Cool for cats

 I do like these new chairs, she has popped a towel on each seat, I don't know why, they leave the doors open all day and into the evening, plenty of time for me to take naps when they are not in here.

My scratching post is now in a different place, easy for me to get to it, I do love using it. Yes they do have a carpet in the back of the garage, it was in the house when they moved in.

I spend loads of time in the veg section of the garden, so many hiding places and cool to lie on, all in the shade, I can sleep whenever I want to. I still can't get on the veg beds, the net cover around the sides are too good.

She has been trying to take my photo, I'm not a poser, she was muttering because she had to delete so many photos of my bum.

I'm managing to stay cool in this hot weather, I hardly ever go in the house, just in early evening to eat, she often puts a licky (a wonderful cat treat) in my bowl, she mixes it with loads of water, I eat that outside. I still pop to say goodnight, not every night, just when I'm not busy, it's the same in the mornings. 

I don't go into the garden next door so much the big cat Felix is very scary and chases me, they use a water pistol on him if he is in our garden, I still walk along the nice neighbours back fence it's behind their huge summer house, the dogs can't see me. They still don't know where I go, he has insisted I don't wear a camera.

I have not seen the little people recently, I do love to play with them, she has promised they will be here at the weekend, anther BBQ, strange cooking hot food outside on a hot day.

My title, it's a track from Squeeze, she plays them often, I quite like the music as well.

Splat

 I saw something similar on Instagram recently and thought it would be great for the little ones, we stopped using water balloons years ago, so much wasted plastics, I cut the sponges up into strips and tied them together with a small cable tie, add to a bucket of water and let the fun begin...

As you can see Molly and George loved playing, and got me very wet, we each had our own bucket of water, we slipped their shorts off before play, I can see them wanting to play every visit, mummy remembered to bring dry clothes. Lilly just kept out of their range, Grancha hid in the sunroom, mummy and Will stayed inside. So much laughter. 

My grapevine is growing, it's probably the only plant enjoying this extended heat wave, it's nice to know it's settled into its growing space. In the same bed my cucumbers are ripening, I get a couple each week, the tomatoes are behind, too much shade from the magnolia tree. 

All I do outside is water and deadhead the flowers, my gladioli are already going over, they are in a sunny spot, I want to move my 2 snowberry plants from the daisy bed, they can't be seen and are wasted in their current spot, hubby has given me a nice pot for them, later in the year I can add spring bulbs. Hubby has an hydrangea in his from garden suffering from the heat, he does not water his garden enough. I have cut back the thyme and sage in my big herb pot next to our seating area, I will move them into individual pots, I can then add to the compost in the big pot and replant the hydrangea, in hope I can save it, it gets morning sun and afternoon shade, I have a geum I can separate and underplant. I'm just waiting for rain before I start moving things.

My runner-beans are still rather ropey, they have started climbing up the poles, hopefully with the slightly lower temperatures they may catch up. I have tried a couple of times to sow lettuce, nothing is coming up, so I will get some small plants this week.

Today will be much the same as yesterday weather wise, just 26°, sounds hot, we have had over 30° for the past 10 days, so it does feel less oppressive, still no rain, now almost 6 weeks, we have had a few cloudy days, I've been looking online for pagan rituals to call for rain just joking. My waterbuts are all almost empty, I try and keep enough for the few plants I can't use tap water.

After the tennis

 Another great book, it hints at a secret 3 friends have from school, with flashbacks filling in details, the school grounds are sold for development, which is a deep worry to one of them, what should they do. Book 47 read this year.

I do like this author, he has interesting plots, you meet your ex girlfriend and have become a couple again, she has a huge secret and you are drawn in, loads of twists, a very clever written plot, I could not put it down. Book 48 read this year.

Another brilliant plot, very different, you are abducted and forced to live in a hut in the middle of a huge forest, already there is another woman, terrified of the men, how to escape and find your way home. Book 49 read this year.

Sunday we had the last slice of lemon cake, Monday we had a red velvet cupcake from Molly's batch. Midweek we had scones for a couple of days, I only have cream on one half. Hubby then made a marmalade cake, we do love home made cakes with our morning coffee.

Just 3 gladioli blooms this year, they are beautiful, sadly in this heat wave the flowers are not lasting long.

Hubby has always cooked from scratch, we eat very few process meals, I enjoy a slice of cake, it's rare we have scones and cream, I don't eat bread, we are eating salads everyday, often with my homegrown new potatoes and lettuce, the cucumbers and tomatoes are slower. 

