It's the most wonderful time of the year . . .

. . yeah, that's a Christmas song, but anyone with taste buds can attest that summer berry season is THE greatest time gastronomically-speaking. Hannah and I have been waiting for some sun to come and warm up the crops here on the island. Berries are definitely more expensive this year due to the huge lack of spring sunshine. Wine too.

After a trip to the farms today, to fetch raspberries and wine, I tried a recipe of Susan's that incorporates my fave berry and cake too. Yummy! Since I'm such a baking maverick I messed with the recipe, so I could add my fave chewy thing (oats) to this lovely moist berry cake.



If my grandpa were still here, he'd love this cake I think. he and I shared a love for Candy Cookies, a simple mix of oats, brown sugar and melted butter. I added oats to this cake and made candy cookie for the crumble top. It tastes divine! I hope to make a bunch tomorrow and freeze them for the fall. While it was tasty with vanilla ice cream, it's even better straight-up in the palm of your hand.

The water guns have inspired a cops and robbers/wild west situation around here. I've had to protect myself (and our badly damaged wood floors) by instituting a no-guns-or-wet-butts-in-the-house rule.





We had a lovely visit with Shona, Isla and Bryn this weekend. We took in the organic islands festival, a Hannah Georgas concert, biked for gelato and watched the World Cup finals together. Much face-painting, playmobil and paddle pool fun was had by the kidlets.

When they drove away Ivy cried for her pal Bryn.



Leif has surprised us with another installment in his comic series, Bob and Lob. It is awesome, as always! I love how he draws the same background for each frame, the same as the previous one, as it goes with the story. That he remembers such a detail. I think my brother used to draw comics as a young boy. And Leif's father used to draw comics for me, back in our courting days. Though I've dropped many a hint about how much I adored his little literary adventures, the courting days are over (boo hoo) and I think our comic exchanges are a thing of the past. Thank goodness our son can pick up the slack for us, cause we are too dang worn out!




And I don't know if this will stop soon, but Hannah's teeth are just bursting out of her mouth. Now she's a total jack-o-lantern, and we're forever getting her to repeat herself, because her lisp is so darned cute!




This week we have soccer camp, more ice cream walks and much baking and crafting on the menu.

C