La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
DESSERT AND DESERT ARE WORDS that can be confusing, even more so when English is not your first language. I remember hearing somewhere when I was young that dessert is spelled with two “esses” because you want more of it. This is primarily a lesson for my Spanish friends (some have actually asked me), but also for my English-speaking friends who can’t spell.
We have two desert roses (adenium obesum) on our terrace. We had ignored them for years and they never bloomed nor did they leaf out very much. This year, I moved them off the floor and onto a table where they get much more sun and heat (which they like). The few leaves they had were curled and unhappy looking. It turns out that was caused by a lack of nutrients. San Geraldo fed them and they’ve been much happier this year. They had buds in the spring, but we timed the feeding incorrectly and the buds dropped before fully opening. However, one has budded again. Here’s hoping I’ll have something dramatic to share in the coming days.
The hibiscus on the terrace are again covered with buds (and probably some bugs). We’re having the glass curtain washed this afternoon (in about a half hour) and the three air-conditioning units cleaned and serviced tomorrow.
I spent about an hour and a half on the beach yesterday afternoon. It was warm and too humid (again today), but the water was delightful. There’s a deep drop off into the surf along most of our beach. Many people find it challenging to climb back out after a swim. (There have actually been visitors who have suffered heart attacks while trying.) My sciatica caused me to wince and make loud, embarrassing moans when I sat down on my towel and then when I got up again, and I realized I wouldn’t be able to get out of the water without a lot of pain (and noise). So I simply waded for a while. It was refreshing, but not quite enough. So, it will be the pool for me when I want to cool off. I’m waiting for an appointment with another doctor. This has gotten old (and I’m not getting any younger).
As for dessert, we (mostly I) finished off San Geraldo’s Beacon Hill Brownies yesterday morning (yes, with breakfast). San Geraldo baked a German-style apple cake (click here) yesterday afternoon, which seems more appropriate as a breakfast addition (and lunch and dinner). He’s definitely a keeper.
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DESSERT (POSTRE) Y DESERT (DESIERTO) son palabras que pueden ser confusas, más aún cuando el inglés no es su lengua materna. Recuerdo haber escuchado en algún lugar cuando era joven que el dessert (postre) se deletrea con dos “esses” porque quieres más. Esta es principalmente una lección para mis amigos españoles (algunos realmente me han preguntado), pero también para mis amigos de habla inglesa que no saben deletrear.
Tenemos dos rosas del desierto (adenium obesum) en nuestra terraza. Los habíamos ignorado durante años y nunca florecieron ni se desmayaron demasiado. Este año, los moví del piso a una mesa donde reciben mucho más sol y calor (que les gusta). Las pocas hojas que tenían eran rizadas y de aspecto infeliz. Resulta que fue causado por la falta de nutrientes. San Geraldo los alimentó y han sido mucho más felices este año. Tenían brotes en la primavera, pero cronometramos la alimentación incorrectamente y los brotes cayeron antes de abrirse por completo. Sin embargo, uno ha vuelto a brotar. Espero tener algo dramático para compartir en los próximos días.
Los hibiscos en la terraza están nuevamente cubiertos de brotes (y probablemente algunos bichos). Estaremos lavando la cortina de vidrio esta tarde (en aproximadamente media hora) y las tres unidades de aire acondicionado se limpiarán y recibirán servicio mañana.
Pasé aproximadamente una hora y media en la playa ayer por la tarde. Hacía calor y demasiado húmedo (de nuevo hoy), pero el agua era deliciosa. Hay una caída profunda en las olas a lo largo de la mayor parte de nuestra playa. A muchas personas les resulta difícil volver a salir después de nadar. (En realidad, hubo visitantes que sufrieron ataques cardíacos mientras lo intentaban). Mi ciática me hizo hacer una mueca y emitir gemidos fuertes y vergonzosos cuando me senté en la toalla y luego cuando me levanté de nuevo, y me di cuenta de que no estaría capaz de salir del agua sin mucho dolor (y ruido). Así que simplemente vadeé por un momento. Fue refrescante, pero no lo suficiente. Entonces, será la piscina para mí cuando quiera refrescarme. Estoy esperando una cita con otro médico. Esto ha envejecido (y no me estoy volviendo más joven).
En cuanto al dessert (postre), nosotros (principalmente yo) terminamos los Beacon Hill Brownies de San Geraldo ayer por la mañana (sí, con el desayuno). San Geraldo horneó una tarta de manzana (haz clic aquí) ayer por la tarde, que parece más apropiada como un complemento para el desayuno (y almuerzo y cena). Creo que lo mantendré.
Dessert….as in Strawberry Shortcake
Judy:
Never one of my favorites. Dessert as in chocolate chocolate cake or homemade ice cream or tiramisu or apple cake or …
When I taught elementary school, I would always tell my students that there were two s’s in dessert because you wanted more of them. It seemed to work. The apple cake looks delicious. As always, I love your photos!
mcpersonalspace54:
And the principal of the school is not spelled the same as “principle” because the principal is your “pal.”
I used that one too!
Do not dessert the desert rose and definitely do not dessert dessert! A pool sounds delightful right now.
Wilma:
I have to time my pool visits to the last hour of siesta. Usually very quiet. Otherwise … lots of screaming, splashing kids this time of year (and when I say “lots” I mean 3 or 4 most days… although I counted 7 yesterday evening).
