It’s been a week of waiting, but we are very proud parents having had wonderful GCSE results yesterday, so onwards to A Levels we go. Now planning a small family celebration at the weekend, which feels like the very last summer event. I definitely have that back to school feeling now.
Oh wonderful Cathryn! That’s such good news. Congrats to the student - and to proud parents for all the years of support and love leading up to this moment. Enjoy your celebration!
Loads of butterflies, which make the heat and humidity here in the US a bit more bearable. A few cooler, drier mornings that lend themselves to pre-dawn coffee on the porch with the cats watching the other critters (bats, cats, a few other humans) make their rounds.
There is nothing quite like pausing for a few moments with an early morning cuppa, our pets and just watching the beginnings of another day in our living world, is there!
Oh Lia- you’ve made me cry all over again ! Thank you for your very kind and touching “ small indulgence” and your lovely words of congratulation. Bless you. And a very happy birthday to your Nana - that really is a massive achievement!
Well, like you my outdoor tomatoes are slow, sparse and struggling! We’ve had a few salads where most of the components have been garden harvested- leaves, spring onions, cucumber and toms, but nothing like last year. And after I invested heavily in top quality compost this year too!
The seasonal things this week have been drives through the borders up to Kelso - prime grain harvest land - and ALL the stubble fields looking wonderful in the golden late August light. The bright, glossy berries of Rowan, elder and hawthorn adding colour everywhere. And the lovely hedgerow glow of the Elder leaves which turn the most unusual shade of pinky red at this time of year. Constant honking of skeins of geese overhead too. It all adds up to “ the back end” - as we call it In Northumberland!
I’m preparing to both exhibit and judge at our annual Glendale horticultural and agricultural show on Monday - so very seasonal! This is the culmination of the growing year around here. Wish me luck!
Finally the nicest bit of all the lengthy unpacking and unwinding of the party week- thanking all the dear people who helped us, attended and contributed in some way! I love that - visits with left over cake, a homemade card and exchanging memories of the day. Lots of happy mental snapshots. Unforgettable.
What a beautiful picture of the countryside, Sue! What are you exhibiting and judging at the show? This reminded me of the wonderful Larkin poem, Show Saturday.
Yes! The Larkin poem is about Bellingham Show 1973 - another of the great local shows around this part of Northumberland! We were actually at THAT Bellingham show in 1973 having returned from our honeymoon the day before. This years Bellingham show is today
At our show on Monday I’m judging the children’s handwriting - a big class with several age groups - so there are lots of entries as the local schools all enter their pupils. I love doing it! I’m entering mostly baking, jams, floral entries like a miniature arrangement, and my victoria plums - possibly some tomatoes and onions too!
After two years of various tomato disasters, I actually used some tomatoes from the garden in a salad and a recipe this week. This felt like a great achievement! I’ve also made berry sorbet with the autumn raspberries that are coming thick and fast now, the blackberries from the persistent bramble growing out of the garden wall (we cut it back to keep it from taking over the bed, but it still produces beautiful fruit) and a top up of redcurrants from the shop.
Glasgow is mostly rain at this point! The country lanes are heavy and fragrant - they smell like summer and look like autumn. My dog brushed up against the hedgerow and came back dripping. I’m taking my son to pick blackberries tomorrow so we can make his first bramble crumble. I’m holding out for my honeymoon in three weeks - two weeks in Italy should make up for the summer that never really materialised here!
I love the phrase 'smell like summer and look like autumn.' So evocative of this transient time of year! Sending best wishes for a fantastic honeymoon.
Riding my horse around the stubble fields and noticing just how full the hedgerows are with berries - hawthorn, rose hips, blackthorn (sloes) and yes I may have stopped for a handful of blackberries!
The best way to enjoy the summer, how lovely. We had a family interment yesterday, and I was reminded of all the places I used to hack on my own as an 11 year old. Wonderful old forests and bridleways.
We are back in the U.K. and settling in (the fish and chips and big boxes of Barry’s tea helped!) to our new home.
We’ve discovered some lovely dog walks already and yesterday morning as the sun sat low on the horizon and mist rose from the fields it felt very autumnal! Sorry Lia but it definitely feels like the end of summer I hope you enjoy your ice creams, swims and BBQs though 😊
Also if anyone can recommend any good apps for identifying flowers and plants I would appreciate it so much. I have no idea what anything is except for the nettles 😂
Lovely toms! I've been eating them out of the polytunnel. I'm very smug about my seasonal observation today, as I am en Provence enjoying some wine tourism. The grape harvest is beginning - we have seen people hand picking from the vines today! Vines hanging heavy with deep purple berries! Also, cicadas, which I've not heard before, and they are so raucous.
