Friday, August 7, 2015

Around Here










The summer days have been so good around here lately, and I couldn't be happier. Mother Nature has blessed us with a good mixture of rain and sunshine, and the gardens are thriving. Beans are still rolling in, cucumbers are coming in too, and did you see those tomatoes? The first ones were harvested on Wednesday, and I think by next week we just might be collecting them by the basketful. I spied a few squashes on the vines, and zucchini is being eaten almost daily, or added to our freezer stash for winter soups, and baking. I pulled all the kale last weekend, the cabbage worms and I were doing battle, and I had a feeling they were winning, so I harvested as much as I could, made a few large batches of kale pesto, froze some for winter soups and stews, and feed the rest to the chickens, cabbage worms and all. Yes, they enjoyed that. As I continue to harvest from the gardens, to eat and to put by, thoughts are moving towards fall and winter, cover crops are being sowed, seeds are being planted, and I am trying to figure out just where I will plant the garlic this fall. As always, I am enjoying my time in the garden, and find much joy in the work of growing our own food.

Those first tomatoes we harvested were pretty special because we shared them with our guests, my dear, dear friend Renee, and her family. They arrived on Tuesday, and spent three wonderful days with us, staying in our little cottage in the backyard. We talked, laughed, shared meals around our table, enjoyed watching our children connect, walked in the woods, and soaked up time together. It was a simple visit, there were no plans, no places to visit, we just hung out, and spent quality time together. As I drove them to the train station, my heart was heavy, but also very full. I feel so very blessed to have been able to spend time with Renee and her family, it truly was a dream come true to have them here.

The blueberry farm is beginning to know us by name after two trips for picking. We have plans to head back again next week for what I think will be our final pick. We have twenty pounds of blueberries in the freezer, and my hope is to freeze another ten pounds, and make a batch or two of blueberry jam. And let's not forget how many we have eaten fresh. Blueberries are making an appearance at every meal, and handfuls are grabbed in between for snacks. So delicious!

The nights are cooling off a little, hello August evenings, and we have been enjoying fires every night on the back deck. While Renee and her family were here, we sat late into the night chatting, stargazing, I saw two shooting stars one night, drinking tea, and enjoying the snap and crackle of the logs on the fire. I love a good fire on cool summer evenings, and I plan to enjoy many more in the weeks to come.

Our home, and outdoor living area are still being filled with fresh flowers from the garden every few days, and I for one, never get tried of gathering, arranging, and placing them around our home. They definitely lift the spirit, and bring much joy to my soul.

We are moving into a bit of quiet period in our home for the next few weeks, before a friend and her family arrive for a weekend visit. Reece has swimming lessons next week, every day for thirty minutes, and we have a few gatherings with friends planned, nothing special, just mornings or afternoons together in our backyard with cool drinks and snacks. There will be a few trips to the market, and other than that, you will most likely find me on the back deck or in the hammock, knitting, reading and chilling, in the garden, with my hands in the dirt harvesting, planting, and connecting to the earth or in the kitchen, putting food by. I think that is a pretty good way to spend the next few weeks and I am so looking forward to it.

How are things where you are?

32 comments:

  1. I really love to read each of your post and fell the peace through the words... Oh I'm so happy also to see you!!! Tomatoes, that's a good news... I harvested a little one in the new garden (growing on its own because I do not have time to go there much often), it was delicious. Fun to see that Reece is having swimming lessons, as Issa today and tomorow... Last day at work for me before holidays, all 5 together :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sandra, that means so much coming from you my friend. Haha, it has been a while since I have posted a pic of myself, thank you!

      Oh those first three were so very sweet. I checked this morning and there are many almost ready. The big harvests should begin soon.

      Enjoy your holidays my friend, can't wait to hear all about them. xo

      Delete
  2. So glad to hear you had a lovely visit with your friend :) Your Summer looks simply lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Suzy. Summer has been just amazing, and I know the last few weeks are going to be pretty awesome.

      Delete
  3. I honestly would love to travel north and spend a few weeks with you Kim. Life in your world sounds and looks so peaceful.
    I hope your weekend is everything you want it to be.
    Much love. XO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome anytime my friend. The cottage is ready and waiting for you.

      Life is feeling pretty peaceful right now, and that feels really good.

      Thank you, same to you. xo

      Delete
  4. Your cottage looked so inviting and I bet your friends had a lovely stay with you. Sounds like you made every day count! The girls started back to school and I worked three days last week. Off today and making the most of it with a friend. Have a beautiful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Anke. We had a great time, and they very much enjoyed staying in the cottage. I am not sure the next time I will see Renee, so yes, we made every moment count, and I am still feeling so full from our visit.

