Hard to believe July is already here, bringing with it the full heat of summer. The garden is in full swing, rewarding our efforts with a steady bounty of cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, squash and spinach. We just harvested our first red potatoes and were thrilled with how many we pulled from the soil. The onions and garlic came up strong too—small victories that feel especially satisfying.

Since we do most of our cooking at home, it’s been such a joy to grow some of our own food, and we love to host the occasional brunch. We’ve had salad after salad, and nearly everything we make has a touch of basil—whether it’s Thai stir-fries or pesto on sourdough pizza crust made from scratch.

Ramon has gotten into baking his own sourdough bread, and one of Jon’s guilty pleasures is baking, especially anything with coconut or chocolate. His favorite thing to make? A decadent peanut butter pie. This year we even had enough blueberries for a blueberry cobbler, and lots and lots of blackberries. We can hardly wait for the figs to ripen.

Of course, not everything thrived. Some crops didn’t do as well as we’d hoped, but that’s all part of the gardening journey. Each season teaches us something new, and we carry those lessons into the next planting with more hope and a little more wisdom.

Coconut layer cake with pineapple filling with some blackberries on top, just because

Coconut Banana pudding with chocolate ganache and almond cookies

Decadent peanut butter pie topped with pepitas for added crunch

This year, we may have gone a bit overboard with flowers—but if there’s one thing we both love, it’s blooms in abundance. We even made a trip to the Crosby Arboretum in Picayune, Mississippi for their annual native perennial and pollinator plant sale. Flowers not only feed the bees and butterflies, they feed the soul—and they fill our home and garden with color and life. The cannas have gone crazy this year, crowding out most of the flowers we planted in front of them—some have even reached the roofline! The passionfruit vine has covered nearly an entire window, and the climbing roses are now trailing over the deck roof. Jon finds endless inspiration in all of it; these exuberant blooms often become subjects in his paintings.

We just released a new print called “The Tide is High,” which draws inspiration from our life here in Mississippi. The central figure rides a sort of surfboard, magnolia blossoms in her hair—blossoms gathered from our own tree and used as props in the studio. It’s a little piece of our world translated into art.

We also had the pleasure of visiting our friend Stephanie’s newly remodeled home during her open house celebration. Her space is a stunning tribute to retro 1950s style—playful, colorful, and full of personality. It’s a groovy and elevated homage to another era, with cool hues, bold patterns, and fun nods to mid-century design throughout. One of our favorite spots was the dining area, where whimsical baroque wallpaper featuring dodo birds and florals adds a burst of charm. The glass dining table is paired with clear ghost chairs and sits near a sleek built-in bar—truly a showpiece. Stephanie served champagne and a refreshing lemon cake, made from her grandfather’s recipe, which perfectly captured the summer vibe. It was such a joy to reconnect with familiar faces and share a few laughs.

Dodo Bird wallpaper, Photo courtesy Chad at Mcephotography

Bright and airy kitchen, photo courtesy Chad at Mcephotography

As always, there are more projects on our list than hours in the day. But we find joy in the rhythm of it all—it keeps us moving, dreaming, and grateful. Lady, our sweet and stubborn pup, turned six this past May. We kept it simple this year and celebrated with her favorite cupcakes: hamburger topped with whipped mashed potatoes. She was thrilled.

I keep thinking I’ll sneak away to the hammock with a book, but either the to-do list calls, or the humidity wins. Still, even in the heat, there’s so much to be thankful for. Wishing you all a season full of blooms, good harvests, and small, sweet moments.

Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

Rooted and Blooming: Cultivating Life and Art in Mississippi