Two Bank Holidays

Two bank holidays, two four day weeks, and two very different sorts of weather. The May Day weekend was warm and sunny and it was so nice to open the windows and kitchen door to the fresh air 

The sofa cushions were put on the sofa and wash after wash hung on the line. This one is always happy when it's warm enough to go outside. He is in and out all day long, sniffing the air and pricking his ears at every small sound.

John had to work so I had did a lot of pottering and spring cleaning which was very restorative after a busy few weeks at work. I stripped the beds, did washing, vacuumed and baked while listening to the radio or a podcast. 

I began the weekend in the best possible way: sitting down with a coffee and going through all my newest cookery books and making a list of what to cook, then writing a shopping list

I have been working my way through Home Cookery Year, above, and it has become one of my favourite recipe books. I'll do a proper post on it soon. I've also been dipping into the others (when time allows) and tried this vanilla tray bake from One Tin Bakes by Edd Kimber. Good packed lunch and pudding fare,

The weather really was gorgeous that weekend and I got carried away and promptly packed away all my winter things and moved my summer stuff back into the wardrobe. (Our wardrobe is tiny.) It was good to be reunited with my beloved Toms, they are like slippers. I think this is my third pair. 

We enjoyed our dog walks that weekend, and appreciated the warmth of the sun and the blossom everywhere after what has felt like quite a cold spring. 

I met up with my friend in Lyndhurst for the day which was lovely. I left the children behind (one of the upsides of having teenagers) and skipped off alone for a day of fun. I listened to my audiobook in the car (The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford - excellent narration by Bessie Carter), caught up with my friend, did a bit of shopping, had a very nice pub lunch out and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Lyndhurst is very pretty indeed with lots of independent shops and cafes and a bustling, seaside feel. 

It wouldn't be a proper bank holiday weekend without a bit of gardening. We did a fair bit of tidying up and cutting back, and pulled up some dead plants. I surveyed the border, and tried to remember what was a weed and what was a plant and generally  reacquainted myself with our little garden. 

The currant bushes are looking promising - although, as always, more redcurrants than black, the opposite way to how I would like it - and the climbing rose has spread really well over the fence. I am optimistic for blooms. At the moment, the garden is looking very green, but there are tiny spots of colour appearing here and there - alliums just about to open, and pinky-purple buds on the rhododendron bushes. 

I picked a few bluebells and the last of the tulips to make a little posy for the house - they lasted well over a week. 

The following bank holiday was cold and wet. This was the coronation weekend, and we embraced the horrible weather by drinking coffee, eating cake, painting a cupboard and going to B&Q to look at wood for shelves. 

There was more baking, but this time of the royal variety. I made the coronation quiche (using this recipe) which worked out ok, although making pastry is always a very tense situation for me. I don't really know what I am doing so it could go either way.

Luckily this pastry was good. A bit rustic looking, and patched in places, but very short and with a lovely crisp bottom. The filling was delicious, although the kids turned their noses up at the broad beans. 

Keeping up the royal cookery theme, I also made a Victoria Sponge, probably one of the nicest cakes ever, especially if you eat it so freshly made it's still a little warm.

I haven't seen a really good bluebell display this year, but have enjoyed the woods regardless, They were magical last weekend, really damp and cool - chilly, even - after all the rain, and just bursting with life and greenery. You could almost hear the ferns unfurling and leaves opening. 

And now we are half way through May already, and there is cow parsley and wild garlic and a boy who just turned fourteen, a girl revising for GCSEs and a garden that is just about to burst into colour.