Bits and Bobs

Hello again! We're home after another break away, and I'm enjoying the fact that it's the summer holidays. It's been a warm, breezy day today, just right for being in the garden deadheading, cutting back, staking and generally tidying up. I've also been sorting out my photos and buzzing around in Blogland again, so I thought I'd share with you a few of the nice things (in no particular order) that I've been doing lately:

*Reading my summery magazines with a cup of tea al fresco

*Stopping to admire these beautiful blue cut flowers from P (he knows the way to my heart)

*Spending time in my shed, changing my noticeboard pictures for holiday ones

whilst enjoying Clover's company

* Making bunting for J's new student house

and for the outside of my shed

*Enjoying the Bristol Harbourside Festival

as well as its street market

*Smiling at the sight of Bristol's Urban Food Trail

*Heading for the river to swim/relax on the bank as we often do for J's birthday

*Going with whatever the weather does, rain ...

... or shine

*Noticing the little things

*Feeling fond of our native cherry tree, planted by P and I eighteen years ago

 - blackbirds love the tiny bitter cherries

*Wondering if I could one day make these sweet little bee tiles into a mosaic

*Loving bee-friendly annuals in the garden, like this fabulous blue borage

*Smelling the sweet perfume of the phlox which is at its strongest in the evening

*Eating lots of lovely berries

*Reading books bought from a sweet second-hand bookshop

(I took this photo back in the spring, as you can tell by the daffodils!)

*Looking forward to the blackberry season

*Feeling pleased that the little flower bed that I made back in May has filled out so much

*Taking the time to pod and cook broad beans from the local farm-shop for my lunch - crushed with mint and garlic on toast a la River Cottage (delicious!)

Next time I'll show you where we went on holiday - see you soon x