Apples & lavender

 

We have a gnarled, ancient dwarf apple tree next to a long clump of lavender and I can't get over how nice the two look together when they're both in bloom. The plumpest red and green apples bending branches so low they skim the grass, against a backdrop of purple lavender brimming with honey bees and bumble bees.

(I sound like an old lady.)

The apple harvest is going on and on this year, every evening we come in from the garden with a few more handfuls. There are more apples than we can store or eat, more than we know what to do with. I already have plans for apple and blackberry kuchen (a Nigella Lawson recipe found here), apple pies, crumbles, stewed apples with yoghurt for breakfast, baked apples... Apparently the blackberry crop this year is going to be huge too - go for a ramble and you're bound to find some, even in the most un-rural of towns. I still can't believe people actually buy those expensive punnets of blackberries from the supermarkets when you can fill up a few Tupperwares for free!

I planted some wheat just for fun in the spring and it's finally gone tall and swishy and gold. Reminds me of going for walks across fields in Devon and Cornwall - which is where I'll be this time next week, at last! I'm in desperate need of a change of scene. Fingers crossed there's not too much rain.

Olympic spectating

Last week we went to Bushy Park again, to see the men complete the Olympic cycling time trials. The park is looking beautiful this time of year - waist high golden grasses and glimpses of antlers between the dark green horse chestnut trees. I didn't have much time to appreciate it because we were convinced we were too late and power walked all the way across to Chestnut Avenue (exhausting). Somehow, however, our efforts paid off and we managed to end up right at the front of the barrier.

The atmosphere was great. TV copters circling above, people everywhere enjoying the spectacle and the sunshine, balloons, flags, picnics, Bradley Wiggins supporters with their trademark fake sideburns, and a crackle of anticipation as each cyclist whistled past. London should be happier more often.

I still don't get the whole sports patriotism/Team GB thing - when Wiggins cycled past the hysteria grew so loud my ears were ringing - but I am proud of London for hosting what has been so far a really successful Games. My mum's a cancer nurse and one of her Jamaican patients was just so cheered up and enthused by Usain Bolt's 100m win the other night. If you're ever wondering what the point of the Olympic Games is, I guess that's one answer.

Just a minute in July

Reading
One day during the heatwave I sat under the shade of the apple tree and read the whole of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. I read a section of it as background material for A level English and was put off by the dialect it's written in, but this time around I fell in love with it. Such an empowering, heartwarming book, with all the atmosphere of a hot American summer.  

Listening to
Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball album - firmly in the honeymoon period with this one, I have to listen to songs from it every day - and Paul Simon's Graceland.

Watching
Some of the Olympics coverage - mainly tennis (not sure why it's an Olympic sport but it's basically like Wimbledon again so I'm not complaining), and a bit of track, swimming and gymnastics.

Buying
I'm trying to watch the pennies at the moment due to a reduction in work hours, but I did find lots of good secondhand books for 50p each - summer holiday reading sorted. I also bought some chocolate flavoured tea which I'm pretty excited about trying!

Loving
Phoebe Wahl's illustrations, all the bees and butterflies enjoying the lavender outside, writing lists, and almond milk.

 

These three images belong to the gorgeously talented Phoebe Wahl.