Monthly Musings in May: Getting Ready for Summer
It's the last Thursday of the month and time for Monthly Musings with Patty and Holly!
1. This summer I am looking forward to soaking up the sunny days, doing lots of reading, eating ice cream, going on a few day trips and helping Alec shop for his dorm/first year at college.
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| The "Judy" from Bucks soft serve- it's vanilla with raspberry and chocolate syrup and little bits of cheesecake! |
2. We don't have many summer traditions remaining! It sounds like we may not even have our annual 4th of July party at the lake this year (or if we do it will be really, really small!). We have no summer vacation this year either since Ian is taking a college course and both older boys want to work extra (and we planned a really BIG trip for December!).
3. I love seafood! But I rarely make it at home..
If I'm cooking I like something loaded with garden/farm fresh veggies like pasta primavera or this summer squash lasagna.
We like to gill A LOT! So I make a lot of fruit salads, tossed salads or tropical broccoli salad to go with the meats.
Speaking of grilled meat my favorite is pineapple teriyaki chicken.
We often grill up some cheesy grilled potatoes
Or make pizza on the grill.
4. I already answered this above; we have no travel plans this summer.
5. I really don't like either one but if I had to I'd pick potato salad. However, just because I don't like them doesn't mean I don't make them. I actually have a few recipes of each that seem to be big hits with my husband and oldest son.
I have a WW friendly lemon apple coleslaw that was pretty good:
6. I love most frozen treats with the exceptions of a few flavors-- nothing banana or cherry. But I would have hard time narrowing down my favorite ice cream choices I can't usually pass up anything that mixes raspberry & chocolate, or chocolate and peanut butter, or caramel and vanilla. I love lots of crunchy bits and things in my ice cream so my newest flavor for a local place we have is called cookie jar. It's vanilla ice cream base with Oreo, M&M, peanut butter cups, & chocolate chips.
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| cookie jar |
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| Maine black bear; vanilla with raspberry swirls and little raspberry filled chocolate cups |
8. I live on a lake, we hike mountains all the time, and yet I love a good beach so give me anyone of those and I'm happy!
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| Our back"yard" |
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| Hiking mount Wachusett |
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| Beach in Grand Cayman |
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| Beach in Roatan |
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| My back deck |
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| Hiking in Shenandoah National Park |
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| Acadia has it best with all 3 in one! Mts, beach, and lakes! |
9. The best way to beat the heat in the summer is to go swimming or hang out indoors in the air conditioning!
10. I rarely use sunscreen so I don't really have a favorite but I do like the smell of Bare Republic vanilla-cocoa.
Linking up with: Thinking Out Loud, Final Fridays,
I will check out your recipes- they look so good. I am with you on the ice cream- give me chunks o´ good things! The cookie jar sounds like my jam! Acadia sounds so lovely- I can see why enjoy visiting there.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGosh your recipes all sound amazing! Your ice cream does too! No big plans here this summer either- hope the weather cooperates- aiming to get outside as much as possible! Hope it is a wonderful one for all of you :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteNow I'm craving some ice cream! I'm hoping this summer isn't unbearably hot. I wouldn't mind skipping right to fall...
ReplyDeleteOh I definitely don't want to skip right to fall! I can't remember the last really hot summer we've had. Lately they've all been a bit cool and rainy.
DeleteYou should use sunscreen! lol.
ReplyDeleteI rarely go out in the sun and tend to stick to the shade so I don't have to wear it but I burn easily so if I'm going to be in the sun I have to have it on.. but I don't use it often so I tend to just grab whatever bottle is around.
DeleteYay for sweet tea! I love a broccoli salad, and this variety you mentioned sounds delicious. It will be a busy summer for your crew!
ReplyDeleteIt is sounding like it's going to be a busy summer.
DeleteI liked your choices and could happily choose them myself for a good summer! I've actually been to Grand Cayman years ago. That's awesome. Aloha
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWow Joanne, you have such a gorgeous view of the lake. You and your family must love the summer and spending time swimming in the lake. All of your recipes are great for the summer. I hope you have a wonderful summer!
