There's nothing quite like eating an apple from your own tree!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
DEAR MEEEEEE-EEEEE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

I sat in the garden with a friend on Wednesday, under a rather Heath Robinson set up to give us some shade, so I ordered a couple of new parasols.  They arrived today.  But the rain is good for the garden!

I have recently been plagued by little bitey things that leave me with big red itchy lumps that last for weeks.  It happened last year as well so yesterday I actually remembered to put on the Citronella and I think it has worked. 

 When life gives you lemons make insect repellent!

Stuff in my garden is growing.  I have a handful of blackcurrants plus quite a lot of peas and broad beans, a few strawberries and lots of flowers on the tomatoes and chinese gooseberries.  But the slugs ate the beetroot before it could get going

A bit of rain and some cooler weather.  The flowers will grow, the grass will stop being brown and Janet will be able to get lots of jobs done.
This picture is one I actually painted with paints and a brush, it is dated 1998.  Maybe I will get round to having another go one day.

The cherry tree that was much too close to the boundary was chopped down yesterday.  I bought a fancy thing to hang the bird feeders on and took some delight in watching the sparrows, clearly bemused, but then deciding that it probably was still safe.

I had such fun with my friend who helps me with my garden. I managed over an hour and I don't hurt (much) this morning.  

I managed to sleep last night, even tho' it was 26 degrees in my bedroom! 

Picture courtesy of Phillip Martin 
Free Clip Art

I spent a fabulous evening in the garden, potting and pottering, didn't come in until a quarter to nine.

The next sign of summer coming is when the sun shines through the window in the small bedroom, through the door, across the landing and into my bedroom.  It's just for a few minutes that the angle is right but it is special

There is something quintessentially English about dead heading the roses in the sunshine. Very soothing, concentrating on the task in hand which puts all else out of mind, and appreciating the beauty of nature. And relax.

The sun shone long enough for me to take a few photos of what is in the garden at the moment.  I am particularly delighted to see that I will hopefully be getting apples this year!

For the first time this year I hung some washing out and it was dry when I brought it in.

The broad beans that I put straight in the ground have germinated.

It's been raining but my garden loved it!

I have one of those things that you put sheep's wool in for the birds to use when they are nesting and I have watched two blue tits taking it and then diving straight into a bush in the garden.

I walked up the road to the post box at lunchtime and it felt like summer - no jacket or cardi and by the time I got back I wished I'd worn a hat.  Then OH and me sat outside with our afternoon tea.  

I actually got round to cutting what I laughingly call the lawn yesterday afternoon.

At last, the sun is round far enough and high enough to shine through the landing window later in the afternoon