“Water is the one substance from which the earth can conceal nothing; it sucks out the innermost secrets and brings them to our very lips.”

–Jean Giraudoux

Whatever you’re doing this July, you can pretty much count on it being hot. Some people love the heat, but I’m not one of them, so when I saw Sherri Brooks Vinton’s recipe for Cucumber Agua Fresca in her book Put ‘Em Up!, I thought “now that’s right up my alley.”  I could see this drink being a delicious addition to the standard barbecue/beach type activities, and it just sounds so cooling.

So make a pitcher and have it on hand, it’s certainly an interesting way to spice up the standard summer fare. And if you like a little extra “whoop-de-doo” (as my grandmother used to say) in your drink, use it as the base for a cucumber martini.

Cucumber Agua Fresca

4 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped
1 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
Juice of one lime

1. Set a fine-mesh sieve or colander lined with dampened cheesecloth over a bowl. Purée the cucumbers in a blender or food processor, working in batches as necessary and transferring the purée to the sieve or colander as you go. Let drain fully, 10 to 15 minutes, pressing on the pulp to release all of the juice. Compost the solids.
2. Pour the cucumber juice into a pitcher. Add the water, sugar, and lime juice and stir to dissolve the sugar. Serve over ice, adding a splash of seltzer to each glass if you like.

Cucumber Martini

3 ounces Cucumber Agua Fresca (above)
1 1/2 ounces vodka
Ice
Cucumber slice, for garnish

Combine the Cucumber Agua Fresca and vodka with the ice in a cocktail shaker and shake to chill. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with the cucumber slice. Makes one serving.

My cousins Alexandra and Connor, 10 and 6, have been huge fans of the game Bananagrams since they first learned to read. For years they’ve played the tile spelling game at school and at the kitchen table, so imagine their joy upon discovering that their favorite word game is now portable! Bananagrams for Kids is perfect for car rides, restaurants, waiting rooms…anywhere they can take their brains and a pencil.

And you can bet that I broke out my own copies of Bananagrams! and More Bananagrams! for the five-hour bus ride from New York to Boston through Friday afternoon’s holiday rush hour traffic. I kid you not, working the puzzles made the trip not only bearable, but FUN (and my seatmate jealous)! Sure, burgers are more typical Independence Day fare, but around here we’re always in the mood for bananas.

A couple of weeks ago, David Schiller, author of Guitars, and Workman’s new Publisher, Bob Miller, sat down for a late Friday afternoon jam session. On their play list: some Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Temptations…any requests? If only we had a sound clip to post from the Schiller-Miller sessions!

You might not be a huge fan of the summertime heat and humidity, and working in the garden under the blazing sun may not be your idea of fun. But as Stephanie Cohen and Jennifer Benner’s The Nonstop Garden points out, with a little planning and ingenuity, you can get a garden that blooms continuously throughout the season, allowing more time to sit back and enjoy and less time toiling in the backyard. So get going with these tips:

Knit combinations together with a theme: If you feel overwhelmed stepping into your local garden center, try going in with a plan. One of the easiest ways to stay on track is by choosing a color theme and sticking to it. Also because leaves last longer than flowers, choose a mix of foliage plants that match your motif.

Select a succession of perennial blooms: Because summer is a season loaded with flowers, it’s easy to have a non-stop flower display throughout the season. Pick strong performers that peak at different times throughout the summer to have an endless parade of blooms.

Have fun with see-through plants: Bed and borders do not always have shorter plants in the front with taller in the back. Taller plants that have an airy habit (such as tall verbena) can be placed closer to the front, yet still allow you to see the plants in the back. The effect can be dramatic and playful.

Give it up to summer-flowering shrubs: A fair share of shrubs give a good floral show in the summer. Try Virginia sweetspire, clethra, bigleaf hydrangea, or sun-loving butterfly bush.

Choose partners that “pop”: To create unforgettable combinations, choose plants that contrast in color as well as texture. A splash of deep burgundy or bright yellow foliage really helps to make neighbors stand out. Or the combination of small and large leaves and flowers provides extended interest.