Summer Bliss

We are having quite the summer here in Newfoundland. I understand that much of the rest of the Canada has been colder and wetter than normal over the last few months (except perhaps British Columbia, where the heat and drought have been causing a lot of forest fires), but this the weather in Newfoundland is better than any year in living memory.

I've been taking full advantage, spending as much time outdoors as I can manage. I've been running regularly, and even started a running group at work. We're going to take part in the Run for the Cure in October.

Summer in Newfoundland also means that it's folk festival season. My dad and both of my brothers play in a Celtic/Newfoundland folk group, and I make "special guest appearances" with them on occasion.


Here they are last weekend in Ferryland, at the Shamrock Festival. Left to right, that's Tony (younger brother), Chris (older brother), Dad, and their good friend Derm. The show was very good this year, and we had a great time. Next weekend is the big one, the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, which happens in Bannerman Park, just a couple of blocks fom home. Being so conveniently located near the venue, I'll be making a big pot of chili next weekend, and expecting a lot of drop-in visitors. This will be the first time the guys will be playing at this festival, which is by invitation only, and they're very excited.

The other thing I've been up to lately is puttering in the kitchen. I raided Nick's grandmother's rhubarb patch last week (rhubarb grows like a weed in many people's gardens) and made a batch of rhubarb-apricot chutney and a rhubarb upside-down cake. Both were highly successful.


Today it was time to clean out the freezer a bit, in light of the fact that the wild raspberries and blueberries are almost ripe, and it will soon be time to start picking and putting away more for the coming winter.

I made a batch of blueberry-patridgeberry jam and a patridgeberry coffee cake. I understand that outside of Newfoundland, partridgberries are known as lingonberries. They grow wild in boggy areas all over Newfoundland.


I like my jam not too sweet, so this is kind of tart, and works well in sauces with red meat.

Nick and I have also spend some time trout fishing.


We haven't caught much, but it's peaceful just to stand at the side of the pond and take it all in. I never get tired of the landscape of glacially-scoured barrens.


I hope that wherever you are, that you are also enjoying the summer, and taking some time to relax and soak it all in.