Wednesday This and That . . .

 

We had kind of a mixed bag weather wise yesterday. It started off gloriously sunny. I had plans to hang out the laundry and did two loads, but alas it turned to rain and drizzle by the end of the day. ended up having a gorgeously sunny day. This  morning has dawned dry, and I can see some blue sky, but you can never predict the weather with any certainty over here in the UK. It is always so changeable.  I am not against the rain per se . . . it is the rain which helps to turn the garden lush and green, and . . . for that I am grateful, along with the sound of it's pitter patter on the roof tops, which is so sweet and endearing.   You can almost see the garden turning with every little droplet that falls . 

But those sunny moments in between the rain . . . they do the heart good, perhaps even more so because of the frequent rain.  I find everything standing at attention after a summer rain, as if to say here we are . . . brisk and lively and ready to take on the world.

Can anything taste better than fresh baby salad greens with rain drops still on their leaves????   Oh no . . . there is not . . . unless it is a strawberry, still warm from the sunshine with bits of straw clinging to it's leaves . . .

There is so much to fall in love with in this most beautiful month of the year . . . .  

 

 

 

 The roses in our garden are breathtakingly beautiful at the moment!   Each one more lovely than the rest.  These wild Tudor roses are so sweet and the area is dusted all over with tons of little buds waiting to burst open.  When they do it will be glorious  to behold . . .  

 

 

 

We have roses of every colour imaginable . . . and this is only in the back garden.  There are even more in the front.   We adore roses.   These small gloriously red ones are so beautiful . . . I shall have to try to dry a few petals . . . my charge for today to find out something which I can do with rose petals . . . perhaps rosewater?   Or sugared rose petals? 

 

 

  

 

I wish I knew the names of them all, but alas, I don't  . . . I just know that they are beautiful and make my heart smile. 

 

 

 

I could spend hours outside admiring them and all of the other blooms  . . .  

 

  

 

The hydrangea are going mad at the moment  . . .  so pretty.  In the autumn these blooms deepen to a crimson colour almost  . . . 

 

 

But for now we enjoy the pink  . . . 

 

  

 

There are far too many of these about.  They have pretty much decimated our bush beans no matter how hard we have tried to keep their population down.  I even find slug marks on the kitchen floor in the morning.  They get in everywhere  . . .  its gross. 

 

 

 

Lets not think about them.  Lets think about all of the wildflowers that are springing up in the back garden, in our wild flower garden . . .  they are amidst the strawberry patch . . . which are pretty much done now  . . .  I ate a small handful yesterday, all warm and juicy.  Deliciously sweet.

 

 

  

 

I do so love cornflowers.  I always have done.  When I was a teenager I used to buy bouquets of dried flowers and there were always corn flowers in them.  They were so very pretty. 

 

 

 

 

One thing I have noticed this year is that there are hardly any bees  . . .  it is a bit worriesome.  Our lavendar which is usually buzzing with them, so many that you are a bit afraid to get too close or rub against it, is oddly quiet  . . . 

 

 

  

 

Two types of daisies living together in perfect harmony . . . friends together in the same patch.   Such a lovely picture and thought . . . were that people could only be the same harmonious companions as a rule . . . 

 

 

 

Mom on her Birthday last year.  She would have been 87 yesterday.  Yesterday was hard.  I found myself telephoning my sister and I could scarce get out the word hello. I had spoken to my mother on her birthday, no matter how far away I had lived, every July 9th of my life.  It was nice to talk to my Sister. I think that was the first time we have Voice-talked since  . . .  we talk about every other day on Messenger. It was a difficult day for each of us.   My sister was going to the grave to leave some flowers.  I told her to tell mom I loved her and missed her.  I can't tell you the number of times during the day I will say to myself (without thinking) "I need to tell mom that," and then I remember . . .  I can't.  I think we each feel the same. It is natural I guess. 

 

 

 

This was only seven years ago at Eileen's wedding shower. We were playing a clothespin game.  What a fun evening that was. 

 

 

  

 

It was just a few days later we celebrated mom's 80th Birthday at the Big Scoop at the edge of town.  These were two of her good friends.  It was such a bright and sunny day. 

 

 

 

She was pleased really to have us all celebrate her day.  All of my children were there, with the exception of Doug who had had to leave pretty much right after the wedding due to work committments.  Most of our extended family was also able to attend and I know mom felt really special. 80 is a milestone in anyone's life. It would only be a few months later that she was diagnosed with lung cancer and everything went down from there.  When you get older it doesn't take much to make a huge difference to your life and it can change in an instant.

 

That's why I won't let Todd go up on ladders anymore.  He pooh-pooh's at me, but I tell him, its not because I think he can't . . .  I know he can.  It is just that something like a fall at the age of 80 is life changing.  I want him with me as long as possible.  I noticed lately he is becoming/looking more frail.  But I won't go there  . . . 

 

 

  

 

Back to happy things  . . .  to a window sill which is laughing in flowers at the moment.  This never ceases to make me smile. 

 

I think we have wood pigeon wars going on in the back garden because each day brings much flapping of wings and three large fat birds who are vying to take hold of the territory. The same one always wins and the other two clear off.  I can tell because he has some white on his wings.  He puts the run to the others. 

 

 

 

Right now he is sitting on our wooden bird table in the back garden, waiting for Todd to get up and put out some crusts . . .  surveying his domain.  Todd only just repainted that table last week . . . oh well  . . . 

 

 

I am off to Costco today to pick up burger and dog buns for tomorrow and some fresh berries and one of the cans of whipped cream. Or maybe I will just send Todd. But then again, he always brings back the wrong thing, so I best go myself.

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *Do the right thing

even when nobody is looking.

Its called Integrity.•。★★ 。* 。 

 

 

 

Over in the kitchen today  . . .  A Low Carb Fish Pie.  Quick and easy and yes, delicious! 

 

Have a wonderful Wednesday.  I hope the sun shines down on you wherever you are! Don't forget! 

 

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And I do too!