer I would enjoy being out in the landscape more. I have fall plans swimming in my head!
Have a great week.
Hi, Rita. We have had cooler mornings and evenings. My peonies are looking as though they are ready for their nap. I will be cutting them back soon. The limelight hydrangea is gorgeous and beginning to take on the pink tinge which I love. Enjoy fall and all your plans – I know they will be grand.
Happy Sunday, Sandra! I can’t believe August is almost over. Where did it go? You have shared some lovely sentiments about the month. I, like you, adore fresh garden tomatoes. The recipe you shared sounds scrumptious! I will definitely try this one. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, dear friend!
Good morning, Shannon. I believe you will enjoy the recipe. It is easy and can serve a crowd. Time is moving along too quickly. Enjoy the remainder of summer and I hope your fall is gorgeous.
Such a lovely way to close out August, Sandra. What a glorious post! With all those delightful quotes about August. Thank you for that delicious looking recipe. We had a good batch of tomatoes this summer.
Wishing you a beautiful week ahead….
Brenda xo
Many thanks, Brenda. We are moving right along into autumn. I am ready, but I know you see snow earlier than we do. It is time to begin thinking of putting the garden to bed, it is looking like it is ready for a long nap. Have a lovely weekend and week ahead.
It’s hard to believe that August is almost ended. I am looking forward to September without thinking about going back to school. Since our return from our long vacation, I’ve been working in the garden, clipping, pulling weeds, and harvesting. I have some tomatoes ripening, and I’ll definitely be saving your recipe to make for dinner one evening. Garden fresh tomatoes are such a treat.
I hope you have a wonderful week, Sandra, and that you are continuing to feel better.
Dear Lorrie, well August is gone and I am also looking forward to September and the things I hope to accomplish. I believe you will enjoy the recipe it is tasty and easy and wonderful with fresh tomatoes. Your vacation looks as though it was grand – looking forward to photos. Wishing you a wonderful weekend and week ahead.