Monthly Archives: June 2014

poppies

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"Let us suppose that it is summertime, that you are in the country, and that you have fixed upon a certain day for a holiday ramble. Some of you are going to gather wildflowers, some to collect pebbles, and some without any very definite aim beyond the love the holiday and of any sport or adventure which it may bring…"

Sir Archibald Geikie

You can keep time by the flowers here.  First come the snowdrops, then the daffodils, and after, the tulips.  About then the apples trees bloom.  As they begin to fall the lilacs burst out. The rapeseed fields have their day in May.  

Then come the poppies.  Along the fences, beside the grain fields, clustered on embankments lining every country road. Like the rest they won't last long but right now those orange-red fragile petals are quivering in the wind at every turn.  

 

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rest

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“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”   – John Lubbock

 

easy as pie

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June 2014 pie

Dear Rhubarb, I don't think I appreciated you nearly enough as a child.  Perhaps I took for granted that every backyard in the nation had a leafy patch of sour red stalks in the spring.  Time and transience proved that wrong.  It has been many years since a brown bag with neighbors' abundance appeared at the door.  So should an early summer grocery trip turn up some fresh rhubarb we gather it up and make a memory pie. 

My crust is never as good as Gram's, nor as good as Alannah's for that matter.   The filling however was incredible and easy:

2c rhubarb

1c raspberries or strawberries

2T flour

1 beaten egg

1c sugar

Those are mixed together and poured into an unbaked pie shell.  Then 1/2c brown sugar, 2T flour and 2T butter are mixed well and crumbled over the top.  Into a 400 degree oven for 15min and then the heat down to 350 for 30min more. 

Next time I will likely forego the crust entirely and make a crisp with a streusel topping like this one. 

 

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Late spring daybook of sorts

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right now…

Seasonal rec league soccer just wrapped up. 

I am between novels.  Suggestions?  Barbara's looked good. While talking with Rebecca she made a good pitch for Count of Monte Cristo .  Hmmm

There is pie cooling.  

There are breakfast burritos in the freezer.  Aidan and his dad are working out before work in the mornings, which makes people hungry.  Very early. 

I am enjoying the peace of mind that can only come with owning a new vacuum cleaner.  That peace of mind replaced the initial horror of emptying the canister the first time and realizing the old vacuum really REALLY wasn't working.  

Talking to the landlord has netted some interesting history of our house.  (the house we live in -which is his house actually)  While the plumber was measuring  for a new shower to replace the 60s era olive green one, the landlord was saying the house was built by 'Sir Henry Bombry of horse racing fame.  You know Sir Henry,' he says.  'He was good friends with Mr Darby and they favored a flat race.  They wagered over whether the flat course would be named after one or the other of them and the other guy won.'  Now, truth be told I still get lost here and there and sometimes am not translating properly in my head.  I heard 'Bombry' and 'DARbee'.  After asking for spelling I realized that was Bunbury and DERBY, like Kentucky.  Duh.  

Ok, long story short I am still not sure which Bunbury built the house.  The horse guy appears to have been Charles who did have a brother named Henry who was an illustrator but did not wager over horse races. The family owned much of the land locally – like miles of it.  Our landlord's father was born in "the village" down the road. Me: there is a village down the road? yes, says he but you Americans might not recognize it as a village. (truly, you wouldn't, perhaps due to the absence of street lights, sidewalks, stores, or houses in close proximity…)  He bought this house which he had eyed while growing up and our landlord was then born here.  

And now I am here typing in the parlor. It is all very incredible really. 

 

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May 2014 b soccer web-5

 

Moira-made bows.  Big sisters rock!

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Sunday drive

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We took a little spin this afternoon and I thought I would share some snaps. 

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I do so love red geraniums and lace curtains.  There appears to be a tiny German flag over the door.  I am wondering if that explains? At any rate it made me happy and a little homesick for Germany.

 

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"Fast food" has not caught on in Europe. There are some fast food chains in the big cities but everywhere else you sit and eat on real dishes.  If it's "fast" then some of your food may have been premade or some containers may be disposable.  By and large you will sit and eat.  Then you will return your tray with your dishes and flatware.  That is 'fast' food dining, as compared with served meals. 

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A common sight on Sundays. I am glad I was ready with my camera this time!