Summer Bucket List 2014

One of my guilty pleasures is listening to the Joy the Baker Podcast.  I say “guilty” because it has nothing to do with baking or even food for that matter.  This is a podcast that makes me feel like I’m hanging out with some girlfriends, just two ladies talking about life, cats, nail polish and ex-boyfriends.  Every year they do a summer bucket list and it got me to thinking about mine.  Summer is a time for indulgence, relaxing and slowing down, especially in my non-air conditioned house, where it’s too hot most of the time to do much of anything.  So here are 10 things I hope to do this summer:

1)      Play a round of golf at Edgefield: I just love spending a day at Edgefield, meandering around the golf course with a refreshing drink in hand or  sitting around in one of the beautiful gardens eating tots.  It’s perfect.  I’d really love to spend the night sometimes, but I’ll happily settle for a round of golf.

2)      Do some kayaking:  I love kayaking.  Not whitewater, just slow paddling on calm waters.  We do a little of it at our family’s lake cabin, but I’d like to do a more exploring this summer.  Perhaps Smith & Bybee Lakes, or even take a tour around Ross Island.

3)      Put up a LOT of Salsa:  I’ve been doing some canning each summer.  Most of the time it’s jam,  as a way to process the huge influx of fruit that’s always coming my way.  But the last two years I’ve done salsas as well, and my husband and I can’t get enough. It is like bottling summer.  My salsa always ends up a little on the sweet side because the summer tomatoes are so good.  I use a recipe from Put Em’ Up by Sherri Brooks Vinton and this year I plan to make a double or triple recipe.

4)      Read The Goldfinch & Delancy:  When it comes to summer reading, I’m looking for page-turners, thrillers, suspense, mysteries and adventure stories.  I’m already half way through Delancy, the second book by blogger Molly Wizenberg, which is half memoir, half cookbook. It’s not a thriller by any means, but I’m really enjoying it.  After reading her blog for years, it’s like catching up with an old friend.   The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt it next.  It keeps showing up on book recommendations and it won the Pulitzer Prize, I hear it’s the type of book you can’t put down, exactly what I’m looking for…

5)      Pick and eat a LOT of fresh peaches:  This is on the docket for the end of August.  I can’t get enough of fresh peaches.  Last summer we ate an entire FLAT in just a couple days.  They are so juicy and sweet, get them while you can!  My favorite farm is Sauvie Island Farms, but you can find them all over Washington and Clackamas Counties also.

6)      Make my own soda:  This has been a goal for TWO summers, now it’s time to make it happen!  I have a great book called Homemade Rootbeer, Soda and Pop by Stephen Creswell that has all the recipes.  Since my husband brews a lot of beer I have all the supplies, time to make it happen.  I’m going to make at least 3 batches, Rootbeer, Cream Soda and Lemon Lime.  Although i eel like Ginger Ale might need to happen too.

7)      Bike the Hood River to Mosier Trail:  As I write this, my bike is being tuned up and I’m ready to hit the road. The Historic Columbia River Highway Trail is 12 (non-consecutive) miles of bike path through the gorge that’s closed to motor vehicles.  I’m looking forward to the 5-miles between Hood River and Mosier where you bike through two climate zones and a tunnel.

8)      Visit “The Art of the Louvre’s Tuileries Garden” exhibit at the Portland Art Museum:  I just got a membership for my birthday so I’m excited to start seeing more of the exhibits at PAM.  This one should be really fun for the summer.  I always daydream about visiting Paris again, so I’m hoping this will transport me there, if only for an afternoon.

9)       See a movie at Top Down: Rooftop Cinema:  Watch a classic movie under the stars on top of the parking garage at Hotel DeLux.  There are a few movies like Edward Scissorhands, Bottle Rocket and The King of Comedy, but I think I’d like to go to the opening night showing of Notorious by Alfred Hitchcock.

10)    Grow a flower garden:  I usually grow vegetables, but I need a change of pace this year…. so I’m filling my raised beds with zinnias of every color, blue statice, and cosmos. Hopefully by August I’ll be giving everyone I know bouquets.