Tuesday 4 July 2017

June is Over

June was a proper summer month here. We had mostly sunshine, and quite a few days above 30 Celsius (high 80s to 90s F). Typically, people were moaning and complaining about the heat, and as soon as it cooled down last weekend, they were doing the same about the rain and chill.
Yesterday, the sun came back; we're in for another hot week, and I can already hear the fresh complaints - the weather just can't get it right for some of us, can it ;-)

Admittedly, I did not sleep all that well during the hottest nights. Hardly anybody here (nobody I know personally) has A/C in their homes, and a lot of offices and shops are not so equipped, either. But, hey, it is summer, and the cold weather returns soon enough, so let's make the most of it while we can!

Here is a typical outfit I wore to the office last month. As a woman, of course I can adapt my clothes better to warm weather than the men can; they are required to wear long trousers, shirts and (mostly) ties which I imagine can get a little uncomfortable above a certain temperature.


See my handbag? It was a birthday gift from my sister-in-law in Yorkshire. The dress is old; I've had it for 7 years or so. But the shoes are new and good enough for the office while at the same time allowing my feet to breathe on hot days at our A/C-less office.

Most evenings during the week, when I am home on my own, I want something to eat that is quick and easy to make, filling but not leaving me feeling so "stuffed" I can't sleep. Salads are the answer; I simply toss in what I've got, make a little vinaigrette, and have a good meal ready within 10 minutes.

 
Here is one I've made last week, with a green and yellow pepper, radishes, spring onions, and a handful of soft dried tomatoes. Adding bits of cheese makes it complete, and just a few chopped peppermint leaves (grown on my window sill) add that extra freshness.

Last but not least, June offered some fantastic skies. I could have taken pictures nearly every morning and evening, but here are two that show the views from my living room and kitchen window respectively on the evening of the 28th. Later that night, it rained, if I remember correctly. It was very welcome, as the entire month was very dry.

 
That was only June - now it is July, and the fields look as if they are ready to be harvested already, about 2 weeks earlier than most years.

On Sunday, my sister and I are starting our annual Yorkshire holiday. Like last year, O.K. kindly lends me his MacBook again. Therefore, you can expect some "live blogging" :-)

28 comments:

  1. Meike, your salad looked really healthy and lo-cal - if that's all you eat for supper I can see how you keep trim - and all the walking you do helps too! Your work attire is perfect for the hot days - here we always required a sweater or jacket as offices/stores are so chilly with a/c, then one would step outside and almost pass out on the 90+F plus days! Here in the house we keep the temp. around 72F in summertime - and I must admit I could never live in this oppressive southern climate without a/c - it's all what one gets used to I suppose.

    Today is a huge holiday of course and we plan to celebrate.
    Your upcoming holiday to Yorkshire will be lovely I know - you and your sister always seem have a good time. Enjoy and share your pix and notes when you can.
    Hugs - Mary

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    1. Well, there is usually some chocolate or ice cream or nuts later in the evening, and of course I have a full lunch (with dessert) at work.

      Enjoy the celebrations at your home today, Mary; I hope the weather holds so that you do not have to rush inside because of a thunderstorm!

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  2. Your outfit looks very smart, especially for hot days! And your salads look delicious and light. You might hard boil some eggs and crumble one into your salad for some protein. That's a fast thing to do. But perhaps you don't like eggs? I'm just about to drive back to Chautauqua where we have no AC but it's always cooler than Ohio by 5 to 10 degrees F.Those skies are amazing and beautiful. And I wish you "traveling mercies" and a lovely time in Yorkshire with your sister!

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    1. Thank you, Kristi!
      I do eat hard boiled eggs every now and then; I like them sliced on a buttered slice of bread, too. But I do not always buy eggs when I know it's just going to be me at home, as I do not want them to go off.

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  3. You can never go wrong with basic black, love the shoes, sling back are by favorite style. I remember going to a baseball game one July in Stuttgart and having to go home and get coats because it was so cold. We never complained about the heat when we lived there. Here I complain all the time.

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    1. Stuttgart can be pretty awful on a very hot day because of its geographic situation, like a deep bowl where the heat and dust just sits. But Ludwigsburg is well outside the "bowl" and usually does not suffer such oppressive conditions when it is hot.
      July has often been a chilly and wet month here; we'll see how it plays out this year!

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  4. Really like your dress and shoes and love the handbag. Are those sheep? Also I want to comment on your produce; everything looks so fresh! You must be shop in a garden-to-store place like our farmer's markets.

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    1. Thank you, Jill! Yes, those are sheep. The photo should enlarge when you click on it. Sheep are a very common sight in Yorkshire, so that handbag was a good choice as present from there!
      All the produce in that picture comes from the supermarket around the corner, Aldi. Fruit, vegetables and flowers don't get a chance to age in there - it is always very well frequented, and if you get there late (they are open until 9:00 pm), some things may have run out.

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  5. It looks like a really nice salad. And the handbag looks nice too. Mind you, I'm no expert on handbags.

