Thursday, May 29, 2014

gorgeous summer days are upon us


i'd say summer is here about a month earlier than it was last year. although we've had some rainy days, largely, they are filled with sunshine. and that means meals eaten in the garden.


i don't know if our mild winter and actual summer for what looks like two years running are products of climate change, but if they are, it's definitely working in our favor.


most meals have included fresh asparagus, plucked from the garden. asparagus is such an exercise in patience, you have to wait several years before you can begin to eat it, especially when you plant it from seed. this is the first year we've been able to really pick it. and we've definitely been enjoying it. mostly lightly steamed with a bit of butter or shavings of fresh parmesan.


even the child has been inspired by the good weather (and i suspect by instagram). she made this stack of homemade blueberry pancakes all on her own when she got home from school the other day. she's also taken to making iced lattes. most importantly, of course, is that you must photograph it all before you enjoy it. i think instagram is a good influence on her.


long, golden evenings stretch out in the garden. the child is constantly in motion and never far from her trampoline for long. she's trying to perfect handstands before her grandmother gets here.


but she can also do all kinds of flips. this is why she's signed up for a gymnastics-focused boarding school for the ninth grade.


the elderflowers are already in bloom. i looked through my photo library and it's a good three weeks earlier than usual. that means we'll have fresh elderflower syrup to make drinks for our upcoming party.


there are flowers popping up all over the garden, it seems like in bigger abundance than ever before. those who lived here before us were into gardening and i'm grateful for the flowers they left behind (even if i'm not grateful to them for much else).


there's less than a month to go before the solstice and the light begins to turn away from us again, but with this much of its golden glory, i think i can bear the thought of that.

5 comments:

Veronica Roth said...

Wow, lovely for you guys! It's raining here in Van and so typical late spring. I hope some of the elderflowers will hold off till I get to E in a month. My grandmother used to fritter the flower heads and I made some for myself last year. Elderflowers are so wonderful in so many ways!

Lisa-Marie said...

There is something lovely about eating outside. Summer is not quite here, but there are glimpses of it and we are making the most of it.

Joanna Jenkins said...

We're looking forward to eating outside too, although we have to get our produce from the farmer's market. (No green thumb here.)

All your photos, and their gorgeous vibrant colors are a feast for the eyes.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Forgot to mention those mouth-watering pancakes.
Y! U! M!

Sammi said...

Good girl, though, making those pancakes!

Our summer has yet to arrive- it's 1st June and I'm sat here in a hoody.