Lemonade...

 It is hot.  I think we got to 96 degrees yesterday.   Unheard of for June.   Time to take the doors and top off of my Jeep (that will make it rain).  I also spend a lot time drinking lemonade on the porch.   

I bottled my Finnish Hard Lemonade tonight.  I was sure it was going to be atrocious, as it smelled like turpentine.  Turns out it isn't too bad.  I also have to admit my dandelion wine smells pretty good and seems to be progressing better than anticipated.   Early summer is lemonade season.  

I make homemade lemonade using the Anne of Green Gables recipe.  2 cups of fresh squeezed lemon, 2 cups of sugar, and 2 cups of water.  Boil the water and sugar while squeezing the lemons.   Then add 1 1/2 cups of the concentrate to about 6 cups of water.  Wonderful.  I will warn you it is addicting and pre-made lemonades will never have the same standing.  

The Finnish lemonade is a fermented mead.  4 cups of boiling water with 2 1/2 cups of honey dissolved.  4 lemons zest with pith thrown out and sliced thinly.    Add 1/2 tsp. yeast to 1/2 cup of water.  Then add 16 cups of water into the bucket with an airlock.  Let sit a week.  Put it in gallon jugs with raisins or dried cranberries.    Then I treated it like my wines and racked it every month for 3 months.  Added 2 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar boiled an voila.... hard lemonade.  I was skeptical, but now I will have to make another batch.  I just started a cherry rhubarb wine and have high hopes for it.  I am on my 72 batch of wine.  Pretty good for just a starter kit.  Almost every batch is made with home grown fruits.  The lemons are definitely and exception on that.

Blooms are at a lull right now.  mainly iris and columbine.  These aren't the best photos as I waited way too long to take them and the sun was already down.  I will do better next time I promise.

 I have been running occasionally in the mornings now, as it is cooler.  Anyone who really knows me knows that this is an amazing feat.  I am a lot of things in the morning, full of energy and enthusiasm is not one of them.  Ella, on the other hand, thinks it is AWESOME. 

That is all I know.  I hope everyone is slowing down and enjoying the summer.  I'm sure in a mere 3 months my running trail will again be a snowshoe trail.  I will just pour myself another glass of lemonade and sit on the porch while enjoying life.