It looks like summer is finally here….we’re into the cycle of hot, sunny and often humid days interspersed with thunderstorms (it’s lashing it down as I write). I love the fact that we get storms. They clean the air and cool things down a bit – my Northern English body doesn’t deal with heat for prolonged periods very well. A bit of a downpour every couple of days is great.

I’ve noticed that I’m waking before the alarm every morning – I don’t seem to need as much sleep at the moment and I’m raring to get outside as soon as the sun is up. Does an increase in Vitamin D do that? I don’t know, but I certainly notice that my spirits are lifted when the sun shines. Up and out at 6am – that would never happen in the winter!

First stop of the day is always a cup of tea on the patio in my nightie. With Bumble Bee in attendance – two ladies of a certain age together. Enjoying the cool air and the dew on the grass.

This year I decided to try and make life a bit easier – so I’ve drastically cut down all the little itsy bits pots of things cluttering outside. No tomatoes this year. The measly number I’ve produced in the past couple of years certainly haven’t merited all the watering. Instead I’ve plumped for lavender, which doesn’t need much taking care of, a pot of herbs by the door and of course my usual pair of hanging baskets. The baskets are aways a bit of a faff to keep from drying out – but they’re pretty and girly and I like them, and with less other stuff to water I should be able to manage them. This year I’m really going to try to remember to feed them too.

I was working all day yesterday and most of this morning – so still no finish on the zigzag quilt – but it’s getting there…very slowly…but getting there….

I did manage to finish these though…

Aprons for a ballet performance. A ridiculously over the top ballet performance to boot. With costumes made to measure for each child …. for all of two performances….(she says, banging her head against a nearby wall!) The costumes would do nicely in the Royal Opera House and by the time we get to the performance in September my daughter (aged 17) will have practiced for about 10 hours a week for A YEAR! Yes, you read that correctly….for a whole year….for a measly TWO SHOWS. It is bonkers, totally bonkers… In the past I’ve sewed costumes for months for the ballet teacher, but I’ve really learned my lesson…..I told her I could help a bit, but I haven’t rushed to get it done….and I did refuse unequivocally to sew on any sequins. Been there, done that, definitely got the T-shirt. My daughter is perfecting her fending off the ballet teacher skills. I think they could come in handy in later life.

Anyway, on that happy note I’d better get on.

I hope summer has come to your house too.

Helen

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 2:16 pm and is filed under Gardening, Other Crafts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.