Hello and welcome to the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Are you getting any time to relax this summer? We need to remember to slow down from time to time. It’s important to enjoy the fruits of your labour. This week’s features share some ideas to help you.
Blog posts about anything that feeds the soul are welcome here at The Hearth and Soul Link Party. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
Etsy listings and affiliate links may of course be shared within a blog post, but please do not link directly to them, or to Facebook posts or pins.
What’s Been Happening?
How are you and yours doing in these strange times? Are you getting time to enjoy the fruits of your labour?
My husband is still working at home so our weekdays are very busy. I had a manicure and pedicure this week at Virgo Beauty which gave me a real lift.
I’ve been working on some brand new recipes for the blog, which I will be sharing over the next few weeks. There are easy salads, main courses, muffins, desserts and more to come. I always enjoy recipe developing and testing, as does my husband and our neighbours! I’m working on some new British travel and lifestyle posts too.
We are enjoying a visit with our son and his partner this weekend. I’m so grateful we can see our family!
On The Blog
I made a lot of seafood recipes this week. Anyone else find they eat a lot more seafood in the hot weather?
My Crab Melts are a recipe that’s an oldie but a goodie! You can use fresh or canned crab meet for this easy and delicious light meal. Try them with a side of coleslaw.
I’m also baking with seasonal fruit.
Talking about enjoying the fruits of your labour, (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!) our blackberries are just coming into season. They are just what I needed for this Blackberry and Apple Cake. It’s lovely with a cup of tea in the afternoon, but it also makes a very pretty dessert if you are lucky enough to be entertaining.
Ripe juicy raspberries are plentiful here too now, perfect for my Raspberry Tart recipe. The original version of this recipe uses pears, so if pears are in season in your neck of the woods, give my family recipe for Rustic Pear Tart a try.
Thank you all for visiting and sharing, as well as for your support of Hearth and Soul.
Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labour – Featured Posts
Featured posts to help you enjoy the fruits of your labour (from top left, clockwise):-
Melissa at Little Frugal Homestead is enjoying a beautiful plant stand for the front porch. It’s an Upcycled Mini Greenhouse Shelf and such a cool project!
Enjoy the fruits of your labour in the garden with 10 Ways to Use Basil, from Kathi at Oak Hill Homestead. I’m looking forward to trying the roasted tomato soup and a recipe for sorbet that sounds absolutely delicious.
Joanne from My Slices of Life and her family are enjoying a delicious Strawberry Coffee Cake.
And finally, if you make the beautiful Gift Wrap shared by Linda of Paper Seedlings, you and and a lucky gift recipient will be enjoying the fruits of your labour too!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
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Comments & Reviews
I’m glad that the virus threat has decreased enough that you are able to see your son and his partner and get your nails done.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you, Michelle. I never would have believed how much I took for granted before! We are so lucky that there have only been 3 new cases of COVID-19 in our county in the last month. I hope that things are not too bad in your area as well?
Hi April, thanks so much for hosting the link party each week. Those crab melts look so delicious.
Thank you, Jasmine!
So glad you were able to visit your son April.
Thanks for hosting – look forward to seeing your new recipes! 🙂
Thank you so much, Ramona. Take care. Thinking of you all, and praying for Tsunami.
Those crab melts look delicious! And making your own wrapping paper sounds like a fun craft. Thanks for hosting! I brought by some Cajun Shrimp Guacamole. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Thank you, CJ! Your Cajun Shrimp Guacamole sounds like something I’d enjoy for sure. I look forward to seeing the recipe!
We are slowly returning to “normal,” but I hope we never forget the lessons of thus season!
Me too, Michele! We are still trying to return to “normal”, but some days I am not sure things will ever be as they were again. That said, in some cases, things may be better and I’m grateful. There are things I will miss though.
Hi April
I’m glad you were able to se eyour son and his partner this week. The hardest part of this pandemic is not seeing family as much as usual.
Your tarts both look fantastic! I also made a berry Cherry Almond Tart this week –it was such a fun way to eat a lot of berries!
Pat
Thank you, Pat! Not being able to see family as much as usual really is definitely the hardest. It’s made me realise how much I took for granted before!
Your Berry Cherry Almond Tart sounds like something I would really enjoy! Take care.
I don’t cook seafood enough, so I am always glad to see recipe ideas for it. That’s so wonderful that COVID cases are so low in your area! We were holding steady at a lower case rate for a long time, but now, unfortunately, cases are increasing daily. We’re all hoping for a return to normal soon.
I’m so glad you enjoy seafood recipes, Barbara. I’m working on a compilation post of some of my favourites 😀 I’m sorry your case rate is increasing, and I do hope it is under control again soon. Take care.
Your desserts look delicious! It’s hard to find good raspberries here for some reason but they are one of my favorite fruits. Also, pinned your crab melt recipe. Have a great week and thanks for hosting.
Thank you so much, Donna! I think good raspberries can be the tricky to find as they are so perishable. Thank you for pinning my crab melts too! 🙂
Hi April, how nice to still have your husband working from home! I love all of the foods you have mentioned that you have been making and testing out. I am sharing a day trip my husband and I took last year to Brooklyn Bridge Park. I hope you have a nice week. Julie xo
Hi Julie, It really is wonderful to have Guy working at home. I’m so grateful! Thank you so much for visiting and sharing – I look forward to hearing about Brooklyn Bridge Park. I’ve been to New York, but I’ve never visited that park 🙂 I hope your week is lovely too!
Hi April,
Finally finding some time after Covid 19, it was a full time job taking care of a Covid patient. My husband is doing great with the recovery and I was so grateful that I was not infected. Now trying to get caught up with the rest of life. Hope you have a great week and thanks so much for the party!
Miz Helen
Hi Miz Helen, I’m so happy that Leonard is fully recovered! I can imagine it was definitely a full time job caring for him, and I am so glad you stayed well. I hope you have a wonderful week too!
Aw, April, I am so honored that you chose the fruits of my labor, my Gift Wrap, to be included among your wonderful Features this week! Thank you so much! Smiles, Linda at Paper Seedlings
I’m so glad you are pleased, Linda! Thank you for all your support of Hearth and Soul. Take care and have a lovely week. 😀
Hey there April! Thanks so much for including my Upcycled Mini Greenhouse Shelf in your features the week!
Sadly, our cases are rising sharply in our county of 20k people. As of today we are at 336 and our isolation wing at the hospital is almost full.
Take care everyone!
Melissa | Little Frugal Homestead
It’s a pleasure, Melissa. I’m so sorry about the rise in cases in your area. That is very scary! Please do take care.
Thank you so much for featuring my strawberry coffee cake! We do tend to eat more seafood in summer; they just seem to go together.
It’s a pleasure, Joanne! And I agree, seafood and summer do go together very well indeed! 🙂
There are always things on your site that cause this dieting girl to wanna eat! 😉
That cake looks so very good. Things are still pretty much still locked down here. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thank you, Patrick. I was sorry to hear about the rise in cases in California. It is a worrying time. Do take care, and I hope you have a wonderful week too.
Thank you for featuring my post on using basil, April.
I can’t wait to try your blackberry and apple cake, and the raspberry tart too! They both look so delicious!
It’s a pleasure, Kathy, and thank you!
Thank you so much for hosting! This week I am sharing some Christmas spirit in July! Hope you are having a great week!
How lovely! It’s always nice to get ahead with plans for the festive season. Hope you are having a great week too, Kristin 🙂