I got two extra days off work this week, today and tomorrow. It was quite unexpected; my contracted days for the 2025/26 school year were done last Friday. I go back on Wednesday, which is the first day of the 2026-27 term. I hadn't been paying attention, but my principal caught it and thank goodness! I'd have been working extra days for free otherwise.
It's too hot to do much of anything. At the moment it's just normal summertime heat and humidity, but later this week and next weekend we're supposed to be getting a record-setting heatwave. Thank goodness for a/c! I feel so sorry for all of you in Europe who are dealing with these kinds of temperatures without it. I think it's been cooling down a bit (at least in England) for some of you and I hope that continues.
Thanks to the heat I haven't been doing a lot of cooking, but I did finally get around to baking bread yesterday. Gregg and I agreed that these ended up being the best loaves I've ever made!
Practice is apparently paying off.
The garden continues to flounder. We finally got a few tomatoes (one Black Sea Man and three or four small Romas) and some peppers, but that's it. So disappointing! The other day Facebook showed me a photo I posted this time last year and it hurt my heart a little:
28 comments:
Glad you got the bonus days off! Too bad it is so hot and sticky, but the pool sounds good. Gosh, your bread looks so delicious! I can't decide if I would like a slice "as is" or if I would toast it - and of course slather it with butter.
We used to be the friends with the pool. Not anymore. Wish we had some! Your bread is a work of art. Too bad about the vegetable garden. Enjoy your surprise days off.
Your bread is triumphant. Shame that blogs do not come with aroma options so that we could smell your loaves straight out of the oven. Enjoy tomorrow's swimming Jennifer. Will there be some photos of the swimming ladies basking by the pool? I live in hope.
My tomatoes were doing pretty well and now, they're all in hiatus, it seems. I think it's too hot for them. And just about everything else in the garden. All the work and none of the joy. Well, I have had joy.
I need to get my butt to the river. Amen.
That's a total bummer about your garden. I wonder why it is so different this year. That bread looks so good! Bread is my downfall when it comes to calories. I LOVE it!
Jennifer do you work year round at your school? I know you're in Administration but I assumed they got the summer off too? Anyway, your bread looked so good it made my mouth water--I sure miss my grandma's bread. Hope you get to go swimming tomorrow, when I saw the weather on the local news today (temps in the high 90s the rest of the week) I ran to the store. Not going out there if I can help it. :^)
That bread looks excellent, beautiful crumb. One of my neighbors works in school admin and gets only a couple of weeks off in summer, though everyone assumes schools just shut down! As she says, they couldn't open up if she hadn't been working all summer.
I need friends with a pool!! Especially as we get hotter!
That last season haul of tomatoes looks wonderful; nothing tastes better than a fresh from the garden tomato!
Good job your free days weren't lost! And going for a swim at a friend's house - what could be better on a hot day?
We're having a sort of respite from the heat this week. It's still hot, but about 10 degrees cooler than last week. I feel my energy and alert mind return; it wasn't nice to be zombie-like for days on end. With so little sleep, I simply can't function.
PS: I meant to say that your bread looks great - I can almost smell it!
That bread looks scrumptious! I've got lots of Roma tomatoes, which is good since they're charging $2.49 a lb for them at the supermarket.
$2.49 is a steal. Down here the farm stands are charging $2.99 for "regular" tomatoes and $3.99 for watery "heirlooms". I'm not sure about grocery store prices b/c most of the grocery stores here have terrible produce. Sigh.
If I HAD gone to work, it wouldn't have been the end of the world. There isn't much to do at the moment, which I'm trying to enjoy b/c once the teachers return, the new year will be in full swing.
The good thing about my friend with a pool is that she always wants us to come swim anytime. Her grown sons and grandkids all live too far away to enjoy it, so they invite friends over to justify the cost and trouble of maintenance.
Hi Dug! I'm the school secretary and bookkeeper. I usually get a few days off in the summer, but not a full week. Even though school is out, stuff is still going on. The custodians are there waxing floors and doing other big jobs that are hard to tackle when the building is full of people. The maintenance department sends workers to paint and work on landscaping. I have a list of work orders that I'm putting in for small classroom repairs, too. Then there's the custodian payroll that I oversee, and phones need to be answered, and occasionally I make record requests of other schools for new students coming on board. So there are some things to do, just not much! And everyone in the district who works through the summer gets "summer hours" which is only 22 hours a week (but with full pay) and Fridays off. It's relaxed and easy and I don't mind. I can even wear shorts and t-shirts!
Exactly! It's impossible for the school to totally shut down all summer. As I told Dug, there are things to be done that are easier when the building is empty.
I could make a meal off just fresh bread and butter!
It's too hot for much of anything at the moment! I'm starting to look forward to just planting a fall garden. Your river sounds wonderful!
The bread really did smell wonderful when it was baking!
I cut a slice when it was still warm (I know you're supposed to let it cool completely but I couldn't wait!) and slathered it with butter and it was heavenly!
A friend with a pool is better than being the friend with a pool! All the fun and none of the work (and expense).
Hello - just found your blog and have enjoyed reading
I am in London and yes it was far too hot for me - I am retired now so don’t have to worry about working in the heat ,
but local schools closed for two days . We are not equipped for heat , few homes have A/C as historically it hasn’t been needed . It is cooler now thankfully , but more heatwaves are due
I’m an immigrant to the UK but over the years I have lived here I have homes my skills at discussing the weather - a much loved national past time
Miriam
That bread looks wonderful. I like how your Gregg really appreciates your baking skills! How nice to get a few days off before the next fiscal year begins for the school. Your tomatoes look delicious!
Enjoy your swim and stay cool!
The bread looks wonderful and no doubt tasted better. Delicious!
It's been a bad year for gardening for many in various locations. 'Better luck next year,' seems to be the response.
I’d love a meal at your home
That is the very best way to eat bread!
I was shocked to see sweet corn being sold at 75 cents an ear on the eastern side of Pennsylvania. What is it selling for there?
Same, Debbie. 75 cents per ear. Not too long ago good sweet corn was 3 ears for a dollar.
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