Dear friend,
Hot coffee on a gray morning. The birds start twittering here at approximately 3:30am. I know this because yesterday morning I bolted out of bed at 2am (for no reason I can conjure yet) and spent the early hours on the sofa, with tea and my ripple afghan and The Secret Life of Bees. It's like my brain, bless it, will just not stop! I settled in to a very long day of painting after that, with a jam-making break sometime yesterday afternoon. It was totally the most relaxing thing in the universe. Crushed strawberries boiling on the stovetop with honey and ribbons of basil. Steam from the waterbath condensing on the kitchen windows, already misty from the outer bands of a brooding afternoon thunderstorm. I think just saying the word waterbath has a tranquilizing effect. It's so soothing.
On Sunday, my friend Hannah and I drove 90 miles south of here to Valley Home Farm for strawberry picking. I always forget how thrilling the Tennessee countryside is...it's lush and hilly, and the roads wind through it like corkscrews. You have to drive slowly or you feel like you're on a roller coaster. Valley Home Farm is a dream. It's exactly what you'd want a berry-picking farm in rural Tennessee to look like...a sprawling, white plantation home covered in tangly roses, a little farm store filled with honey popsicles and strawberry cakes, and rows of berry plants that stretch to the horizon. Oh, and bees and chickens too! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better.
Hannah made the most scrumptious cupcakes I've ever tasted...browned-butter strawberry cake with basil ricotta FROSTING! I think she's going to post the recipe tomorrow on her blog. I LOVE strawberry and basil together. Hannah is so talented. Yum.
Love,
Rebekka
22 comments:
That sounds so blissful, it makes me ache for rainy days.
Lauren. x
www.peachtea.co.uk
Where is her blog? I'd love this recipe!
Thank you!
Lovely post...my yard is full of wild strawberry blossoms right now. I know it is not an "acceptable" lawn, but the bunnies love to come nibble (and the neighborhood children too).
That photo at the top is beautiful. You just made me like the rainy day we're in the middle of a little more.
Write in tights: It's here: http://nothingbutdelicious.blogspot.com/ I think she's posting it tomorrow so be on the lookout!
<3
Rebekka
Oh how lovely. It sounds so nice to go strawberry picking! Your blog is always so refreshing :)
Brooke
thebebebirds.blogspot.com
These photos are amazing and the food just looks so delicious! I've been praying for a rainy day, sometimes we just need those kinds of days to relax, you know?
And I superbly just love strawberries! I wish I had some xx
Jianine
http://definitelyscreaming.blogspot.com/
I want to run to the fruit stand in my town and get some strawberries and apricots to make jam from each! The recipe for the cupcakes with ricotta frosting is not on Hannah's blog yet. Give her a friendly reminder we NEED that recipe after your post and beautiful pictures! Peraps you could share your strawberry basil jam recipe on your blog ?!?
i'm sure i've said this before, but i just love your style. your photos and your writing. just beautiful.
Gosh they sound delicious!
I think the birds are on a similar timing over here in the UK as well.
Nina xxx
How lovely!...and I've never thought of strawberry and basil together, so this has inspired me :)
We have tried strawberries on spinach salad which we love, but now will have to try strawberries with basil which sounds lovely as well, thanks to your description. Nature around us can be so spectacular and very much so where I am living now near the snow draped Mt. Hood. The nurseries on the hills around us are drenched in reds and pinks and greens and white and yellow. I am celebrating stunning Spring with you Rebekka! And I just finished crocheting a bib for a baby gift which was great fun as well.Blessings to you and yours <3
Living in the desert makes me miss a lot of things... Lake Michigan, houses with siding, grass, apples, and STRAWBERRY SEASON!! That recipe sounds to die for!
Basil and berries sounds so divine. And I LOVE The Secret Life of Bees. Both the book and movie. I'm a little obsessed with the idea that I was supposed to be born in the south. Silly, I know.
It sounds like I could easily live at Valley Home Ranch!
xo
cortnie
wow. that sounds amazing. i loved the tn countryside for the reasons you mentioned, and because it reminded me of the va countryside, my home.
Our days have been filled with rain, drizzle and even more of the wet stuff. Luckily though I love Winter and so I too will bake up a storm - to counteract the effects of the ones outside. Now I have a recipe to inspire me too :-) Thank you xx
I'm still stuck on "Hot coffee on a gray morning." What a lovely blog you have and what beautiful, homey artwork.
Wishing you so many blessings as you proceed with the adoption process (I was just reading your "Story" page). Praying that you'll be parents soon, as you demonstrate your desire for it. Thanks so much for stopping by my little blog. Wishing you all the best.
Wow, you really do make regular life sound so amazing in your writing. You definitely have a gift.
- Sarah
agirlintransit.blogspot.com
your words and photos are always so lovely.
strawberries and basil are so nice together, i am off to your friends blog in hopes of finding that recipe. :)
Mmm... Love.
Love!!
Literally just reading this made my mouth water and my heart flutter.
Amanda Rose
http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com
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