Monday 6 August 2007

Summer's goodness



What a lovely weekend, we had such warm sunny weather - summer arrived! We planned a weekend at home with friends visiting on Saturday and a relaxing day just the four of us on Sunday and that's exactly what we got. A simple weekend sharing food, laughter and sunshine with friends. Do you see the apples on the apple tree, they're just ready for picking. My dad came to stay last week and was happily sitting under the tree and narrowly missed being concussed by a falling apple. I think we're going to have to find another shady spot to sit in for the next few weeks.


Our friends came late afternoon on Saturday and it was good to sit and chat and catch up on news and, yes, drink the odd glass or two of Pimms (well, it is summer and I'd been looking forward to doing this for months now).

We had good old Delia's "tart's spaghetti" (tomatoes, olives, capers, garlic and chilli sauce) for supper and M's delicious homemade herb focaccia - gorgeous. Fresh strawberries, blueberries, meringues and cream for pud - doesn't get much better. We sat out in the garden till late with our children playing board games and laughing.


Look what our friends brought with them for us, lots of lovely fresh runner beans, courgettes and onions from their garden - a real taste of summer.

For those of you following our paddling pool escapades, the saga continued on Sunday. M successfully inflated the pool and sat holding leaky hose to tap for far too long, only to discover that the pool was deflating and leaking. Successfully found two holes. Return trip to B&Q again for another paddling pool and brand new hose. Mission finally accomplished and girls shrieking with delight in the icy cold water. Only six hours of our weekend taken up trying to get the pool inflated and full of water ....


I managed to finish some cosies too and M finally got to read the papers on the hammock whilst the girls spent the rest of the afternoon changing in and out of dry/wet clothes. Supper outside again and just before we started to pack up to come indoors we noticed the figs .... these figs that we've been waiting a year for were soft, ripe and ready to be picked. The seagulls and bluetits have been kind to us this year and we picked our first dozen figs last night. Fig tart, figs with greek yogurt and honey, anyone have any other good fig recipes? In a few weeks time there'll be enough to make a repeat of last year's fig chutney too. I love summer.

22 comments:

Curlew Country said...

Oh what a lovely scence. Hasn't it been great to have a proper summer's weekend at last. We spent it splashing around in the public fountain in Bakewell. Can't wait until my boys are old enough to really enjoy the paddling pool safely (bit too small yet). Glad you had such a relaxing time (apart from B&Q!)

AC said...

Sounds similar to our weekend. It is so good to be able to sit outside untill late evening with candles flickering.
Alison x

Betty said...

I'm glad you had a nice weekend outside! It finally cooled down here last night and we sat on the swing for awhile. We just planted a fig tree and I am looking forward to figs next year.

Samantha said...

Sounds as though you had a great weekend.

Love the box with all the veggies in!

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Sounds like a perfect weekend!! I recognise that lovely pink Laura Ashley jug...I coveted that!!

Anonymous said...

It really feels like summer when you can spend the day in the garden and enjoy meals outside. Somehow life moves down a gear or two in the sunshine .
We found that we had had a mouse in the shed over the winter, it chewed the parasol, deckchair fabric but luckily not the paddling pool - hope you cooled your toes in yours after all the hassle getting it filled!

Cape Cod Washashore said...

oohhh! Fresh figs have got to be one of the best things on God's earth! =) A nice fig sauce makes a wonderful marinade, too.

tea time and roses said...

Sounds like a wonderful weekend...The figs look absolutely delicious, and they just happen to be a favorite of mine... Everything looks so lovely.

Smiles...

Beverly

Ali said...

That sounds like the most perfect weekend! Love the pic of the veggies in the box.

And the wet clothes/dry clothes changing thing is the main reason why I haven't been bothered to haul out the paddling pool this summer!

Thimbleanna said...

The apples with your banner look yummy. Are they good for pies? I've seen lots of fresh figs in blogland -- if you can believe, I've never had one. I'm thinking I should try to find them and learn how to do something with them. We have a cookie here called Fig Newtons (do you have them?) and I love those, so I might just like fresh figs!

hannah said...

that focaccia looks fantastic! it is so nice to finally have summer with us, we have been enjoying it here too.

Heidijayhawk said...

now that sounds like a heavenly weekend!!! and the penants are lovely!

Anonymous said...

youv'e just described the perfect weekend well apart from having to visit B & Q that is.

COLLS GARDEN said...

Sounds like you had a great weekend. Bit cold here yet for paddling pools, but we've had some lovely sunshine today. Roll on Spring.
Coll :-}

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a wonderful weekend Kim. I'm so glad that you are finally able to enjoy the summer after all that rain.

Marie x

Anonymous said...

Fig chutney...am I too late for a spoonful? ;o) Lovely summer vingette you've painted for us here...Happy Days, indeed! ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

Oh what a fabulous weekend you had, it sounds just perfect to me, there is nothing better than a big bowl of pasta, a glass of something cold and a warm sunny evening...Oh and that bread looks SOooo yummy!
Can I come next time?lol
Jennifer.x

The French Nest said...

Looks as though you had a wonderful weekend! Your pink Laura Ashley pitcher is stunning by the way!

Kate

The Honourable Billy Blunt said...

The figs look wonderful,I've never tried one but you have tempted me,Gorgeous jug too......
Kat x

Lallee said...

What a wonderful day you had. The food sounds delicious. The figs look plump and beautiful. And I adore your pink pitcher.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a delightful weekend ~ glad to hear you finally had a nice sunny one! Your apples look delicious! ♥

Vintage to Victorian said...

More fun and games playing with water then! Glad you got there in the end!

And those figs ... yummy! Now that's a tree I wish we had in our garden.

Sue x