good company, conversations and laughs, cozy fire, games, lots of cheeses, gherkins, ravioli, blueberry venison & apple pork sausages (which i did not try), halibut with chanterelles and other yummies.

another dinner gathering and Christmas all over again - this time duck (i ate shitakes instead), sage roast potatoes, brocolini, yellow beans, brussel sprouts and then apple tarts with vanilla bean ice cream.

i just keep eating and eating. mmm.

Though parched, our little garden grew while we were away. The Helmer’s fingerlings were by far the best surprise since i assumed the plants were stunted. Jamie was right - regardless of limited space, anyone can grow potatoes.

heirloom tomatoes are coming soon…

i tried hard to enjoy thoroughly and not complain too much about the heat wave last week but it was rather overwhelming and hard to breathe. The weather is quite the opposite now, cool and hinting at Fall. i hope you all will brave the expected rain and get out to support your local farmers at the markets this weekend. i’ll be there. rain or shine.

oh man the air was thick of sticky sweet strawberries in the fields yesterday. it was difficult not to follow my nose but i kept to the plan and found plenty of raspberries. the test batch of jam is cooled and on the counter. grandma P arrived in time to share her recipe though we changed it up just a little. i had no idea how easy jam making could be, nor how much sugar there really is in it. no wonder my kid eats and eats it. sheesh.  thank you for all the jam making encouragement and sampling!

(photo on the left credit to Margaret who snuck up on us at the farm)

if someone wasn’t turning 5 on Sunday then i’m certain i’d be jamming all weekend, alas i’m going to warm up my kitchen a few more degrees by turning on the oven to bake cake. sorry chocolate lovers but my boy wants a vanilla cake. his design is very specific and with new details each day.  i better just get this baked. that and finish sewing up the birthday pants. this little sprout is growing out of everything.

eying up the blackberries for next month’s jam session;

July is the month of many celebrations.  i thought May was busy but this month and more specifically this week tops it. Canada Day or as Little A recalls it, the lobster sparkler party, was definitely a good kick off;

equally entertaining though in quite a different way, our little friend’s 3rd birthday!

more celebrating to come. did you know it’s National Ice Cream month (in the US)? Little A will be so pleased to hear this.

After much humming and hawing about what to do i finally followed through with the day’s original plan to return to the island for more delicious berries. Is Summer passing all too quickly for you?  I can hardly believe there’s just 1 week left of picking these delectable fruits. I better call grandma for some recipes  or another jamless year will pass me by. Oh she’s more than generous with her bounty but it’s one of those things i’ve always wanted to learn and do all on my own. I’m sure it’s not difficult and i know i’ll have to suck it up and put sugar in (i am notorious for skimping on sugar when i bake and then wishing later for something sweeter) but i best get on it….raspberries are next in season and that is my most favorite jam of all time.

“Follow me” he says. “I know a short cut.” For weeks i’ve rather followed than carried. His walk is gimped but he’s walk hopping and last night he put on a “walk dance” show. Woowee (or yeehaw as he says wearing this hat) he’s on the mend.

over the bridge, on to the highway, through the tunnel, over another smaller bridge, on to the island… looking for berries! berries for jam (and smoothies and crumble, straight up and with cream).

Same island, different farm. The rows were more spaced and the plants less tall but the berries were sweet and delicious and the picking was good. ;

so good.

i’m sure this is only the start of the strawberry posts. Next time we’re bringing friends along. i love the conversation between rows…oh especially when picking raspberries…i should take my note book to copy down all the secret recipes i hear. i love u-picks.

and just in case some of you haven’t read this though i’m certain most of you have;

Little A and i were gifted these fun pancake molds (Thank you T!) and so the morning  began at 6;30  with “it’s pancake day! Let’s get up.” I am so grateful for my full night’s rest because pancakes are always a little more messy than the usual hot cereal breakfast routine. It was well worth the fuss. The little one has been dancing and singing about pancakes and how good they were and what a great idea the shapes are and is now quietly writing out his version of the recipe we modified.

whisk together in a large bowl;

1c whole wheat flour

3/4c unbleached flour

1/3c stone ground cornmeal

2 tbsp wheat germ

2 tbsp cold milled flax seeds

a token pinch of granulated cane sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch of each cinnamon and nutmeg

whisk together in another bowl;

1 and 3/4c milk

4 tbsp unsalted melted butter

a token drizzle of honey

3 large eggs

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and whisk them together just until combined. Spoon the batter onto your hot buttered griddle - first one’s always the tester.  Serve with fresh fruits and maple syrup. Delicious. I’ve cooked up the rest of the batter so we can warm them in the oven for snacks later.

full and cozy and delicious…

edit to add a couple of Auntie’s shots;

pomegranate. seeds. i ate them by the spoonful. Little A would not. he ate chocolate instead.

last year’s cranberries dried beautifully and will find a place on this year’s tree with the new strands.

fresh popcorn.

i fell asleep early and didn’t wake to mix the dough to rise in time for Tuesday morning’s bread baking day and so we made simple biscuits instead, substituting spelt flour because we love it and currants to make them cute. The fun Halloween cutters and the token sprinkle of sugar made them cookie enough for our group of littles.

note - the day’s feature costume, “red apple rock star” was heavily influenced by the Beatles and other performers (we’ve been enjoying some record shopping).

it was such a  gorgeous day today and i’m afraid this sun and warmth are nearing an end. i do love that crunch of leaves beneath my boots. sigh. Autumn you’ve been so good. i think i love you.

oh and a recipe…well it’s basic biscuits really.

2c flour (the original recipe calls for unbleached white flour but i substituted 1 of the cups for spelt. i have tried whole wheat in the past but it’s really too heavy)

2tsp baking powder

salt

there’s no call for sugar but i often let my son sprinkle a teeny tiny token of it some brown or cane sugar because he loves the idea of sweet and will more likely eat something that has “sweet” in it.

i don’t really measure the butter but in my books it has to be butter because butter is good fat!! got that all? good for you fat. so i cut it in cold and keep in mind that the less handling the flakier the biscuit. i haven’t got a pastry blender despite it being on the “to get” list for ages so i use a fork.

make a well and add 1/3c milk (i’m loving our raw milk. mmm good for you too.) mix it just enough to bring the flour/butter mixture together.

dump it out onto a floured surface. pat it together and cut out your shapes.

what am i forgetting? oh right, brush the tops with milk so they look all shiny and brown and bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 mins. eat them hot with more good fat butter. coffee is always good at this time too.

the nutritional value is piddly really but they’re warm, comforting, easy to bake when you forget to let the bread dough rise overnight,  my little one loves them and  they’re better for you than a cookie and if i can pass this off as a cookie, well then put them on the baking list.