Sunny.

Our 'summer' continues with yet more sunny weather.  Peter didn't have to get up early again because they were told yesterday afternoon that they weren't needed to come in early as there weren't have enough parts. He doesn't mind at all. 

I still went out for my walk but only up to the road as I wanted to get things done before going in to work. Speedy followed me up the hill wailing most piteously. I found it very hard not to turn around but I don't want to encourage the cats to go right up to the road. He waited halfway and joined me as I came down the hill.

I was able to get some more general tidying up on the little grass path that winds up the slope, using the secateurs to cut the grass and weeding out the flower beds on either side. This has got to be the best time of year for the garden with all the hardy geraniums making solid blocks of colour up the hillside and the roses in full bloom too.

Off to school in the afternoon to teach the Year 2 class. We were able to go out on the field for PE where I had to subtly note who were the hares and the tortoises so that we can split them for the sports' day running races. After school I went into town first to drop off some more crockery and clothes at the charity shop and then to make a last visit to the health food shop. It's closing this Friday which is a shame as I much prefer to go to an independent shop rather than the other 2 health food shops which are both part of large chains. There were no closing down reductions but I bought over 7 kilos of oat bran, which is about as much as I could comfortable carry and she did knock a couple of quid off. Then I went and bought a bikini in Primark. Now I certainly would not wear a bikini on the beach as though I have lost a lot of weight my tummy has still got to be the part of my body I like the least. Really I just wanted a bikini top that I could wear with shorts while gardening so that I can get a bit more sun without worrying about the postman or my neighbour's son wandering down. I tried on some tops that came on their own but in the end I picked one that came as a set. Of course it is black though I did try some patterned ones, now I have to hope that this good weather doesn't switch to an endless summer of cold grey days.,

Overcast.

I was up extra early this morning as Peter has to go to work an hour earlier every day this week (for hardly any extra pay). It was overcast at first and not as hot as yesterday but I still got 2 machine loads of bedding washed, dried and ironed.

While the first load was in the machine I took myself up the hill. Just for a change I turned right at the top of the drive and walked to Bowden Corner. It's a good thing that we don't have any good long walks from home or I would spend most of my time out walking. As it is either way you come to a busy road or high hedges after the first mile.

At the moment nature's colour scheme is mainly pink and white.  The red campion comes in a couple of slightly different shades of pink and there was one white plant, not to be confused with the white sea campion which is different.

 Foxgloves for a little height.

I walked down as far as Bowden Corner and then turned back for home and the day's work. 

It got sunnier during the day and I spent most of my time edging and weeding. I need to get that done because soon it will be time to cut back plants which have finished flowering. 

Sunny.

Yet another sunny day for us to enjoy. Peter wasn't rowing so we had the chance to sleep in a bit longer. It was such a lovely morning that I decided to walk on further going down to Ashelford Corner and then along the farm track.  

Yesterday the air was filled with the scent of fresh cut grass but today the dry grass smelt like new hay. It was very quiet as silage cutting is over for the time being and even the birds had gone quiet in the heat.

On my return I could have used the stile on the right to cut across the field but I preferred to walk in the cool of the trees. There was a breeze blowing which cooled things down as well. Walking down our drive I noticed that one arm was hot from the sun while the other was cool from the breeze and the shade. No sooner had the thought that if I wanted to warm my other side up I would have to walk backwards crossed my mind then I decided to do just that. Well it's supposed to be good for your hamstrings or something. It was a very strange sensation to be walking downhill backwards. But I only walked that way to the bend in the road. I did turn around at that point because I didn't want anyone to see me being so silly. 

For the rest of the day I pottered around the garden weeding and tidying up edges. I need to get around the  whole garden giving it a tidy up before I start another project.Later Peter cooked up another barbecue and we ate outside even though it was getting a bit on the cool side.

Sunny.

Yet another lovely day. It seems that the weather systems have shifted northwards and we have escaped the promised rain. Peter was up very early to row and for more training as a cox so I made an early start too. 

The farmers or at least the contract workers were cutting silage all through the night making the most of this dry spell which could break any day. As well as hearing the rumble of their machines last night I heard another new night sound much closer to home. It wasn't the owls that we often hear but it was possibly the geese. Even though it was 11.00 I put on my dressing gown, grabbed a torch and went out to investigate. I don't know what I thought I was actually going to, save a goose from being attacked by some predator perhaps? When I went outside I was amazed at how light it was even at that hour. Although I might not have been able to read a book there was no need for a torch it was so light. Naturally I did not hear the noise again, just a few sleepy caws from the rooks but I stood there enjoying the night. Boris the foal came over to say hello but got a bit annoyed when I stopped letting him lick my hand so that I could stroke his soft muzzle. He stood back then pawed the ground crossly before coming back up to the fence. By this time I was holding Speedy so that was something new for Boris to sniff at.

