Friday 30 June 2023

Flaming June!

 Any excuse for this great picture! Let's end the month with some positive things, which celebrate the joys of summer. 

There has been enough sadness - global and local - and at some moments I have found the heat almost unbearable.
But there has been time to sew, and time with family, time to share good food, time to just be and to enjoy the beauty of my surroundings. 

And to thank the Lord for his many blessings and unfailing love...
Time for Jean's delicious recipe for chicken, lemon and thyme kebabs. That's her photo by the way. So fresh and light and summery - and I had all the ingredients in the fridge, freezer and garden too.
Time to harvest my lovely beans - some we had at lunchtime, and the rest I have blanched and frozen for future days
Time to ride into Dereham on my bike. I've put the basket back on the front - and woven the stems of silk flowers through the wicker. This lot cost me a fiver on Sheringham Market last week - but they really make me feel cheerful.

What super, summery things have you done this month?






18 comments:

  1. Sounds like you've found time to enjoy yourself in June!
    It has not been hot enough, here, for me to feel that summer has arrived! However, I've picked peaches and blueberries, made jam and chutney, baked some muffins, and even removed one or two outer layers of clothing from time to time! :)

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    1. I always imagine that you are warmer than we are - I've decided not to make chutney this year, still working through the mountain of jars made last year! I'm living in strappy vest tops - something I could never wear when teaching, as they were too revealing. But fine for a grandma in the garden!

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  2. Malcolm would have loved those broad beans! Your basket looks delightful, and I hope you have a matching hat?

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    1. Oh yes he would!! I do have a pretty sunhat, but wear a cycle helmet when out pedaling

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  3. We’ve tried to save our garden from lack if water and then it got battered by torrential rain. We visited the seaside and are now much more comfortable in a slightly cooler break in the weather. Food has all been cold meals and thoroughly enjoyed. Catriona

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    1. Yes, Thursday morning's rain was a cooling balm indeed [and refilled the butts]

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  4. What a lovely post,and just love the picture. Isn't June a wonderful month, with its roses,strawberries, and sunsets? We have tried to take time to just quietly see that beauty, often with a cuppa, sitting under one of our trees, on a folding chair,(not as posh as yours) Last Saturday our group catered a strawberry cream tea, for 64 people, in aid of the church. I baked scones. A very hot day, but it brought village people together, and it was lovely. Your basket on your bike is so pretty. We have much to be thankful for. Thankyou for sharing. Love Isabel

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  5. Oh Isabel, how I should have loved the strawberry cream tea - a quintessentially British activity. Rodda's clotted cream, and scarlet strawberries, and a bottomless tea-pot... and conversation with delightful people

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  6. When you make the kebabs does the marinade all get sucked up into the meat or is there leftover liquid? I hate to throw it away but it will contain raw chicken juice so can't be used as a salad dressing. What to do? Nicky K

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    1. My BBQ expert says your concern is correct.if it's been on the raw chicken it must be cooked. There was not much marinade left, and it was used as for basting. The grated onion and garlic made it quite slushy. so I'm not sure it would make a good salad dressing. Sometimes if I make a marinade, I put some on one side to use for dressing, if it looks like there's more than I need to cover the meat.

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  7. So many garden activities it's hard to list but picking my first 'country bunch' of flowers was special. Our church had an open garden event to raise funds and I baked 40 scones towards that and helped serve cream teas. Oh yes, made rhubarb, ginger and chilli jam - delicious!
    Alison in Wales x

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    1. Oh well done. I like R&G jam (but without the chili)

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  8. So far it has been a strange summer, with very few hot days, many hazy days with smoke in the atmosphere, a recent set of storms with torrential rain and a 22 hour power outage! But our church celebrated 125 years with a visit from the bishop and two former priests, followed by a barbecue, and the weather behaved. Our rather neglected yard continues to delight me with all kinds of flowers in season - the milkweed is now blooming and I love the perfume. My rambler rose is flourishing, and the oriental poppies are just done. I have some wild daisies in a vase on the kitchen island!

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    1. The fires)smoke must have made things very difficult. Congratulations on 125 years of your church

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  9. I love your bicycle and the way you have gussied it up! Well worth the fiver to cheer yourself and those who see you too! I slow cooked chicken thighs with lemon and Italian seasoning, served with broccoli and brown rice. A very nice combination. JanF

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    1. Definitely "gussied up"(I love that phrase) Broccoli and brown rice sounds like good accompaniments

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  10. I've hung summery wall quilts up and gotten out the floral cloth napkins, and am having blueberried on on cereal and ice cream!

    Hugs!

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  11. Blueberries are lovely garnishes...

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