Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who read and commented on my previous post. I wanted it to reflect the way memories can affect us later in life. However, they are just that: memories. I'm lucky that my experiences are (like most people, I hope) mainly happy ones. But to go through life with nothing unpleasant ever happening would be virtually impossible. It would also be wrong. The occasional struggle makes us stronger and wiser.
Aaaand... normal service is resumed.
A few things we've been up to of late:
Eating: home-baked spelt bread (it worked and I've discovered that our nice warm attic is the perfect place for dough to rise); rose and lemon Turkish delight from the Artisan market (yes, 'artisan' generally translates as 'expensive' but I treated myself to a little bit and it's delicious); big fat radishes and new season beetroot from the same market (but a whole lot cheaper than the sweeties); tacos with Quorn mince chilli (we moved in here three weeks ago and the whole 'state of chaos' excuse for eating rubbish doesn't really wash any more).
Enjoying: evening walks; sitting up in the attic under the skylight and listening to the rain - we've recently had a thunderstorm or two; showing Joe the 'choo choo train' (he looks for it every day); morning strolls through damp fields.
Spotting: vintage Penguin books (40p each at the car boot sale. They came home with me); hard-to-reach winberries (bilberries) which are tiny but I'm hoping we've got enough for a very small pie; moustachioed cats; the last of the sun's rays illuminating the buddleia.
I hope your July is full of small joys too :)
I remember going bilberrying when I was little. Lots of bending and small berries, but different and delicious, and all the more special for being unusual. I love the sound of rain on the skylights as well, it's wonderful. What a fantastic train, no wonder your little man is happy to see it. I hope you have a good week. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteOh your sweets look very moreish Sarah! It looks like you have had a great time lately and you seem settled in your new home. Your bread is making me feel hungry! I'm perusing recipe books for good food inspiration at the moment. One of my favourite ways to while away an hour. Enjoy your small joys and I hope you have many more this month. Bee xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Bee! I love reading cookery books in bed but it's difficult to not then get up and find a late-night snack!
DeleteMmm - Turkish Delight ! I love Turkish Delight.
ReplyDeleteLovely happy days! Perhaps in years to come finding the best place for your bread to rise will be a happy food memory! xx
ReplyDeleteThose penguin books are from my childhood there were copies of both in our house. Now they are considered vintage.......
ReplyDeleteHa, maybe 'second hand' would be better - the price of them reflects that anyway! The word 'vintage' (yes, like 'artisan') seems to be an excuse to charge a lot more money for something...
DeleteThe Muriel Spark book is very of it's time but that's no bad thing!
celebrating the small joys is my plan for the summer xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures (as always). I love spelt bread. Actually, I use spelt flour instead of wholemeal in most recipes these days. We always gave my mum a box of Turkish delight as one of her Christmas presents when I was growing up but, thinking about it, I can't remember ever seeing her eat it! Great book bargains and you have an attic!
ReplyDeleteI know! For the first time in my life... although the beams are quite low in places and Joe keeps running into them so time spent up there with him is quite anxiety-inducing!
DeleteThe spelt flour's actually very nice. I don't get along with gluten all that well and apparently spelt's a lot gentler on the stomach. I also bought some organic rye flour and soda bread's next on the to-bake list :)
It sounds like your new home and area are very agreeable to you :-) another lovely post Sarah.
ReplyDeletex
Thank you! x
DeleteMmmm...turkish delight. Yum. I only ever eat that at Christmas. I buy it along with a box of orange and lemon slices every year. It occurs to me I should buy it more often! Your photos are lovely here, full of muggy summer. I can practically hear the bees buzzing! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Gillian - and it's nice to know you've been reading back through some of my old posts too. As for Instagram, I'm dying to do it but have a Blackberry (the camera's not great). I'm struggling to set the whole thing up to be honest so any tips would be fantastic :)
DeleteS x