Morning walk and jobs done I set to work with the pressure washer. I was only able to wash 4 or 5 slabs before the washer started spluttering so I had to alternate washing with weeding around the pond. Eventually both jobs got done but I shall have to look at the handbook to see if there is a filter that I can get to as I think it may be full of mud. 

Although it was irritating to have to keep changing jobs it was probably better for my back than a whole afternoon spent just weeding. The path is looking nice and tidy. The white pond iris has begun to flower and there is one water lily flower. The pond water level still keeps on rising and falling. Possibly pulling out the deep rooted wild yellow irises last year created a crack through the clay allowing the water to trickle out. I can always fill the pond up with the hose if it gets too low.. 

Peter mowed all the lawns and later on he barbecued some pork kebabs that he had marinaded. These we ate by the scree garden sitting in the evening sun. 

A Scorcher.

It was beautifully hot today and I'm not complaining. Just a shame that I was at work all day. We did spend most of the afternoon outside mostly in the dappled shade of the Secret Garden.  Having failed completely to get a couple of YouTube videos past the school filter on the classroom lap top even though they worked fine in the staff room which was a complete mystery as everything is supposed to be on the same server we abandoned our plans to start work on our carnival songs. Instead we took 60 children, a basket of 40 assorted musical instruments and marched around outside doing some call and response work. Sort of me making up child appropriate football chants. Then we took both classes out onto the hot field to try out some more relay races including a sack race. By then it was playtime so we headed back to the cool of the Secret Garden where we were joined by the rest of the school.

I stayed on at school until 5.30 getting things ready for next week. Back home after that to send an email to the class teacher with an update on the day and a list of all the things I couldn't find.

The sun is still shinning now and lighting up the arum lilies.  I need a bit more practise with the manual focus and exposure settings to capture their sculptural shapes.

Sunny.

If we had whole weeks of days like today  it would make for a perfect summer. The blue skies got me up earlier than usual. Looking out of the window I saw 2 squirrels in the garden. They saw me too and shot up the tree where they sat on adjoining branches looking very cute. By the time I got my camera one was already down on the ground. That's the first time I've seen 2 squirrels together here. Perhaps they are plotting a route to the bird feeder filled with peanuts.

It was a lovely day for a walk up the hill, first passing Boris in a sea of buttercups.... 

.... and then out on to the road. All was quiet in the morning heat until I reached the dappled shade of the trees by Ashelford Corner. 

Coming back down into our valley he goose family were feeding on the grass. The young are beginning to get their adult plumage and look more like little geese than grey balls of fluff. 

Up in the outbuildings the young swallows look almost ready to fly.

Having completed all the preparations I got out the pressure washer to clean the paving at the back of the house. First hurdle was over come in that the spare hose was long enough to reach around from the tap under the kitchen window. I started to clean off the slabs but then the washer started spluttering and the water pressure dropped. I turned off the pressure washer as I didn't want to burn out the motor and checked the water supply. The water coming out of the kitchen tap was brown, obviously the heavy rain had washed soil down into our bore hole which does happen sometimes. I let the tap run until the water was clear but I noticed the flow had lessened. I wondered if the power cut we had the day of the thunderstorms had flipped a switch up at the tank or something so I'm waiting to check with Peter before doing any more pressure washing and possibly emptying out the tank in the outbuildings. Instead I started weeding the path around the pond which has been making me feel guilty for a little while. 

In the afternoon I had to go to an RE teachers' meeting/lecture at the boys' old school. One of my friends was there but also a lady who used to teach the boys. Naturally she asked after them and I had to explain about Linas which is never easy. But that's the way it goes. The meeting was OK but I was glad to get home and spend an hour soaking up the sun in the garden.

Dry.

After yesterday's dramatic weather (the surfinia flowers in the top baskets were ripped to shreds by the force of the rain) it was all change this morning with overcast skies and a chill in the air.  However once I had done my jobs and thrown some washing in the machine it began to brighten up.

I took myself off for a walk up the hill (strange how the camera flattens out what is really a very steep hill) and once I got up to the road I gave in to the temptation to carry on for a bit and walked down to Ashelford Corner before heading home.

Earlier I had been thinking that I hadn't seen the deer for a while when I saw one of them in the field settling down in the long grass for a rest. Even with the binoculars I could only just see the tops of its ears.

I've been working on the back patio again. Today I had to move a pile of stones before I could clean the paving but before that I had to clear the ground next to the paving of weeds and some very well established purple loosestrife. The loosestrife had been there for at least 10 years and the roots were like tree trunks. I had to use our big pry bar that I can hardly lift, to get them out. While I worked I began planning some planting around the back lawn. I'm not going for my garden 'vision' anymore but simply looking to make the garden look more presentable if we do go ahead and put the house on the market next year. Luckily I've got some stuff I can move around.