Slow Sunday, rain & thunder coziness & a recipe

Roasted butternut squash purée, wild mushrooms & farro

Thunder and charcoal late afternoon. Walking out under rain falling skies, sloshing in puddles, I made my way up the main Street.

Not so many cars, but those that passed sprayed water at the sidewalk as thunder rolled. Then a huge crack of thunder and rain poured from guttering, spilled onto the road.

Drains over filling and streams across the street. People, just a few, still in shorts and vests accepting the rain through warm air. A kind of double weather pattern with U.K. autumn leaves golden, bronze and shiny, wet on the pavement. While the air was still full of summer, and the trees rich and green.

In the park, a lone dog walker just ahead of me, more thunder rumblings then huge crack as four people appear running and a black dog chases a ball. Then, nothing, except birds on the grass where children no longer chase them. Three seagulls, two crows, one magpie and a wood pigeon swooping down. Hunting for worms I think, or other things and the paddling pool, bright turquoise, but empty.

I wander down through the park and out the other side, listening to the sound of rain in the treetops, sheets of it, just perfect. I walk the long way home to see what I can see but, there is just rain, a few cars, and some blocked guttering making rivers of raindrops.

Back out on the main road, people laughing from the cosiness of bars with warm lights, drinks in hand. The smell of onions frying, more cars swishing and lights turning on in flat windows. People sitting under cover at the Blue Lagoon, arms tanned, tattooed and lifting pints.

Slowly slowly, I find myself back home and hear Jack Johnson as I walk through the door, followed by Playing for Change’s Stand by me. I started leaving music on when I went out with my children when they were young, on winter Sundays when I felt a bit alone, and wanted a home for them that was full of warmth and music, it worked wonders. We’d come back and the music would be playing and I didn’t feel alone anymore, this was in my very early 30’s when my children had only just started school. We’d eat crumpets, watch films, play games then warm baths, knock knock jokes and bed.

And so, it became a bit of a habit and today, I’m greeted with some of my favourites. A good beginning to a Sunday of evening cosiness on this wet 1st of September; mellow, curled up with a good book and, probably, some chocolate. I wonder how you are spending your Sunday evening, perhaps you’ll tell me in the comments, I love hearing how other people fill themselves up with good things, before the new week.

Recipe

Roasted butternut squash purée, wild mushrooms & farro

This is cosy for a rainy day. Ever so easy and simple. Roast butternut squash and garlic. Blitz with olive oil or ghee, some lemon juice and zest, rock salt, black pepper and Cardamon. Sauté the mushrooms in ghee or butter, add a bit of salt. Cook up some farro, serve them all together.

Joy dots

Thunder and charcoal

Gushing guttering

People’s laughter

Tiny dog scampering

Birds and worms

Splashing

Rain pattered paddling pool

Sound of rain through treetops

Slooshing roads

Night sky

And so, sky now dark, chocolate too, and book a hand reach away.

Wishing you the warmest,

Lucy x

Photo at the top by StockSnap— pixabay