ReplyDeleteFunny enough I don't think any of us has swam in the lake in the years; but growing up I'm pretty sure my boys spent every day all day out there.
DeleteThat's funny. I just told Gerben that I want a cook book for salads as we grill A LOT too in summer🤣
ReplyDeleteThat might be why I like summer so much! Those salads last a few days and so it's much less prep work on my end.
DeleteI love broccoli salad. My brother-in-law cooks pizza on the grill all the time but he uses a pizza stone right on the grill. Some of his combinations are very interesting - pepperoni and pine nuts, pesto with sliced potatoes. I can't wait to hear about your big plans for December.
ReplyDeleteOh I've shared a few times that we're heading to Hawaii for a full 10 days over the boys' Christmas breaks.
DeleteWow, the ice cream pictures make me want to go grab a cone tonight. They have just opened 2 ice cream shops within 5 minutes of our house...dangerous!
ReplyDeleteOh that is dangerous! Our nearest one is at least a good 20 minute drive so it's close but not too close.
DeleteThat ice cream looks divine. There's something I haven't had in ages.
ReplyDeleteXOOX
Jodie
I never used to enjoy it as much as I do now; even though I'm pretty sure I should be eating diary most of the time ice cream is just one treat I can't seem to give up completely.... especially in summer!
DeleteI love a chocolate raspberry combo too and that's always my birthday cake flavors. I don't eat a lot of ice cream but my hubs loves it. We don't typically take a big summer vacation since we love to be on the lake this time of year. Hawaii in December will be fabulous!
ReplyDeleteUp until my middle son started high school we never vacationed in the summer either; as homeschoolers we preferred to travel in the off season when it was less busy and found that Sept./ Oct. was a great time to visit most places! Plus living on the lake we always had plenty of summer fun without having to go anywhere.
DeleteI would have to go with the cookie jar ice cream...it just needs cookie dough in it! I really had no idea how close you were to the lake! Now, I'm wondering what your trip is in December!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Oh no, no dough in my ice cream please. LOL. We're headed to Hawaii in December. We promised the boys we take them for a long trip there once Alec started college.
DeleteAll of those ice cream treats look so good! Kinda makes me wanna go to DQ
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have only been to a DQ once or twice in my life.
DeleteAll of those ice cream cones look so good! I love pizza on the grill! Can't wait to hear where you're headed in December!
ReplyDeleteJill - Doused in Pink
Thank you!
DeleteJoanne,
ReplyDeleteThat loaded baked potato salad recipe looks so good. I may just have to try that one!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! I hope you have a great weekend!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
I bet your boys would love it; I find anything with bacon is usually a huge hit with the guys.
DeleteVery tempting recipes, the ice creams look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYou always eat the best ice cream flavors!!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks!
DeleteJoanne, those ice cream pictures look delicious! I'm going to head out and get some for myself. I also enjoyed reading your monthly musings. ☺️
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI rarely use sunscreen either, I just avoid the sun by working in the shade or I cover up. I do put it on my chest though since that got sun damaged many years ago while in a pool in Florida.
ReplyDeleteYes me too! I try really hard to avoid direct sunlight.
DeleteI always love your lake photos in the summer. I am with you on a chocolate raspberry combo. Thanks for joining us this month!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYou always have such great summer fun! Good luck prepping Alec for college!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYUM!!! That Maine Black Bear ice cream looks so delicious! I love a raspberry/chocolate combo, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOne thing I love about going on vacation is having seafood (that I don't have to cook!) Your potato recipes look delish...all the ice cream too!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI'm the same way with ice cream, I like something crunchy or chewy in it! I also do not like banana or cherry. And I will have to check out that sunscreen. I don't like wearing sunscreen and typically just avoid going out in direct sun but I do try to get out when I can for a walk. The UV index here gets high early in the day so I try to make sure to use sunscreen if I am going to be out for any length of time. Coconut vanilla sounds like a nice scent!
ReplyDeleteI try to avoid the sun whenever I can too just so I don't have to wear sunscreen.
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