Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Postcards from the Lake: The Cherries Have Arrived! And Gone!

For weeks I had been looking for sweet black cherries at the farmer's market. None were to be found and the season was nearing its end. Finally I visited my mini-farmer's market that I discovered last year -- five vendors, all pretty decent. And finally, black cherries!


And alas, the vendor said these were his last. It had been a terrible year, with early heat followed by late snow, ice and frosts and then mediocre weather -- not great for growing -- for quite a bit of the spring.


However, his peaches are coming in -- aren't these gorgeous? And delicious, too!


Rick had a birthday and we had a little party here, with Greg and with Rick's cousin somehow removed, Mary, and her husband guy.


We had the most wonderful time catching up with them all. 


Maybe Rick had the best time!


Greg brought a dessert from a restaurant for whom he does a good deal of mural work called Mabel Gray in Detroit. It was a take on the traditional millionaire bar with a shortbread crust, a soft caramel middle, and instead of ganache, a chocolate mousse and cookie bits on top and served in a puddle of huckleberry jam. To die for.


 As I mentioned in the last post, the sunsets have been lovely, affected (as some of you mentioned in earlier comments) by the haze of the fires out west. (I'd rather have lousy sunsets.)


I couldn't resist this cloud formation.


It was especially nice to see Greg again, too. He has this wonderful quality of being able to talk to anyone and everyone on a multitude of subjects -- and listen to others as well. 

I'd made a pie for Rick's birthday -- a fabulous blueberry one, courtesy of my friend, potter Jim Fineman. (Watch for the recipe here.)  It was delicious and Rick and I have been enjoying it ever since!


I've been painting too, and will have more to share soon.


But not on rainy days! We had the mother of all thunderstorms which wiped out most of a whole day -- which meant plenty of time to read!


Our geese friends have been back. I had never noticed their tracks before.


But as soon as I went out, off they went!


Rick is back home now. We had a lovely farewell dinner -- his terrific carbonera with white wine and a good salad. 


The next morning (Sunday) he took off on his bike (obviously feeling much better!) 


He has a duplex that will be needing a tenant and needs to get it ready and rented. Dare I say I already miss the guy?

I'll skip home for the doc soon but for a few days it will be just Lizzie and me.

 

We'll cope! 

Till next time...

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47 comments:

DUTA said...

I love cherries, regardless of their black, red, or pink color.
Your cherries don't look so good. You should see and taste the cherries that grow on the Golan Heights! Delicious!
The dessert brought by Greg is indeed mouth watering!

Valerie-Jael said...

Glad you're having fun at the lake. Nice to have visitors, and the food looks divine. Happy Birthday to Rick! Black cherries are always my fave, we get lots of them here. Have a great day, hugs, Valerie

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Jeanie
The Cherries and peaches look yummy. Looks like a fun time celebrating Rick's birthday with the family. I am glad he is feeling better and back to riding his bike. Pretty sunset captures. Wishing you and Lizzie a happy week ahead.

Rita C at Panoply said...

Happy Belated to Rick! Those desserts beg for a long bike ride, wow! I have been enjoying peaches immensely this year, buying 2 and 3# bags at a time. Enjoy those beautiful cherries!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Life at the cottage seems just as idyllic as it should be, Jeanie. I am sure you will miss Rick but before you know it he will be back again, making dinner, baking bread, pouring wine. The smoke from the forest fires is making its way to our area too. Seems like half the continent is burning.

R's Rue said...

I need to eat with all of you. I’m hungry. I enjoy your views from the lake. Have a beautiful day.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

I love how you always make your meals festive with your table settings. No two seem to be alike...or repeated often enough to caught.

Michigan cherry are the best, but I heard they are plentiful this year.

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

First of all - that CAKE! I've never seen anything like it. Whatever the reason, we've had the most wonderful (and plentiful) black cherries this season. It's also been a good peach season, too. I can't get enough of summer fruit.

La Table De Nana said...

A charmed lovely life..He looks so happy and his son seems like a taleneted GEM..That dessert..s wow!

Marilyn Miller said...

What a lovely way to celebrate Rick's birthday. Both desserts look amazing and so delicious. I am always sad when the season of a particular fruit I love ends. Cherry season is about over here too and I am relishing the last of them now. Glad Rick made it home and hope he finds a renter soon.
I couldn't quite figure out what was in the lantern on the table. Love, love the stem ware with stripes, so vintage and cute.
Your sunsets are lovely at the lake. How I would love a cloudy, rainy day to just sit and read for the day. Sweet! Enjoy, as I know you are.