      Enjoy your weekend.

      Delete
  5. how nice that Renee visited and I love the photo of the two of you!! Adorable :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love hearing about you and your life around your cottage...what a wonderful gift to have Renee spend time with you there !!! Have a great weekend Kim...xoxo (p.s. I like your long(er) hair!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks Erica. It was a gift, and truly beautiful and soul filling gift.

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend too Erica. And thank you, trying to grow it out a bit, not sure how long I will last :)

      Delete
  7. Dear Kim- wow, your Cottage is a great place. I love the simplicity! Greetings from Germany, Nicole

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Nicole, that is so nice of you to say. Big thanks for stopping by today :)

      Delete
  8. Looks like a great week with your friend! The blueberries sound amazing. Enjoy the relaxing weekend. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The blueberries are just amazing this year, and so sweet! We are loving them, and can't get enough :)

      Thank you, it was so much fun to chill out with Renee and her family. I have dreams of doing it again one day....

      Delete
  9. Everything looks so good! And it sounds like you are having a great summer.

    I love that little cottage so much. What a wonderful spot for company, but also for your family. I know my oldest son would love to go sit out there for some quiet time to read. I'll have to show him the pictures b/c he dreams of building a tiny home on our property. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, we are having the best summer!

      The cottage has already become an extension to our home. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed their stay there, and I have been out there here and there to read and knit, catching just a bit of time to myself. I know Reece will use it more as he gets older. Right now he likes to go out there for a few minutes here and there and just sit. It is so lovely to see.

      A tiny home on your property, how cool would that be. It is definitely doable. Justin has plans to add a little sleeping loft to the cottage in the next year or two as well. So much fun to create tiny spaces.

      Delete
  10. What a nice read - so positive (just what I needed).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Matt, glad you enjoyed it. Hope you guys are enjoying your weekend.

      Delete
  11. Oh, I'm so happy you had such a lovely time. I cannot wait to see you in just a few weeks.
    Things around here are pretty much the same as you, minus the fires. I wish we could, but the cool and damp have brought forth and endless supply of super mosquitoes that fear nothing and eat my poor babes to the point of making their darling little ears swell with pain. Your dryer neck of the woods will be a very nice change. We picked a basket full of tomatoes tonight as well. 8 to be precise and they finally taste like summer. We are all about done with kale as well and are starting to amend for fall and winter gardening. It's a wonderful time here as well. We are truly blessed this year!

    Good night dear friend. xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Yanic, it was a wonderful visit, and I have a feeling our visit will be just as wonderful. Can't wait!

      Oh we have mosquitoes as well, I gotten eaten the first night Renee was here, but the second night we brought out our trusty bug spray and all was good.

      So wonderful to finally be in tomato season. The first ones are always the bests, enjoy!

      Delete
  12. Oh what a happy happy summer! And I love that you can do pick your own blueberries, around here they're not grown commercially and even pick your own strawberry farms are fewer than when I was little. It sounds like you will be well set for the winter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been a very happy summer Carie, thank you! Yes, we are very lucky to have so many u-picks around here. We are getting there as far as our winter stores go. This year was the first year we made it harvest to harvest with quite a bit of our food, we are aiming for that again this year.

      Hope you guys are having a great time on your travels. xo

      Delete
  13. So glad you could have a good visit from your friends! The cottage will be such a welcome place for your guests over the years, I just love it. :) Your photos in this post look so crisp and clean, Kim. Thanks again for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kristen, I feel very lucky to have been able to have Renee and her family here, and so happy we could spend that time together. Yes, more guests arrive in less then two weeks. I am sure the cottage will get lots of use from both guests, and from us. It is a lovely little spot to sneak away to :)

      Thank you, that is so nice of you to say. I am always working on those photography skills :)

      Delete
  14. sounds like an amazing way to spend your time. your garden looks amazing. i keep meaning to share photos of your garden with my mother in law... i know she would be so inspired. love your posts kim. glad your having such a wonderful season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jenny, the garden is doing well, and I am happy to say providing us with lots of food to eat now, and put by. Aw, that is so sweet. If you do share it, let me know what she thinks :)

      Thank you Jenny, hope you guys are well and enjoying your summer. xo

      Delete
  15. Sounds perfect, and a heart full is very much worth the heart heavy side of it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your hair is so long now! I really love it. I'm so glad your time with Renee was wonderful.

    I've got butternut squash coming in too. My tomatoes are all done for the moment but there is a second round of them growing! I think there might be another ten pounds or so. Oh My!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is, growing it out at the moment, I do that every 12 years or so :)

      Thanks, it was a really lovely visit, the only problem was it was much too short.

      Delete