I picked the little ones up from school on Tuesday, daughter was at Will's school, it was review day, his work as always was so good, it's a shame he's not enjoying school. Wednesday daughter and I had a day together, she wanted to thank me for helping recently, I don't need thanks, I believe it's part of being a mum, and I will help whilst I am still able. Today hubby is out all day, so I am home alone, a quick flick of the duster, as my mum would say and then reading, still too hot for much gardening, I do have a couple of small jobs I want to get done, once the temperature drops, it's almost 5 weeks without rain here, and none in the forecast next week. 

I have already received my all clear from the mammogram last week, I got an NHS text with a link to the electronic letter, such an easy way to get results, I checked my NHS portal and my blood and stool tests are no yet back, I do like being able to see my data, I don't always understand everything, a quick chat to practice nurse always fills in details. I do keep and eye on my cholesterol and pre diabetes status.

I'm 5

 So our youngest grandchild is 5, her birthday was last Thursday, we all popped to see her after school, she had cake and presents, a very happy little girl. All we heard was 'I'm 5 now'. Here wearing her KPop demon hunters outfit, it's all the rage for her and her peers.

Her first birthday cake, on her birthday with us, grandpa and grandma, a proper family event. Hubby and I surprised the little ones, we collected them after school, both were happy to see us, it was a hot day Molly does suffer in the heat.

Molly had a few friends over on Sunday to play in their garden, daughter had been busy to ensure it was as neat as possible, and added balloons and bunting to make it pretty, it was chaos the whole time, George joined in, Will stayed in his bedroom. This lady was hired to visit, Rumi from KPop, she was wonderful with all the children including younger brother and sisters, George loved her as well.

Molly had asked hubby to make a red velvet cake, he makes them dairy free so she can eat them, he decided to make cupcakes, they do look lovely and as normal they tasted great.  Below is half the batch, the children loved them.

For some nostalgia. 

I had a sleepover on Saturday night, daughter went out for an early evening meal with friends, so I did bedtime, the little ones were so good. Will asked if he could watch the England football match starting at 10pm, he was so happy to see them win and went to bed no problem. Daughter had prepared everything she could on Saturday, so Sunday was an easy start, we did have the pool out, loads of bubbles and inflatables, happy children. Parents sat around keeping an eye on their children, having a lovely chat together.

I was home in time to watch the gentlemen's final, what a match, so close, Sinner winning in 4 sets, sets 1 and 2 were nail biting, sadly it's all over for another year. Now we can get back to normal life, still in this relentless heatwave, no rain here for over 4 weeks, most of Hampshire is on a hosepipe ban implemented by Southern Water, we are OK  as our fresh water is provided by Portsmouth Water, so I can water a few times a week.

This week

We popped to town on Tuesday and met daughter, I had already been to the local hospital for a mammogram, it was hot, so we stopped for a rare treat, just too hot for coffee, mine is lemon, it was wonderful, hubby had pistachio.

Sam one of my older grandsons, when a toddler was worried about me being lonely in my car, so these teddies have sat in the child seat, when not in use, Sam is now 16, George does not like these teddies, they are thrown around the car, so sadly this week they were adopted by a lovely lady, who promised to keep them together and love them, she collects teddies.

I have read this author before, it's another good plot, your first role back to work after being at home with your daughter, it's with your dream company, strange things keep happening all around one co-worker, is she the problem, I felt the plot was leading in the wrong direction, the twist when it came was brilliant.  Book 46 read this year.

Tennis has been excellent, both ladies and gentlemen's matches has been spellbinding, I don't enjoy the doubles matches, I do love to watch a long rally where the players work to outplay their rivals. Sadly Arthur Fery ended his run, I hope he is proud of himself, I'm sure most everyone watching enjoyed his tennis. Jannik Sinner dispatched Djokovic in three straight sets, 

I did manage to deep clean the en-suite and our bedroom this week, so that's the whole house done in the last couple of weeks, the dust is the issue, it gets everywhere. Today I am home alone, I will drive to daughters later for another sleepover.

I have done all the medical retest this week, hoping for the results to help my doctor to work out why I'm not so good, my diet is still very restricted, which is helping, I would rather not stay on such limited foods. I have always been on restrictions due to an early high cholesterol discovered at age 19, which was kept in place for over 20 years. Restrictions on dairy, animal fats, plus issues with refined white flour and watching sugar intake, add a couple of allergies and things I don't like.

