Musings on a Saturday . . .

“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”
 ~Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine  

We are only about one week officially away from what the calendar says is summer, but . . . summer seems to have arrived, despite what the calendar says!  Summer, glorious summer.   For two days in a row now Todd has clocked up temperatures in the late 20's in our back garden and he's been right in his element sitting with his straw hat on his head, beneath the sunshade on the back patio.  Mitzie has been loving it too, and the roses . . .  they are in their glory at the moment, along with the lavender which is just buzzing with life.  This year I will pick some springs to place between the pages of books so that I can surprise myself in the coming months . . . when the days are short, the nights are long . . .  and Jack Frost is nipping at my  nose.




  The grass grows high now in the meadows which surround our estate . . .  and each lawn is covered in deep green velvet. It's the time of the lawnmower and the calmness of the afternoon is punctuated with the sounds of mowers mowing, the air filled with the smell of fresh cut grass, dotted with a spot of newly mown dandelion  with a dash of wild onion and creeping thyme thrown in for good measure . . . a feast for the senses.



The wild flowers we planted are also going crazy at the moment . . .  and our strawberry bed is filled to overflowing with promise.  Any day now, if these temperatures and the sunshine keep up . . .  we shall be feasting on their dark red and juicy pleasures.  There is no more beautiful sight than June strawberries heaped in a big blue bowl, freshly picked with the warmth of the sun, straw and red stained fingers still clinging to them.  No supermarket berry can compare . . .



"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, 
the fulfilment of the promise of the earlier months, 
and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." 
~Gertrude Jekyll  

Several of my grandchildren have been enjoying days at the beach . . .  summer has arrived in Nova Scotia as well.  I just adore this photo of Maryn.  This one is worthy of a frame I believe, and I will be picking up one the next time we take Mitzie to the groomers.  Its only a few weeks away now.



Cameron has been enjoying the sunshine as well. It's hard to believe that he will soon be one years old.   The past year has just flown by.  Is there any lovelier sight than that of a small boy playing in the sand?  I think not  . . .  well, unless it's two grandchildren enjoying the sand . . .  then it is  twice the pleasure . . .



I can remember going to the beach only a couple of times when I was growing up.   My parents were not real outdoor lovers.   They didn't really do beaches.  I can remember only two occasions during the whole of my childhood when they took us to the beach.  I'm not sure which was my favourite part . . .  the paddling in the waters of Lake Winnipeg . . . or the cones of Rainbow Ice Cream we were treated to at the end of the day. One shudders now at the amount of food colouring which must have been in them, but they were delicious.   The trick was to eat them before they started to melt down over your hands . . .  there was a LOT of furious licking involved.

Ahhh . . .  warm lake water, sand, sunburn, rainbow ice cream, sticky hands and a blue plaid skort (skirt and shorts combined) . . .  that's the stuff that happy summer memories are made from . . .  




Days at the beach seaside over here are even more special however . . .  because they come with fish and chips, and a Mr Whippy with a flake.  The only thing that could make them any better would be to be able to share them with a couple of munch-kins . . .

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

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"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves 
growing on the trees, 
just as things grow in fast movies, 
I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again 
with the summer." 
~F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Cooking in The English Kitchen today . . .  a tasty treat for Dad, a delicious Dulce De Leche Cake!

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Have a fabulous Saturday!  Stay happy and stay safe!