It is beautiful and bright here today. Several loads of washing have been hung out to dry, and earlier I even witnessed the rare occurrence of the base of the laundry basket becoming visible! A small but important victory.
This morning, I visited the supermarket for what should have been the weekly shop, but in reality what I have bought will only last us for the next couple of days, as I just could not be bothered to think any further ahead than the weekend. I am quite sure I'm not alone in finding meal planning tedious at times, but then comes my guilt at knowing that having a choice is, indeed, a first world problem to have. With that in mind, I have settled for Spanish Omelette this evening - simple, but tasty.
While I was in the garden hanging out the washing, I had a potter around. I enjoy spending time looking at the plants and checking for new growth. The wildflowers are beginning to open up now and there is a constant sound of buzzing in the air. The little lemon trees appear to be growing well, and I can't think how I have managed to keep them alive up to this point. The lavender and hydrangea are creating a nice border for the lawn and the large dry patch beneath the swing has grassed over - for now, at least. The solar fountain is currently working hard in the sunshine.
The blackcurrants are beginning to ripen now, and it is already clear that the bush will produce far more fruit than it did last year. I've collected a bowlful this morning, which I will wash and freeze later, ready for making jam in the coming weeks.
Cycling home this afternoon, I couldn't help but notice the sweet scent of the hedgerows, from the honeysuckle, meadowsweet and elderflower, which spill out onto the lane. It is a lovely ride to and from work, and I feel so lucky I don't always have to drive at this time of year. Instead, I get to experience the beautiful countryside views and warm, gentle breeze as I ride along. I will enjoy it while I can, as it will be a very different story when the days begin to shorten and there is a chill in the air.
Talking of elderflowers, just as I'd hoped, I did enjoy some of my cordial in a glass of prosecco at the weekend. It was a small celebration of myself and a friend having completed The Ullswater Way, which is a 20 mile walk around - yes, you've guessed it - the lake of Ullswater! It is a really lovely, waymarked walk, which we started and finished in Glenridding, at the lower end of the lake. The walk can be completed in shorter sections, but we decided to walk it all in one day. It took us around eight hours in total and I certainly slept well that night.
J. X
It all looks and sounds absolutely wonderful. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joy. X
DeleteWell you certainly earned your elderflower cordial and prosecco for walking twenty miles, well done to both of you. Your garden plants and produce look lovely and what breathtaking views, that little shop looks very interesting too. Salad for tea for me tonight, too hot to cook but Spanish omelette, oh that does sound nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. It was such a lovely walk and a very enjoyable day. The shop came as a nice surprise, as did the Shetland ponies in the next field. :)
DeleteThe walk sounds devine...I yearn for sure beauty surrounding one.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a great walk and the ever changing views were beautiful. Xx
DeleteThat's quite a walk but I bet it was beautiful, 6 miles is about my limit I'm afraid. Your photos are lovely, how I wish Summer could last longer I love this time of the year but it passes so quickly. Meal planning is a headache, at least I only have to think for myself. 🙂
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely walk, and it actually didn't feel like 20 miles when the scenery was so beautiful. X
DeleteLovely photos! And I am totally with you on the laundry! It is a never ending job, for sure! Have a cozy day!
ReplyDeleteIt isn't often I get to see the base of the laundry basket. Perhaps that is what I should have celebrated. X
DeleteI think it would take me 2 days to complete that walk! Well done again, it looks beautiful. Have done a couple of sections ,so I know how stunning it is round Ullswater. The blackcurrants do look nice, now have a hankering for blackcurrant pie and ice cream. X
ReplyDeleteYou would be surprised. With such beautiful scenery and constant chatter, the miles just flew by. X
DeleteWell done on walking round Ullswater in one go, you certainly deserved your elderflower cordial and prosecco. I love the blue flower, it's very pretty :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eunice. Cornflowers are some of my favourites. I was happy to see them appear in amongst the rest of the wildflowers. X
DeleteLove the idea of Elderflower cordial and prosecco, sounds lovely. Well done on the walking, I don't think,...... no... I know I couldn't do that these days! Lovely black currants they are early, a sign of how much warmer we are.. stumbled across your blog, loved reading back.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to see you here, Chris. Thank you for your comment. X
DeleteSpanish Omelette sounds delicious, in fact I may make one soon :)
ReplyDeleteYour walk though long does sound wonderful, well done.
Lovely photographs on your post.
