Lettuce can often start to bolt during a hot August, but it’s still wonderful to add to pretty much any meal. If you’ve got a surplus, or the selection in your fridge is past its best, blitz it and add potatoes, cucumber and fresh herbs for a cooling summer soup. If tomatoes are more your glut of choice, try something similar and cook up a gazpacho.

Raspberries are best enjoyed freshly picked from the plant, but you can also preserve them in a number of different ways. Try adding to the juice of lemons to create a cordial or lemonade, or whip up a raspberry vinegar to add to salads in the winter. Or just keep things simple, and freeze ready to make smoothies and desserts later in the year.

The season is short, but if you can get your hands on fresh sweetcorn, it’s a delight and makes such a simple supper dish when served with lashings of butter and slices of crusty bread. To make more of a dinner party dish, add a side of peeled courgettes fried up with lemon juice.

It's strange how something you start on a whim can become all encompassing. I often experience life in this way; whatever new challenge is presented to me will always receive everything I can throw at it, in a somewhat obsessive way at times. Yet I think that often it can be beneficial to stop for a moment and take stock of where you are at in order to move forward. Change is something I've given a lot of thought to this week, and although I believe wholeheartedly in changing (yourself, your daily life etc.) in order to progress, it's sometimes important to breathe for a moment before delving right back in, and often the change and the progress will benefit as a result of this careful thinking.

Sitting still is not something I'm used to doing; once I decide I want to do something that's usually that, and I like to see the progress, the change. Currently I'm taking a moment though, to really understand what I want from this blog and why. I didn't start it with any real ambition or motivation, but I got caught up in the momentum of posting when and what I felt I should. So this is really a call back to my roots, a return to what I love to read myself, despite the knowledge that there aren't as many people out there wanting to reading about countryside living as there are wanting to read about other things. But I didn't start writing here for other people, even though I've met some lovely ones from being here.

So this is a notification of change, and hopefully of progress. You'll see a lot more posts based on seasonal ideas for the home and for living by the seasons, a greater focus on simple living with some creative crafts and recipes thrown in. Some posting themes will still remain (The Lovely List for one) and I'm not throwing all my previous ideas and posts by the wayside, but there will be a definite drifting towards a different goal.

I'd love for you to join me through the change.

July is the month of green in our garden. June is for new life, August is a blaze of colour, but July is definitely the lush, green month. Not that I'm complaining! The weather this year has made for a particularly fast growing season and I can't seem to mow the lawn often enough, although this has meant that the borders have been filled with plants. Looking back at this time last year we definitely had a lot more produce on the go, and it makes me a little sad that I've just not had the time to dedicate to growing as much as I'd like, but other things have to take priority sometimes. We have lots of exciting plans for next year, and are determined to set aside small chunks of time each week so that come summer we can be rolling in courgettes, lettuces and a whole range of other delights.

Creative Countryside - July in the Garden

So here's what the garden has looked like over the past month: (from top left) I've let this thistle grow wild in the front border just because I love the shape; an area of solitude to escape the busy day and hot midday sun; beautiful evening sunsets; the tree-lined drive into our little set of houses is a joy to return home to, particularly when the sun falls through the leaves like this; my parents' dogs certainly enjoy the relaxation of these lazy days; the branch is gone (!) - Mr CC got sick of our patio area losing the light so early so one morning he got his saw out...and then it was gone; more spherical, spiky beauty; a few green tomatoes hinting at what's to come; a bright pop of scarlet from the crocosmia.

What's in your garden at the minute? Have you managed to grow anything new this year?

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P.S. Want to see how the garden looks at other times of the year? Check out previous 'The Year in the Garden' posts here!

Happy Sunday all! Yesterday was a bit of a gloomy nothingness in terms of the weather, but today we're back to summer and the joy of being able to spend time outdoors. That's not to say, though, that aren't lots of lovely blog posts to be catching up on in between barbecues and sun appreciation. They might even inspire you to do something a little different with the rest of your summer...

Work from home? Then this post is definitely for you.

I've been trying to increase the number of photographs I take to both document everything that flies past in my busy life, but also to use on this blog. If you've got a busy August lined up, or want to improve your photography like me, then check out The August Break, a series of free photo prompts.

