Dog days

Well, summer has officially arrived, and the heat was intense today. For some reason, I picked this steamy day to do a three-hour downtown walk. Our neighborhood still looks like a garden, however, even past the prime of the spring bloom. These people's roses are close to seven feet tall, and tower overhead. I like jungly gardens like this. There's a mystery to them.

The air still smells like lilacs and roses wherever you walk, even in this dry heat.

There was a smudge of whipped cream in the middle of my camera lens all day, thanks to an espresso-con-panna cup that I stuffed unwisely in my bag while walking. Sigh.



At the bottom of the hill, I was glad to be able to slip into the air-conditioned interior of The Tattered Cover bookstore...where I was surprised to see my book on the shelf in the kids' room! I had forgotten all about it. Very exciting.

Back home, it took a lot of citrus beverage to get me back on my feet. Aranciata is my favorite summer drink.

Sam has really come to enjoy his time helping me deadhead the roses, which are still going strong and producing more buds.

This beautiful bush is tucked all the way back by our back gate, where nobody sees it. So I had to give it some exposure!


Inside, making the kitchen smell wonderful.

My friend Stacie sent Flynn this gorgeous paper kite in a silk-covered box. Yet another thing of beauty to add to her growing collection.

At the end of the day, I had a dinner with our local group of adoptive moms. This is Sabor Latino, a wonderful neighborhood restaurant that serves South American food. I had bistec chimichurri which, if you've never tried it, is a glorious dish.
I feel so very lucky to have this group of moms-to-be right here in Denver - these are exceptional women, some of them moms already and some still in waiting, and I love having this forum for discussion, commiseration, and pure pleasure to look forward to once a month.