All the best Jan
Served with a salad and then eaten cold again the next day. Delicious! X
DeleteYour garden is looking very pretty with the cornflowers, lemon seedlings, and blackcurrants! I did a 20-mile walk once upon a time (a charity walk to raise money for research into birth defects), but, I won't be able to manage one, now! LOL. So, I'll just admire the fact that you can and enjoy the photos you've shared. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bless. I'm really pleased with the lemon seedlings. They have grown some more new leaves since this photograph was taken. X
DeleteThat's sounds like a lovely if long walk. It is such a shame that we can't share the fragrance we experience in our back gardens and hedgerows on our blog. Hope the Spanish omelette was nice. I rather like this type of dinner, also good cold later. x
ReplyDeleteThe omelette was, indeed, enjoyed cold the very next day. Xx
DeleteOur gardens match! I picked blackcurrants yesterday and the cornflowers are as amazing as yours. x
ReplyDeleteMy garden is only very small but it works hard :) X
DeleteOh yes, meal planning, a nightmare, especially when you're married to a picky eater who likes plain meals, it gets quite boring. Wow, what a fantastic walk. I bet those glorious views spurred you on.
ReplyDeleteYou can never please all of the people all of the time, and I'm not a huge fan of cooking. I much prefer simple meals. Xx
DeleteI picked my first blackcurrants yesterday, it really is so satisfying to collect fresh food from the garden. I also have lots of sweet peas coming through, getting giddy at the thought of a little self sufficiency. x
ReplyDeleteIt feels very satisfying picking even small amounts of produce from your own garden. I will have plenty more blackcurrants to collect very soon. X
Delete'Tis truly Mid Summer there. With all the lovely fragrances, to prove it. -smile-
ReplyDeleteLove accomplishments, large or small. Nice to celebrate all of them, in this way or that. -smile-
Summer seems to have disappeared today. It is wet and grey out there, but the gardens will be loving it. X
DeleteThe bottom of the laundry basket is a beautiful thing indeed. I am still convinced, however, that the bottom of the ironing basket only exists in fairy land.
ReplyDeleteThat was one heck of a walk m'dear, I am not sure I could have done it. Respect to you both!
There is always so much laundry that I am convinced there are people living here who I am unaware of :)
DeleteThat was a really long walk. Just one glass?! x
ReplyDeleteIt was a small bottle :)
DeleteBeautiful walk and well done for completing it in the one day - the photo of the mini-shed-shop looks so interesting!
ReplyDeleteThe shop was a nice surprise. It stocked cold drinks, bottles of water, crisps, honey and eggs! X
DeleteThe Ullswater walk sounds like something I would love to do. As always your photos are beautiful. Those blackcurrants love delicious. B x
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely walk, Barbara. I'm sure you would enjoy it. X
DeleteWell done on completing the Ullswater way in one day, I hope you were not walking it when Macmillan were doing a fundraising event there was thousands walking along it on that day, they started at Dalemain and walked to Glenridding as the half way point or the end, those continuing walked onto Lowther Castle. All the folks walking looked like ants from the lake, there were so many of them.
ReplyDeleteOur blackcurrants are not quite ready yet but our bush is always a reliable cropper, particularly if I remember to prune it every autumn.
Haha! We were indeed. But you know how many we actually saw? None! We must have been incredibly fortunate with our timings. In fact, most of the route was very quiet. Xx
DeleteWOW,well done you for completing that walk.What Stunning scenery you have.I Love the beautiful flowers and plants.Oh Blackcurrants so yummy I would be making a crumble,but jam will be soooo nice too.Cuddle for Mog.xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lee. Crumble sounds good as well :)
DeleteEight hours...that's amazing! Were you sore afterward? Gorgeous photos, and always. You describe everything so well.
ReplyDeleteMy friend and I are both brisk walkers, so the walk became more of a march in places :) I fully expected my legs to feel stiff the following day, but they were surprisingly okay. Xx
DeleteI think our blackcurrants are going to be cropping well too and certainly better than last year.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures as always of your walks around the beautiful area you live in.
And as for the cornflower, what a beautiful colour :)
The blackcurrant bushes are producing well. They will receive a good pruning in the autumn, in anticipation of another good crop next year. X
DeleteWell done on completing the walk, your cornflower is such a deep beautiful blue. Such a good crop of blackcurrants, all the best with the jam making x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. I am going to wait until all the blackcurrants have been picked before making my jam. X
DeleteWell done on completing your walk, the booze was well-deserved! xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vix. I thought so, too! Xx
DeleteI have perennial cornflowers which are beginning to take over and look exceptionally untidy in the very strong winds we've had. My wild ones are just coming up.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful flowers but do begin to look straggly after a while. I grew far too many last summer and they tipped over, squashing some of the smaller wildflowers. I have more of an even mix this year. X
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