Tea time

Getting ready for afternoon tea in the garden. The sun is shining and it's not too windy. I love this pretty tablecloth with its orange tree peonies set against a turquoise ground. The marigolds, dark dahlias and sweet peas are perfect and the summery paper napkins fun. I love these bright summery hues and feel the butterfly on my verbena is saying 'look at me and see how well I match your scheme'!

He's back

Now the hay has been cut the young grass is growing back and I'm delighted to see that this has encouraged our hare to return. When resting he is hard to spot and he can stay still for ages nibbling and resting, but then he's up and off and, as ever, I'm surprised by how large he looks and how fast he can move - here he's running between our wrapped bales. Today I was outside with my cup of tea at 6am waiting for his arrival.

Keeping watch

I was up early this morning and the buzzard was also up early looking for his breakfast. He sits so still in the tree, the old ash branch making the perfect perch.

Gardening

I've been busy working outside whenever the weather allows and as well as all the regular jobs I am still digging over my new plot. We have also tackled an area of nettles and brambles by the barn. My verbascum is still going strong and now seems to be presiding over the vegetables!

Butterflies

The garden is absolutely full of bees but so far butterflies have been thin on the ground (and in the air). The first of the small tortoiseshells have appeared and the field is full of meadow browns but they don't like to settle for a photograph. Here is a large white, fortunately on my nasturtiums but they've also been on the sprouts, and a speckled wood.

Balloon landing

We sat out enjoying the evening air when we noticed a hot air balloon in the distance, over the next hour it came closer and closer until it landed just across from us. It looked very picturesque with the sun setting behind.

A special soldier

This is part of the 141 days project commemorating the Battle of the Somme. To mark the duration of the battle 141 of these exquisite tiny brass soldiers, each holding a poppy, have been created by artist Nic Joly to be placed on war memorials across the UK.  To find out more about this work I am including a link: 141 days. They are hidden in secret locations but you don't have to venture far from our farm to discover this one.

Sweet peas

My sweet peas are just beginning to flower but they are still down amongst the foxglove flowers at the bottom of the tripod, you'd have thought with all the rain they'd be reaching for the top but no they are dawdling around the base (unlike the grass which seems to look as if it should be cut daily).

Out again!

This time I am heading off to a WI tea party in Doveridge to celebrate (belatedly) the Queen's birthday and the fact that our WI was founded 95 years ago. I laughed at the wedding when we sang Jerusalem as in my bag I also had a pot of strawberry jam that I'd made for my sister - Jam and Jerusalem indeed! The flowers were for a table decoration and look so pretty. I remember my first year here when the only things to arrange were grasses from the field!

Dark skies

We sat outside facing west watching a pretty sunset but behind us the sky was almost indigo. As you can see I can't bear to take my bunting down as it feels so summery. We were also looking out for the barn owl who has been a reliable visitor this year, we are thinking of putting up a nest box for them. Meanwhile whilst scoping out a suitable site I realised that the collared doves are nesting with us again this year, but now they are in the big barn. I love to hear their loud coo-ing.