My July Kitchen

I'm caring for my in-law's garden while they are on vacation, and it's been fun harvesting their berries, chard, tomatoes, and cucumbers. It's all the rewards without any of the hard work. Like going to the freshest market ever. 

I would like to have my own vegetable garden some day. With chickens to pick around in it.

I was so happy to see the first pumpkins of the season at the market! My own potted pumpkin plant which climbs along our fence has only just begun to carry fruit. It was pure joy slicing open that first golden pumpkin, revealing the clusters of seeds and the dewey, lovely scent. A sweet precursor to my favorite season, autumn...

xoxo

Summer Botany

Queen Anne's Lace

Daucus carota

St. John's Wort

Hypericon perforatom

Creeping Thistle

Cirsium arvense

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

It's amazing what you can find growing on the side of the road or by the forest path. Everything used to just look like different shades of green to me, with random splashes of color. But since I began learning about the different herbs, flowers, and edibles growing here, every plant I see holds meaning, or is waiting to be discovered, categorized, and understood. 

All of these plants are useful and beautiful. Isn't that fascinating?

xoxo

Chicken Hunt

Dani told me they finally have chickens on their little farm. She showed me a beautiful green egg that one of her new hens had laid and cooked it for our salad. "They are somewhere on the property," she said, "hiding from the dog." The farm dog had taken an interest in the chickens and pretty much feathered one of them, who then escaped into the woods and had yet to return. The remaining rooster and four hens were, needless to say, a bit wary of the dog, and had taken to hiding out in various places.

After eating a delicious salad and putting Rafael to sleep in the carrier, I made my way out into the hot sun and followed the rooster's crow. 

Not by the gooseberry patch, or in the vegetable garden....there was a little bee on a chive blossom though....

Chickens, chickens, where are you? Not by the plum tree. And the only thing in the coop was a lone green egg.

I finally found them, hiding in the cool dark tool shed. So dark in fact that it was hard to get a photo of them. I'll just have to wait until next week when we visit again and the chicken hunt continues...

xoxoxo

On A Hot Summer Day

A sweltering hot Saturday. Rafael has begun pulling himself around and is so excited about it. It's the beginning of a whole new chapter...fun and a bit exhausting for both of us!

Wishing you all sunshine and someone to enjoy it with!

xoxo

Midsummer

Rafael has begun pointing things out to me: trains, airplanes, birds, bugs, the night lamp in his room that turns with pictures of hot air balloons, Boston, and Kiki. I love it so much, and this is my favorite age so far. I feel like it is the beginning of direct communication.

I am aware, so acutely aware, of how quickly my baby is growing into a little boy. Time is passing so quickly. I am trying to capture it in little moments, and keep the simple, precious memories safe in my heart.

xoxo

A Walk After The Rain

Everything so fresh and wet with rain. The clouds parted and the sky was suddenly bright and blue. We headed out into the woods and I was so happy to have my camera with me. I've missed going into the deep forest and exploring, looking for bugs and flowers and acorns, and taking photographs of them. When I have Rafael in the stroller, it's not really possible. But when he's in the carrier with his Papa, I have my hands free, and we can walk narrow paths, muddy ways, steep hills. It's such a joy for me...my favorite thing...walking in nature and capturing the beauty I find there.

xoxoxo

A Summer Day In The Countryside

What a day! We were invited to my friends Daniela's home on the lush green outskirts of town. The last time we visited her was to make Advent wreaths last November, a merry event which I posted about here. Today I was able to explore the sprawling estate under a hot summer sun, including a vegetable garden, an orchard, and a large swimming pond with water lilies and ducklings skidding over the lily pads. I didn't have my camera with me, so I took some images with my iPhone. I hope I can take more photos this autumn.

Thank you for a beautiful day, Daniela!

xoxoxo