Preserving summer

Spent the morning on my little balcony garden and planted a few more flowers, trying to preserve a bit of summer before it slips through our hands. Mada has been chewing on all my plants constantly, so I assumed it was time to get her her very own cat grass. Looks like she's rather fond of the idea!

I was in a bit of a spring cleaning/renovating mood and painted one of my bedroom walls blue. I had bought this paint ages ago, and when my friend spotted it (back then), she asked: "Oh? Baby blue? In a baby mood?", so I refrained from using it. She was quite right. I initially wanted it to be more matte and slightly smokey or slate, a bit colonial-style (if that makes any sense). I even bought some extra paint to tone it down a bit. 

But it's still blue. Baby blue. Very much so.

Sunny sunday

Oh, such a sunny morning! I spent some time on the balcony looking after my tomato plants. They look terrible. As if all their energy went into providing me with so many delicious tomatoes, and now they're just totally worn out. I might have to find a foster home for them.

I also made another to do list. I have several scattered around the house, which I sometimes find after months. It's always amusing to browse through them, and still satisfying to strike off the things I managed to actually do. The leftovers make their way onto my current list. Like movies I really wanted to watch for ages. And musicians I never had the time to check out properly.

Here's another knitting project that's been occupying me for a while. I started rather feverishly with the smaller sleeves, and didn't think I would actually get this far. Now I'm out of wool.

The pattern is so adorable, reminds me of waffles. 
With powdered sugar and icecream. Mhmm...

Plums and tomatoes

You probably guessed it already. It was baking time again. The terrible weather has reminded me of autumn, so I felt like baking a proper cake for exactly that season. The plums weren't really that ripe yet, but "sour things make you merry", as we say around here. And merriness was just what I needed.

This is a one-(wo)man cake, by the way, in case you were wondering why those plums look so gigantic. I've been using this special tin ring as well for my carrot cake, and it's been quite practical for those recipes you cut in half, cause you really aren't expecting such a big tea-party. It's also perfect for test-cakes, if you haven't tried a recipe before yet.

I have been enjoying my self grown tomatoes so much. I'm amazed how well they're doing. And it all began with such a tiny seed!

It's always surprising to meet people who don't like tomatoes. Well, of course you are allowed to dislike tomatoes, just as much as I dislike broccoli. And we won't argue about it. But if I ever had to go on a desert island and could only choose 3 kinds of vegetables, it would be tomatoes, garlic, and tomatoes - without batting an eye. 

Probably noone is going to ask me about my preferences in the department of vegetables I suppose, should I really ever be on a desert island.

Back home

It has not been a pleasant trip. I call it trip on purpose, not holidays. I have learned many things during these 10 days, and wouldn't miss the experience. There's one thing I can tell you right upfront. It doesn't really matter where you're going. It depends a lot on your company. More than you think. There are of course places that may somehow inspire you, or your expectations of them motivate you so much you simply get into a good mood automatically. But share your travels with someone who figuratively doesn't speak the same language as you do.. and joy and relaxation only comes with tremendous effort.

There are still a lot of things to be liked about Norway. Like the odd feeling you get looking at the clock and noticing it's past midnight, yet bright outside. Or the landscape, of course, Staring at the enormous rocks of those fjords makes you feel so tiny. And they've been there all along. And they'll be there still after you've gone.

I also enjoyed fishing, and we were lucky enough to angle a young codfish. It was so exciting, since I've only been fishing once in my life, as a little girl, with a little self made fishing rod, using breadcrumbs as a bait. I've been told real pro's don't use breadcrumbs. But they do work, don't they?

This carrot cake in a small café in Alesund mended my heart. It was simply delicious, and sharing it with someone I care for and could rely on during this trip, wiped away some of the worries and sorrows. 

The way to someone's heart is always through his stomach, they say. I tried that with a heavenly apple cake, made with an apple sauce you prepare a day or a few hours before. 

It was beautiful. It was tasty. It was juicy. It didn't work. The heart thing, I mean. Maybe one day it might, but it will take a whole lot of cakes.

 

After a long and tiresome ride home I was delighted to see my little garden had grown and survived my absence. Some tomatoes of quite some size were waiting for me. My first ones ever! I am so excited and afraid I could do something wrong before they are really ripe and ready to be eaten.

And here's a picture of my lucky clover. I planted it a while ago, hoping it would bring me luck. It's growing and flourishing every day. I know good fortune can't be constrained. But inspired, maybe. A little?

Picking up the trail

Time to pause.

Take a few deep breaths.

Finally enjoy the sun.

Some things need to be called to mind consciously, or the wheel just won't. stop. turning.

The last two weeks have been so hasty, I simply couldn't find a moment to sit down and write a few lines.

I've had the most wonderful birthday party with close friends gathered in my little place (and still did not have the heart to take down all those garlands - they remind me of all the chatter and glee and happy munching mouthes). I attended the release party of a musician most dear to me, and was reminded once again of my weakness for live concerts (why don't I enjoy these more often?). And right after that I spent a week in Spain with my mother, enjoying the feria. 

Family holidays are never easy, but I think once we got over the initial discomfort regarding the difficulties to find some proper food to fill our bellies, everything went pretty well. Oh I know, Spain isn't exactly famous for its poor culinary treats - but sadly the very city we visited was. And I am one of those that can't think nor act on an empty stomach. If I do, it's with a rather moody tone of voice and wrinkles all along the root of my nose. I try telling peeps about this quirk before they get too concerned about my seemingly grumpy nature, but it's a race against time...

I returned to the most sprouting and springing little garden on my balcony. The tomatoes are doing so good. Almost too good, I ran out of space now and find myself postponing the replanting.

This week will be another quiet one, filled with sun baths, strawberries, laughter and good music. After that it's back to the less pleasing things of life, that simply need to be done. 

I'm wishing you a wonderful sunday, just as sunny as this one here!

Change of season

I've started my day with a fruit salad to charge my batteries. Even though I've really been looking forward to spring, this sudden change of climate seems to affect me in the exact opposite way it should. I've been feeling very tired and the urge to close the curtains and stay in bed all day. I know, very strange, since the sun has been shining so much these last few days. Just a phase though, I am sure I will adjust to it very soon.

The tomato sprouts are doing very well, but the new fern I bought only a week ago is already dropping its twigs. I am not sure what it really needs, and if I am watering it too much, or if it's too warm or cold in my kitchen. But I hope it won't die on me so soon. Maybe it's just a little annoyed by my cat sticking her nose into it all the time. I can't blame her though, these tiny leaves are really the softest ever to tickle your face.

In the mood for gardening

These little fellas are all my pride. I've tried to plant a few things this year, and very conscientiously scribbled all the names and needs on little signs. Most of my effort goes to the tomatoes though, which I am really hoping to grow on my balcony. But so far there's no sign of sprouts. It's so lovely to wake up and see these little greenies raising their leaves towards the sun.

I never had a green thumb, and all kinds of very easy maintenance plants died on me with time. Maybe I'm lucky this year.