99º in the shade

The valley is doing it's mid-June thing ~ hotting up. The pool is cool and refreshing and the house is cool, even without the AC. The overhangs are so deep that direct sun never comes in during the hot months. Plus the new tile floor keeps things cool. For even more hot weather comfort, I put together a wonderful salad for lunch. The Patient bought beets at the Farmers' Market so, with a nod to Pica, who tossed together a similar recipe, I used them thusly.
Ingredients: mixed greens (including radicchio), beets, Kalamata olives, tiny tomatoes, chopped red pepper, chopped celery, Feta cheese, vinaigrette dressing, sprinkling of fresh oregano, a bit of crusty bread. In the end it all turns a delicious pink color. Welcome summer!

We have found our digs in Florence for the fall trip. I used VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner. This is a great site; listings for apartments all over the world.

New read: The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Finished The Alteration . Another instance when you know you're in the hands of a maestro.