Sunday 22 July 2012

weekendings















Weekends are flying buy...weeks too. It's hard to keep up. 


Last weekend was H's birthday. It was on Sunday, St. Swithun's day and thankfully it didn't rain...so hopefully we won't have a deluge for the next forty days. A picnic was requested so I spent Saturday preparing. I baked sausage rolls and prawns in filo pastry.  Asparagus wrapped in Serrano Ham and baby sandwiches of egg mayonnaise with cress, and smoked salmon with cream cheese. Made cous-cous salad with roasted vegetables and a big batch of houmous to eat with celery sticks. Prepared a good cheese board and made a jelly from grape and peach juice with a little vodka, and coffee cupcakes with thick coffee butter icing, strawberries and cream. We packed up the boot of the car and drove down to her house on Sunday and ate lunch with H and friends, and drank weak French beer from little glass bottles. In the evening H went with friends to a trial run of five course meal and exhibition at a pop-up restaurant organised by artist friend for the Olympic Games.  A and I met up with our good ones for Chinese meal before driving home to Oxford late Sunday night.


This weekend Summer returned. We did lots of gardening and lots of sorting out. I had a major revolution in my little study. We bought paint for it from Orinoco .  'A' made spinach and courgette pizza from the little pots in the garden and I made two rich fruit cakes with dates and nuts and honey rum liqueur to take to Sussex. One for us, and one to leave for my sister as a thank you for letting us have a holiday in her lovely big house with a chiming clock and a log fire whilst she's away with her family on holiday too.


I'm linking over to Amanda's The Habit of Being for weekending...


I hope that you had a good weekend too...

14 comments:

  1. Love the little frog in the photo-he thinks he cannot be seen :) Love your windowsill with the basil-so sunny and bright!! Lovely relaxing weekend.

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  2. He's so cute isn't he...keeping so still to try and fool me that he isn't really there! It was a beautiful sunny weekend and good to mix with relaxation.
    Hope yours was as good.
    Deb

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  3. Debby, after reading your posts I always want to move across the pond and buy a home next to you so we can cook, garden, knit and share meals together. Your family is so blessed to have you!
    {I agree, time is just flying by too fast].
    Are you going to be able to attend any of the Olympic games? My son is so excited for them to start.

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    1. How sweet Tracey...sorry just replying but we've been away. Oh that would be perfect.

      We didn't get any tickets as so many of our friends had tried to no avail. But it's difficult not to watch it you walk past a tv showing any sport...it's so easy to get drawn in and admire the athletes stamina and energy and determination. Hopefully we'll manage to get to see something before it's over to soak up even more of the atmosphere.
      Deb

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  4. first, i was struck by how green your yard is! so lush and lovely. and then, the food. i just ate lunch and now, i'm hungry again having read about all your good eats.

    you can come vacay in my house any old time you want, cakes are always welcome ;-)

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  5. What a lovely idea to have a holiday in your sister's house and how lovely to come home to a beautiful cake!

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  6. Time is surely moving faster. I agree. Such a lush landscape, although I hope it doesn't rain for the next 40 days for your sake. Your picnic sounds divine. Happy Birthday to your H.

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    1. Thanks Heather. We've just had an amazing sunny week but sadly looks like we may be in for the deluge over the weekend! Never mind I won't have to water any vegetables!

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  7. Happy birthday to h (:btw, care to share that jelly made from grape and peach juice with vodka? it sounds SO good.

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    1. I will definitely share it Shu Han. I'll let you know when I post the recipe.
      Deb

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  8. Your H is one lucky girl - that picnic sounds mouth-wateringly scrumptious!

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