First Strawberries

We picked the first fresh strawberries from the allotment at the weekend. Which left me with the question 'what's a girl to do?'

Jam or shortcake? Jam or shortcake............................?

Shortcake won out at the end of the day - as you may of gathered.

Wellllll, we are going to have a bumper crop this year - if I do say so myself - so a few less for jamming won't matter too much and who can resist a bit of strawberry shortcake?

Not my hoard - that's for sure.

Sweet and cakey filled with lickety mascarpone cream and macerated (crushed) strawberries all oozing from the edges.

Is that not one of 'the best' Summer puddings to indulge oneself in?

It is - of course - the 1st of June tomorrow so for me, as from midnight it will officially be late Spring no more.

With a nod and a wink........................

~ Hello Summer ~

For all that want to join me and indulge in some deliciously shortcake scoffing I used Nigella's recipe, but with a square cookie cutter rather then round.

I thought it would yield more filling - don't ask me why, I just had this notion in my head.

It's also worth while following the method to the letter as the end product is just absolutely divine.

Happy baking............and eating.

xXx

Bank Holiday

Just relaxing - enjoying the sun.

Watching the girls giggling as they blow bubbles into the breeze and our eldest sprawled out on the trampoline following the clouds float by, tracing outlines with his fingers in the air.

Mr B is snoozing at the end of the garden in the little sun trap pretending to read a book. And I'm just watching, listening and enjoying my family doing family things.........the peace of it all - happy days.

Happy bank holiday Monday to you all.

xXx

Lurking

I'm still here - thank you all for asking - just a little under the weather and not feeling terribly perky at the moment.

I am however lurking - in the background - doing something I never normally get the chance to do.

Here's wishing you all a smashing weekend.

Nina xxx

Back from lunch

We've just got back from lunch - little Miss Boo and I.

Ham sandwiches from plastic wrap bread and an orange capri sun each - beach fodder. Minus the hard boiled egg!

All scoffed in the hut to avoid sand in our sarnies and begging hungry seagulls.

Ripples of a different kind.

This time of year is so calming on the seafront and most especially on our little patch of sand where the beach hut is erected.



Kids still at school, grown ups at work - just the odd parent and toddler (like myself and boo) or pensioner - sometimes two - as a couple with deckchairs wrapped underarm, their eye on a piece of the warm underfoot sand to softly doze off in said deckchair or possibly just out for a stroll enjoying the beach, crystal clear sea, swoop and call of the odd seagull, the sun, the warmth, the peace and the serenity of it all.

As I type I have in my head that all hell is about to break loose - it is that time of day again.

Toodle pip for now.

Enjoy your day.

xXx

On my table

When eating al fresco will only do.

~ Quick Bruschetta ~

One of my favourite lunches - as posted about in Tabiboo's early, early years!

It's a little - well a lot - early for toms yet, but the basil is from the greenhouse. Home grown is so delicious and most fragrant.

I do love our greenhouse!

Right, without a cloud in the sky and Mr Blackbird softly serenading me again, I'm heading off out into the back garden as I think I've done 'my' bit on the house management side today. Still looks like a pit though!

Have a beautiful day,

xXx

Open Air Viewing

:: Saturday night ::

Meeting up with lovely friends, sipping wine, hot chocolate toddies and stoking the barbie.

Little ones running here, there and everywhere - a real family occasion.



Sat on the beach - under the stars - hearing the waves lap with a few hundred other chilled out folks all waiting, waiting, waiting in anticipation for one thing to start.



A big screen erected up against the chalky white cliff face and the infectious music of ABBA playing.

Can you guess?

This weekend gone was the 'Big Weekend' down here and the film Mamma Mia had us all making our way down to the beach Saturday evening to watch, sat amongst the sand and stars - kids and all - dancing, singing and swaying along in our own little way.

Happy weekends - don't you just love this time of year.

xXx

Not a cloud in the sky

:: My day has consisted of so far ::


Skipping the girls to school.

Cycling up to the allotment.

Doing the washing up - boring.

Lunching on blueberries, strawberries and an apple fruit salad.

Sitting in the garden sipping my tea watching the bumble bees busy at work whilst listening to the blackbirds sing to each other, marvelling at the blueness of the sky and - almost - burning my shoulders!


And this afternoon (after I've collected the girls) will probably include vacuuming at some point - boring again - and the rest will be as it comes.

Here's wishing you a most wonderful weekend.

xXx

Anyhoo

Tabiboo is back up and running again - phew!

What a bizarre week it's been......so far.

Like most of the surrounding counties of London our broadband connection went down on Monday evening - vandals!! And only returned (to our knowledge) in the early hours of this morning.

I hope yours is back now.

I can not tell you how relieved I am to have my little computer time back again. Not that it was a lot in the first place, but I do tend to order most things via the internet.

It hasn't been all bad though - not being online.

Tuesday I ventured into our neighbouring town of Ramsgate and treated myself to a little (cough, cough) Waitrose shop. I also found the last (on the shelf) copy of Mollie Makes in WHSmith.


Such a beautiful publication though - in my opinion - it could do with a little more pages and maybe a bit more info/insight on thrifting or being thrifty.


Then again it's not a self sufficiency mag so I don't know why I'm mentioning this at all.

I guess what I'm trying to say is a bit more make do and mend would make it just perfect.......for me. Not bad for a first publication though and so beautifully presented. Very easy on the eye.



Anyhoo, I just popped in to say 'hello' I'm back - fingers crossed - just for now.

My posting from last Thursday is also back, but re published on Tuesday!

Also 'thank you' if you originally left a comment on this post. Unfortunately blogger has lost them all. Never mind at least my day is not missing now and I don't feel out of sorts anymore.

And on that note - just look at all the stuff coming up in the greenhouse - pictures taken no less then this morning - if you hadn't already guessed the content of my photos that is.

Yep the sun is still shining here. It's 78 degrees in there at this very moment in time and everything is thriving wonderfully.

Well have a fabulous sun filled day - I'm off to join my cup of green tea in the back garden and watch the swifts bomb and squeal overhead.

Nina x

Free Wheeling

We are still having such glorious weather down here in the South East, not a drop on the ground at all.

Not so good for gardeners, allotments or farmers alike and with water quota's the way that they are.........mmmmmm I do hope we get a splash or two soon.


Anyhoo - I thought I would take a leaf out of my lovely friend Lou's book this morning and cycle myself off up to the allotment to do some much needed weeding and watering.

Plus a little planting.

I've had my bike for ages now (she's called Bonnie) - well over a year if my memory serves me right - and I've only just started riding her this past month or so. Naughty and neglectful I know.


But blimey, how much do my thighs ache - and that's just up the road.....and back again!

It's not so bad when I head down to the seafront, it is pretty much free wheeling and coasting all the way down and just one itsy little hill on the way home. Well two if you're counting, but I get off and walk up the last one.


I'm building myself up to ride her down to the beach hut and back - that is a lot of very steep hills. OK going down, not so OK going up if you know what I mean?

I do love her so.

And on the allotment front - all watering and most weeding done. I also found a spoon buried whilst digging and the strawberries are just starting to go red - whoop, whoop strawberry jam here we come. Happy days.

Have a lovely day.

xXx