lilacs

The lilacs are almost done blooming. They don't last very long after they've been cut, but I want to enjoy these ones in the kitchen while I still can. The scent reminds me of the first summer that Adam and I were married - we lived in a tiny, tiny apartment in Fredericton, with a shower that Adam had to kneel in. I'm not exaggerating - they installed the plumbing under the tub, so it was raised up a foot or so to accommodate that, in the upstairs of an old house. We met some amazing friends that summer, who lived a block away. (Hi, Jen! Love you!) We spent the loveliest times with them that summer playing cards and mini-golf. The whole summer holds the happiest memories for me - we went for bike rides after dark (the only time it was cool enough to handle it), and played tennis at Wilmot Park in the rain. Outside of our bedroom window were several huge lilacs, and waking up to that scent on sunny mornings at the end of May was just about the loveliest thing possible.

It's Friday! Only a few weeks of work left before summer, and I am ready for a break. Schools here aren't out for summer until June 28, and there are many, many things I need to get done before then. This whole year, for a host of reasons, was just plain crazy. It should be a little less so next year. And I'm planning to thoroughly enjoy a break in between, with lots of visits and campfires.

I'm hoping to make some rhubarb jelly this weekend. I love rhubarb, and always have. And jelly is the perfect way to preserve that amazing bright favour, since it's pretty much just rhubarb and sugar. And the colour is so pretty! I'm also planning to try making up a gluten-free cracker recipe, too, so that Adam will have crackers to eat that don't cost us our firstborn and our life savings. We're expecting a lot of wind and rain, and a generally unpleasant day tomorrow, so I think it will be the perfect kind of day for making delicious things in the kitchen.

Thinking ahead to summer, do you have any amazing book recommendations? I'm looking for some good summer reading. Well-written fiction, nothing too heavy to hold up in bed (I don't mind non-fiction on a screen, but fiction feels better on paper.) Nothing too figuratively heavy, either, but well-written is a must.

Have a lovely weekend!