When the first job of the day is to go into the garden to pick roses (for Slamseys Gin), I don’t think life can get much better. Added to that, we’ve had a glorious week of hot, sunny days, partied all weekend in marquees set in beautiful gardens, watched the Lions and Andy Murray to victory, walked in glorious countryside and harvested fruit and vegetables from the garden. I should perhaps add that in this Pollyanna mode, I’m ignoring the fact that the fox ate another of my hens, the weeds are rampaging through the garden, the washing is piled up, the housework is neglected and there’s a heap of paperwork on my desk that needs attention.
This glorious week started with a few days walking. Having finished the Norfolk Coast Path, we’ve started to walk The North Downs Way that follows the chalk ridge across the south east of England for 153 miles, from Farnham in Surrey to Dover on the Kent coast.
We walked in the shade of woodland, through vineyards and across open downs, dropped down to cross rivers at the bottom of the valley and climbed back up to the ridge. Along the way, at the edge of a wood we found a cottage, with smoke curling up from the chimney pot and I fancied that at any moment Little Red Riding Hood would come tripping along basket in hand to visit Grandma inside the cottage. Bill thought I was completely bonkers. No change there.
We passed make believe houses hidden in trees
and ate lunch in grand follies. Life slowed down for a few days. We journeyed on foot or buses and trains, ignored the emails and just enjoyed the surroundings. If you’re planning to walk this route, there’s some brief notes about our days here.
When we returned home the garden had sprung to life. This is the first week that we’ve been able to sit down to a supper that’s entirely home produced. Scotch eggs, new potatoes, salads of beetroot, carrot, peas and rocket followed by gooseberry compote. No matter how simple the food, there’s nothing better than eating a meal that (mostly) was still growing half an hour beforehand with a vase of flowers freshly picked from the garden to decorate the table.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I must help make this Rose Petal Gin. And then, as we have some freshly picked strawberries in the kitchen and basil growing in the greenhouse, we may need to celebrate this glorious week with a Strawberry Gin & Tonic with basil leaves and black pepper.
LIFE IN MUD SPATTERED BOOTS 
I lost myself in that post, that was indeed a glorious week! That homegrown meal sounds delicious and that drink……there are no words, I want one!
If only Beth could export her gin!
I’m so happy to have discovered your delightful blog and can’t wait to return. It sounds like you had a lovely time. Your meal in the garden sounds wonderful.
Thank you for dropping in.
What a wonderful week! Everything that’s waiting won’t hurt for waiting I bet and weeks like that don’t grow on trees so make the most of every single moment. Love the sound of rose petal gin…. But the strawberry one with basil leaves and black peppercorns floating in the tonic sounds fabulous too. Do you crush the peppercorns or leave them whole? Your walk must have been blissful and those little tree houses… I had a thing about little houses in trees when I was small! I’m glad to see the milkman had been to that one in your pic! Perhaps Old Milkman Hedgehog from the Little Grey Rabbit books! Enchanting! E x
I just grind a little black pepper. It tasteds good but does look a little like I forgot to wash the strawberries. There were all sorts of things left on the doorstep of No 4B – it was really quite enchanting.
It really does sound like a glorious week – love the look of your walk, your garden looks wonderful and it sounds as if it’s feeding you very well. And I really want one of those gorgeous sounding drinks.
Thank you.
Walk, truly glorious. Gin even better!
A woman after my own heart!
By adding fruit to Gin you are also making it a healthy choice!! Yum!
I’d never thought of it like that – what a fabulous way of justifying gin drinking.
This is truly beautiful scenery Anne, I adore that make believe house in the tree. Your walks always sound like a wonderful adventure!
The landscape of the North Downs is beautiful; coming from a flat county like Essex it’s wonderful to walk along the ridge and look out across the fields.
Heavenly! And I wish the gin was exported too 🙂
I love that tree! Wish I had one. I enjoyed hearing how you avoided your paperwork!
Glorious week, glorious garden- I love the artichokes planted among the flowers. Beautiful.
I’m wavering as to whether to eat the artichokes (for a moment’s pleasure) or leave them growing (pleasure every day I open the back door). Thanks for commenting.
My pleasure. I love artichokes and wouldn’t be able to resist eating them… but they do make gorgeous ornamentals.
Forget the glorious week, I want to know more about that glorious G&T!
You do look to be having a good summer 🙂