More of my mixed-media project.

I went to the little nursery on Lincoln last week. The heat was pretty devastating to the guy's flowers, so he just gave me whatever I wanted for a dollar each, since he was going to get all new ones anyway. So I went a little nuts and picked up a miniature rose and what I think might be either a chrysanthemum or a marigold. Or are marigolds chrysanthemums? Anyone know? No label, and I forgot to ask. Also in the pipeline are some lovely daisies, a coneflower and an orchid. I just have to get this design project out of the way first.

What summer break?

A recipe for a gallon of sangria that will disappear nearly instantly:

2 bottles Spanish wine (sangre de toro is good)
2 really mongo navel oranges
1 lemon
1 lime
1 apple (or two if they're small)
1 nectarine (optional)
1/3-1/2 cup sugar (to taste)
1/2 cup cointreau
2-3 cups orange juice (to taste)

Slice the oranges, lemons and limes into thin rounds, removing the seeds, and slice the apples and the nectarine into thin wedges. Put them in a bowl and add the cointreau. You can let it sit for an hour, or if impatient just immediately add the sugar and orange juice. Then add the wine. Ideally let it all sit in the fridge for a few hours before drinking, but a half hour will do if alcoholic housemates are involved.

Serve in a red plastic cup that you got at the 99 cent store, preferably on ice, remove the fruit if your boyfriend's a freak and has nightmares involving oranges with teeth. Drink outdoors, at night, preferably when the ambient temperature is above 82°. Will make Altadena seem like paradise. Momentarily.