Holding on to summer with our family holiday ‘down south’ and the weather has been mostly very warm and sunny. We found starfish in the sea which was very exciting. Enjoyed a cream tea while fending off the wasps. The sun seems to be setting very early in the evening, a good 20-30 minutes earlier than at home.
Watching seals in the bay eating brambles and poison red apples blowsing from the trees into crumbles .Sewing found rowan berries into amulet necklaces as we approach September 🌱🍃🌿 nature at its finest by the sea in sunny Scotland 🌞
Happy 100th Birthday to your nana! Feeling summer slip by so I felt driven to get into the cold and mighty Pacific this week. Splashing around in a soup of colorful algae and dodging big waves brings back the carefree joy of long summer days.
Last few mornings have definitely felt autumnal. My tomatoes & squashes don't know it and are just now pushing out fruit. Finger crossed for 1 more warm spell!
I had my first encounter with aronia berries - it was a neutral first impression. They looked inviting - something like a swollen cassis. The taste went a bit toward blueberries but with mouth-filling tannins. I wasn't convinced. I gathered several handfuls and thought about something sweet...something satisfying. I made an aronia berry and apple crumble...and it was delicious. And now, I might be ready to jump on the bandwagon and declare the aronia berry a triumphant discovery.
I love the look and sound of the Hummingbird, but alas we do not have them here in Australia. You are very blessed to be able to watch them from your balcony Leanna!
Speckled wood basking in sunshine in the park. We’ve had lots of tomatoes in the greenhouse at the allotment strangely it’s been a good year for us, also in Bristol.
It’s been a week of waiting, but we are very proud parents having had wonderful GCSE results yesterday, so onwards to A Levels we go. Now planning a small family celebration at the weekend, which feels like the very last summer event. I definitely have that back to school feeling now.
Yay! Glad everything went well 🎉
Oh wonderful Cathryn! That’s such good news. Congrats to the student - and to proud parents for all the years of support and love leading up to this moment. Enjoy your celebration!
Thank you so much. And I missed your comment last week, your celebration looked wonderful, what a special family day.
Loads of butterflies, which make the heat and humidity here in the US a bit more bearable. A few cooler, drier mornings that lend themselves to pre-dawn coffee on the porch with the cats watching the other critters (bats, cats, a few other humans) make their rounds.
There is nothing quite like pausing for a few moments with an early morning cuppa, our pets and just watching the beginnings of another day in our living world, is there!
Oh Lia- you’ve made me cry all over again ! Thank you for your very kind and touching “ small indulgence” and your lovely words of congratulation. Bless you. And a very happy birthday to your Nana - that really is a massive achievement!
Well, like you my outdoor tomatoes are slow, sparse and struggling! We’ve had a few salads where most of the components have been garden harvested- leaves, spring onions, cucumber and toms, but nothing like last year. And after I invested heavily in top quality compost this year too!
The seasonal things this week have been drives through the borders up to Kelso - prime grain harvest land - and ALL the stubble fields looking wonderful in the golden late August light. The bright, glossy berries of Rowan, elder and hawthorn adding colour everywhere. And the lovely hedgerow glow of the Elder leaves which turn the most unusual shade of pinky red at this time of year. Constant honking of skeins of geese overhead too. It all adds up to “ the back end” - as we call it In Northumberland!
I’m preparing to both exhibit and judge at our annual Glendale horticultural and agricultural show on Monday - so very seasonal! This is the culmination of the growing year around here. Wish me luck!
Finally the nicest bit of all the lengthy unpacking and unwinding of the party week- thanking all the dear people who helped us, attended and contributed in some way! I love that - visits with left over cake, a homemade card and exchanging memories of the day. Lots of happy mental snapshots. Unforgettable.
What a beautiful picture of the countryside, Sue! What are you exhibiting and judging at the show? This reminded me of the wonderful Larkin poem, Show Saturday.
Yes! The Larkin poem is about Bellingham Show 1973 - another of the great local shows around this part of Northumberland! We were actually at THAT Bellingham show in 1973 having returned from our honeymoon the day before. This years Bellingham show is today
At our show on Monday I’m judging the children’s handwriting - a big class with several age groups - so there are lots of entries as the local schools all enter their pupils. I love doing it! I’m entering mostly baking, jams, floral entries like a miniature arrangement, and my victoria plums - possibly some tomatoes and onions too!
Oh wow, what a lovely connection! I love that poem. Sounds as though you’re going to be very busy at the show.
Exhibiting and judging, sounds like a whole lot of fun!
After two years of various tomato disasters, I actually used some tomatoes from the garden in a salad and a recipe this week. This felt like a great achievement! I’ve also made berry sorbet with the autumn raspberries that are coming thick and fast now, the blackberries from the persistent bramble growing out of the garden wall (we cut it back to keep it from taking over the bed, but it still produces beautiful fruit) and a top up of redcurrants from the shop.
