Weekend Recap

It was blazing HOT this past weekend in DC which is to be expected in late July, but it seems like I never get used to it. This is the part of summer that I don't like - when I start to "glisten" every time that I walk out of my front door, when my swim in a sizeable swimming pool isn't very refreshing because the outside temp has heated the water to a nice tepid 80 degrees, when my glasses fog every time I exit my car because of the difference in temp between the air-conditioned interior and outside, etc., etc., etc. You would think that this weather would actually make me feel all happy and nostalgic since I grew up in Memphis where summers are generally unbearable, but I didn't really enjoy summer weather growing up in the South either. I love all of the things that come with summer - sundresses, the beach, sangria - just not the sweltering heat and humidity :)

On Friday night, I celebrated my friend, KJB's, birthday with our other friend, LRC, at the Cheesecake Factory. I always forget how much I like cheesecake until I go to the Cheesecake Factory again :) We were seated on the patio which is probably why I forgot to take any pictures since I was so boiling hot, but we had a lot of fun eating and chatting! I always love a girls night out with two of my favorite girls :)

On Saturday I visited a new produce stand in our area. It's called Gorman Produce Farm, and it's attached to a small family farm.

(image from Gorman Produce Farm)

I was a little surprised at how crowded the stand was (parking was scarce!), but it was really fun to look at all of the fruits and veggies on offer. I left with some peaches and a jar of local honey, and I think I'll return this weekend for some tomatoes and probably some more peaches. It was in such a pretty area too; I loved driving through some green countryside on the way there :) After running some errands, I returned home, and Peter and I went for a swim (in a pool that felt more like a hot tub!). I made Skillet Pork Chop Saute with Peaches from Cooking Light for dinner, and it was yummy! As was the Sangria Blanco from Southern Living that I also made to go with dinner :)

(image from Cooking Light)

On Saturday night, we watched Country Strong with Gwyneth Paltrow.

(image from IMDB)

Ugh!!! I had high expectations for this movie since I usually love Gwyneth and the previews looked really good (and I really like country music!), but this movie just fell flat. It could have been good; the acting was decent and the juxtaposition of the young couple just starting out on the country music scene and the older couple who were country music vets was interesting. The plot was confusing and unbelievable, though, and the ending was awful. Disappointing to say the least :(

Sunday was just a relaxing day at home after church. Nothing particuarly exciting, but we did get really involved in watching a nature program on a couple of orphaned cheetah cubs in Africa (Peter and I love our nature programs!) and we made some oh-so-delicious peach milkshakes for dessert. If you have never blended fresh peaches with vanilla ice cream, you need to do so ASAP. One of my favorite summer treats :)