August is the big hurrah before the winds of autumn start blowing, school bags are filled and the social calendar starts filling up with festive celebrations.
We greet August with suntans, freckles, relaxed shoulders and a whole slew of seaside, country lane, lake-side and backyard memories. Our fridge is bursting with fresh produce, our pantries are generally running dry and a few short cuts have been made with regards to house keeping; August is the last month of summer and as the days get shorter there is still plenty left to cram into them before September knocks.
This month I will be….
Eating berries, lots of them, in a variety of ways at any time of the day. Everyone knows the common variety of berries, but have you tried a Gooseberry? Sexy Lexy loves Gooseberry, and truth be told the tartness of this green berry is rather divine. I love making Gooseberry Fool for him this time of year.
Gooseberry Fool: To make this lovely summer pudding, make a gooseberries coulis then sieve to remove pips; fold through whipped cream, using 250ml (1 cup) gooseberry coulis to 250ml (1 cup) cream (measured before whipping). Top or layer with fresh raw gooseberries and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
Enjoying the last of the fresh herb selection. I love making pesto, the children love it with pasta, I use it as a dip and it is so easy to make that I will be teaching my daughter how to make it this month.
Restocking my pantry. A houseful of children in the dead of summer has depleted my supplies. By September my pantry and kitchen cupboards will be bursting and ready for all those after school dinners. Looking for inspiration on what a well-stocked pantry looks like, click here.
Learning to crochet thanks to the fabulous tutorial on Housewife 101. I have the materials; I only hope that the talent finds me by the time I pick up my hook.
Trying to find a hairdresser and beautician in-time for Sexy Lexy to arrive at the end of the month, I am going to take the Sexy New Girlfriend theory that I road tested back in the spring and give it a twirl again. If you want to join me in re-discovering the sexy new girlfriend in yourself, click here to read all about my first adventure.
And last but not least, I will be ticking off my bucket list for summer 2010
10. Carry a tiny water pistol in the car and ‘shoot’ the children when they are not looking (and I am at a red light or parked).
9. Take the children camping in the back yard (I am as far away from being a camper as they come, but they would love it, and sometimes you just have to give in).
8. Go to a hot air balloon festival.
7. Fry an egg on the pavement.
6. See an outdoor movie.
5. See a Thunder and Lightning storm, complete with the howling winds and cold rain.
4. See a firefly.
3. Time how long it takes an ice-cube to melt outside.
2. Have the most amazing pedicure and foot spa treatment.
1. See my daughter swim the length of the pool with confidence, on her own.
How will you be spending the last days of summer?
