How quickly the seasons change and the weeks roll by. Already, we are creeping towards autumn and in that delicious late summer crossover period, when the air is sometimes cool but the sun still warm. Summer feels at once just a few days ago, and so long ago that I can barely remember what I did.
What a summer it was though. As I look back at the photos of those months, through June, July and August, themes emerge. It was a positively Mediterranean summer but, since we are in England, a summer with no aircon, brick buildings that are that are designed to retain the heat, and constant humidity. I staggered through the end of the school year, relaxed into the start of the six week break, went to Norway, prepared for the inevitable swing towards late summer and return to routine, and already we are three weeks into September. Throughout all of that the weather dominated .It was hot. Sometimes uncomfortably (sleeping), occasionally unbearably (classroom) but other times pleasantly (the garden). But always these constants, punctuating the summer months: cooking, walks, flowers, crafting, eating outside, sunsets, the garden.
I amused myself during one of many heatwaves by taking photos of the thermostat in my classroom after the kids had left. How warm would it get? Each day a little higher. This warm.
Ditto photos of the temperature in the car. (Looking at this photo I notice that I was leaving three hours earlier than I usually do. I can't remember why. The heat?
The only way to stay sane is go to the beach and throw yourself into the sea and be submerged, up to your neck, for as long as possible.
The garden took a battering in the heat. These photos tell the story of a lawn through June...
...July....
....and August.
I have really enjoyed the garden this year. More than that, I have really enjoyed gardening. I seemed to find a rhythm with watering and weeding and kept on top of things, or maybe I'm just learning what to do. I think I had such low expectations of anything growing/surviving the heat that I was constantly surprised.
June brought sweet peas, always a favourite.
In July I made a watering station for the insects and dug an old plastic washing up bowl into the earth which I filled with stones and water for the birds.
The two fig trees adored the heat and gave constant fruit throughout July and August.
I bought two metal raised beds. Bandit has destroyed our lawn by running around it and I feel that I may now be able to persuade John to turn much of it over to a path, raised beds and more borders. Seeing how many bees and butterflies came to the front garden once we removed the turf and planted pollinator-friendly plants made me think. We are long past needing a large grassy area for football, paddling pools etc.
Angus filled the planter on the right with all of our homemade compost from our two compost bins, plus a bit of topsoil. I planted supermarket potted herbs, just for something to plant really, and they did so well.
The basil especially was prolific and I made jars and jars of pesto which I then froze. The second planter we are filling up with fruit and vegetable scraps, garden waste and cardboard throughout the autumn and winter ready to plant next year.
One lovely surprise was this little plant waiting for me when we got back from Norway. What was it? I hadn't planted it. It turns out it was a kind of winter squash which had self-seeded from my own compost. I was, and still am, delighted by this accidental plant.
This is it now. It is enormous and almost fills the entire planter.
The front garden is looking fabulous. The grasses have grown so much.
It's always delightful to be able to pick a posy of something, anything from the garden and bring it indoors.
We spent so much time outside over the summer: it becomes an extra living space.
Early morning coffee in the shade.
Afternoon cups of tea, also in the shade.
Evening reading.
Staying outside for as long as possible when the house was boiling.
Indoors, we were always hiding from the heat, closing the curtains and windows, moving from room to room depending on how comfortable it was.
There were many days out scattered across the summer. RHS Wisley, in June, right at the beginning of the first heatwave was interesting.
A visit to Stansted House to see an open air cinema showing of Pride and Prejudice with Bella was absolutely delightful. Huge fun.
In August, we visited Hinton Amper (National Trust) to look around the gorgeous gardens.
Local walks were many and varied and largely dictated by the heat.
We would often go to the woods about 8 am, before it got too hot, to walk Bandit in the shade. It's quite nice now to walk during the middle of the day.
I finally finished a crochet vest top that I started last summer. It was too warm to wear it initially but now it is cooler I have worn it many times.
Food. So many highlights of the summer. Cooking with produce from the garden, salads, stocking up the cupboards ready for the autumn.
The aforementioned fig trees gave us so much fruit. I ate a lot of them for breakfast with yogurt, or just as snacks. I also made a cake which I then sliced and froze, ready for term time.
I also enjoyed making some delicious breakfasts.
And reviving my sourdough starter.
As soon as the blackberries appeared, we picked lots for crumbles and cakes. (No need to make bramble jelly - my mum has made enough for everyone in the family.)
These muffins were a hit and I have made them three times I think. They freeze well and are great to take for breakfast or afternoon snacking.
Cooking for the weeks ahead, I made chocolate granola to use up the half-opened packets of seeds and nuts in the cupboard.
I have been thankful for the cake, muffins and granola over the last three weeks. And I will be thankful too for the bright-green pesto in the freezer when it is cold and dark outside. I am excited for the apples, pears and plums currently in season and even more excited for the pumpkins and squash October will bring.
