Thunder is shaking the house. The summer skies are darkened with heavy clouds full of water that just started spilling over onto the rooftops. I’m watching rain pelt the roof of the bright orange house next door and feeling grateful for all in life that serves to cover and shelter us. At times I am tempted to think that the recent loss of my Grandpa Stan was like the loss of a roof top in my life, and certainly during last week’s funeral I felt inundated by waves of relentless rain, but today just the memory of the shelter his love provided projects into the sky above me like a wide cover, a clear umbrella through which I can see the rain coming down and feel no fear. I know I can stand right where I am, even in a downpour of my own sorrow, and find fondness and hope in memory. Perhaps grief is a door to the outside, through which you discover you have no need to run for shelter, whatever the weather, because it’s with you already. I’ve got Stan’s Army tattoo stamped on my heart.
Miss you Stanley. Irma Thomas is playing “I Think It’s Going to Rain” again—and I’ll always think of you in the summer rain. “Bright before me, the signs implore me, to help the needy and show them the way. Human kindness is overflowing, and I think it’s going to rain today.”
We have had a series of wonderful gatherings in the neighborhood lately. Last night we got to join friends who started a tradition 30 years ago of Scotch whiskey tasting. Once a year, everyone brings together their good scotch and with each round of tastes, toasts. I recently got a sample of Magnus Highland Park whiskey, and it held up fine against the rest.
For whiskey in the summer, try a delicious mule mixer:
MIDSUMMER MULE
- 2 oz. Highland Park Magnus
-
1 oz. lemon juice
-
1 oz. ginger syrup
-
Soda water
Shake with ice | Strain over ice and top with soda | Garnish with a lemon wheel and ginger candy
As always, we are trying to eat healthier, less meat, generally. I am not a full vegan but I find inspiration in veganism with their compassion and concern for the eco-burden of our eating habits on the planet. If you can find a way to make one vegan dinner a week, I feel it makes a difference. The Dirty Vegan is a wonderful blog and now cookbook to provide some inspiration. I loved the Yumbo (Vegan Gumbo) and coffee cake–who knew flax could be so tasty!?
Flax Coffee Cake
Adapted from The Dirty Vegan by Catherine Gill
1 ½ cups flour
½ cup sugar and 2 TB, divided
½ tsp salt
2 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ cup butter (or vegetable shortening if you are doing it real vegan)
¾ cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 TB flaxseed ground, mixed with 1 ½ tsp water (alternatively you can also use chia seeds as binder)
1/3 cup brown sugar
¼ cup all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
3 TB vegan butter
