July means red fruit in our garden. We have fruit in the potager, but also in the middle of flower beds too. The raspberries are enormous, the red currants as bright as … well redcurrants, and our black gooseberry is fruiting well too.
I’ll soon be making jams and jellies, but yesterday evening I simply picked a sample of each and cooked them with some sugar, ready for my breakfast this morning on the terrace.
The picking actually takes longer than the cooking, but if you can persuade a fellow picker to join you, it’s actually a good thing to be forced to slow down and take your time to find the berries and gently prise them from their stalks.
I enjoy mine with some fromage frais. And of course they are so, so pretty. They deserve to be painted not photographed.
Little daily pleasures that take no time at all, but bring huge enjoyment.
And today I also want to tell you about another pleasure …. that of announcing to you that my dear and talented friend Tish Jett has just won a prize for her book Forever Chic. She was selected and then short-listed for the prestigious Indie Fab Awards. And a couple of weeks ago at the 2014 American Library Association Conference she was announced as Bronze Medal winner in the Self Help category.
I am so proud of her! This is a major achievement but, guess what?, she is too modest to talk about the award publicly. Believe me, if I win a prize for my book you would all be hearing about it non stop! I mean really?! the Indie Fab Awards.
Anyway, she is convalescing right now after an operation on her knee, but I know she would just love it if you popped over to her blog A Femme d’Un Certain Age and gave her a big pat on the back! And if by chance you haven’t bought her book yet, then that can be remedied right here.
Merci mes amis, wishing you a wonderful week.
18 comments
You are such a great friend. It brings a tear to my eye how supportive you are.
I used to go to a little French bistro that served the best cheese sandwich. I know that does not sound all that wonderful, but it was great cheese on great bread, but best of all it was served with a red fruit salad. The simplicity of it all was totally delicious.
Now off to congratulate Tesh.
Madonna
Bonjour,
Les fruits rouges foisonnent cette année aussi dans mon jardin…
Un bien charmant bouquet pour accompagner un délicieux petit déjeuner… J’aime particulièrement le fromage frais avec les fruits rouges.
Toutes mes sincères félicitations à votre amie pour son prix littéraire.
Bisous
Oh, Sharon, you are such a wonderful, wonderful friend. (I won’t say our joke line here, I’ll save it for our telephone conversation.)
Thank you for this, thank you for being such a true friend, thank you for your kindness and generosity. You are the best!
Love to you,
Tishxo
Sharon, once again you make me want to pack up and move to your corner of the world! Your garden of red berries is something of dreams and I would love to come by and help you pick. Your photos are beautiful but I think the red berries could very well inspire a painting!
Congratulations to Tish!
XO
How wonderful about Tish Jett’s book. I’ve been following her blog since discovering it via yours.
Beautiful berries. And flowers, too. What are those?
I love picking berries!!! How blessed you are..
Sharon I love seeing your gardens bounty. I plan on making a large Pavlova for a family gathering this weekend!
Congrats to Tish, she is just superb!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Don’t know why but I haven’t been able to make a post on your blog for ages. but I’m trying again. Lovely photos as always especially the fruit compote for your breakfast, delicious at this time of the year. So pleased for Tish to have won an award for her book. I’ll pop over and congratulate her.
Everything is GORGEOUS!
Your photos,the food and telling the WORLD about your dear friend who WON!I just got off the phone with another friend of mine who I shared your blog with I hope she pops over!DONNA did you make it here?
XX
Such wonderful news for Tish… and so well deserved… It is such a wonderful book that it deserves all the accolades in the world…
Pretty shots Sharon…. as always… love the cream and red… xv
My raspberries are looking so good + what a loyal friend you are + must congratulate you + her. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
How berrylicious is this Sharon! I love berries & anything to do with berries. Congratulations to Tish, wonderful book!
The local abundance of raspberries, cherries, blueberries and apricots make this time of year a special delight for me. I always eat them by themselves because they are so delicious. My husband has given up ice cream for his berry and crème fraîche mixes.
Now to look for black gooseberries and red currants! I’m going to try growing them in our flower beds…thank you for another great idea.
Thank you also for letting us know about Trish Jett’s award. I’ll comment on her site today!
“Yum” How delightfull to go picking in the backyard for berries instead of going into the freezer like I do.
There are times when I pick mulberries from my backyard tree and I have a small strawberry plant which produces enough for the occasional strawberry on our cereal. Have tried to grow numerous things but the only success has been with mulberries, pumpkins, bananas and passionfruit which don’t require much attention at all.
Debbie
Fresh berries are the BEST! How wonderful that you can pick your own at home.
La Contessa told me about you and I popped right over to check you out. Now I must get a glass of wine and read through your archives!
Donna
Beautiful berries! Your photos look so professional:-)
I just received this book as a gift! Now I must read it!
I love the verrines, I can never find those glasses, maybe on my next trip to Paris you can help me find them?
xo
I have bought Tsh’s book and loved it, as a women who is approaching “middle age” I found the book refreshing and a great read, I finished it in one very late night. I feel I am just coming into my own skin and want to dress and be more “me”. I loved the tone of the book and re-read portions of it frequently. I found the book through your website and love her blog as well. Thank you.