Suddenly summer

A sudden change in the weather can be exciting. A new season is suddenly thrust upon us with its various challenges, thrills and novelties. Suddenly the house is hot, curtains are drawn against the heat and windows opened at sunset to let the breeze flow through. Summer clothes are hurriedly hunted out, all meals eaten outside. 

Take coffee. Coffee is always lovely. But an iced coffee, drunk outside sat in the shade, waiting for a friend? Delightful. 

Ditto overnight oats for breakfast, eaten in the shade first thing. 

Or any manner of lunches or dinners. This pea, potato, mint and feta frittata was delicious. I made it over half term, when we were digging up our front garden, and knew we'd all need something simple for lunch each day.

There has been a hive of activity in the garden since I last posted. We have - with big help from my parents and other family members - dug up our entire front garden and re-planted it. I will do a whole post about it soon. It was a lot of work but very worth it as it looks beautiful now,

The back garden has been slightly more neglected. These tulips are still in a pot (very much gone over) and I must pull them up and plant something else.

The garden has moved through its May burst of colour, when the rhododendrons are in full bloom, and now colour comes form wallflowers, salvia and geraniums. 

My two fig trees are full of fruit and I really hope it ripens. I usually get a handful each summer but would love enough to make fig jam.

The sweet peas are also going great guns. Since I took this photo a couple of weeks ago they have shot up and begun flowering.

As spring tumbles into summer, we watch the seasons change on our dog walks. Blossom is replaced by leaves of the brightest green, ferns unfurl and grow in the woods. and wildflowers are suddenly everywhere.

As always, it is the simple pleasures through which we measure the passing of time. The small moments of contentment which mark the seasons and make the days worthwhile. Gratitude, glimmers, call it what you will - enjoying the small things can get you through a tough day, and long week. 

Some lately have included:

The pleasure of a freshly mopped kitchen, doors open to let the air in and a snoozing dog.

Potted basil from the supermarket, which releases the headiest scent when you pick leaves. 

Margaritas at my friend Abbie's house to watch Eurovision.

A visit to Cowdray farm shop.

Favourite local walks.

Enjoying a beer, freshly showered, after a day rotavating a dusty garden in sweltering heat. Also enjoying re-watching TwentyTwelve.

A dog who still loves a cuddle even when it is hot, even when he's wearing his hot weather collar.

When the climbing rose blooms.

Brand new Saltwater sandals from Vinted, a fraction of their retail price.

New hats, new books and peonies.

And a boy who turned 17 but still loves Lego. Happy birthday to Angus - funny, thoughtful, kind, clever, and a pretty good cook.

I will be back soon with photos of our front garden. Stay cool during the hot weather everyone.

Mini egg chocolate nests and carpets of bluebells

The Easter break was, for the most part, delightful. We were away the week before the bank holiday weekend so Easter itself was very last minute. Decorations were hurriedly thrown about the place and no significant baking was achieved - no Simnel cake or hot cross buns - but batches of mini egg nests were made, as per tradition.

I always like the ideas of them more than the eating. I think I'd just rather have three mini eggs.

The outside world is waking up at a rate of knots. With every week that goes by more leaves appear, more growth: wild garlic, bluebells, tulips.

I love the woods at this time of year. On the cusp.

We visited Durham over the school holidays. It was a strange happy-sad visit, with a family funeral to attend, but so nice to all be together as a family. That happens less and less now. Bella works Monday to Friday, Angus every weekend. Days together are precious.

Despite the funeral there was still time for coffee, and exploring Durham, and jigsaws in our Airbnb. Bandit behaved impeccably in a number of pubs, cafes and houses. 

It's all go in the garden. The daffodils have finished now but the tulips are still going. A great deal of pruning and turning over of soil and weeding occurred. Dahlias were planted and hydrangeas pruned.

The decking received its annual jet wash and the fence was painted, along with the outdoor chairs. 

And - joy of joys - the picking of the first posy of the year: some strongly-scented tete-a-tetes, a couple of muscari and a solitary bluebell that appeared down by the compost bin.

Indoors, Easter is the school holiday of spring cleaning .Cupboards are emptied and reorganised, mattresses flipped and windows washed. I love it all.  Windows open, everything aired and sorted, order imposed. 

I sorted through all my yarn and craft baskets and unravelled projects I had started but lost interest in, including a scarf and a pair of socks. I am left with this pile of 4 ply sock yarn and wondering what to do with it. 

The wood burner is cleaned out ready for the summer. I need to book the chimney sweep.

New rules have been imposed in the kitchen. Bella and Angus now each cook dinner one night of the week. They are allowed to choose what they cook so long as they cook it. It's not proving the labour-saving device I had hoped, as they need a fair bit of supervision and advice, but we are teaching them to cook properly and that is worth something. Bella made burrito bowls and they were very nice.

Inspired by the spring clean of my craft baskets, I finished or dusted off a few projects. This lovely sleeveless cotton top, started last summer on holiday, was finally finished.

My patchwork quilt is currently receiving attention. I am doing the fiddly edging hexagons which aren't very enjoyable but are necessary.

I have sewn a little more on to my embroidered holiday diary. 

This began when we came back from our holiday in Finland and Sweden two years ago, but last year's trip to Denmark has been incorporated with the addition of smorrebrod, the famous Danish open sandwiches. 

They took quite a few hours but I am pleased with them. Open rye sandwiches including smoked salmon and lemon, avocado and boiled egg, roast beef with pickles and, my favourite, prawns and lettuce. 

It's been a good few weeks for reading. I finished My Brilliant Friend and liked it very much, as much for the strange dynamic between the Elena and Lina as for the beautiful descriptions of life in Naples in the 1950s.

The Weekend Gardener was an impulse purchase in Waterstones and I have not put it down. I have never bought a gardening book before and I am finding it invaluable. We are beginning to re-do our front garden, replacing tress and grass with shingle and plants which will hopefully thrive in a very exposed south-facing plot.

Ebb and Flow was a Christmas gift and I have loved dipping in and out of it this year. I recommend.

I have just begun A Family Matter. The cover and reviews enticed me and so far it is very good.

The cover, by one of those strange coincidences, features a painting by an artist called Caroline Walker, an exhibition of whose work I recently saw at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.

I stared at this huge canvas for a long time and was very sad that the prints were sold out. 

Pallant House was lovely for a couple of hours one afternoon with Bella and my friend Abbie - a very beautiful building and an excellent cafe too.

Now we have all been back at work or college for a few weeks and are looking forward to the bank holiday weekend. I love spring.