It's the change in pace that I appreciate so much during the holidays. When you have very little ones, holiday or no holiday, life continues apace. But now my boys are both of school age, they don't need to much persuading to throttle back and take things a little more sedately.
We have all the time in the world to put double cream in a jam jar and shake and shake (and shake) until the alchemy of butter making takes place.
And to eat the butter, with croissants and strawberry jam, as a very late breakfast, still loafing about in our pyjamas.
And then to notice that the strawberry jam is running out rather rapidly. Plenty of time to put on waterproofs and squelch round the footpaths behind our house to pick teeny tiny cherry plums for the next batch of jam.
To decide that pizza for lunch sounds good. To slowly weigh and measure and mix and knead and let the dough rest. To see if there are a couple of ripe tomatoes outside the back door and to wash the basil really well to get rid of the greenfly.
I might have put the first of our courgettes on there too, but it really is still too tiny to harvest. Let it grow - we're in no rush at all.
Oooh, we made butter too - only we cheated and used an electric handwhisk to overwhip some cream - my little one is a bit too little to pay attention for very much longer than that yet. It is rather like magic though ...
Posted by: dottycookie | 24 July 2009 at 14:21
oh pizza for lunch.
that is going on my list of things to do while I am on holidays.
Posted by: Ramona | 24 July 2009 at 14:25
You are a very lovely poet! You make me feel like taking off my shoes and curling up with summertime. It’s been way too hot here in Texas, but still there is something so enfolding about all this warmth . . .
Posted by: Kari of Writing Up A Storm | 24 July 2009 at 14:27
What a cozy comfy post to read this morning, in my pajamas, sipping coffee and eating a cinnamon roll....with all the time in the world. Ali...a joy to read...really!
Posted by: cathleen | 24 July 2009 at 14:28
heavenly! how wonderful for your children to experience and appreciate good food like this!
Posted by: Pinry | 24 July 2009 at 15:35
I had my first Able and Cole delivery this morning (thank you!) and am looking forward to eating what is available rather than what I can nip out and buy.
I think butter making might appeal to a teenager-in-waiting too!
Posted by: Dragonfly | 24 July 2009 at 15:53
Your pizza looks amazing! I can never get my dough to bubble up like that. A recipe or a link would be great.... Hope you have the opportunity to continue to cherish these slower times, such bliss!
Posted by: marianne | 24 July 2009 at 16:34
that sounds idyllic
April xx
Posted by: April | 24 July 2009 at 16:59
this all sounds rather idyllic!
We found all the time in the world to visit the chippy for lunch! They were good though...
Posted by: janet clare | 24 July 2009 at 17:15
Simply perfect.
Posted by: Michelle | 24 July 2009 at 17:21
Our Rainbows loved the butter making, but I ended up doing most of the shaking! And we've just started putting our baby courgettes on pizza here--mmm! It all looks so lovely and sounds so calm at your house :) K x
Posted by: kristina | 24 July 2009 at 17:49
I need to take a leaf out of your book I think. Thing is, it takes so much effort to round up my children that doing anything takes on a certain manic air for fear that they will disappear again...
or start whining...
or throw it all over the floor...
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | 24 July 2009 at 18:00
We are on a go slow here, don't ask us to be out of the house before 9.30am as it ain't happening!
Posted by: Thimbleina | 24 July 2009 at 18:12
I second the motion for a link or recipe for your pizza dough - it looks absolutely delicious.
You are a wonderful writer!
Posted by: Katherine | 24 July 2009 at 20:32
Lovely. I'm in heaven too.
Posted by: Lucy | 24 July 2009 at 20:35
What an exquisitely tasty but leisurely little story x
Posted by: Emma | 24 July 2009 at 21:40
Ali, that sounds like the perfect school holiday day. And your butter looks amazing, I wish taste could be transported over the internet. Along with cups of tea and general good cheer.
Posted by: Allison | 24 July 2009 at 22:36
I am also enjoying the slow pace of the summer. May it continue to be very slow :)
Posted by: lazylol | 25 July 2009 at 08:04
So idyllic! Aren't the summer holidays fab?!
Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | 25 July 2009 at 15:42
oh, my, goodness.
Can I come and stay? Just look what you guys are eating!!
Dreamy!
Posted by: Fancy Elastic | 25 July 2009 at 19:18
Gosh that looks great. I cannot WAIT for summer!
Posted by: rhubarb | 27 July 2009 at 11:41
Making butter, how cool! I remember seeing instructions for that in a river cottage cookbook, it looked so nice and simple! Love making things from scratch!
Posted by: Louise | 27 July 2009 at 12:06
i hop you are home tomorrow, because we are on the way.
Posted by: Tiel | 27 July 2009 at 12:13
What a good mother you are. I have never in my life been patient enough to make butter. And can I also say that it's quite unfair that you are so slender, since you seem to eat such fattening things....?
Posted by: Isabelle | 27 July 2009 at 17:39
Oh yum, that all sounds so perfect.
Posted by: Megan | 27 July 2009 at 22:42
Oh, my my my my. What time is lunch tomorrow?
Posted by: Nancy | 28 July 2009 at 02:53
Brings back memories. We also used to make our own flour in the summer hols (which entailed me 'pinching' lots of wheat from nearby fields) which we then threshed, winnowed and ground. We never ended up with more than about 8oz but the children loved doing it and making biscuits after with the butter they'd also made. They're too cool for all that now of course.
Posted by: Simmy | 29 July 2009 at 13:10
dude. nom nom nom.
also, need to make my own butter.
Posted by: laura | 29 July 2009 at 17:53
I know just what you mean by this post. I love not having to rush through each day tied to the school run and so on. Slowly paced days are the very best sort and I've been meaning to do that butter for ages, you have inspired me to get a move on and do it.
Posted by: Rebecca | 30 July 2009 at 08:50
Sounds wonderful. Can I come round to your house please?
Posted by: Monda | 30 July 2009 at 18:45
You would love a lady I met the other day. She designs clothing for children that's both pj's and day wear so they can stay in their jarmies all day long...guilt free! Shame she doesn't make big girl ones!
Posted by: jenny - frazzy dazzles | 01 August 2009 at 08:42
I've never thought of making butter like that. Now I know what to do with the boys tomorrow when they're bored. (How can they ever be bored? There is far too much in life to ever be bored, far too much to do. Like making butter for example!)
Posted by: Michaela | 02 August 2009 at 15:37