I've got a vase (actually, a water jug) of sunflowers on the kitchen table, bringing the late summer energy. The apples are ripening on the trees in the community garden and my pumpkin plant has taken over my entire raised bed 🎃 all my herbs are in flower, too. I baked a small loaf for Lammas with treacle and thyme. Your crumble looks heavenly Lia, I'd better get my brambling on, pronto!
Of course the very big sign that it's August here in Edinburgh is all the... very big signs... which are now up everywhere, declaring the courtyard behind my office among other things as a festival venue!!
I’m definitely feeling the shift in the air and am trying to think of August more of a pause than trying to ask too much of these late summer days. On Lammas, I took my little ones to a ‘pick your own’ farm where we were surrounded by raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, beans, courgettes and the most magnificent golden sunflowers. It felt very ‘first harvest’. And I am delighted to hear crumble season is open, the best pudding ever in my opinion! 🌻✨
I’m sad about the swifts but so happy for Autumnal crumbles! Here in Edinburgh, the tall, rosy-pink spikes of rosebay willowherb are at their very best right now; we picked our first brambles along the Innocent Railway path and made a delicious sweet compote to pour over pavlova and ice cream; floating on my back in the salty sea I was joined by a busy group Arctic terns shrieking, swooping, diving all around me.
Beautiful stormy skies -Never mind the Weather 🌧️enjoying the moonlight of the Songmoon and the intense blues of the palette surrounding its presence in the night sky plus a few golden hours this week lighting up the fire lilies as we call them in our green as green garden 🍃 it’s a time for poetry and drift through the days taking time out in these sometime summery days 🌱
I refuse to accept autumn until September! I am clinging on to summer with my fingertips, still plenty of swallows and house martins around, and the blackberries are still green. I am stubbornly hoping for at least a bit more sunshine...
I do agree! I used to long for autumn and wish away the summer and then wonder why the summer seemed so short! These days I try to be so very much in the moment and so enjoy every moment of every season, just as it is. I hope you get your sunshine.
I’ll be really sad to see the swifts leave, here in Norfolk we’re told that generally they arrive 15 May and leave 15 August, hope to hear a few more screeches before they depart.
Courgette’s in every conceivable form, however in lemon and walnut muffins are current fave!
Sipping mint tea in the garden and butterfly watching.
Three things: quiet skies following the departure of the swifts; treasuring the moments when the sun breaks through the clouds in this wayward summer; on the upside, noticing how green and lush everything still is.
My nan used to say, "There's enough blue sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers." Those are lovely moments amidst the grey.
My nan used to say that too plus I recall reading it in a book many many moons ago. I am spoilt now with cornflower blue skies for most of the year, enough for a whole wardrobe of clothes!
I had a mammoth journey to Devon last weekend-it was a stupid idea trying to catch a few days off during the school holidays and one of my greyhounds and I had a few adventures, including trying to walk across the dunes to Saunton sands.
I gave up when she had a massive meltdown due to the huge amount of sensory stimulation during our "epic journey" and I turned back as the last straw for her was a cloud dumping its rain on us-so near and so far-I could hear the sea!
But the very strange room we stayed in provided the sound of seagulls early in the morning-which I will always remember and the sound of the rain drops on the roof of the plastic roof (yes I did stay in a strange place!)
I picked the first blackberries from our bush on Lammas Day (what a happy coincidence!) and we spent the day swimming at our local lake under fluffy whipped-cream clouds.
More autumn raspberries are starting to appear in the garden and a few of the tomatoes are not quite so green. The rain and wind has taken its toll, but I had a lovely day in the sunshine yesterday, getting to grips of at least some of the overgrown and toppled plants.
I remember blackberries along by the railway and the allotments in St Werburghs. Miss it. I dont find many brambles here, when my thoughts turn to blackberries in the season.
We have some daffodils here now, which is premature though... Hard frost this week, so they got a shock.
I am usually so ready for autumn but this year it appears to be coming faster than ever, perhaps because our little one is heading to school this time.
Anyway! Crumbles here too, and many caterpillars! Cinnabar and a lovely furry chap. And an afternoon giving into the rain and splashing in puddles, really splashing!
Ooh, I love your swifts! Makes me want to go listen to Spell Songs 💛
This week I made a lughnasa focaccia with my 13 yr old (topped with garlic & fresh tomato! 🤤), ate a fantastic cherry crisp my mom made (by myself after the kids were asleep), and have been collecting bouquets of cone flowers (but leaving plenty for the bees) and scattering them around my house. ✨
I've got a vase (actually, a water jug) of sunflowers on the kitchen table, bringing the late summer energy. The apples are ripening on the trees in the community garden and my pumpkin plant has taken over my entire raised bed 🎃 all my herbs are in flower, too. I baked a small loaf for Lammas with treacle and thyme. Your crumble looks heavenly Lia, I'd better get my brambling on, pronto!
