What a difference a week makes. Last week I took this pic of Bella and Enid sheltering from the heat of the sun under the Sycamore tree. The last 3 days have been like a return to Winter. Have’nt opened the polytunnels for days as there have been such strong gusts of wind. Huge amounts of rain have fallen and it’s been cold too. I’ve hears it said that “a week is a long time in politics.” Well, a week is a long time when it comes to Irish weather!
So, what to do when stuck indoors in July. I cook and bake. Over the weekend I made 3 cakes which are almost gone, we did have lots of visitors! Also the 4 brown breads you see above. I always bake 4 together, 1 to use immediately and 3 for the freezer.
Gooseberries are ready for picking, a job for tomorrow.
The Rosebay Willowherb is still looking lovely on the lane. Won’t be bringing it into the garden though as it does spread like crazy.
The Lavender is flowering, unaffected by the rain and wind, although the scent is not so good without sunshine. Lavender has a multitude of uses. It can be used in cooking, from flavouring for jams to crystallizing the flowers for cake decoration. Medicinally it can be infused as a tea for headaches, to calm nerves and ease flatulence. Household use includes using the flower heads in sachets to protect clothing from Moths. All that and it looks good too! The good news on the weather is things are set to improve with high pressure dominating by next weekend. Fingers crossed!
arignagardener 
Beautiful bread! And lavender is just the best for the linen closet. Hope you got some sun.
We’ve had less rain than it feels because it has come in short bursts and the wind has dried it as it lands. The wind has been very annoying.
Esther
I hope your weather forecast is right – although I’m in London, we’ve had strong winds and lots of rain (with some sunshine). The rain has been great for my veg and the winds have finally died down today so now I’m happy!
weather is the same here though the wind has eased a bit today, your bread looks yummy and your gooseberries, I bought 3 plants this year and hope they will berry for me next year, the May storms took the blackcurrant flowers again (they did last year too), Frances
We seem to be on the same wavelength – I have just posted a blog about lavender. It’s really cold here this evening, was tempted to light the fire!
It’s stinking hot here……I’ll send some over.
Jane x
Bread looks great I too had urge to bake while house bound, but hubby and I on diet, not eating any carbs, so far lost 10lbs so have resist the erges to bake.