Wednesday 9 May 2018

Happy Weekend


I don't know if it was the same for everyone, but the weather here last weekend was simply glorious. It was such an unexpected surprise, as predictably for a Bank Holiday weekend, the original forecast for us wasn't great. And doesn't some sunshine make all the difference? We spent most of every day outside having fun, and it was for the very first time that I could see Lily's disappointment at the thought of having to return to school on Tuesday morning. We had such a relaxing time we could be forgiven for thinking we were on holiday.



On Saturday Lily was at a party for a couple of hours , so while she was being entertained it was fish and chips by the beach for me. They are not something I eat very often but accompanied by some fresh sea air and eaten with one of those little wooden forks they are so delicious.
The rest of the day was spent in the garden.  The vegetables don't appear to be making much progress but the same cannot be said of our little trees! The Oak tree and Horse Chestnut are coming on a treat with the warmer weather. These were grown from an acorn and a conker we picked up on our walks so I do hope they continue to grow and thrive.



Dinner that evening was leftover Thai fish curry from the previous night. This meant, very little work for me, and therefore, a tidy kitchen. Being such a small space it looks so much lighter and brighter in there with the evening sunshine.






On Sunday we decided to go for a short walk in the Lakes. We were fortunate in that we were awake nice and early, so set off in good time and managed to avoid any busy traffic. The pathway up the hillside is a short, steep climb but once through the cool shade of the trees the views are worth it and it has the advantage of the small tarn which is ideal for cooling off with a paddle. It would also be the perfect spot for a picnic, but instead we chose to eat on our way down at our favourite high bench, so it involved a bit of leg swinging.





As far as Lily is concerned, hot, sunny weather means a day at the beach, so on Monday morning after hunting out the bucket and spade from the back of the shed, that's exactly where we went and spent several hours relaxing, collecting shells and making sand castles. It felt so good to feel the sand between my toes, although after we had both laid down on the beach to make sand angels it was in lots of other places too!
Once home again, with the paddling pool up in the garden for Lily, I set about making some Focaccia using Mitzi's recipe here. It was so simple, didn't take long, and served with some some cheese, olives and a glass of white wine, eating out in the garden was the perfect, indulgent way to end such a lovely weekend.
J. X

44 comments:

  1. Looks and sounds like you had a great weekend - I love the photo underneath the one of your kitchen, it looks gorgeous there :)

    I didn't go away so spent a couple of days taking the dogs for really long walks, though Michael and I did got out on Sunday and got caught up in the traffic hell. I wrote a blog post about it when I got back! :(

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    1. It was a lovely walk Eunice. It was fairly quiet too, with not so many people around so early in the day. It's not much fun getting caught up in traffic so we try our best to avoid it. X

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  2. Judging by the photographs it looks like you had a lovely weekend Jules. So glad the focaccia turned out all right it looks delicious on the board with olives and cheese and I think wine must be the compulsory component to the dish. Its prompted me to may be make some more to have this weekend with cheese as no doubt we'll be working in the garden again this weekend if the weather holds. Thank you for the mention always nice to get recognition from a follow blogger. I have already made more tea bread upon request for a meeting tomorrow just needs the icing adding tonight.

    Enjoy the rest of your week.

    Mitzi

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    1. It was such a great weekend Mitzi. The focaccia was so delicious and I'm looking forward to trying out your lasagne recipe later this week. The weather is looking good for the weekend so I hope you get to enjoy more time in the garden. X

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  3. Perfect looks like just the word for it Jules. We didn't go anywhere but it was lovely to be able to throw open the windows and doors for some fresh air.
    We ate in the garden on Sunday after the sun had moved round a little and it's amazing how good food tastes eaten outdoors.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. It was so good Sheila. It's nice to get out, but when the weather is so beautiful it can be just as satisfying and relaxing to stay at home in the garden. X

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  4. What a wonderful weekend Jules, your spread is positively Mediterranean. You share such quality time with Lilly she will have such great memories when she has grown up. Lovely photos as always.

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    1. That's just what I said Tania! I even had a slight holiday glow too.
      I hope Lily has lots of happy childhood memories when she grows up. X

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  5. Oh My Goodness! Why would anyone ever want to go abroad on holiday when our own country is so gloriously, stunningly beautiful? Well, I suppose the weather is unpredictable but honestly, you should be paid by the Tourist Board! I'm glad you and Lily had such a good time. Who doesn't like a bit of leg-swinging and focaccia? xx

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    1. We do live in such a beautiful country, and when we get some good weather we can really appreciate it. X

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  6. Sounds amazing. I must admit to been a tad envious of the glorious weather, it has been quite cool and damp here on the Isle of Lewis. I am hoping it will pick up soon as we have family visiting later in the month and those dreamy days on the beach with a picnic sound idyllic.

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    1. I would be envious too. Our original forecast wasn't good and I was spitting feathers at the thought of the rest of the country basking in the sunshine. Hoping some sunny weather is heading your way so you can enjoy some wonderful family picnics. X

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  7. It's been such a lovely weekend and you've certainly made the most of it with trips out as well as spending time in the garden. The sun's been shining again here today but it's been much cooler and I think we're in for some rain as it's looking rather dull now. Oh well, it was lovely whilst it lasted.

