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Hooray!

Daniel is home for the day!

Squash

It was a hot day today

And it's not even July. I think I've mentioned it, though, but I get a strange delight in sitting in a hot car. The AC is sometimes just too much, and it's really nice to suck in that thick-tasting air. The funny thing is, I'm not even being sarcastic.

One very nice thing about my work is that I can begin at any time between 7 and 9 am. Because I value my afternoons, I usually go in at 7. Today, however, I went in at 7:35 because I was working on a very special and very urgent projectThis shirt is for my dear brother Daniel, and my shirt you shall see tomorrow. I'm going to be wearing it proudly because Holland is playing game #2! I rarely get excited about sports games. In fact, I usually avoid them unless friends are participating or going to watch as well.

In this particular case, I am excited because I have a pretty significant amount of Dutch pride. This is harder to do in Mississippi (because most everyone in Mississippi is from Mississippi), but definitely not impossible.

These squash are not from the farmers' market, but they are from a friend's grandparents' garden. I'm pretty sure both sources are equally "green."

Squash Casserole (Bell's Best 1982):

2 c. fresh squash, chopped (sliced)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 small pkg. (sleeve) Ritz crackers

1/4 c. melted oleo (margarine!)

1 c. grated cheese

2 eggs

1/2 c. milk

salt and pepper to taste

Cook squash and onion until tender; drain off all liquid. Mash. Beat together egg and milk; add to squash. Mix cheese, oleo, and cracker crumbs. Add 1/2 to squash mixture. Pour into buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top. Bake 20-30 minutes at 400 degrees.

It's that easy.

Tonight was the closing ceremony for my church's Vacation Bible School! I wish I had been able to help, but alas, work got in the way. Anyway, the kids in the program tonight were so cute. VBS is always a blast.

As for my summer reading goals, I have now read 4 of the 10 books of the summer, and on to number 5. The Red Badge of Courage I do not particularly recommend. It was not bad, but it took longer than what it was worth. Maybe my problemis that I don't really like war books. I just can't get into them. Anyway, I bought 3 new books on Amazon: Redeeming Love, A Praying Life, and Grapes of Wrath. I'm reading them in that order, so I've already begun the first! SO good, so far.

In fact, I think it's time to go read right now.

Hooray for Saturdays! And brothers!

Rain on my window

It rained today! It seems like it's been weeks since we've had a good, heavy storm -- even if it did only last a few hours.

At my stained glass workshop today we started adding the copper foil around the edges of the glass. I'm not finished with all of the pieces, but I think it's coming together nicely. Next week: soldering! (By the way, I just now learned how to spell that word. I guess I've never had to use it before.)

When I walked outside of the building, it was quietly sprinkling and the sun was beginning to sink. The lighting was incredible so I made a few loops around downtown.

This is Vicksburg's Old Court House, now museum. The first time I saw it tonight the sun was just hitting the cupula, but the second time I made the loop, it had already gone down enough to make a difference. It's amazing how fast things change the closer it gets to dusk.

The "River" -- although here it's only the Yazoo Diversionary Canal-- around sunset is a beautiful thing. It was still a little rainy, as you can see by the drop of water in the upper right corner.

Today was exhausting, although I'm not sure why. It's time for bed.