end of summer delights...

We know it can't last forever...and so as summer wanes...I enjoy the treats of this season all the more.

How nice to have lunch on the patio most every day...

...and enjoy tomatoes fresh from the garden...every which way.

And the dahlias on the table have been such a treat...

...since they are new to my garden this year. My sister shared some tubers with me in spring...and had no idea what colour they were...but now we know.

And on the rail fence...my Mother's Day gift just goes on giving. It's a passion flower vine...with most exotic looking blooms.

The limelight hydrangeas are beginning to blush...and we know fall is waiting in the wings.

I have one plant of thornless blackberries in the garden...Marionberry is the variety...and have picked many buckets of berries from this healthy specimen. They are huge...juicy...and even good for us!

It may be September, but the everbearing raspberries are going strong! Every morning before breakfast...while I'm making the coffee...he's picking a bowl of raspberries to serve with the peaches and yogurt. We throw on a little granola...and one couldn't wish for a tastier breakfast.

And if it's dinner time...and there's company coming...put the fruit on a sheet cake and top with glaze and a few dollops of whipped cream. That is the taste of summer!

Over the past week or so...I've noticed many flocks of geese flying in formation. I'm not sure if they are heading in any particular direction just yet...or if they are simply organizing for the trip south...but it looks like they are on the move. A few days ago...I heard singing out above my front porch...

...and went out to take a look. A congregation of barn swallows had chosen my roof as their meeting place...

...it seems they too are gathering the troupes for the journey south. I'm always a little sad to see summer leave...but I know each season comes with it's own pleasures. And so I look forward to tomorrow!

Speaking of tomorrow...I will be back to tell you about a successful little shop in my neighbourhood which will soon be closing it's doors.

Have a great day...

pickles and peaches...

It's been lovely outdoors this summer...and I've been spending a lot of time on the patio. Although the chaise lounge and a good book look most appealing...it's the canning station where I have been spending some time. I was once big on canning...dozens of jars of beans, tomatoes, cherries, peaches, pears, pickles, beets...and anything else that caught my fancy. It was easy...back in the day...since my MIL always came to help can. Our farmhouse had a 'summer kitchen' downstairs...which was perfect for keeping the mess out of sight.

When we built a new home...five years ago...I knew I wouldn't be doing a whole lot of canning anymore. We put in a stove with a ceramic stovetop...not recommended for canning. But there are a few home canned items we can't live without...

...and so I use my outdoor canning station. It works just fine! My large canner fits nicely on the burner...the steam stays out-of-doors...and when the jars are processed...they are moved to the BBQ grill to cool. With the lid closed...no one is the wiser...and there the jars stay until I get around to putting them away...or we need the grill.

Yesterday I did dill pickles...a recipe I got from my mom...and we have never found any store bought pickles that quite compare.

What sets them apart? It's those little dried red chili peppers...with which I am quite generous...that add a little vim and vigour. If you eat a pickle...it may just warm you up!

The peaches are absolutely fantastic this year...since they have had all the sunshine need.

I've done up my box...and one of these days I will be going back to the summer kitchen of the old farmhouse to help Broni can peaches. That's what MIL's do.

The canning will not be complete until the salsa has been made...but I'll leave that for another day. I'm counting on more patio weather next week!

some things in life are still free...

Most things seem to come attached with a price tag in this day and age...but there are still some great events that are free. We had the privilege of checking out a wonderful community concert on the weekend...no tickets required.

Over the summer months, our local Business Improvement Association has sponsored a Friday night concert in Central Community Park and a night market at the same location. Friday night was the grand finale for this summer...and so we took our lawn chairs and went to enjoy some great bands on a warm summer evening. We were in good company...there were over 3000 others who decided to spend their Friday night in the very same way.

We weren't there long...before some friends happened along...and set up their chairs next to ours. These are friends who live in our neighbourhood...but who we don't get a chance to catch up with all that often. So catch up we did...while the bands played on! Now I'm not talking about subdued background music...but rather loud and robust country and rock. So our talking must have been more like shouting...because we all left with rather hoarse throats when the night was over.

While we chatted together...we reminisced with our friends about our climb up Mt. Cheam together many years ago. We guessed it must have been more than 10 years ago...but our friend knew it had been August 28, 1998. How coincidental was that? Eleven years to the day after our mountaintop adventure...we met by accident at our local 'party in the park'.

We had a good evening...good music, good company, good weather...and it was all free (even the hoarse throat). Some of the best things in life are free!

Have a terrific Tuesday...