My brother and his family arrived from Capua near the end of Iunius. We have spent the past eight days enjoying the cooler mountain air and wandering the estate. I recently received a gift of apple cider from the Lady Iphigenia of a neighboring estate, and all agreed that it was wonderfully fresh and sweet.

An additional delight was provided for our secunda mensa. My young nephews were led by one of the old servants to a place on the meadow slope where vines of wild Venus berries grow and to another place in the woods where there are bushes of the wild berries of Mount Ida. The boys have eagerly gathered basket of each for the last few days, as the fruits are only available for a short season. These fruits have a pungent, tart flavor, but when served with fresh cream and honey-cakes, they make a delicious end to the meal with rustic simplicity. And, even better, they relieve all manner of ailments of the body and liver!

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