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.

Summer's end

It is quite nice to sit here, on the last day of September, and think about the end of the summer holidays. The fact that it has taken until now - with the last day of the month acting like a full stop on the season - for me to sit here and write something says a lot about how September has gone. It has been intense, busy, quick yet long. All of us adapting to new things: a new class for me, a new job for Bella and college for Angus. Bella turned down all her university offers and instead secured an apprenticeship in HR which she is loving. Angus is studying A levels in History, Politics and Philosophy and has also just started his first weekend job. It's all go.

It was a good summer, a long summer. Bella and Angus, having both finished A levels and GCSEs, were around a lot and I felt like I spent so much time with them both. It was a joy. They wanted to hang out with me and we had many lovely, gentle days involving local walks, ice creams, little museum visits, baking, reading, sitting in the garden and seeing friends. 

These are always my favourite kinds of days: a slow start, some pottering, a little trip out somewhere, ideally some sunshine.

Museum visits were local, or local-ish. John and Angus loved the tank museum in Bovington. I enjoyed the history more than the tanks but watching these two share their love of military history was sweet to watch.

More locally, Fishbourne Roman Palace was a little treasure of a museum. 

The weather was mostly good over the holidays, dry and warm.

But with the added excitement of watching thunderstorms roll in.

There were pub lunches by the water and walks long and short around local villages.

There was also some self care, occasionally in the form of a hair cut or getting my nails done, but more frequently treating myself to the absolute joy that is reading in bed first thing in the morning.

We weren't homebodies all the time though. There were a couple of bigger treats thrown in the the holidays too. My friend Abbie and I went to see Oasis at Wembley Stadium which was amazing, as you can imagine. 

I have to be honest and say that I am not the world's biggest Oasis fan. I don't especially love or loathe them but my friend Abbie secured tickets at a really good price and it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. It was incredible. 90,000 people all having fun, all singing the same thing at the same time. 

There was also a family day out to London to visit the Natural History Museum, always a joy. 

The floor and the shells section are my favourite parts. 

Then a long, long browse in Waterstone's Piccadilly. All four of us disappeared off to different floors to look at different sections, then left with a couple of books each. A good afternoon.

As we neared the end of the holidays, we bought dahlias from honesty boxes outside farms and picked blackberries.

I made apple and blackberry muffins, blackberry compote and froze batches for crumbles.

I dug out my neglected sourdough starter, fed it up and started baking bread again.

We made the most of last opportunities to visit the beach.

As the back to school energy kicked in, we got ready for September, cleaning and organising.

Danish souvenirs were unpacked and arranged.

I made a banner for the book corner in my classroom.

One month later, I still haven't had time to hang that banner. Maybe in October.