Last month one of my goals was to start enjoying cooking again. This easy midweek recipe and this refreshing summer concoction are next on my list.

I've never been the most confident of women. Admittedly, I can now portray an image of confidence, but it's never been a natural sensation, and I think a lot of people (bloggers particularly) can suffer from bouts of feeling less than their best. Here, Emily shares 8 steps for feeling confident, why not try one today? I'm starting with number 2.

I also have a bit of a confession to make: I am a magazine addict. I tell myself I won't buy anymore, but then catching the front cover leads to browsing, browsing leads to buying... you get the picture. So you can imagine my excitement when Amy posted a haul of the best food mags from around the world. What are your favourite magazines? Which, if any, do you buy regularly?

Finally, as we're now in August and there are only a few precious weeks left of summer, here's a look at my top 5 summer posts that you might have missed:

1. The Big Summer List
2. Shopping List for Summer
3. How to Host a Summer Party
4. Shopping List for Camping
5. Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Enjoy!

August is going to be a good month, I've decided. I am planning to enjoy every last bit of these summer days both on our holiday to the Lakes and at home. It's time I really embraced the season; although I try to live as seasonally as possible it has been more difficult the busier I have got at work, and the garden (and produce) has been somewhat neglected this year. I suppose it's a question of balance; between work and home, house and garden, family and time together. So this month I'm going to try and get that balance just right!

Last month's goals were on the whole successful - I have definitely started to enjoy cooking again (tuna steak, tomatilla salsa and homemade wedges last night!) and doing more has linked nicely with spending time with family. That being said, I could still do with finding a little more space in my life for actual activities rather than just obsessive Netflix marathons. But the less said about those the better.

Goals for August

My goals for August are a little more specific than previous months, which I hope will allow me to focus in on what I want to achieve. Swimming in a lake is something that definitely needs to happen when we go away; the camp-site we're staying at is right next to a lake so it would be rude not to, right? (I am desperately hoping for good weather for this one!)

Sending out save-the-dates is something we've been meaning to do for a while but just haven't got round to. Mr CC has designed them so I'm pretty excited, I just need to send them to the printers now!

Normally I take part in Circle of Pine Tree's The Year in Books, which means I always read at least 1 book a month. Now I have a bit of time to myself, my aim is to read 2, and with quite apt timing a few friends and I are starting a book club to discuss and drink once a month. Any recommendations for future reads?

Finally I'm going to let myself get creative again. I always bake the same things - I'm a pro at sponge cakes and cookies - but I really want to try something new. Bring on the frosting. And considering my craft space is currently non-existent, I am definitely going to get something sorted out, and soon. Charlotte-Heather has been sending me motivational tweets so I am determined it will happen!

What are your goals for August? Are you trying out anything new?

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P.S. How's your Big Summer List going? Check out mine here!

Floral Friday

Red roses always remind me of our engagement holiday from last year - we visited National Trust's Nunnington Hall on the way home and the garden was on fire with the scarlet blooms. We're still saving rose petal from our own flowers to dry and use as confetti for our wedding next year; I've just been leaving them to dry on the table in this intense heat, but do any of you have any recommendations for the best way to dry them?

I always go for the highly scented variety when selecting roses to plant - I find that simply walking past them (particularly late evening after a hot day) is enough to smell their gloriousness, and really there are so many beautiful scented roses, why would you go for anything other?

Flower: Rose

How to Grow: Click here.

For more floral inspiration check out my Pinterest board here:

Follow Creative Countryside's board Grow: Florals on Pinterest.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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July in Pictures

What a month! I'll be honest and admit that most of these photos are from the second half of the month, but the first half flew by in a flurry of work deadlines and long days. As such, I haven't achieved a great deal in the garden and the house is slowly entering that 'now really needs tidying' stage - I'm planning to blitz everything today so fingers crossed for success! The last few days have been filled with excitement and happiness, and I hope that next month is more of the same. We're got our week away to look forward to but I also really want to work on making some jam and taking time for stargazing; two items on my Big Summer List. Once August is upon us I always feel like summer is slowly slipping away and I find myself frantically trying to fit everything in that I've wanted to do since the start of June. Are you the same?!

