Oasis

The outdoor shower adds a new, sensual experience to the cabin. During our summer of extreme drought in West Virginia, this was the only water flowing. Showering at night by candlelight was one of the highlights of my summer!

Special thanks to Bill Sawicki for designing the drainage system, Rodney Wilson of 1st Rate Plumbing (304-822-5782) for an innovative plumbing solution, and Del Construction (304-822-4222) for bringing my idea to life.

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Summer in a Bowl

In these last few days of summer, I'd like to share my gazpacho recipe using the abundance of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. This easy soup captures the feeling of summer, and the memories of eating it while watching the sun set from the deck of the cabin.

Gazpacho

1/8 red onion

1 clove garlic

3 medium, ripe tomatoes

1 red pepper, seeded

1 cucumber, peeled and seeded

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

For garnish: thinly sliced avocado or julienned basil

In food processor, mince onion and garlic. Then add all other ingredients (except avocado or basil), and puree until smooth. For added texture, reserve a small amount of tomatoes, pepper, and cucumber, dice by hand, then stir into the pureed soup. Chill mixture a couple hours. Garish with avocado or basil.

Serves two