Of course the very big sign that it's August here in Edinburgh is all the... very big signs... which are now up everywhere, declaring the courtyard behind my office among other things as a festival venue!!
I’m definitely feeling the shift in the air and am trying to think of August more of a pause than trying to ask too much of these late summer days. On Lammas, I took my little ones to a ‘pick your own’ farm where we were surrounded by raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, beans, courgettes and the most magnificent golden sunflowers. It felt very ‘first harvest’. And I am delighted to hear crumble season is open, the best pudding ever in my opinion! 🌻✨
I’m sad about the swifts but so happy for Autumnal crumbles! Here in Edinburgh, the tall, rosy-pink spikes of rosebay willowherb are at their very best right now; we picked our first brambles along the Innocent Railway path and made a delicious sweet compote to pour over pavlova and ice cream; floating on my back in the salty sea I was joined by a busy group Arctic terns shrieking, swooping, diving all around me.
Love the sound of your week. I am in hot hot Morocco and this honestly sounds like a dream !!
Beautiful stormy skies -Never mind the Weather 🌧️enjoying the moonlight of the Songmoon and the intense blues of the palette surrounding its presence in the night sky plus a few golden hours this week lighting up the fire lilies as we call them in our green as green garden 🍃 it’s a time for poetry and drift through the days taking time out in these sometime summery days 🌱
Lovely word pictures there Su- I love the last phrase especially!
What a dreamy post!
I refuse to accept autumn until September! I am clinging on to summer with my fingertips, still plenty of swallows and house martins around, and the blackberries are still green. I am stubbornly hoping for at least a bit more sunshine...
I do agree! I used to long for autumn and wish away the summer and then wonder why the summer seemed so short! These days I try to be so very much in the moment and so enjoy every moment of every season, just as it is. I hope you get your sunshine.
I’ll be really sad to see the swifts leave, here in Norfolk we’re told that generally they arrive 15 May and leave 15 August, hope to hear a few more screeches before they depart.
Courgette’s in every conceivable form, however in lemon and walnut muffins are current fave!
Sipping mint tea in the garden and butterfly watching.
Have a wonderful week everyone xx
Mint tea, one of my favourites too!
Always ready for a crumble. I make mine with olive oil and oats rather than butter and flour and I commend it to you
Three things: quiet skies following the departure of the swifts; treasuring the moments when the sun breaks through the clouds in this wayward summer; on the upside, noticing how green and lush everything still is.
My nan used to say, "There's enough blue sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers." Those are lovely moments amidst the grey.
We say that too! And it’s true, usually! But this summer is different 🫤
My nan used to say that too plus I recall reading it in a book many many moons ago. I am spoilt now with cornflower blue skies for most of the year, enough for a whole wardrobe of clothes!
I had a mammoth journey to Devon last weekend-it was a stupid idea trying to catch a few days off during the school holidays and one of my greyhounds and I had a few adventures, including trying to walk across the dunes to Saunton sands.
I gave up when she had a massive meltdown due to the huge amount of sensory stimulation during our "epic journey" and I turned back as the last straw for her was a cloud dumping its rain on us-so near and so far-I could hear the sea!
But the very strange room we stayed in provided the sound of seagulls early in the morning-which I will always remember and the sound of the rain drops on the roof of the plastic roof (yes I did stay in a strange place!)
Sorry your trip was a bit of a tough one! Hope you can have an easier adventure soon...
I picked the first blackberries from our bush on Lammas Day (what a happy coincidence!) and we spent the day swimming at our local lake under fluffy whipped-cream clouds.
I think the latest I’ve seen Swifts is on August 5.
Crumble season being open is a great compensation
More autumn raspberries are starting to appear in the garden and a few of the tomatoes are not quite so green. The rain and wind has taken its toll, but I had a lovely day in the sunshine yesterday, getting to grips of at least some of the overgrown and toppled plants.
Love hawkbit. It grows here too in Aoteroa NZ.
I remember blackberries along by the railway and the allotments in St Werburghs. Miss it. I dont find many brambles here, when my thoughts turn to blackberries in the season.
We have some daffodils here now, which is premature though... Hard frost this week, so they got a shock.
Daffodils! Wowee xx
I am usually so ready for autumn but this year it appears to be coming faster than ever, perhaps because our little one is heading to school this time.
Anyway! Crumbles here too, and many caterpillars! Cinnabar and a lovely furry chap. And an afternoon giving into the rain and splashing in puddles, really splashing!
Can you believe I've never made a crumble?! Maybe you can share a recipe??
I will!
Ooh, I love your swifts! Makes me want to go listen to Spell Songs 💛
This week I made a lughnasa focaccia with my 13 yr old (topped with garlic & fresh tomato! 🤤), ate a fantastic cherry crisp my mom made (by myself after the kids were asleep), and have been collecting bouquets of cone flowers (but leaving plenty for the bees) and scattering them around my house. ✨