Longest day, summer solstice week end

22nd June

Longest day, just look at that sun!

Boy, what a week end.  What a gift, what an amazing mid year.  Let's not even think that from tonight the evenings will get shorter.

The week end in the south of England could not have been better weather wise and on a personal front, my work load has happily decreased since Friday.  Therefore come four o'clock on Friday afternoon, I couldn't help feeling in the holiday mood.  I rang a couple of friends and an impromptu drink and nibbles evening was arranged.  I am not good at planning in advance, but much prefer the casual, pop over and see us. 

The 'after' picture

Once invites were accepted, I dashed around the garden for a couple of hours, not having had time to tend to it for the past two months and for the time being, moved all the bits and pieces that made the garden look like Step toe & Son to the side of the house, for now, out of sight, out of mind.  A mad dash into the house to make some quick savoury and sweet nibbles, a walk through the shower, there was not time to have a leisurely one, added the obligatory chalk board sign to the front door, poured myself a Pimms and sat in the garden to await good company.  And so the week end continued...

I don't know about you, but midsummer solstice has always had a draw and an attraction for me.  I like to be outside and appreciating life.  Most years it is achieved.  I often wish however that I am in Norway as there, it is such a big deal.  Many will make their way to the coast or lakeside, light fires, enjoy good company, good food and inevitable drink.  All along the coast fires will be seen for miles, what a welcoming, warming sight.  Mr H is in Norway on the good ship Brimble, sailing her some 400 hundred or so miles north over the next few days.  In Bergen this week end, not that far north, they will only have 1 hour and 40 minutes of darkness, imagine that.  So for me, here at home with the children, (not because Mr H was away) it was definitely a weekend to hang up the bunting, enjoy the weather and appreciate all that is good in life over the summer solstice week end.

Whilst rushing round the garden like a loony, I really should work under pressure more, as I achieve such a great deal, I noticed that we had an abundance of luscious strawberries, who knew we had so many this year, a lesson that I should not have ignored the garden for the past two months, but alas half the crop had been decimated by pesky birds, even before my very eyes, I watched a young blackbird, dive into the raspberry bushes, pull a raspberry and fly off!  Think I may be purchasing some netting in the near future, cheeky thing.







Found a stag beetle whilst gardening, just look at the orange eyes

I suddenly noticed the wild rose has
become rampant, poor apple tree!

Saturday saw much of a repeat of Friday, me in the garden, as once you begin, don't you realise how much more there is to do, some four back breaking hours later, I decided that I should call more friends over for more nibbles and drink.  I had particularly liked the Pimms, first of the year for me and had a fancy for another tipple.  My daughter too had an unexpected 'drop-in' of some friends and they all played badminton for an hour.  I just love the fact that the summer weather brings out joy in people and the togetherness of it all.  I love the fact too that the girls want to be around the home and enjoy our company, I feel blessed and treasure these moments.

I made home made artichoke dip, very quick and lush.  You serve it warm too, if anyone is interested, let me know and I will post the recipe, it went down a storm.

We made savoury waffles and added various toppings, including ones without waffles, for the carb free friend I have ;), you know who you are! Plus we had to have a plate of sweet treats too.  I cheated here and bought the cakes, I ran out of time?!?! So shoot me.

But I did have time to try a new Delia dish for mid summer to be enjoyed and eaten outside after friends had left, here it is pre cooking.  What was so fab about it was that it contained such summer flavours, reminiscent of balmy nights in Spain, all in a one pot dish that just sat on the stove top whilst we had friends over for drinks and nibbles and was ready to eat as soon  as they departed, easy peasey.  Again, let me know if you fancy it, chicken and brown rice as the main ingredients.

You can't beat a good Pimms in summer time

Saturday began to draw to a close and by 2230, we reluctantly returned indoors and played some cards before saying good night to the longest day.

Sunday was much the same plus watching my daughter row in a regatta and enjoying this delightful weather, and do you know what I am doing now...

I may have become just ever so slightly addicted over the course of the week end!

♥ I hope you too have a fantastic mid summer week end ♥