Wild roses and lazy days

There has been more rain this summer than for years, say the local farmers. Our garden looks green and lush without any watering – there are many different roses, the kinds that do not need much attention, and now they are all in blossom. So are the wild roses along the roads. There are also some old mallows, beautiful white flowers, increasing fast in the flower bed.

Finally, one week after Midsummer the sun stayed for a couple of days and the temperature was above 20 degrees. We went to buy strawberries (8 liters – sweet and excellent) from our favorite seller on Turuntie with Henna and Emma.

The girls saw three lambs in a pen and we all went inside to feed them.

When back to the house, the load of firewood JD ordered from the mansion nearby had arrived. We need it to heat the beach sauna, to warm the water in the outdoor hot tub, and in the fireplace. The firewood had to be piled in the shed, so that was my gym and jogging for the next two days. One hour piling wood – 15 minutes swimming – then comes a reward: two hours reading a book (just started Ian McEwan’s Atonement).

On Sunday the kids returned to Helsinki, and suddenly, the house was quiet and empty again. Just Rose, JD and me – enjoyable for a change. The evening was so hot that we decided to make a light dinner, our favorite summer meal, ‘pasta puttanesca’ and ate it outside with a bottle of rosé.

Pasta puttanesca for 3 adults:

 - Cook 6 anjovis filees, 1 teaspoonful of chili flakes and 4 cloves garlic (crushed) in virgin olive oil

- Add 10 chopped tomatoes and some black pepper, cook some 10 minutes
- Add 12 large capers (chopped) and some 15 pitted calamata olives (cut in halves)
- Finally, add two bunches of basil (chopped) just before serving with spaghetti