Oh, what a summer it has been. Quite stormy, I’d say. If you have been following my family stories, you know what I’m talking about…

My father passed away 3 weeks ago after months of being very sick. I can’t still digest this fact and the only time I have to think about it is late at night before going to sleep.

My mom visited us for a month after three years that we haven’t seen her (with no connection to my father at all as they got divorced when I was a baby) which is a long time to be living in one’s family room, regardless of if you’re having fun together or not.

My son is on summer vacation from school and we spent almost every single day together for the past 6 weeks and there’s another one to go (but who’s counting?) before school starts.

After my father’s death and my mother’s return to her home, we went on a very much needed little summer vacation with the kiddies. Needless to say, although it was lots of fun, a vacation with little kids is not for rest and relaxation. I’m happy to be back home.

And brought a little souvenir from our trip, real Canadian maple syrup

But by now I feel very tired and stressed. All this family “stuff” has been keeping me so busy, too busy, that my head is spinning and I feel so drained. I am so ready to get back to our usual routine. To keep afloat, I’m trying to stay positive and focus on things that make me happy because otherwise, I could go crazy. The simple pleasures of life are filling me back with energies and bringing back the desire to write, to be productive, see people, go out, invite friends over, celebrate… Live.

Like stopping by a farm stand and buying the freshest corn that was picked that very morning at a local farm! 10 for $2! Support your local farmers.

 

And stone fruits that are the sweetest I have tasted in a long long time. 

     And although the tomatoes in the backyard were not watered for a week while we were away, they waited for us on their vines, ripe and waiting to be picked

  

and were good and sweet and juicy

 

Same as these most amazing plums!

But like after any vacation, there is A LOT of laundry to do, grocery shopping, and running errands. A nice quick and light lunch is the best for the day after. Like a good meal after a vacation hangover. Full of summer goodness and sunshine that was soaked into the food.

 

Quick summer lunch

Corn on the cob quickly cooked in the microwave with a light sprinkle of salt

Simple sandwich with your favorite bread, deli meat, avocado, mayo and/or a drizzle of truffle oil

Fresh mozzarella

10-minutes-ago picked cherry tomatoes

 

Building our little backyard garden with a raised bed and planting and seeding what grew up to be lettuces, arugula, fresh herbs, and tomatoes really paid off. We enjoy it so much. Next year we might even try raising corn! Now we’re waiting to see what happens with these melons. I hope they will provide a sweet ending to my crazy summer.

The end …

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Categories : Family, Farms, Spring and Summer, Urban garden