Today was pizza in the garden with friends and lots of antipasti!

Pizza dough came out of the fridge with a huge bubble today.

Never a dull moment in Amsterdam! Today at the Ten Katemarkt by the Kinkerstraat.

Essential stop at la-la ijs in Amsterdam today for some of the best home-made ice cream in town! Raymond (raymondfourlife on Instagram) is always prepared with his own hand-carved ice-cream spoon necklace! Ice-cream summer priorities!

Two years ago we brought home one tiny branch of a wild strawberry from the forest in France and it’s doing really well in our garden! #GardeningFeed.

Ansterdam through the tram window. On my way home tonight. Arriving at Leidseplein.

Amsterdam through the tram window. On my way home from work tonight.

Back at the office after vacation, and favourite work colleague Toby was there to welcome me.

New beard, who dis? I played barber shop today. Raymond usually has to be taped to a chair while trying to avoid having his beard cut, but then I do it anyway and he is always pleased with the result.

Today in our plantbased kitchen: A favourite summer salad that I put together with some Vietnamese inspiration! Glass noodles, tofu, spring onion, cucumber, red cabbage, carrot, coriander and mint. Dressed with red chilli, garlic, fish sauce, vinegar, salt and spoon of honey to balance it out.

Raymond has carved and hand-crafted this Picasso-style risotto spoon from local beech wood! His trademark black end is a dip in oak apple (gall) ink he makes himself. I sewed this pouch for the spoon today and now it's ready to be sent out to @chrisinparis.bsky.social.

Raymond made this beautiful writing set for me! He crafted the pen handle, carved the wooden vessel to fit everything, and made a natural ink from oak apples (gall) he foraged in the forest. It writes beautifully! 😍

Rescue dog Noodle at the Proeftuin farm where we got fresh produce this morning. She usually gets a spot in the back and waits patiently wagging her tail while we load our crate up with fruit and vegetables.

Until next time France! Another beautiful stay where we met more lovely people and caught up with some we already know. See you again in September!

Food priorities when in north-west France this time of year! This incredible variety of strawberry had a scent of jasmine. From a local grower - Fraises de Montéchor.

Topiary section of the beautiful Jardins de Séricourt. France.

Me and Raymond at the cathedral of roses at Les Jardins de Séricourt. France.

The cathedral of roses at Les Jardins de Séricourt. This is a spectacular part of the estate and garden. The roses have just started blooming and the scent is wonderful. Séricourt, France.

We visited Les Jardins de Sericourt today. These gardens were created almost 50 years ago and are a wonderland of trees, flowers, grasses, topiaries, and even a few World War I reminders. Bomb craters can still be found all over this part of France.

We arrive 15 mins early to Les Jardins de Sericourt. We sit in our car waiting, suddenly heavy breathing, Raymond looks to the side - random Golden Retriever saying hi! Lays down to wait with us. Eventually Golden Retriever walks us down the lane to the garden entrance. What a welcoming committee!

Raymond foraged plenty of young Douglas Fir tips at Forêt Domaniale de Crécy today to make us cough syrup. These being surprisingly soft, edible, and very nutritious I infused some like tea. I was expecting the scent of pine but it tasted like spinach water and green tea. It was a no from me.

Raymond sourced a beautiful piece of beech to carve two Danish dough spoons which are bound for Australia once done. Forêt Domaniale de Crécy, France.

Sunday night parking lot pizza date with Raymond. At the Case Bio from pizza truck Camion a la Noix. Hesdin, France.

This morning in the forest we came across two of these. This beauty was slowly making its way across the path. Possibly the largest snail I’ve ever seen, the shell was the size of a very large egg. La forêt d’Hesdin, France.

Sunday morning walk through one of our favourite forests. La forêt d’Hesdin, France.

My favourite person in the world and me, practicing retirement on the porch in rural France. Cavron-Saint-Martin.

How do the mostly plant-eaters barbecue? Pretty well. Local produce is unbeatable in France. Swiss chard wilted down in a barbecue packet with olive oil and freshly chopped garlic. Toasted 'baguette avocette', roasted peppers, also with olive oil and garlic, and North Macedonian vegetable salad.

Here we are in one of the most rural parts of France and yet some of the most authentic pizza can be found! Baked by the great Camion a la Noix. Tonight the truck was two villages away from us, at the local goat farm, Chèvrerie de la Planquette, where fresh produce and goat cheese was also on offer.

On our way back to the village we stopped for some home-made ice cream from a patisserie and Raymond was extra pleased because his hand crafted ice cream spoon necklace came in extra handy! Beaurainville, France.

The arrangement of these fields somehow makes me think that if they were a haircut on a person it would be a Susan and she'd want to speak to the manager.

Raymond photographed at the remains of the old Sempy stone mill which has stood here for over 350 years overlooking the vast fields. Just outside of Sempy, France.

Raymond photographed on the street outside of one of our favourite vintage stores, Meubles Coquet. Sempy, France.

Forest giants. Huge beech trees. Raymond and rescue dog Noodle next to the trunks for a size comparison. La forêt d'Hesdin, France.

Raymond found us some water pepper in the forest today. This is a gem of a plant and the leaves taste exactly like pepper! It packs quite a bit of heat and can be used in all sorts of dishes, from stir-fries to salads and soups. La forêt d'Hesdin, France.

French forests are breathtakingly beautiful, cool and lush. We took a stroll this afternoon. Forêt domaniale d'Hesdin, France.

My new and improved Rainbow Bag™ is finally done! I learned to sew a bit more now so the inner lining and zipper are much better, and I made this bag slightly larger than the last from a few years ago.

Brought home some delicious French produce from the market in Hesdin this morning.

On our way back from the Hesdin market we wandered into the charming courtyard of potter Franck Groux. Located in the house of the Abbé Prévost it has been an artist space since 1697! Franck creates pottery here and runs workshops. I bought a new cup for my tea and patted Alfons the Basset Hound!

Thursday is market day and there was beautiful produce this morning. Hesdin, France.

At E.Leclerc this morning and the Brets section did not disappoint!

When in the French countryside and it’s strawberry season it is obligatory to stop at a different boulangerie daily to make sure you find the best strawberry tartlet available in the region.

The last rainy day today before we move into a sunny period for the rest of the month, and the rain did not stop Raymond, content creator, or rescue dog Noodle! Princess doesn’t usually like her paws to get wet, but she has such a nice garden here in France that she forgot to be extra.

Stopped at the strawberry farm in Aubin-Saint-Vaast on our way back from the honey dealer. It’s currently strawberry season in France where the berries taste as amazing as they smell!

This small river is La Planquette and runs behind the property where we are staying. Seven Valleys, north-west France.

Arrived in France. We’ll be here for the rest of the month.

Made some Belgian friends outside of De Helleketel Café. Poperingen, Belgium.

De Helleketel Café (Hell’s Cauldron) is one of our mandatory stops on the way down to France! Run by the loveliest people on the edge of Belgium not far from the French border in Poperingen.

Driving past gigantic roof cat sculptures in Belgium.

Someone is off to France! She doesn’t realise that by tonight she will be frolicking in one of her favourite places in the world! It’s French forests and village life for the rest of the month! 🏡

I’ve been crocheting a new rainbow bag and sewed the inner lining today, it still needs to be attached to the bag, and the strap is about a quarter done so far. Hoping to finish this in the next few days before we head off to France for a bit.