Monday, June 3, 2013

Beginning Over Again

"And so with the sunshine and the great burst of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had the familiar conviction that life was beginning over again in the summer."
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Great Gatsby"

Ah, the freshness and beauty of summer! The sounds and smells are intoxicating. Here are a few images that capture the sweet and hopeful feeling of the season. 

Stunning bougainvillea 

Dinners on the patio

Peonies and drinks outside
(by Teryl Designs)

Lush hydrangeas 

Strawberries and strawberry pots 

Fresh cut flowers from the garden

Impulse buying 

Beautiful freesias

Photo via here
Romantic movies -- Before Midnight stars Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke and is set in Greece

Kumquat martinis made from all those kumquats you don't know what to do with

Ripe peaches

Photo via here
A new cookbook that captures the goodness of summer

Spending every possible moment outside

And not missing a sunset

It's the simple pleasures that make summer so delicious.

Here is the recipe for Kumquat Martinis.

All photos (unless noted) by Sunday Taylor

12 comments:

  1. Ah, you've captured summer so perfectly!
    xo

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  2. Oh you do make summer sound divine. Your garden is beautiful. We, I must admit, enjoy the unseasonable cool weather, making it bearable to spend time outside. Thank you for the summer inspiration. Have a wonderful week. Bonnie

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  3. We finally have sunshine here & it's wonderful. Wishing you a very happy flower filled summer.

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  4. So beautiful! I love the anticipation of summer!

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  5. I'm so glad to discover your blog! I share almost the same interests, I have lived in Italy for 2 years and now I live in the north Peloponnese and I think we have exactly the same climate and vegetation.
    Your photos are really great!
    Olympia

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  6. Beautiful post, Sunday, making me eager for summer to finally take hold here.

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  7. So many beautiful images of summer. Wish the weather would cooperate a bit more.

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  8. Beautiful photos of beautiful flowers! I love the bougainvillea. I am always tempted to try it in my garden but our climate would cause it to be a disappointment. Instead I choose to enjoy it while on vacationing in warm lovely climates. Your garden looks wonderful and inviting.

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  9. I feel a bit guilty about lusting after your stunningly beautiful garden while my husband slaves away in ours at this very moment. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

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  10. Is that a lavender parterre?Your garden is charming and must give you great pleasure to look at from your terrace
    while sipping kumquat martinis bliss.
    Now Summer has appeared must try the recipe.

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  11. Hi Judith! The hedges around the parterres are Teucrium shrubs. Their color is sort of a sage green and looks good mixed in with the stronger green of the boxwood. I hope you try the kumquat cocktail. My daughter created it one day when she was at my house and saw all the kumquats. I think it is a formula that would work with many different fruits.
    All the best, Sunday

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  12. Beautiful. What is is about peonies that speaks of summer? I just love them.

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