There is not much better...

Than enjoying fresh home-grown vegetables from your garden grilled to perfection and warm homemade bread from your brand new bread machine topped with fresh homemade pesto! YUM!

Dave gave in to my puppy dog eyes last night and let me open my birthday present early - a bread machine! He's the best. He always gets me exactly what I want. Thankfully Elliott had researched them several months ago so he could get Melissa one for HER birthday. So now Melissa and I have matching bread machines. I cranked it up today for the first time. We are vowing to only eat healthy, high-fiber bread so the first loaf was made with whole wheat and spelt flour with flax seed, yogurt, olive oil and pesto. It turned out pretty good, but the crust was a bit thick and hard. So now I'm working on the second trial loaf with a few minor adjustments and using a different setting on the machine. Exciting times! I'm working on some loaves to take to the beach next weekend.

The garden is flourishing even though I'm having to water almost daily because of the severe draught. Birds have been pecking at the tomatoes and squash so we're having to set out some flashy objects to try to keep them away. Dave made a neat pinwheel out of pie plate. I've also hung CD's and pie plates. I think I may still have to pick up some scare items like rubber snakes, fake owls, etc. Like Sandra said, though, it's so dry that the birds are looking for water anywhere so I'm going to the bird bath filled with fresh water as well.

I clipped some basil last night and whipped up some pesto. It was so delicious! I can't wait to make more. I think I'm going to have to plant basil everywhere so I can always have fresh pesto. The tomatoes will be turning red soon and I can't wait! Then I can have a tomato sandwich on homemade bread with fresh pesto - Oh my goodness!