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.