Wednesday

I think of this day as one with the threat of storms. The clouds were there, the thunder rumbled, warnings were issued. I scrambled out of bed quickly to beat the heavy rains, snipping away at a mad pace, taking fewer pictures, rushing to get ahead of... nothing much.

I thought it would be cool to be done with yard work and to enjoy the rains over breakfast on the porch. We enjoyed the breakfast (well, these days, Ed is trying out a different eating schedule so we sit down together, but I'm the one that's stuffing my face with foods). But not the rain. Drizzle, drop, drizzle, drop. More rumbling, more warnings. a few more drops and then, by early afternoon, it all moved away to Michigan and the sun came out and bugs came back and the plants said -- you call this rain? -- and that was it.

The nice thing about the threat of rain is that you aren't obligated to push yourself to some herculean efforts outside -- either biking, hiking or working in the flower fields. I mean, there are warnings! I listen to warnings! So, I stay inside and Ed does too and only when he goes off to a meeting do I tentatively venture out. The skies are looking good. Time for a ride on the e-bike. On buggy and humid days, this has to be the world's best outdoor activity. You move fast, you feel refreshed, the workout is as good as you want it to be. 

We live in a good place for looping around. There are bike paths. There are quiet roads. You can take detours, add segments and it all feels so unrushed, unforced. At some point, I'm sure my love for e-riding will simmer down to a mild infatuation, but right now, it is my most perfect form of hot summer movement.

And afterwards? I try out the bar that opened up just across the street from the bike station. I have a mojito  mocktail -- freshly squeezed lime juice with mint and seltzer. Refreshing! 

In the evening Ed is out for his real bike ride of the week. I make soup. Rumor has it that on the hot days of a Sicilian summer, a steaming bowl of soup will both hydrate and cool you down. I can't quite see the logic of this, but no matter. I have kale, I have corn, I have onions and carrots and some peas that could do with a de-podding. I have a couple of frozen tomatoes from last summer. A little garlic, a little chopped rosemary. Cannellini beans and we're set. Soup it shall be!

I feel cooler already.

with love...