Sometimes it's just too hot outside . . . young Pippi relaxing.
No photo I'm afraid, but I've just gone out for a breath of evening air, and a "scream" of Swifts flew over the house, the late afternoon sun catching the gleam of the feathers on their heads and wing edges like mercury was pouring off them. The sun really made them look like they had headlights! I've said about it before, but the angle of the sun tonight really lit them up and they were just SO beautiful.
My patchwork class went well - lots of chatting about holidays and I diligently pinned and sewed three of the hand-quilted borders and know how to tackle the overlapping batting and what have you on the back - all the components were stitched and then assembled.
It was a lovely drive home, with the pink of the Foxgloves being reproduced in the soaring pink spires of Rosebay Willowherb, and Meadowsweet, Agrimony and a bevy of Umbellifers making the verges glow. It was good to get through Llanwrtyd Wells and see the Mohican Haircuts of the Army pinetree plantings on the top of the Epynts, and the rounded whale-back humps of the heather-clad hills around my home.
When I got home I watered in the greenhouse - much needed - and decided I would sit down at my little patio table with a glass of white wine and a bag of crisps. Both went down very well and it was lovely to sit in the shade and watch butterflies and birds fly above and around me.
I have a little notion about what I may research essay-wise. I need to do a couple of visitations now to see what I can find . . .
It sounds very idyllic in your garden. I spent the morning working mine, nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes! Enjoyable otherwise. Pippi looks very content!
ReplyDeleteHorse flies here, if I poke around too much on the bank! I love to just sit out with a book and listen to the birds and the insects.
DeleteRelaxed cat♥️
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any swifts here, but we have had a few martens and swallows..one was sitting on the wire and twittering this afternoon
There's a strong group who nest down in the town, on the taller buildings there. They come and feed on the hill around me, and it is wonderful to see and hear them. My Swallows seem to have given up on having another brood and are either enjoying life on the wing or have gone back to Africa early.
DeleteYour day and drive were perfect.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Plus two invisible fillings. A skilful dentist.
DeleteThanks for the lovely drive home! I have trouble imagining Foxgloves as wildflowers. I have white ones I planted in my small front garden that flower in spring. They don’t last very long if we get early hot winds blowing, tend to bend over. I need to come to the quilting group as I have a couple of unfinished quilts up in the ‘cupboard’ needing some inspiration and expertise I just can’t seem to muster at the moment . JennyP
ReplyDeleteSometimes when woodland has been cleared, thousands will grow on the cleared soil - seeds from many years before it was cleared. They are so beautiful en masse like that.
DeleteSwifts were the Dawn chorus on Radio 3 this morning at 6.30. A scream of swifts - I see them often over the meadow.
ReplyDeleteYour carrot cake looks prize-winning to me. Do you have local flower and produce shows down your way? I think you are a tad too far from Trelawnyd!
We’re both in the wars this morning. S has an eye infection (bathed and eye drops applied this morning already) and my left shoulder is excruciating (two old injuries - torn rotator cuff and torn subscapularis aggravated by all the lifting). I feel like the little baby thrush I found at the bottom of the meadow with his damaged wing. He didn’t survive.
I had my carer’s health assessment yesterday and she emphasised the importance of care but find me a Carer. There is a shortage of carers in places like Chichester and Worthing, never mind in the middle of the South Downs. Carers don’t like spending time travelling and with care home fees around £2500 per week (which I think is obscene and so wrong) it’s no wonder everyone is doing everything in their power to stay at home. I know two local private carers. Both have waiting lists and both say they cannot take on anyone else until something happens to an existing client. It’s a problem and I know you faced similar.
But looking on the bright side Ola came yesterday to clean so I could go swimming.
I’m going to do a Waitrose order today (have had two deliveries since S came home, both brilliant) and I’m expecting a parcel from Merchant and Mills containing two metres of Japanese chambray in the colour called cherry blossom to make me a Camber dress. I will really enjoy that and can make the Camber pattern without too much thinking.
Did you hear the Bayeux tapestry is coming back to England for the first time in 950 years. At the British Museum from October 2026 for a year - it will be a bun fight.
Thank goodness for a lovely home and garden and sunshine and TV tennis. I will try not to do any gardening and supper will be easy peasy courgette, chilli, garlic, lemon zesty fresh pasta with lots of parmesan, olive oil and basil. Egg mayonnaise and salad sandwiches for lunch. Mango sorbet for afternoon tea. Gooseberries for pud. And breathe! I’ve run out of cannabis balm so need to order more my shoulder and perhaps I should make a physio appt. The physio practice I go to has a hydrotherapy pool which I’ve never been to but would love to check out for both of us.
Have a lovely day BB. Finding solace in nature is the best medicine. Sarah x
There are local agricultural and horse shows which have craft and produce tents. I did that when we first moved to Wales, and can still remember the hissy fits which were had when I won both the Jam and the Chutney classes. BANANA JAM! They were horrified! I'd like to think my cakes might stand a goodly chance too. I had a hug from a passing through friend of my new neighbour's today - I let him park in my yard. He thanked me for my wonderful cakes and gave me a hug. Nice to be appreciated.
DeleteI hope that S's eye is soon better - so uncomfortable when you get an eye infection. Ouch to your old shoulder injuries playing up though. Does swimming ease them?
Haven't been in Waitrose since Keith and I used to go to Wooton auction and come home through the Forest of Dean and Abergavenny (the latter has a Waitrose). We would get tea to picnic on in their car park before heading back into Carmarthenshire.
I had some fabric arrive today - a little charm pack and two fat quarters of cat fabric in Frost and Midnight colourways. I will make Rosie a little cuddle-quilt with this I think.
Oh, if only I could get to the British Museum to see the Bayeaux Tapestry. My dad saw it when he was in France - during WWII!!
What delicious meals you make - though you can keep the egg mayonnaise sarnies as I hate eggs.
Nature has indeed been providing me with solace recently. Such a joy.
That all sounds idyllic, it's good when suddenly all feels well in the world isn't it. Good on you for making the most of it.
ReplyDeleteI try to turn a necessary journey into something pleasant. I had an early appointment so was too early for most of the charity shops, but got a book on Welsh Witchcraft on the one that was open.
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