Wednesday, June 17, 2020

At Home in June



"It was June, and the world smelled of roses." 
Maud Hart Lovelace


June. The month beloved of poets, gardeners, students, and perhaps most of all, teachers. By the end of next week papers will be marked (on line), reports given (on line), graduation ceremonies finished (in a physically distanced manner), and summer holidays will begin. For many, this summer will look very different from others. Travel is limited. Summer camps are mostly cancelled. 

This week I was in a store queue behind a woman purchasing tents, sleeping bags and mats, and a variety of back yard activity equipment. "We can go anywhere," she said, "so we have to make being at home fun." Such a good plan. 

I love being at home. Even as restrictions ease I'm not going out much more than I have in the past months. 


June is strawberry season, sweet and juicy. I attempted a "Fraisier" last weekend and was half-pleased with the attempt. I'm planning another one for this weekend and know what to do to improve. The taste was wonderful; the appearance lacking. 

We invited four friends over to share an antipasto platter light supper (along with dessert) on the patio last weekend. It was so lovely to be together after four months.


"It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses,
When pleasant sights salute the eyes,
And pleasant scents the noses."
Nathaniel Parker Willis

I'm in awe of the roses this year. June has been a cool damp month and the roses have flourished. Bloom after fragrant bloom appear. I cut bouquets for the house and for friends. I look out the window and my mouth curves upwards at the beauty. 


Pots of herbs sit on my windowsill and countertops. Mint is lush and green and I pick handfuls of it to stuff into pitchers of water in the fridge. Rosemary, basil, dill, oregano, thyme, and parsley flourish. June is filled with fragrance. 


This morning, before sitting down at my computer to mark and report, I picked a small bowl of ripe raspberries and just a few blueberries. The season for both is just beginning. How luxurious it is to wander outside and pluck delicious berries. 

The sun is shining today and a little breeze ruffles the leaves outside my window beckoning me to leave the house. So I shall. 

What delights your heart these June days?




37 comments:

  1. School has gone on a very long time there...

    The photo of the blueberries and raspberries is particularly appealing.

    Currently, I am pleased with the peonies as it is peony three days here.

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    1. School starts after Labour Day in September and ends in June. It does seem to lag once summer comes, but I'm glad we don't have to go back in August.

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  2. Lovely photos and post
    June is fast becoming a favorite month next to October. There is so much blooming, and ripened fruits, it make smiles feel not so hidden.

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    1. June can be cold and wet or sunny and warm - we've had a bit of both here.

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  3. Gosh your berries are amazing Lorrie - mine have to come from the market and are not that pretty.
    You have worked hard with the changes at school I know, so deserve a nice summer break. Like us, you probably aren't going too far - in fact we won't be going anywhere requiring a plane for some months yet.
    Happy garden time.
    I'm trying new Blogger - not enthralled by any stretch of the imagination yet!

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    1. There are a couple of things I can't figure out in the new Blogger, but it's going well generally speaking.

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Sorry, comment published twice, grrrrrr!

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  5. The Fraisier looks like something I would enjoy. An antipasto meal with friends sound wonderful. Beautiful roses.

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    1. The casual meal with friends was fun and easy to prepare.

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  6. A post just brimming with beauty. of course, roses are my favourite flower,and also the flower of the month of my birth.I love raspberries and could eat a bowl full at any time.The dessert you made looks fabulous .

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    1. Thank you, Ruth. Happy Birthday to you this month! I love raspberries more than strawberries!

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  7. I have never heard of a Fraisier but it looks delicious.
    I'm a real homebody so staying home during these past months was easy. Not seeing some of my grown children was more difficult. Now we're back to getting together regularly.

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    1. It is so very nice that we can gather again.

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  8. Well for starters, Lorrie, your photo of those GORGEOUS berries is making me happy. :D Oh, I adore summer berries, and yours look perfectly beautiful and so fresh. Is that pink rose in your first photo a Gertrude Jekyll? It's just lovely.

    I'm glad you're enjoying being home. I love being home, too, and I really like having my hubby here working from home. We're rubbing along quite nicely together.

    Have a wonderful week, my friend!

    Hugs,

    Denise

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    1. Hello Denise,
      Yes, the pink rose is a Gertrude Jekyll. She is so pretty and smells wonderful!

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  9. Lorrie - isn't it terrible that you have to "practice" making desserts? And that someone has to do the tasting? I can relate to your feeling of joy when looking out the window at your garden - everything is lush here with all the rain we've been receiving! I just can't wait for it to stop to get out there! I am sure you will enjoy your summer when all that marking is done!

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  10. I can't wait to host again. I so miss gathering with friends and family. We do have most of our family coming for Father's Day this weekend and we're so excited!

