MJ's Moderation

City of the Big Shoulders

We drove down to Chicago last weekend to see our son, Seth. He won a trip through his work (top regional sales!) and flew in from Phoenix for a 4-day visit. Saturday afternoon was the only free time he had and the weather was ideal: blue skies, sunny and warm, but not too humid.  And talk about people!  The streets were teeming with them, walking, skating, biking, site-seeing, and shopping.  We stopped at a great little restaurant called the "Gage" - right across from Grant Park on Michigan Ave. and had a delightful lunch together.  We sat near the front windows with a super vantage point for people-watching! Afterward, we wandered past the Art Institute of Chicago (our favorite), through the park, and enjoyed browsing an art show on the green. Next was a stroll down to Lake Michigan to watch the sailboats, and then back again through Millennium Park.  All around us the skyline was such an interesting backdrop. I love the architecture in this city.

A perfect day - but much too short, as then we had to say our good-byes and be on our way.  We'll see Seth again in October when he flies back home to Milwaukee for a GB Packers game.  We'll be back down to Chicago, that toddlin' town, any other time the opportunity presents itself.

Pear Tomato and Basil Salad

This savory side salad is a household favorite near the end of the gardening season, when all the required ingredients are plentiful.  We grow the ruffled opal basil, but regular purple basil will work just fine.  Both have a bright, mild anise-like flavor, which complements the sweetness of the tomatoes. The contrast of bright gold and deep purple is so pretty!

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh yellow pear tomatoes, cut in half
2 large stalks of celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup julienned fresh opal (purple) basil leaves
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper (or to taste)
1/4 cup of prepared balsamic vinaigrette- we use Ken's or Newman's Own.

Combine above ingredients in a medium bowl and toss well.  Store covered in the refrigerator for at least two hours to chill and allow ingredients to "marry."  Serve over a bed of mixed butter lettuce and red-oak leaf lettuce. Delish!

Any leftovers store well in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Sunflowers!

A series of sunflowers from our garden.  We usually grow a row of tall multi-color sunflowers as a back-drop to our vegetable garden. While this summer's torrential rains and hot, humid weather seemed to stifle most of our tomatoes and peppers, the sunflowers thrived.  To all things there is a season...

Fountain

While visiting Salt Lake City back in May for the Rugby National Tournament, we also toured the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Temple Square. I thought it was interesting the way the fountain mimicked the temple spires in the background.

The Power of the Pyramids

The Mormon/Latter Day Saints (LDS) Conference Center, located to the north of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, was completed in April of 2000. The auditorium in the Conference Center seats 21,000. The building is constructed of granite from the same quarry which provided the granite for the Temple. A semi-annual world general conference is held at the headquarters of the LDS Church at Temple Square and includes music by the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the auditorium. 

The builders decided that the roof should not be wasted space, and so designed a rooftop garden with pathways that meander throughout trees, native flowers, and other plantings. A guided tour of the center offers an elevator ride to the roof where you'll have a great view of the city and the mountains beyond.  The pyramid shapes are actually atrium windows channeling natural light into the building below.

Taste of Lake Country

This is what waiting for summer in Wisconsin is all about. "Taste of Lake Country" is an annual beach party of sorts held at the Pewaukee Lakefront at the end of July.  Booths include a variety of tastings from local restaurants, and wares from local shops and artists. The sound stage had several musical acts ending with "King Solomon," a favorite local reggae band.  After a rainy, muggy day, the sun finally showed up around 6 p.m. and made for a lovely evening.