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    1. It's been really lovely Jo. The gardens will be thankful for some rain at least. X

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  8. What a lovely weekend. As usual, your photos are beautiful. And Focaccia looks delicious.
    It's getting warmer here. Mornings are still nice though. Right now as I type, the AC is on because it's quite hot in the afternoons.

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    1. Thank you Nil. The focaccia was delicious and so very easy. It never gets hot enough here for air conditioning. :-) X

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  9. What a lovely weekend Jules. A bit of sunshine really does do wonders doesn't it and always seems to lend itself to simple yet delicious food. Your days out always look so enjoyable, Lily is certainly growing up isn't she.

    I do love a tidy kitchen - it's a rarity in this house but on Friday I make a concerted effort to completely clear the surfaces of everything that has been dumped there during the week. Friday is the day of choice because it's my home alone day and I get to enjoy the de-cluttered look for a few hours before all the bits start creeping in again. xx

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    1. It's been wonderful Suzanne, and I hope you enjoyed the sunny weather at the caravan. That really must feel like a holiday for you.
      Lily is growing up fast and she can just flipping well stop it! :-D
      It's a lovely feeling when the kitchen is free from clutter and looks tidy and clean. It rarely happens here either. X

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  10. Yes, the Bank Holiday weather was simply amazing wasn't it.
    I loved seeing all of your photographs, what a wonderful time you had.

    I must say the Focaccia served with cheese, olives and a glass of white wine, looked and sounded simply wonderful.

    Happy midweek wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Even though we hadn't made any plans in advance we really made the most of the weekend and enjoyed a wonderful time.
      The focaccia was delicious and I will definitely be making it again. X

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  11. Sounds like you had a great weekend...

    ...and Lily had a birthday party to go to too so even better :)

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  12. so lovely. Your enjoyment for life outdoors is contagious! Love the picnic food, that's my kind of a meal, so next time, send me an invite! ;o) xx

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    1. Thank you Sadie. I love spending time outdoors, although as you can probably tell, I'm not one of those hardy sorts that's out in all weathers. Next time I'll send an invite if you promise to bring the wine! ;-) X

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  13. We certainly were blessed with beautiful weather for the Bank Holiday weekend. Wonderful that you made the most of it, sun, sea, sand, fresh air and fish and chips. Your photos are lovely, no wonder Lily didn't want to go back to school on the Tuesday.

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    1. Thankfully, I think the weather was good for most people Eileen, which for a Bank Holiday weekend made for a refreshing change. I couldn't blame Lily for her reluctance on Tuesday, I didn't want to go back to work either. X

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  14. What a lovely weekend you had. Having cool sand beneath your toes is such a wonderful feeling.

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    1. It did feel good Arleen, but in my hair, stuck to my back and neck maybe not so much. 😃 X

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  15. So glad you had such a nice weekend with the weather cooperating! I loved seeing the little trees growing from seeds you planted! You live in a very beautiful area and your photographs are lovely! Thank you for sharing your weekend with us. Hope Lily wasn't too upset about having to go to school on Tuesday. :)

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    1. Thank you Bless. The little trees have grown even more over the last few days.
      Lily was fine on Tuesday morning. She likes school really, she'd just had a really lovely time at the weekend. X

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  16. Yes it was a lovely weekend...if only you lived around the corner...sigh!! x

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    1. And you would be more than welcome Jackie. X

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  17. Happy to hear that you had a wonderful time!
    Beautiful blossoms!
    Amazing shots!
    Yummy dishes! I too sometimes manage dinner with the left overs:)
    Cute and tidy small kitchen:)

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    1. Thank you for your comment. Leftovers are good aren't they? And I find a curry often tastes better the following day too. X

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  18. Oooh, fish and chips by the beach! My all time favourite holiday treat is sea-side fish & chips followed by a bit of handmade fudge. Why DO my posts and comments so often mention food?
    Beautiful pictures of beautiful places. You are so lucky to have such easy access to one of the lovliest areas in the country. What a wonderful place to bring up Lily.

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    1. The fish and chips were delicious Eloise. I think they taste so much better by the sea. We enjoyed a wonderful weekend and are so lucky to live where we do. X

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  19. That really is gorgeous, all of it.

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    1. Thank you Sandi. It was a lovely way to spend the weekend. X

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  20. That sky! Gorgeous.

    So glad you had such a perfect sounding weekend, especially with a little break from too much cooking, hooray for leftovers.

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    1. I couldn't believe just how blue the sky was that day. Jigsaw blue I call it.
      Using up the leftovers and not having to cook at the end of a busy day is just the best. Hooray indeed TD. X

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  21. Looks like a lovely weekend and the kind of weather that just begs you to get out in it.
    As much as I love cooking it is definitely nice to use up some leftovers and have a day off every now and then. I think I'd also be happy to eat platters for meals more often than not - just to convince hubby that they are filling for a meal and not just a snack....
    Cheers,
    Laura

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    1. Thank you Laura. The weather was beautiful over the weekend and it was so good to get out.
      Leftovers are great aren't they. I do enjoy cooking, but when it's nice and sunny I'd rather spend my time outdoors, rather than in the kitchen. X

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  22. It sounds like a perfect week and isn’t your land beautiful? Lily looks like she’s levitating in that photo! Will have to try the recipe x

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    1. A little bit of sunshine can make such a difference to how we spend our time and we have such beautiful countryside in which to enjoy it.
      Haha! I see what you mean about the photograph. X

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