Growing and picking

 I adore these fleabane daises, I cut them back a couple of weeks ago and now they are in full bloom again, this bed at the back of the lawn looks so good, all through the summer the daisies are the star. I have planted more around the veg section in nooks, hoping it looks as if they made their own way there. 

A few more blooms around the garden , yellow rose, gladioli just four this year, an unexpected aquilegia, again I have 4 plants in the daisy bed, this one broke as it grew, so with new shoots some late flowers. The white spikes are new this year, a £5 small plant from our market guy, which I have grown on, Physostegia, crystal palace white, it should return every year, it's in my side bed. 

My white lavender is huge, I have take some cuttings in hope of more plants, I have agapanthus growing in 3 spots, these tall flower heads add structure, and look very pretty. I have started to add flowers which tumble over the edge of the beds, which I do like the look of. 

I have new growth on my grapevine, I read online what to do with it, the first year in the ground like most plants is important, I put mulch around the soil where it is planted and I have an old white tea towel protecting it from the fierce heat of the day, just for a few weeks until it is settled. 

I saw a meme, 'no one wants to see your first tomato harvest', sorry this is mine, two different varieties, the plants are both full of flowers and fruits, my cucumber is producing more fruits, my lettuce has slowed down in this heat, I do have more on the way. 

I can't do much in this heatwave, I water on nights when the garden requires it, I do enjoy the task, I can take note of everything growing, we are not sitting out much, the tennis has been our company most afternoons and evenings, this is definitely the year to sit and watch the garden. Our hedgehog has been missing for a couple of days, we have plenty of birds all sizes, the bigger birds can't get to the feeders, they come in for the water. 

I do everyday ensure the birds and other wildlife have fresh water, I have 3 different spots plus the pond, the pond is full of slimly weeds, there is not much I can do, I try and clear as much as I can, I tried a barley straw bale, which did not do much, as always I checked online and basically my pond is too small and in too much sunlight to keep it clear, the weed does not impact on the pond and will clear once the weather changes. 

Hubby noted some damage to a rack when cleaning his new BBQ, B&Q wanted to send him a new BBQ, hubby declined, he spoke to manufactures, who could/would not sent out spare part, back to B&Q, the choice a replacement BBQ or £50 refund to close the matter, hubby chose the refund, he can live with the slight damage.

Is it ever finished

The clock on our huge thermometer has been playing up for ages, hubby has tried to fix it a few times, finally we gave in and purchased a new clock. I love the size of it, I can see the time from anywhere in the garden, it fits in well on this wall by our back door.

No excuse, I love decals on the glass, hubby did encourage me to get these, just simple shapes.

Lilly has taken to sleeping on hubby's pouffe, its close to the doors, she lays here for ages when we are sat in there. Hubby promised to make wooden door-stops, he made two, they work perfectly, maybe not as pretty as the ones I saw, he's so clever.

I've made a few changes on my shelves, added my new painted plaque, I moved my nice trug, it did not look right, hubby found a space to store it, I've hung a few shiny things and a pink glass heart given to me by hubby's SIL, who died last year. We got a cheap edge of the counter chopping board, which hubby cut down to size to make a table top for my wicker basket.

Hubby has added a bit more to his side, including his hat and his number plate from his last motorbike. I love seeing his menu board up, he's used it for years, the little ones love to read what's on offer. Hubby decided he wanted nicer chairs, I managed to talk him out of an expensive pair, these will do. 

I have popped some sheer nets to shade the front, they work well, we can remove them once they are not needed, this is a real suntrap, when the temperatures are in mid 20's we are happy, any higher and we stay out. I have purchased a couple of rugs, the long runner by the doors I got off marketplace for £10, a real bargain, the rug I got half price from Dunelm. The throws and denim cushions I made years ago, it's  all come together nicely. 

We have often sat out here in the evenings, it's so quiet, we listen to the birds, we can't see the feeders, but we hear their rowdy feeding, we don't have much road noise here and most of our neighbours are quiet, it does feel a very peaceful place to sit.

For now we are watching tennis, it's just too hot outside agsin, it's a very exciting tournament this year, the second week is always brilliant. Arthur Ferys win puts him in quarter finals, he plays later today, against an opponent he has already beaten this year, 🤞🤞hope his never give up attitude wins out again. 

