Overcast gave way to sun and then dramatic clouds. Thunder rumbled from the direction of the mountains late afternoon. This evening it is a wonderful 70 F. There was a breeze, but now it is ominously still.
The Road Home Series on Flickr
Coffee brewing has become slightly less automatic here at From the front porch.
Above, ye olde coffee maker. A bit hard to tell from the photo, but it was LARGE. It is a Capresso Grind and Brew and unlike other Grind and Brew machines, the grinder (a burr grinder) was to the side. The filter basket swings over under the grinder and when the grinding is finished it swings back and brewing commences. I had 2 of these – one in the house and one in the motorhome. I’ve had one for nearly 10 years and the other for 6 or 7 so despite the fact that they are expensive compared to the regular coffee maker, their life span has been excellent. Both, however, decided to kick the bucket nearly in tandem this summer.
I had already regressed from using the grinder much so started looking for something simpler and smaller. I love my coffee and I love it hot, strong and black. I will spare you all the dithering and almost ordering I did before I bought the Chemex.
No parts to break or clog and cleaning is a breeze!
The brewing process is a bit more involved than pushing a button, but the up-up-upside is that there is no plastic and no plastic taste coming through and the resulting cup of coffee is wonderful! I’ve been moving from plastic use – using mason jars or pyrex instead of tupperware type containers – and I like it. I can’t and won’t debate the health benefits but things taste better and glass is easier to clean.
From the pot, the coffee goes into the airpot thermos where it stays hot all day long and I can sip away at what tastes like a fresh cup each time. It is early days and the brewing shenanigans are fun at the moment. We’ll see how it goes long term. But for now, I’m happy with the brewing change!
Karl is looking a bit down as changes have been brewing with the weather. He wasn’t all that happy with the heat of the last several days, but last night we had thunder – loud, right overhead kind of thunder. This morning it is overcast. He doesn’t trust overcast after a night of thunder.
It is supposed to get very cool (60’s F) and rainy and then stay at “seasonal norms” (mid to upper 70’s). Changes are brewing…
I never tire of watching the sunlight through the trees. Today, it was the way it turned the mossy branches golden red.
It was an ordinary weekend. Groceries were bought, Karl and I walked, the grass was cut…
A nap was taken, an art show visited…
Karl swam in Echo Lake.
I sat in the cool of my sunroom in the heat of a Sunday afternoon.
It was an ordinary weekend.
Last year at this time there were 2 hens with 12 chicks between them and by Fall just 2 chicks at the nearly grown stage. Both Bob and Karl were inside when this group walked down the driveway. I confess to not being that fond of the turkeys. The males are beautiful when “strutting their stuff” – peacock-like with red, black and white plumage – but they are all loud and messy. Karl chases them off. I am not sure why they persist in coming so close to the house.
Yesterday’s overcast start cleared through the day and by evening the air was dry. Last evening was more than pleasant at 72F with a soft breeze in the trees. The night cooled into the upper 40’s – good sleeping! – and this morning is a perfect Montana summer morning. It is good that I went out yesterday as on a day like today my favorite thing is to linger over a cup of coffee on the front porch or my chair in the shade.
The smell of the clear, sweet air, the feel of the breeze as well as the sound of birds, squirrels and wind in the pines … Piney morning.