40 - Slow Summer Days in the French Countryside | Harvests, Brocantes & Garden Blooms

Bonjour! I hope you are doing well. Whilst my children are away at the beach, we've been enjoying slow summer days here at home in the French countryside, doing the simple things we love. As summer is blooming, so are the fields, and so we decided to visit the Pick Your Own farm once again. I looked up quite a few recipes beforehand so we would pick enough, but only what we truly need, as it is so tempting once you're there to just keep on filling your basket. Everything looks so beautiful, so abundant, it's almost impossible to stop. There is something quietly magical about picking your own produce, the way your hands smell fainty of tomatoes or strawberries warmed by the sun, the sound of leaves brushing against your arm as you reach for another fruit, and the simple joy of knowing exactly where and how your food grew. It's food, yes, but it's also a memory, a little moment in time you get to take home. I may be getting ahead of myself, but I wanted to make plenty of relish and chutney to keep in sterilized jars and enjoy all the way into winter. I'm already imagining the joy of tasting those summer flavors again later in the year, with all the memories stitched into them. We picked capsicums, aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes and strawberries, enough to make three different recipes. On Sunday morning, we went to a tiny brocante not far from home. Most people in our region are away for the summer, so the brocante tend to be small, except for the ones along the coast, but we didn't feel like getting lost in the crowds this time. I found a set of vintage nativity figurines. I usually only collect the animals, but I couldn't bring myself to break the set, and I thought it was a little peculiar to thrift a nativity scene in the middle of August on a scorching hot day. I also found a lovely little copper pot that cleaned up beautifully. I used a copper cleaner from the hardware store, a soft cloth and a lot of elbow grease. I simply oiled the cast iron andor and it looked as though it had been waiting for a new chapter in someone's kitchen. After yet another heat wave in many regions, I gathered the few blooms I could find in the now very dry garden. I'm so happy that at last I managed to grow dahlias this year, and now I understand why people love them so much. They may need extra attention in the beginning, but when they finally open, they are like a soft burst of silk and color in the garden, so worth every bit of care. I grew two varieties, fleurelle with its big pure white blooms and the soft creamy cafe au lait. I'm already looking at the varieties I'd like to try next year and on that note, if there are some you recommend, there is nothing better than advice from one gardener to another, so I'd love to hear your favorites. These quiet simple days are the very reason we chose to live in the countryside, where the closeness to nature is part of daily life and where beauty is often found in the humblest of moments. It's the slow rhythm of the seasons, the small treasures gathered along the way and the deep contentment that comes from living gently in one place. Thank you for spending this time with me and wherever you are, I hope you are finding your own moments of peace and joy. A bientot!