Monday, June 16, 2014

Summer love

This is my favourite time of the year - just as summer is setting in. The world is warm and sunny, but not stiflingly humid as it is in July and August. The days are warm and the nights are cool with the air conditioning off and the windows open.  Everything planted in spring is beginning to flourish. And there are strawberries on every corner...
These came from a road-side stand (another great summer thing - top down Sunday drives!) but when I was a kid, Mom would pack us up and we'd head to a pick-your-own farm. A few short hours of easy labour later (not to mention a belly full of berries eaten in the field) and the truck was loaded up and smelling like sweet berries.

Once home, we'd sit on the porch and remove all the greens and a few days later, jam production began! (To this day I still cannot eat store bought jam - totally spoiled!) Life is a little more hectic now, so there won't be any picking, but Mom and I do have plans to pick up a couple of flats and get jamming next weekend.

In the meantime, I spent the afternoon out back with Tux.
 He enjoyed a slice of shade, while I indulged in another summer tradition
...arranging flowers stolen from the side of the road. When I was a kid we were always pulling over to pick something - lilacs, daisies, orange lilies...
These will look just perfect on our country table, don't you think?

So - what do you love about summer?

6 comments:

Frieda said...

I love the sweet smell of the flowers when I'm out walking . Fireflies , so exciting to see them lighting up the night . Lemonade tastes better in the summer ...

Minding My Own Stitches said...

Uh oh. I think the most perfect day of the year might be December 1st ... Especially if it's clear and cold. Never mind summer!

Araignee said...

My dear departed bestie worked her summers in a strawberry kiosk outside of Montreal-near Boucherville. I can't see a strawberry without thinking of her and how much she loved her little job.
I like NOTHING about summer except maybe the fact that I can get away with wearing my Fresh Produce dresses out in public. It's too darn hot and humid here and don't even ask me about the bugs. I need to move.

Anonymous said...

I was going to say I like NOT.ONE.THING. about summer, but then I remembered the picture of your strawberries.

I like strawberries very much. And, watermelon. And, maybe a bit of beach on the weekends.

But, really? I'm a fall kinda girl.

kathy b said...

lOve the phrase a slice of shade!!!!!

I love so many things about summer…
number one is my screened porch. Some call it the ratio

Unknown said...

It's my favorite time of year too. I love it when I can sit outside in warm, sunny weather.

The strawberries look delicious. Fresh berries...oh, it doesn't get much better than that!

I think Tux is enjoying it, too, in a cool, shady spot!

Love, love, love the flowers!