A lot of people mix up the spelling of dessert and desert. I’ve never heard the “you want more of it” trick, but that’s pretty clever!
I’ve never seen a desert rose. What a peculiar looking plant! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the blossom opens soon!
It’s awesome to have a husband who bakes, isn’t it?! 🙂
Steve:
I’m as grateful for SG as I’m sure you are for Dave… and not just for the baking.
The buds fell off overnight. Damn. As the plant grows it looks very much like a bonsai, with a large round trunk base. It’s bare all winter… and flowers beautifully (somewhere) in summer. We’ll have to see what we’re doing wrong. They like constant sun and warmth and the table they’re on doesn’t meet the requirements; just sun in the first half of the day (and often coolish breezes overnight). May have to move them to a hotter spot (and buy some piece of furniture or a stand just for them).
What a great mnemonic to remember how to spell dessert/desert!
Debra:
I love those kinds of tricks. My favorite, of course, are songs that teach (although I never memorized the periodic table song). But spelling Mississippi… and Istanbul/Constantinople and the Turks… New York/New Amsterdam. Give me a song and I’ll remember anything. Too bad my parents weren’t lyricist/composers, I never would have been bored in school.
SG’s brownies for breakfast – breakfast of champions, screw wheaties!
anne marie:
And this morning, we finished off the apple cake. What’s next?
Now you know I love me a good beach and beach umbrellas pictures. We are finally getting summer…my kind of heat…and enjoy it before people want fall to be here before long. I really need to move where there is a hot climate. Even in the mountains it was hot, which is rare. I love your desert rose plant…gorgeous.
Mistress Maddie:
I’ve been a bit put off by the heat and humidity. Then I got a message from a friend in Virginia yesterday. I think it was 96 with a real feel of 110. AND humid. She didn’t want to hear about my 85 and 77 percent humidity. Our climate is, for us, ideal. Rarely too hot, rarely too cold. We’ve been spoiled.
I am back sort of. Jumped from covid to Bighorn fire, evacuation, to major surgery on iwinston. monsoon flooding because of the fire . . Life is a tsunami and I am standing on the beach !
Stay safe be well.
parsnip
Parsnip:
Yes, 2020 has been an awful year, but you’ve had so many bonus badness. Hope all settles. By the way, I love “Life is a tsunami and I am standing on the beach.” I plan to steal it (don’t worry, I won’t take the credit).
I can imagine how happy your plants were to get some ‘food’! They love it! Starting a few months back to regularly feed ours…..they are very happy.
Don’t you just love summer on a beach!
Watch that sciatica. Don’t know why my comments are coming up anonymous. Will get \\\\ron to check it out….he is the computer guy.
Anonymous Jim:
If you wouldn’t mind just adding a “J” to the ends of your comments, that would be great. I have no clue why these things happen and I’ve spent hours on chats to no avail. It’s rarely anything WE are doing, but when you chat with support, that’s where they always start. So I’ve given up.
I learned to spell desserts another way ….too many desserts leave one stressed out ….desserts-stressed …
Bob:
So you also know how to spell STRESSED! You’re my hero.
I made lemon bars over the weekend for dessert, my first time. I am presenting a professional webinar on Wednesday, the program moderator pointed out yesterday that his bio describes him as a layer, not a lawyer. I have never know him to be a chicken.
David:
Attorney at Lay. Does that make him a layman? Another form of the verb… liar. That’s a great ice breaker, though. Ooh, lemon bars. Maybe that’s what SG needs to make next.
The webinar is, unfrtunately, not about lemon bars. More’s the pity. Excellent mnemonic for dessert, never heard that one before. Thanks for the photos; I didn’t know what a “glass curtain” was. And finally: https://youtu.be/C3lWwBslWqg
Yep. San Geraldo is a keeper. Luscious looking dessert.
Those plants in the photo under the Hibiscus flower look as though they are reaching for the sun.
Mary,
Those cacti have grown like crazy since we got them. They’re definitely reaching for the sun.
Well, desert is both a noun (arid land) and a verb (to leave something or someone behind), but then if it’s followed by “just”, it’s again a noun, but this time means some kind of punishment. I guess in terms of understanding what someone is saying, you’re better off with dessert, which is always a food stuff, and never a verb, and never arid land, though it CAN be a punishment, if you get a pie in the face.
Kirk,
Just desserts always made more sense to me than just deserts. Then I learned the phrase just deserts came about BEFORE dessert was even a word. But that’s English for you!
H i Mitchell,
Tell Gerry the Apple cake looks Yummy, It takes me back to my childhood when my Aunt used to make Applecake,
Could he send me recipe please also for the Brownies.
Christine,
I was just thinking about you again! It’s called German apple cake. So good. I’ll get recipe to you.
Hi Mitchell
That would be great, Tell Gerry i love looking at what he bakes. Unfortunately we will not be visiting again until next year, as still not happy about travel with this virus, so mananged to change everthing to next year. First year in 20yrs no holiday to Fuengirola.
Christine:
First, here’s the link to the apple cake recipe: https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-apple-cake-recipe/
So sorry you won’t be coming to Spain this year. I don’t blame you. It’s getting busier although nothing like a usual summer here. We find ourselves staying in a lot more again… as if we were back in lockdown.