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    1. I enjoyed that salad; the dried tomatoes and cheese added an extra flavour, and the chopped mint was just the right dosage.
      I am no expert on handbags, either - I just know when they are the right size for me, and when I like a colour or not; I don't care about brand names.

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  6. You look beautiful Meike. I'm glad you seem to be enjoying your summer.

    I love interesting salads! Yours looks delicious. I've discovered a bagged salad that I love, and it's soooo convenient for work. Or home, for that matter, because Gregg won't eat salad and it's a waste for me to buy lots of individual ingredients for just one person.

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer!

      I often use bagged salads as a basis for my salads. They come in many varieties here, and are, as you say, sooo convenient - all the leaves already picked and sorted. I would not manage to fit a whole head of lettuce, baby spinach, lollo rosso, rucola etc. into my fridge if I wanted to mix it myself!

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  7. I'm glad to hear that it's not just the British who complain about the weather. Mind you trying to cope with it on holiday travelling for three weeks is hard because I've had 9℃ with rain and gales and am told to expect temperatures in the high 20s when I go further south than the Wirral and North Wales where today is has been 24℃. It was great when I was in New Zealand in the summer. It could be in the 30s but I could wear shorts and jandals.

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    1. I know what you mean; packing for such different climates and weather is a challenge, especially if you, like me, have to be able to carry your own luggage any time. When I'll be packing my suitcase for Yorkshire on Sunday morning, I have the advantage of knowing that we have a washing machine at the cottage, so I do not need to pack that many items.

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  8. Hi Meike, looks like you're having a great summer so far. We've been lucky in England with the weather lately so fingers crossed it stays nice for you during your visit!
    I love salads too, especially in the summer. Salmon and Avocado are my favourite additions.
    I'm off to London today for the weekend to watch some tennis but I look forward to reading your blogs from Yorkshire. Have a safe trip. :)

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    1. Thank you, Karen :-)
      I like avocado, too, but have not bought any lately; there was a time when I made myself guacamole a little too often...
      Enjoy the tennis and the weekend in London!

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  9. Seeing the high temperatures in southern Europe on the weather maps on TV, I have been rather thankful that ours so far this summer have kept on the (comparatively) "chilly" side... especially at night! Not really much one can do about the weather except try to adjust to it the best one can, though! :) I hope you and your sister will have yet another enjoyable holiday in Yorkshire - including the "right" kind of weather to make the most of it!

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    1. The "right" kind of weather for our Yorkshire holiday will be sunny enough to sit in the garden for our meals or a mug of tea/coffee, dry enough for our walks and hikes, and wet and cold enough (preferably at night!) to keep the countryside lush and green and allow for a good night's sleep :-)

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  10. It's very hot here too Meike. Today it was 32 C in the SHADE! It's not so bad if there is no humidity but today the humidity was on the high side. I don't dare go out in the daytime, it feels like burning. Looking forward to your live blogging, keeps us informed of your travels. Have a nice time!

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    1. Mille grazie, cara Francesca!
      Fa abbastanza caldo pure qui; al momento (sono le nove mezza di sera) fa ancora 30 gradi...

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  11. If only I wasn't all packed up and ready to go (but nowhere near getting a moving date!) I would say call in for a meal. As I remember it you go round on the bus rather than drive round. If that is so and you happen to be coming into Leyburn please let me know and we could meet there for coffee in the cafe I talk about all the time on my blog!

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    1. Dear Pat, that would be lovely! Last year I did indeed stop for a few hours in Leyburn with my uncle and aunt who took us on a day trip by car; so who knows, I may still get to meet you one day!

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  12. Hope you have a great time in Yorkshire! Take me with you!!
    Your meal looks yummy and I understand wanting something simple when it is hot.
    Your outfit is gorgeous right down to the shoes!
    Love the views from your windows, lucky you!

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    1. Thank you, Kay! I will take you and everyone else who reads my blog with me - O.K. is lending me his MacBook again, so that I can keep in touch and do some "live blogging" like last year :-)

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  13. Your salad looked scrumptious. I had one in our hotel with little lumps of Gorgonzola, slices of pear and walnuts - a delightful combination. I hope the weather is kind for you and your sister in Yorkshire.

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    1. The weather was definitely kind last night when we arrived, and for most of today, too.
      Gorgonzoa, pears and walnuts sounds delicious! I often combine cheese, fruit and nuts when I make a salad and want something more substantial than just leaves.

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  14. I am so relieved that people also moan about the heat (or chill) in Germany. Brits moan constantly that it's either too hot or too cold or too wet, and it irritates me and I'm British! I'm glad you're getting some proper summer weather. The salad looks delicious. We've also been eating lots of salads, tuna nicoise and chicken caesar being favourites as they are filling without being heavy. Safe journey to Yorkshire tomorrow, can't wait to read about your time there. x

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    1. Thank you, Gillian! We had a safe journey, although it was a little on the long side thanks to a strike of Northern Rail...
      Yes, Germans moan and complain about the weather just like Brits do :-)

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