Yesterday was our first wedding anniversary, and having spent the previous 24 hours tucked away in bliss at the Inn at Whitewell, and with the gorgeous warm weather, we decided last minute to have dinner at the allotment.
We boiled up some new potatoes, got a barbeque going to cook the sausages and burgers, and Mr Rigg watered the vegetables.
It reminded me of how much I enjoy cooking outside with the challenge of limited gadgets and gismos to help you prepare your meal. It reminded me of sunny evenings cooking market ingredients in the Loire Valley.
To be able to sit on a blanket, warm in the evening sun, picking chives from a plant growing next to me and sprinkling the first of the lilac chive flowers over a dish of potatoes – there’s nothing that quite beats that. We ate asparagus with our fingers, soft and tender, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, spritzed with lemon juice and seasoned with sea salt and pepper.
In a funny sort of way I felt more alive than I’ve felt for a while, sitting there with olive oil and lemon juice running down my fingers.
Even Buddy was relaxed and chilled out, sitting in his crate in the boot of the car with his face resting on the bumper, watching the world go by. This last minute decision to cook and eat at the allotment turned out to be the making of a truly lovely evening that reminded me of all the things I treasure and love most about life.
Eat the Earth 
4 comments
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May 22, 2012 at 9:56 am
Libby Davy
Sounds simply splendid! Congratulations. I do hope your Metta Eggs arrived in time.
May 22, 2012 at 11:20 am
fyldefoodie
Sound idyllic.It looks like you had a fantastic evening.I presume the 7th sausage was for Buddy?
I agree food taste so much better cooked outside, as a regular camper we often cook on a grand scale outside, Last week we had Paella in the shadow of the lakeland fells (superb). The flavours seem so much better in the fresh air.
May 22, 2012 at 11:32 am
Caroline
Beautiful Charlie! Looks so bliss beautiful pictures. I love this sunny weather hope it stays x
May 23, 2012 at 1:44 am
Michelle
What a lovely anniversary!