This life

We had another BBQ on Saturday, daughter and the two little ones came over, Will had a sleepover with grandma, hubby used his new smaller BBQ, it took us over two hours to put it together in the week, he is really pleased with it, this one has cast iron cooking racks and plate. It was much easier to clean after use, and lighter to wheel out each time.

I loved this book from the start, a poor student looking for a cheap room near campus, just for one term, how bad can it get, who can she rely on, I guessed the twist about half way, which did not stop me enjoying the book, there was a second twist near the end which made complete sense. Book 45 read this year.

I have been stitching on cooler days, I have finished the top lines, I am now working on the sides, I intend to move the work so I can complete both sides and then do the bottom. I will then have the space I need to fill, no plans as yet, just a rough idea of what I would like to stitch again.

Hubby made some super rhubarb flapjacks, they were wonderful, I have asked him to make more, we have plenty of rhubarb in the freezer, this week we are eating lemon cake.

I have been watching the tennis, as always enjoying the matches, so many great players this year, the first week has been less dramatic than last year, Saturday did see a few ladies fall and Sunday the number 1 seed lost her match. Some of the qualifiers and wild cards are playing great tennis, and matches are very enjoyable to watch, Djokovic again is playing silly B's, all his silly antics get on my nerves, I hope he's out soon, same for the hype over Serina Williams return to the game, both talented top quality players, but age catches up with everyone. Arthur Fery's match, over 4 hours of great tennis, hubby and I enjoyed his match, just amazing a brit into week 2. 

I've noticed loads of rat holes in the space behind our garage, they are ever present here, we have 3 very overgrown gardens all close by, we will never be rid of them, they have gotten into my composter, it's another unwanted job for this week.

Back in my garden

 The recent heatwave has scorched my raspberry plants, just the top new growth leaves, this is a very sunny spot, so far my summer raspberries have ripened OK. 

My runner-beans are also scorched and not growing well, it's another sunny spot, I have another rouge potato growing.

I have planted my grapevine in one of the veg beds, the roots are in a shady spot, the vines grow into the sunshine, I hope to train the vines along these arches, which are placed for the tall raspberries on the other side.

I transplanted this red rose to a big pot last year, it struggled in the ground, I am happy to see this bloom and more buds, more red here from the crocosmia, lucifer. I pulled these out years ago, and most years I pull out the new growth, this year I decided to let a few grow in with the agapanthus.

We did not have many blooms on our magnolia tree in the spring, the squirrels ate most of them, so again I'm pleased to see so many blooms, the tree is looking good.

We seriously need rain here, the last time it rained was 10th June, over 3 weeks ago, my water butt levels are dropping fast, we have had a couple 10 minutes of fine rain which dried up very quickly, there is no rain in our forecast. I have purchased a rain measuring unit, just so I can see what amount of rain we get, I might bore you over the coming months with results. Southern water is bringing in a hosepipe ban soon, luckily we get our water from Portsmouth water and they have a statement saying their water supplies are good.

I dug out my 3rd bag of new potatoes, we are cutting lettuce every day, and my cucumber plant is producing more cucumbers, the tomatoes will be ready soon, I pick raspberries a couple times a week, the strawberries have finished, we have stopped pulling rhubarb, but there is plenty in the freezer. Sweet peas are still blooming.

We are having to watch Lilly, the huge black and white male cat from next door has started coming into our garden and attacking her, hubby has chased him away a few times, we have loaded our big water pistol with lemon juice to squirt at him, it does not harm him, cats dislike citrus which stays on their coats after the water dries and hopefully will deter him.

I've done very little since coming back from our break, my tummy is playing up, my doctor wants to repeat my blood test, and I will do another stool test, the surgery gave me the wrong test last time. I'm living on salads, steamed fish, avoiding breads and any flour based products, tonight I will make a paella seafood for me, chicken for hubby, I have two small pans and I'm happy to make different flavours.

Pitt Rivers natural history museum

 We would have never found this place, a tour guide recommended we visit, its spread over 4 floors, and just fantastic, the items displayed here are just a very small part of their collection, the photo below is from the 2nd floor looking across and down. 

I have never seen an elephant's skeleton, the ground floor was animal related.

On other floor artifacts.

I took over 50 photo's, every where was so interesting, you can visit their webpage, it was free entry with optional donation, here is just a taste, it's incredible and something to entertain everyone.

Steve Reed would love it here, our 9 year old grandson Will has seen my photo's and is asking his mum (daughter) to take him, sadly we did not have the time to take in everything, our 90 minute visit was just not enough time.