Last day of August.

Sigh.

I found myself trailing behind several school buses on the way to work this morning, and I couldn't help but feel like fall has unlocked the door and started to set up shop.  By the looks of all the pears and apples in my tiny orchard, nature also has it in mind that autumn is around the corner.  The question is: what to do with all the fruit?  Some deer have been helping themselves (more power to 'em!), but I, too, need to take advantage of the bounty in my yard.  Jams, pies, cider - these all sound good.

The Northwest has plenty of edible treats to offer, and a new cookbook offers tasty, tempting recipes for anyone interested in regional cooking.  Northwest Essentials: Cooking with Ingredients That Define a Region's Cuisine is now available to check out from the library.  From chapter 1 (Apples and Pears!) to chapter 11 (hazelnuts), you'll find delicious options for seafood, herbs, wild mushrooms and more.  Bon appetit!   

I hear that we're supposed to reach the 90s tomorrow and Sunday - true summer weather at last!  Of course, I'm already anticipating hearing people complain about it being too hot.  I say, let's avoid the whole "it's too cold/too rainy/too hot" comments for once, and embrace the great opportunities Mother Nature provides for Northwest readers. 

Find a cool place in front of a fan, or under a shade tree, and read some summery novels while enjoying the weekend's warm temperatures.  No sweating required :o)

* Blackberry Summer - RaeAnne Thayne
* Firefly Summer - Maeve Binchy
* Honeysuckle Summer - Sherryl Woods
* The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott - Kelly O'Connor McNees
* My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park - Cindy S. Jones
* Shadows of a Down East Summer: An Antique Print Mystery - Lea Wait
* The Summer of the Bear - Bella Pollen

How about a do-over?

Is it just me, or do others feel like the whole world needs a reboot?  I find myself avoiding the news because I really don't want to hear about the latest country collapsing, or another freakish weather event destroying a town.  If 2012 is when the plug gets pulled, I'd say recent events are sure starting to back up that theory.

It's undeniable that the world is in need of some major repairs.  While there are many capable people out there who can fix some of our problems, I want everyone to be aware of those who can't.  A new book, There, I Fixed It: No, You Didn't, created by the folks at the Cheezburger Network, should be required reading for anyone who thinks he's handy but isn't.

The book is filled with real photographs of "repairs," and trust me when I say that these "fixes" will induce guffaws and/or slack-jawed disbelief.  You'll discover a wide spectrum of ineptitude in this literary gem, and once you see the creative albeit cockeyed uses of duct tape, glue, paper clips, and beer cans, you'll understand what a "kludge" is.

There's a web site too - www.thereifixedit.com.  When I saw a MacGyver'd drinking fountain positioned above a bathroom toilet in an effort to recycle water (Yeah. Ick.), I figured, well, at least this person isn't trying to fix the economy.  I hope.