Our kitchen windows are marvelous. They look out over the back of our property (which is actually our entire property since the house sits at the front of the property) to the mountain ridge behind us. They also face west, so they let in a ton of light which is a good thing, but towards evening the light can get brutal, and that is not a good thing. Especially in the summer, the heat pours in and makes supper prep and clean-up a literal headache.

Before we even moved into this house, we could foresee this problem. I wanted to buy some blinds for the windows, but Mr. Handsome didn’t want just any old cheap blinds, and the nicer ones were really expensive. Plus, our windows were odd shapes and we would have to have them cut to size which was just one more task that we didn’t feel like doing. So, logically, we didn’t do anything. We’ve been suffering for nearly three years now.

However! I married an ingenious man. When I can’t stand the heat anymore, I just holler his name, and he comes running to hang up his Curtain Creation.

Our make-shift (cheap!) blinds add a certain ambiance, no?

Now that summer’s here, we’ve gotten into the habit of shipping our kids off to relatives’ houses. They take turns, all but The Baby Nickel, going to Grandaddy and Grandmommy’s house, and now they are taking turns staying with my Balding Bro and his Gentle Wife. Here is Sweetsie, heading off to their house for two whole nights all by herself, as pleased as punch with her lot in life.

I almost always have an afternoon cup of coffee. It’s an important part of my day and crucial to my well-being. I get the kids down for their post-lunch rest time, and then I hurry to the kitchen to fix myself a pick-me-upper. But on days like today, when it’s sticky hot, I can’t bear to drink hot coffee, so I make a coffee shake instead. I made an extra big one this afternoon so that Mr. Handsome and I could each have a glass.

Coffee Shake
Adapted from the Frozen Coffee Smoothie recipe from Postmodern Feeding
1/2 cup espresso, or very strong coffee
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
10-12 ice cubes (or however many it takes to make a thick shake)

Whirl it all together in the blender and serve in a tall glass, with a straw to drink it with. Serves two (unless you’re being a Little Piggy).

Variations
*Add some chocolate or caramel syrup.
*Spike it with peppermint schnapps or some coffee liqueur.
*Top with whipped cream and/or grated chocolate.