Hot, hot, hot
by Kelli Bowen
When the mercury rises, we want to add as little heat to the house as possible, so we’re hanging clothes on the clothesline to dry and eating things that don’t require an oven.
There is something about hanging clothes on the line that just makes me feel like Ma Ingalls for a moment. Everything slows down. I listen to birds, feel the sun on my face, and smell the fresh laundry. I do the delicate dance of pulling dry clothes off and pop new clothing on, working the clothespins with one hand and trying not to drop anything, but if I do, a quick shake, and no one is the wiser.
There is nothing like the smell of fresh towels or bedding from the line. On the windy days, we just say “the dryer is on high.”
Today, the thermometer hanging on our tree outside hit triple digits, so no oven or stove. Also, no one wanted to stand in front of the grill when it’s this hot.
We do enjoy a sandwich now and again. Turkey is the most popular in our house, but some summer sausage from the local meat locker is a close second.
One of our favorite sandwiches was in a lunch spot that no longer exists, called the Wild Bird. On a hot day, this sandwich is a little bit of fantastic, so after channeling my inner pioneer woman, lining up towels on the line, I’ll make sandwiches.
Wild Bird: turkey, provolone, lettuce, cucumber slices, sprouts, sunflower nuts, and some mayo with dill weed mixed in. Put this all on a croissant or fresh bun, and voila! Summer sandwich perfection.
There will be plenty of time to use dryers, grills, and ovens, but not this week!
Kelli, a North Dakota girl through and through, has made her home from the eastern prairies to the western badlands with her supportive Hubby, two daughters, and ever-growing menagerie accompanying her along the way.