Thoughts on a calm spring evening

The wireless signal is pretty strong out here. Boy is lying on the deck, looking up at the sky, asking me, "HEY! What's that planet?" I'm sitting in one of the comfy deck chairs. There's a headache inducing scent in the air, either someone's laundry or nightblooming flowers. Heady, slightly dusty and wispy.

explodingcat: Yeah, you see, the Japanese beetles boost the wireless signal.

We can hear traffic on Cherry and JPA and West Main. Trains. The occasional plane or helicopter. Dogs barking. Crickets. Peepers. Wind in the trees. A few confused birds who aren't asleep yet. It's really nice.

I think I'll get some exterior command adhesive hooks and put them up for a string of lights. The tiki god lights should be perfect for evenings like this.

explodingcat: If I were the gaming type, I'd have wireless LAN parties on the deck at night.

I think we should start having supper out here. It's really lovely.

The trees are huge. I can see some stars through their leaves and branches.

There are small metal tiki torches clamped to the railing. I should buy oil and wicks for them.

(no subject)

for mactavish:

Wildflower once thought extinct found . . . Mount Diablo buckwheat.

It's nifty looking.

Sweet tea

I've been making sweet tea with Republic of Tea varieties lately. The Daily Green Pinapple Ginger Tea and Ginger Peach both make a good iced beverage.

Put four teabags in a large bowl/jar. Add three cups boiling water and a quarter cup of sugar (if you want sweet tea, use a half cup of sugar or 1/4 cup splenda).

Let steep five minutes (four for green tea). Remove tea bags and pour the tea over ice to make two quarts. Or just add cold water to two quarts and serve the tea over ice.

I think both teas could be improved by the addition of extra ginger, of course. And the pineapple ginger might even be amenable to amaretto. I might try that in my next glass.