I had a few tomatoes disasters this year too, glad you have been able to have some though!
Berry sorbet is so delicious and extra special when we can make it with our own home-grown fruit I feel.
Well done! Feels good doesn’t it!
Glasgow is mostly rain at this point! The country lanes are heavy and fragrant - they smell like summer and look like autumn. My dog brushed up against the hedgerow and came back dripping. I’m taking my son to pick blackberries tomorrow so we can make his first bramble crumble. I’m holding out for my honeymoon in three weeks - two weeks in Italy should make up for the summer that never really materialised here!
I love the way you described the country lanes Tegan. I hope the sun shines brightly on your honeymoon! You must be very excited.
Mmm blackberry crumble!
That’s going to be gorgeous and a real contrast! Love the sound of the country lanes though.
I love the phrase 'smell like summer and look like autumn.' So evocative of this transient time of year! Sending best wishes for a fantastic honeymoon.
Riding my horse around the stubble fields and noticing just how full the hedgerows are with berries - hawthorn, rose hips, blackthorn (sloes) and yes I may have stopped for a handful of blackberries!
The best way to enjoy the summer, how lovely. We had a family interment yesterday, and I was reminded of all the places I used to hack on my own as an 11 year old. Wonderful old forests and bridleways.
Impossible not to stop for blackberries 😄
Ah Joanna you bring back memories, horses and berries! Two of my most favourite, especially when I was younger.
We are back in the U.K. and settling in (the fish and chips and big boxes of Barry’s tea helped!) to our new home.
We’ve discovered some lovely dog walks already and yesterday morning as the sun sat low on the horizon and mist rose from the fields it felt very autumnal! Sorry Lia but it definitely feels like the end of summer I hope you enjoy your ice creams, swims and BBQs though 😊
Also if anyone can recommend any good apps for identifying flowers and plants I would appreciate it so much. I have no idea what anything is except for the nettles 😂
I use iNaturalist which seems quite good
Thank you 😊
I use the Seek app. It’s simple, yet not always precise, especially in identifying trees.
Thanks!
Welcome back to the UK Alix and happy new home!
Thank you Sue and I was so happy to read about your wonderful party - what a lovely occasion ❤️
Oh, that is good to have nettles nearby! Makes one wholesome healing tea (plus many other wonderful thing:-)
Wishing you much happiness in your new home - it sounds lovely!
Thank you
Lovely toms! I've been eating them out of the polytunnel. I'm very smug about my seasonal observation today, as I am en Provence enjoying some wine tourism. The grape harvest is beginning - we have seen people hand picking from the vines today! Vines hanging heavy with deep purple berries! Also, cicadas, which I've not heard before, and they are so raucous.
Those cicadas certainly make a racket don't they! Some summer nights they could lift the roof off the Albert Hall, such is their volume:-)
Sounds tough, but somebody’s got do do it... 😁
How lovely 🥰 enjoy!
Holding on to summer with our family holiday ‘down south’ and the weather has been mostly very warm and sunny. We found starfish in the sea which was very exciting. Enjoyed a cream tea while fending off the wasps. The sun seems to be setting very early in the evening, a good 20-30 minutes earlier than at home.
Glad you’ve had a lovely holiday Abi- sounds so lovely!
I've never found a starfish in the sea! I bet it was beautiful!
Watching seals in the bay eating brambles and poison red apples blowsing from the trees into crumbles .Sewing found rowan berries into amulet necklaces as we approach September 🌱🍃🌿 nature at its finest by the sea in sunny Scotland 🌞
Perfect description!
Beautiful image now in my mind, thank you!
Happy 100th Birthday to your nana! Feeling summer slip by so I felt driven to get into the cold and mighty Pacific this week. Splashing around in a soup of colorful algae and dodging big waves brings back the carefree joy of long summer days.
In Germany we have the first bright orange seed berries on the Arum.
Last few mornings have definitely felt autumnal. My tomatoes & squashes don't know it and are just now pushing out fruit. Finger crossed for 1 more warm spell!
I had my first encounter with aronia berries - it was a neutral first impression. They looked inviting - something like a swollen cassis. The taste went a bit toward blueberries but with mouth-filling tannins. I wasn't convinced. I gathered several handfuls and thought about something sweet...something satisfying. I made an aronia berry and apple crumble...and it was delicious. And now, I might be ready to jump on the bandwagon and declare the aronia berry a triumphant discovery.
Yay for your tomato! Watching hummingbirds from my balcony!
I love the look and sound of the Hummingbird, but alas we do not have them here in Australia. You are very blessed to be able to watch them from your balcony Leanna!
Speckled wood basking in sunshine in the park. We’ve had lots of tomatoes in the greenhouse at the allotment strangely it’s been a good year for us, also in Bristol.