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

So glad Rick is feeling better for a bike ride. The desserts look fabulous. Cherries and peaches just seem like summer to me. Happy week ahead.

Victoria Zigler said...

Happy belated birthday to Rick. Glad you had such a great time celebrating his special day. Also glad he's feeling so much better. Ithink it's sweet that you already miss him.

Joanne Huffman said...

Good food, good times, good midsummer.

Divers and Sundry said...

The cherries look tasty, and those peaches! I always look forward to peaches being in-season.

Happy belated Birthday to Rick! The gathering looks festive :) Your cloud photos are gorgeous.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

hmmm I love Michgan cherries!

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

Wow your dining and desserts look superb! What a treat having Greg bring that dessert! Isn’t it something how the smoke haze created some beautiful shots of sunsets. Our son was able to capture some gorgeous shots of the moon too. Too bad it’s happening as a result of those fires. Yes the word is around here a very lousy cherry season. So many things worked against them. Must be peach festival time in Romeo about now!

bobbie said...

Happy birthday, Rick! I'm glad you are feeling better ~

My name is Erika. said...

Even with Rick gone right now it looks like life has been good. Those cherries look delicious. As does both your pie and the one Greg brought. It looks like life is easy going and all is good. That's what summer (especially at the lake) is supposed to be, right? Hope you have some sunny weather. Hugs-Erika

Yvonne said...

Lizzie looks contented. It's impossible to find good fruit here this summer. Really disappointing. Glad you've been having good times with family and friends.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Jeanie
Happy birthday to Rick! I often make my husband apple pie for his birthday as it is his all-time favorite!

Colorado has the sweetest Palisade peaches growing on our western slope--they are sooooo good! Colorado also grows Olathe corn and cantaloupe melons that are very sweet, so we are fortunate. I was able to find wonderful black Cherries and Washington State cherries--the sweet yellow-orange type--at our local supermarkets and even Costco had them.

I hope Rick finds a renter soon! I enjoyed seeing your lake photos but I can see you've also had some smoke in the atmosphere from all the western wildfires.

Martha said...

So nice to have visitors at the lake, everything looks great! Happy belated birthday to Rick. Have a great week. :)

Nancy said...

Lovely days at the Lake. That blueberry pie looks scrumptious. I’m so sorry the cherries did not do well for you all this year.
Enjoy yourself alone with Lizzie… but I always miss my guy when he’s gone.
Happy Tuesday!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Jeanie. glad you had good times with friends. The blueberry pie looks so good but I just had my annual physical and my blood sugars are on the rise from last time. Only signs of pre diabetic so far but I am taking the bull by the horns so I don't get there. I do miss my nightly ice cream cone and bread but it isn't too bad yet. I figure that time is coming. Your lake time is still looking beautiful but sounds like life in kicking in again..Happy rest of Summer..xxoJudy

Ricki Treleaven said...

Not a bumper crop of cherries....that's disappointing! I was looking forward to purchasing some dried cherry treats when I visit A2 next month!

Sandra Cox said...

What a lovely get together. Those wondrous desserts are making me hungry. Enjoy your lake time.

Miss Val's Creations said...

A fun collection of photos. Fresh, local fruit is the best! You are making me crazy something sinful with this delicious dessert treats! It is incredible who the smoke has made its way across the country. We experience the effects of it too. Happy belated birthday to Rick!

William Kendall said...

The desserts look good.

Pamela said...

Black cherries are my favorites and those look wonderful. We have had them for some time, but here they are very expensive. Peaches are also in season here now. There is a roadside fruit stand near where I work and I stop there when I have time.
Your meals and desserts always look so delicious! It’s nice to see you getting together with family and friends again. I look forward to doing things with my friends again. I will soon be getting the second shot, but most of my friends are younger and are not yet.

Sherry's Pickings said...

i adore cherries but we will have to wait till cherry season in november. so many good things in this post jeanie. Love that dessert, and the look of those beautiful peaches. isn't it nice to be able to get together these days? it is awful for people down south here in australia as the lockdown continues for another month...
take care
sherry

Iris Flavia said...

Hmmmm... cherries!
Peaches always make me laugh. My colleague was not used to two monitors and wanted to show a customer our project. She mistook the peach for the mouse, it was hilarious! She refused my help.
Belated happy Birthday to your Rick!
Beautiful, yet scary sky.
Oh, the rain, so beautiful. Haven´t seen a drop in ages.
Always sad when your partner leaves... Good you have sweet Lizzie! And summer. And the lake.

handmade by amalia said...