    Is it a good trade-off? The abundance of roses in exchange for a rainy, cool spring? Ooooo, that dessert (note to self: learn about Fraisiers) and those fresh-picked berries . . .

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  11. Such an uplifting post and filled with beauty. I must admit I am looking forward to hosting once again too. I have an abundance of mint such a great idea to keep some in the fridge.

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  12. Your June post filled with roses, colourful berries, and positive comments is a real tonic both to read and see.
    I am missing our family so much, we haven't seen any of them now since Christmas which feels such a long time ago.

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  13. The berries look so tasty! I may go over to the Florida Trails tomorrow and pick a few blueberries. There are plenty for the animals and they are dropping off the bushes! I love June! It's my favorite month. The mornings have been 'less hot' so it's great to get outside early here! Enjoy your day!

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  14. I would love to plant berries, but the bears would eat them. Our June has been very rainy.

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  15. Dear Lorrie,
    I had to look up Fraisier cake. Only you would bake such a challenging recipe. The cake looks delicious. Are you including Marzipan in your recipe?
    Your roses are stunning.

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    1. No, no marzipan, Gina. It's not my favourite thing to work with.

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  16. Just what I needed. A peek into your beautiful rose filled garden. My mouth is watering with the thought of the Frasier and your bowl of summer fruits. Like you I’m so enjoying the garden. It’s looking lush after a good few days of rain. The sun is back today. Bet you are looking forward to the holidays. B x

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  17. Your fraisier took me back to France, and the delcious taste and scents of strawberries.

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  18. Your roses are a thing of beauty and I shall try to imagine the lovely scent.
    As I am unfamiliar with a "fraisier", I was quite impressed with yours. Hope you'll share the next attempt too so I can see just what needs improving.

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  19. Thank you for the wonderful post, Lorrie! What a cake! :)
    The cheerful green colours and many lovely scents delight my heart now.
    Happy Midsummer!

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  20. I love being home. Now that we really must stay home, we are tackling some big projects.

    I'm always surprised when I hear the words "strawberry season". We live in a major strawberry growing area and literally have them year round. But, I rarely make anything with them and seeing your treat makes me think I should make something fun.

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  21. When I was a child I never thought that teachers would be happy for school to be over! I've never heard of a Fraisier but I can't imagine yours lacking in appearance, not as pretty as that one is. And to have your own berries is a true luxury. I'm looking forward to making a strawberry Pavolova tomorrow with family coming over for a birthday celebration and my berries are the first organic ones at my local market this year. What delights my heart this June? These cool mornings we've had through May and June where I can leave windows and doors open for hours. That will end soon. Also, I'm enjoying getting to go to the market for myself now. But most of all what delights me now is seeing more of family again.

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  22. Lorrie, a delight glimpse of your days in June. I love that quotation by Maud Lovelace. I don't smell roses in the air around here, but our Dwarf Korean lilac is filling the front yard with sweet fragrance. It's heavenly. Your dessert looks heavenly too. And how lovely to sit with friends and share time and food again.

    We still are advised in AB not to share food or drink yet if we visit with friends. It feels odd to say, bring your own food and nibbles. Hopefully one day that will change too for us. Like you, my stay at home practices are pretty much the same as they were all through isolation months. We shop only for essential and only once a week. Except for plants, but I consider those essentials, don't you? (Wink!) Thankfully, the greenhouses have it so you can shop comfortably as long as you keep the social distance. I haven't been in a bookshop or coffee shop yet.

    Wishing you a beautiful weekend, Lorrie.
    Brenda xox

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  23. I think I just saw a Frasier being made on King Arthurs Flour site. It looked great. So does yOURs!

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  24. Flowers from the garden and strawberries from a farm stand are my delight for June. Your strawberry dessert looks delicious. Your flowers wonderful. Love the herbs in jars. We must make little pleasures each day. Glad your school time is coming to an end for this season. Happy summer!

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  25. Your strawberry dessert looks delicious and funnily enough we've just enjoyed some raspberries and blueberries with some cream.
    Summer is here :)

    All the best Jan

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  26. I barely went out before the pandemic so I'm happy to stay at home and will continue to stay close to home as the province re-opens.

    I'm all about strawberries these days so I'm intrigued by your fraisier cake! I've also enjoyed some blackberries or blueberries with my iced tea.



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  27. I never heard of a Fraisier, Lorrie, but yours look beautiful, and I can't imagine you improving on it. I never mind being a homebody, either, as I enjoy the comforts of home. Having fresh berries from your own patch, must be heavenly. I've been busy this month with fun things with the grands.

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  28. What lovely feelings your post evoke. Look at those berries! Ours are not ready yet and I can't wait. Today will be a hot one. I love going out early and smelling our roses. Take care and have a good summer! Kit

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