Enough of next month anyway, here's what my July has looked like (from top left): drying rose petals for confetti at our wedding; something different to drink when in the city; vintage watering cans that are good enough to display in the garden; tons of pea flies in a beautiful bloom; summer pudding courtesy of my mum - I never used to like it but this year I am a convert; Shakespeare's Globe (finally!); painting an owl mug for a work's evening out; so much more sun now a big branch in our garden has been cut away; seeing The Beatles musical and being happy knowing pretty much every single song.

What have you been up to this month? Have you gone away anywhere or spent summer weekends at home?

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P.S. Want to see what I was up to last month? Check out June in Pictures.

It's amazing how much you can fit in on a short visit to the capital. I stayed in two different areas of London (with friends, then family) over the weekend and managed to fit in a lot of miles over a few days (the sort of break where you need a break again once it's over). We had an indoor barbecue (I brought the rain...), swooned at wedding dresses, sang along to the new Beatles musical - Let it Be - and ate far too many croissants. In short, it was the best weekend I've had in a long while. Our first stop on the Saturday was the V&A for the wedding dresses exhibition - a present from my friend, and also a feature on my Big Summer List. Living down south, my two friends haven't had a great deal of involvement in wedding plans so far, so it was lovely to spend time together as bride and bridesmaids and discuss, dissect and delve into the world of wedding dresses. There were some beautiful fabrics, some rather interesting designs and some that were just downright off the chart (they didn't look anything like wedding dresses for a start).

All that wandering through the world of weddings left us hungry, so we wandered to find something to eat once we were finished and discovered the café Muriel's Kitchen. Located right next to South Kensington's tube station and in the heart of Museum Quarter, it was a feast for the eyes as well as our hungry selves. The decor was simple but styled and I loved the tea cups on the walls in particular - something that matched with the almost vintage vibe of the café.

I chose the butternut squash, feta and spinach quiche with a side of chargrilled summer courgette ribbons and the taste was so fresh and light that I didn't feel weighed down like lunch out can often leave me. My friends also tried the sweet potato wedges which were apparently delicious. We will definitely be returning!

The following day we took my friend's puppy for a walk on Wimbledon Common. It was the first time I had ever visited, and being a country girl it was invigorating to feel so far away from the hustle and bustle for a few hours. The sun was ferociously hot and we got lost once or twice, but it was all part of the fun.

Unfortunately the puppy didn't stay still long enough for a non-blurry shot! How was your weekend? Did you go anywhere or see anything? I'd love to hear about it!

I'll be writing another London-focused post telling the story of the rest of my trip, including a visit to Shakespeare's Globe, very soon, so don't forget to check back!

Good morning! This post is winging its way to you all the way from my weekend destination - London. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm here visiting friends and family and making the most of my time off from work (and the summer weather that just keeps on going!) and it's been the best way to celebrate the start of my holiday. I'll be posting next week a little more about my trip, but for now here's what's been gracing my screen with loveliness this week...

Beautiful photos of flowers and butterflies at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Safeguarding the population of bees and highlighting their importance has featured in the news quite a lot recently, and it's a topic close to my heart as Mr CC is a trained bee-keeper. These tips from Bee (blogger this time, not the creature!) are easy to follow and implement, why not give them a try?

I'm staying with friends and family this weekend, but if I wasn't this post on London's best budget hotels would come in handy. Are you heading to the capital at all this summer?

This refreshing face mist is a must DIY for the hot summer weather.

This post has highlighted the need for me to throw a provincial-style dinner party. Right now.

So many posts have focused around summer and the accompanying photography reflects that; Sally gets it just right here.

Have you read any great posts this week? Feel free to link below!

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Happy Friday! It really is a happy one this week, too. I've finished work and that means summer has officially begun. I returned home on Wednesday to a home-made curry courtesy of Mr CC accompanied by a bottle of prosecco to celebrate my promotion at work (another contributing factor to this week's happiness!) and I've been in a good mood ever since! I spent yesterday reading guilt-free in the glorious sunshine on our new deck-chairs and it was bliss. Today I am beyond excited about heading off to to London today to complete another item on my big summer list - visiting friends and attending the wedding exhibition at the V&A. It's been in my diary for so long and now (finally) it's here. I'm also catching up with family whilst I'm down there, so the weekend promises to be filled with laughter and fun, although I have most of Monday free to wander the parks and museums; any suggestions? Do you have any exciting plans?

