What's Up Wednesday June 2025 Edition

 

When I was a child, summers seemed to last forever; the days were long, and hot, and ended in cool evenings that gave way to the stariest of nights. My sister and I spent the entirety of our day outside, playing with friends in the neighborhood, riding bikes to the Husky Filling Station several blocks away for ice cream bars and cans of soda that cost fifty cents. It felt like it would be forever before school started again in September.

Today, the summer days fly by with not a minute to spare for swimming pools, bike rides, or stargazing, and it makes me quite sad. We are at the end of June, days past the summer solstice, and July will be here in a heartbeat.

I wish my days weren't burdened by life. I wish I were a kid again.

Alas, I am an adult with work to attend to, so I'll post this edition of What's Up Wednesday and let it serve as a reminder of just how quickly time flies. Thanks, as always, to Sheaffer and Shay for hosting.

What I've Been Eating

I've had several really great meals this month, as well as some tasty snacks. Starting with the food that we ate on our Girls trip to Scottsdale.

And, ending with the meals that I have eaten al fresco, on the porches at my home and office.

What I'm Loving

The roses, both at home and at work, have been blooming abundantly, and I have enjoyed fresh bouquets from their cuttings.

I've been loving my time on the porch with a good book and a tasty drink. Basically, I've just been doing a whole lot of porch rotting and I've loved every minute of it.

What I'm Reminiscing About

I covered the reminiscing pretty well in the introduction of this post, don't you think?

What I've Been Up To

The Girls trip to Scottsdale early this month was a ton of fun. We spent four days laughing, relaxing, exploring, adventuring, and toasting to thirty-seven years of friendship. We also took a trip in a driverless car, which was trippy. The Jetsons said we'd be flying in cars by now, but the driverless option is close enough to science fiction for my taste.

What I'm Working On

My garden is coming along just fine. I've taken a pretty relaxed approach to it this year and I'm not mad about it.

What I'm Dreading

It seems like I am always dreading something related to Not So New Job and this month is no different. Our only fundraiser this year is the annual golf tournament, and I dread wrapping it up with less revenue than I had hoped for. We still have a couple of weeks, but I'm not optimistic.

What I'm Watching 

Right now, I'm watching the hummingbirds fight over the feeders on my porch and that's more than enough stimulation for me. I haven't turned the television on in the evening in weeks, preferring to limit myself to the morning news and nothing more. It's rapidly becoming my favorite way of being "unplugged".

 

What I'm Reading

What I've lacked in television viewing, I've more than made up for in reading. The long-starved book nerd in me is feasting, folks! Current obsession: Fantasy, because when the world you live in is less than stress-free, fantasy provides an escape.

I finished this book in two days, and I'm sad that it's over. Luckily, there will be a second book, someday.

I read all five available books in this series (also anxiously awaiting the release of the sixth book).

And followed that up with all four books in the prequel to that series.

I'm currently on book two of this series, and have already grabbed the third book on Kindle Unlimited because I know I'll fly through it.

My reading insights from my Kindle app indicate just how often I have a book open. Again, not mad.

What I'm Listening To

I recently discovered this new talented musician and have turned both Queen B and the Man-Cub onto his music. If you haven't heard him, you should give him a listen.

What I'm Wearing

Sandals! Tis the season!

What I'm Doing This Weekend

Honestly, I'm looking forward to doing a whole lot of old-school summer stuff, like lying in the sun and reading. I might see if Mom wants to take a turn around the farmer's market, and I may get in some stargazing. If I can reminisce about it, I may as well do it, right?

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

Getting that damn golf tournament off my To Do list!

Favorite Purchase of the Month

I spent a considerable amount on this Braun IPL laser hair removal system, and I do believe it may have been a worthwhile investment. I'm only two treatments in, but I am noticing slower hair growth.

Summertime legs need to be hair-free, after all.

Recipes From the Porch : Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

 Otherwise known as Hugh's newest obsession.

Ingredients

1 pkg cream cheese, softened

1/4 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c strawberries, diced (reserve 1/2 c for topping)

2 eggs

1/4 half 'n' half

4 slices of brioche

For the filling, mix together cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and diced berries, set aside.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and half 'n' half.

Spread desired amount of filling on a slice of brioche, top with the second slice (leftover filling can be stored in a covered bowl in the fridge for several days)

Dip the bread in the egg mixture, making sure to coat the entire surface of both sides, without allowing the bread to become soggy.

Cook in a skillet on the stovetop, or on a Blackstone or other outdoor grill (Hugh prefers the Blackstone because, man) until browned and crispy on the outside.

Serve with your favorite syrup and reserved diced berries. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. You know, do your thing.

Hugh and I had this for brunch last Saturday, and then Hugh made it as a dessert for our Father's Day BBQ the following day. It is definitely sweet enough for dessert, but I found that the sweetness paired nicely with the saltiness of bacon at brunch. It's a winner, either way.

Porch Rotting

Anyone interested in a Day in the Life post about a middle-aged woman whose sole ambition in life is to rot away on her front porch? You have come to the right place!

Here is a breakdown of just that!

8:00 a.m. First cup of coffee and a new book, enjoyed while watching the hummingbirds flit about from feeder to feeder.

10:00 a.m. Brief break to spend some time in the garden, where everything is starting to come up, nicely.

11:00 a.m. Back to the porch for a tasty breakfast, including a new recipe for strawberry-stuffed French toast that has now become an obsession for Hugh (recipe coming soon).

1:00 p.m. Brewed up some sun tea while scrolling social media and finishing off a few more chapters of the new book.

5:00 p.m. Dinner al fresco. 

7:00 p.m. Second glass of wine and a quick perusal of the cookbook that I purchased at the Queen Creek Olive Mill while in Scottsdale with The Girls.

8:00 p.m. Hugh hung the porch curtains, and we spent the remainder of the day ensconced inside like a genie in a bottle.

9:00 p.m. The mosquitoes started to bite, so it was time to return indoors. 

Until next weekend, Porch.