The Changing Seasons – July 2018

 

It´s time again for the wonderful challenge The Changing Seasons hosted by my dear friend Su from Zimmerbitch.

Although Germany didn´t even make it into the final sixteen of this year´s World Championship (having won it last time definitely added to the shame), people still had fun watching or playing football themselves.

Though it sometimes looks a bit different from what you might be used to… 😉

Bubble-football in a park (July 2018)

 

Bubble-football in a park (July 2018)

 

Taking a break involves getting out of the bubbles first which seemed to be even more difficult than running around in them (July 2018)

 

And there are even more things to admire in my near-by park, like the growth of all kinds of fruits and nuts.

Last year I gathered some of the walnuts, but although I always want to, I never seem to come around to pick the elderberries from which you can make a wonderful juice. If you haven´t tried them before: never eat them raw!! They need to be cooked unless you want to poison yourself and risk stomach pains and diarrhoea!

 

Walnut tree (July 2018)

 

Unripe elderberries (July 2018)

 

If you want to stay on the safe side, forgo the elderberries and make some pesto instead! It´s one of my favourite summer recipes and actually quite easy to make.

All you need is some basil leaves (this time I had to use parsley because my basil still needed to recover from the last reaping, but it tastes just as good), parmesan or pecorino cheese, pine nuts (I always toast them slightly before for a stronger flavour), fresh garlic (try to avoid the dried garlic when you want to prevent bad breath) and good-qualitiy olive oil. Use pepper and salt to your likening, though both aren´t strictly necessary.

 

Ingredients for making pesto (July 2018)

 

Pesto (July 2018)

 

Another thing which is quite easy to make once you´ve put your mind to it, is sourdough bread.

It´s not only better tasting than the stuff you can buy at the supermarket but also much healthier.

Just google sourdough starter and you´ll find all kinds of recipes that will help you making your own one. Oh, and once you do, don´t forget to give it a name, that´s supposed to help. Mine is called Jon Snow after the character in Game of Thrones. 😉

 

Sourdough ready to go into the oven (July 2018)

 

Sourdough bread (July 2018)

 

And for those of you who were curious about the earrings I made out of clay a little earlier in the year – those “sadly” were all sold at a local market before I got the chance to take some pictures.

But I did keep a few for myself:

 

Little foxes (July 2018)

 

Clay earrings (July 2018)

 

Clay earrings (July 2018)

 

And I also love making costume jewellery from other materials as well, like felt and feathers:

 

Felt and feather earrings (July 2018)

 

Felt earrings (July 2018)

 

But from time to time I need a little break from all that creating, and what could be better than a bit of chocolate for that… 😉

 

Chocolate notepad and pencils with a message (bought during my first Artist´s Date – a concept developed by Julia Cameron, author of the book “The Artist´s Way”; July 2018)

 

 

And here are the guidelines for The Changing Season if you’re interested in participating:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):

• Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
  
• Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

• Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
• Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.

If you do a ping-back to Su´s original monthly post, she can update it with links to yours.