The very best of summer! The fruit looks amazing.
Amalia
xo

gigi-hawaii said...

I think it is just wonderful that you have a summer retreat like this. It is good that you have friends to celebrate Rick's birthday with. The food looks amazing! Happy birthday, Rick! Aloha from Hawaii.

Tristan Robin said...

Rick does, indeed, look well on the road to recovery! - bicycling and everything! Good on him.

Great minds and all that. I also went on a black cherry binge this week! So far a Southern Black Cherry Walnut Cobbler and a Black Cherry Clafoutis. I still have enough for a Black Cherry Pie - then I can start thinking about peaches!

What is that intriguing 'sculpture' in the lantern display case behind all your painting supplies in the photo?! It's not fair to show only a small teaser of such an interesting looking treasure - and from the back no less!

I enjoy you your lovely summer. We're having a nice summer, too - though, I have to do it in my regular home as we don't have a summer cottage. sigh. I should have thought about that. But, who knew? I thought we'd still be flying to Europe twice a year...who could have foreseen a Pandemic?! You have, what I refer to, a charmed summer experience! Enjoy it all and thanks for sharing it with us, Jeannie!

Sami said...

Belated birthday to Rick.
I love cherries, peaches not so much, unless someone peels them for me as I can't bear to touch the downy skin. Silly I know :)
OMG that dessert looks amazing, so does your pie.

Danielle L Zecher said...

Happy belated birthday to Rick! It looks like you had a wonderful celebration.

I'm glad you got your cherries, even if it wasn't very many. I wonder if a lot of things have had a tough growing season. I've been searching high and low for cotton candy grapes, but haven't been able to find them.

R's Rue said...

Thinking of you. Hope all is well.

Pam Richardson said...

Rick’s birthday was a perfect celebration with Greg and cousins ? Removed. Your blueberry pie looks fabulous. Wishing you and Lizzie good days!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I had cherries in France, and they were fabulous. Yours look wonderful, too. We don't do cherries here, but we do well with peaches.

Can't wait to see your new art!

Jenn Jilks said...

What a fun time you must have had!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Belated happy birthday greetings to Rick and looks like you all enjoyed a great celebration with wonderful dessert treat. We have been enjoying both cherries and peaches now. The ones in this post looked great and peach pie is as good as blueberry pie, perhaps it will be your next dessert?

Rajani Rehana said...

Wish you a very happy birthday ����

Carola Bartz said...

I love cherries too, especially the black ones. This year my neighbor had the best cherries and he was very generous in sharing with us. They were so delicious. I do enjoy peaches - they're (and cantaloupe) are my favorite summer fruit. I only buy them from the local farmers at the farmers market - they're smaller than the ones in the grocery stores, but sweet and juicy, picked when ripe and not before that.
I prefer lousy sunsets to the "fire suns" (that's what we call them here) as well. We have those fire suns a bit too often, but thankfully not yet this year. I wouldn't mind not having them at all. I'm very jealous of your thunderstorm (well, of the rain, to be precise; I pass on the lightning, since that too often starts wildfires...).

Polly said...

Oooh the pie and dessert look scrumptious. I’ve been enjoying peaches and nectarines, I love all fruit. My cherry tree produced probably only a handful of fruit, I wonder if it was similar conditions - lots of heat and rain. Rick does look to be having a good time, I’m glad he’s feeling much better.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Happy Birthday Rick!

shoreacres said...

What a lovely celebration for Rick! I'm interested in that blueberry pie, although our blueberries are nearly over now. As for the cherries -- the ones from the northwest, the Raniers, are gone, but I noticed today that there are black cherries in the market now. We can't grow them here, of course, so they're always a treat. I did just stock up on some jars of American Spoon fruit perfect sour cherries; I love them stirred into yogurt or on top of ice cream.

Lowcarb team member said...

The blueberry pie for Rick's birthday looks absolutely delicious :)

All the best Jan

Bohemian said...

The Fruit and Desserts look delish! The Wild Geese around these parts are very used to Human interaction and come up to you and aren't at all aggressive like I've seen Wild Geese be on people's videos and hear about thru their Testimonies. So I guess we get the Chill Human Tolerant Geese migrating thru our State, or mebbe it's just too damned Hot for them to bother trying to get away from people or be confrontational? *LOL* So nice you've had company, we've really had none since Pandemic and have retreated into Social Isolation mostly for the past 18 plus Months, and I'm Strangely getting to be okay with that.

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