Enough of my weekend, anyway, today's post is about the florals in my garden right now, and there have been many vying for the top spot of 'Floral Friday' today. Everything seems to have got a bit brighter, a bit greener, and a lot lovelier over the past few weeks, and for me today's day lilies epitomise the heat of summer. Here and gone in a flash, their zingy colours brighten up borders and contrast with the white of the daisies and the purples and pinks that line the lawn. They're easy to grow, too, and despite the fact their flowers don't last that long I really think they're worth a little effort.

Flower: Day Lily

How to Grow: Click here.

What flowers do you associate with summer? Do you have a favourite summer flower? Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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Today's post is all about believing. Believing in that dream, that goal that you secretly don't want to tell people because it sounds silly to say it out loud when it seems so far away, so out of reach. But that magic? It's achievable. It's out there waiting for you to feel ready to say, "OK. I want this. Where do I start?"

Saying things out loud is the first step to admitting they are real and that they mean something to you, and that can be pretty scary, but also incredibly rewarding. If I hadn't spoken candidly about wanting to write more with Mr CC a year or so ago, I would never have been encouraged to start this blog. If I hadn't admitted I wanted a change in career two years ago, I would still be stuck in a lonely, dull and lifeless role.

So I'll make you a deal. Today you have to admit to something you want, something that feels like it might never happen, because it would be so magical if it did that you can't quite comprehend it. Share your dream with your partner, with your family or friends, or share it with me here! It will feel so much easier once you've said it out loud, I promise.

Deals are reciprocal, so here's my goal: I want to write a book. There, I said it. It's lingered at the back of my mind for so many years, tempting and toying with me, asking if I'm even good enough, if I have it in me. But you know what? It doesn't matter any more, because I've standing up and admitting that one day I want to achieve this.

How about you? What magic do you aspire to? I'd love for you to share your thoughts.

I am a huge advocate of using ecologically-friendly products in my home and garden. This encompasses washing clothes, cleaning the bathroom, polishing furniture - you name it, I try to clean it using natural products. I've found that not only is it kinder to the environment, it's also less expensive, I need less storage space and my house doesn't smell like a hospital after I've finished. So how can you clean using natural products? Easy - you will need just 3 ingredients, plus a cloth and some newspaper.

Top 3 Products to Use

1. Lemons
2. Bicarbonate of soda
3. Distilled white vinegar

Top 10 Tips for Cleaning with Natural Products

1. For general cleaning use an old spray bottle and fill with half vinegar, half water and a few strips of lemon rind.
2. Use this spray to clean your windows too. Spray onto the glass, rub with a cloth and then polish with scrunched up newspaper.
3. To clean your microwave, heat a small bowl of vinegar for a couple of minutes. Remove and wipe clean with a cloth. I swear this has reduced my cleaning time so much, and it gets rid of any smells too.
4. To reduce smells in your fridge, put a saucer of bicarbonate on one of the shelves. It will last for approximately 2 weeks before you need to replace it.
5. When you do go to replace it, don't throw it away! Pour it down the plughole of your sink and add a splash of vinegar. Leave for 20 minutes before running the cold tap for 2 minutes to wash it all away and you will have improved your sink's drainage.
6. Instead of forking out for expensive fabric conditioners, use a big splash of vinegar instead (don't worry, they won't smell).
7. While you're at it, chuck a cup full of vinegar into your washing drum and run a high temperature wash. Your washing machine will thank you.
8. Instead of buying expensive furniture cleaner, create your own instead. Mix two parts water with two parts vinegar and a splash of olive oil. Soak a cloth before squeezing out and leaving in an airtight glass jar with a few strips of lemon rind. The cloth will be good to use a few times before your will need to replace it.
9. To clean wooden chopping boards, use lemon juice or vinegar.
10. Finally, if you spill anything onto a carpet (and let's face it, we've all been there) sponge with vinegar. I've managed to get rid of red wine stains on a cream carpet with this; it really works!