Oh quelle dommage! It's so very tragic to have the realization that it is mid-August and summer is almost over. I've had a secret desire for years to live off the land, and was able to spend the past month and a half doing just that. Lauren and I took over a tiny plot of land behind my apartment and planted tomatoes, lettuce, basil, chives, cilantro, oregano, peppers, carrots, beets and cucumbers. Other than the cucumbers and squash, everything has come up in great abundance. And I'm sorry to say that my lettuce and tomatoes are now almost done for the season. Now that I'm so spoiled I don't really want to have to go back to buying fresh veggies from the store. It's been a yummy season of caprese salads, fresh salsa, amazing pasta sauce and vegetable soups. Oh, and my next door neighbor has a fig tree that overlaps our fence, that has been exploding with fruit. This morning I toasted figs stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in prosciutto. I promise you, I never eat such decadent things during the off season. Perhaps tomorrow I will make a fig and gorgonzola pizza...with red onions and a drizzle of honey. (It's hard to tell that I've already had dinner and am actually not hungry.)
Summer, why oh why must you end?
PS. The downfall to having a garden is that I've never been so close to so many critters. It's not uncommon to pick a bunch of lettuce or basil and then find caterpillar or worm cocoons on the underside. Its a bit of an unpleasant surprise, like finding gum on the bottom of your shoe. But I guess it's all part of the adventure.
