Family life

It takes a lot for me to buy strawberries in the supermarket these days but I couldn't resist the smell of these as I busied myself on Friday morning doing the weekly shop:

Anyway, got home unpacked and then got out my little prize:

 

I put them on a plate with a few twists of black pepper and they were divine. Have you ever tried strawberries with a hint of black pepper? Of not, you're missing something. There's something about the pepper that brings out the real flavour of the fruit. You can also try them with balsamic vinegar but I prefer the pepper. Needless to say it didn't take me long to scoff the lot and I wished I'd bought more and not been so snooty.

Reminds me that I must find a fruit farm around here as it's June and raspberry jam making time. It's also elderflower cordial time too but I still have some bottles left over from last year so I'm going to pass on that.

Amber came back from her school trip last week and it was so nice to have her back. It had been so quiet without her. I think we missed her more than the boys did - after all it must be nice not to have your bossy, prone to bad tempers big sister around for a week. However they did make her a banner and we had a lovely cream tea to celebrate:

 

 

Talking of bad tempers Rohan seems to have changed overnight since turning twelve. He's been cheeky (more than usual that is), moody, restless and irritable. I think it's more to do with the fact that he's bored rather than his age. He's made a number of friends at school but none of them seem to socialise much outside. Things that interested him before seem to have lost their pull and in his boredom he's begging-nagging to go on Bebo (like Facebook). In Gloucestershire he was lucky to have a couple of friends down the lane and they would get together and go off and play. Other times he'd go up the lane to groom someone's horse or to muck out the stables. Then there was going off on his own for a bike ride. Well, none of those options are available here so we had a chat about it last night and thought of things we could set in place for him: asking one friend over a week; playing tennis with Dad after supper; going swimming and the like. This morning he decided to do some cooking and made Bunce's Doughnuts from Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes Book. He did the mixing and I did the frying:

Glad I got on top of this sooner than later - couldn't bear two grumpy children in the family. To be fair Amber isn't grumpy - she's just prone to volcanic outbursts now and again. She's happy at school, has a good circle of friends and plenty of places to hang out here. She has a play coming up and then a ball at the beginning of July. I think in the end she might just wear the dress that I bought her off eBay at Christmas although she's a bit worried about being overdressed. Most of her friends are wearing slightly smarter-than-usual summer dresses. Amber's one is taffeta and shimmers as she moves:

Just want to say thank you before I go to everyone who bought craft supplies from me. I found a heap of knitting wool that needs to go - Rowan, Colinette and some blue wool that I used to make the French Market bag on Knitty:

 

I'll be listing it all next week sometime. I have to say that it's lovely getting rid of stuff and paring down to the bare minimum.

Comments

[TheSockKnitter]

WOW!!!!!! I am not sure where you live, but I have to tell you that if I were to EVER see strawberries for sale in NY that looked ANYTHING close to what they look like, I would pay ANY amount for them -- they are THE most perfect specimens of the fruit I think I have ever seen!

You are very fortunate that you have such lovely fruit available to you!!!! May I come visit and share your next sweet haul, pretty please?? I'll even give the black pepper a go! I've had them with the balsamic *YUMMYYYYY* so I know you know of what you speak when you say pepper is good as well :)

[TheSockKnitter]

Oh, I should have continued to read past the berries!

That dress is STUNNING and the donuts are making me even more hungry -- but I can't have those :(

I WILL be checking out your for sale things, too! Can never have too much is my motto ;)

[Marie]

I was just extolling to my mum on the phone yesterday about how delicious fresh strawberries were with a grinding of black pepper scattered over top. I do hope she will try it when her berries come in. (they are a bit later in Canada)Those donuts look fab! I have not made donuts in years. I think I may just have to make some soon! That dress is just beautiful and I can well imagine so is the wearer. She has a pretty wonderful figure at any rate!!! Love the bag and the things you are selling also. Makes me wish I had more time to craft!!! I would so love to not have to go out to work each day so I could explore more of my creative side! XXOO

[Meike]

Hi Simmy,

I received my dyed wool this weekend and it's lovely! Nice and vibrant colours, just like in the picture, and ever so soft. Thanks again!

[simone]

The doughtnuts look perfect! One would go down nicely with the cup of coffee I have just made but jaffa cakes will have to do! I was tempted to buy your varigated cotton but I was too late! Are you giving up on your crafts Simmy or have you got other projects in the pipeline?

[Thimbleina]

Amber's dress looks lovely. As you have mentioned Elderflower cordial I thought I would try some with your recipe this year. Can you tell me where you got the citric acid from ?as I can't find any at the supermarket and don't know where else to look.