What a Summer!

What a summer it just seems to get hotter and hotter.  I am not complaining just commenting, but the poor garden is suffering, it's hard work watering every evening but it's so necessary.  Even the fields are all yellow and some trees are suffering, a big branch fell off of a huge tree we have here in the village, it fell across the road and brought the electricity lines down, luckily no one was around at the time so no injuries, they think the tree was stressed because of the hot weather and no rain.



As you can see the redcurrants in my garden are ready for picking, I think they are like jewels hanging down.  I have just made 8 lbs of blackcurrant jam, so the next thing I have to do is the redcurrant jelly.  That is a little more fussy to make as you have to strain the fruit after the first lot of cooking and then add the sugar and boil up again until you reach setting point, hey ho - that job is for the cool of the evening .



This is a David Austin rose called Crown Princess Margaretta that I treated myself to last year, it's a climber and this year it has been flowering beautifully.  BUT my DH decided to plant cabbage plants around it, and then to add insult to injury he said the pigeons were pecking at the cabbages so he put some awful green plastic netting around it as protection for the cabbages.  I was not a happy bunny and made my feelings known, the netting has been removed but not the cabbages, as far as I am concerned the pigeons can have them and welcome.  What do you say?

One of my DGD's is in hospital at the moment she has had 2 cysts growing on her ovaries, she had them removed yesterday by keyhole surgery, they have kept her in overnight as things weren't quite so straightforward as the medics thought, but fingers crossed that she will be home later today.  Apparently she was worried at one moment as the vicar came visiting, she didn't realise that is common practice, I guess she thought that her end was nigh.  Staying in hospital has been another big learning curve for her.  We shall all be glad to see her home again.

I was so touched by all the messages of welcome back from friends in blog land thank you all so much.  It just shows what friendly people us stitchers are.  I haven't done much stitching for a few days, so I must get my act together.  I have tidied up my sewing room which was a disgrace and I was ashamed to even open the door, but now well - WOW -  every time I walk by it I open the door and admire!  Enjoy your stitching, girls and keep your needles and scissors sharp and take care.

I plead guilty to neglect!

I have no excuse just pure neglect on my part, I have been busy, but then we are all busy people so I hope you will excuse me. So much to tell you, but most of it will have to wait for another time.


I did finish that Christmas table runner for my dd.

 

Add caption

I hope you like it, and I hope she does!  I've put it away in a safe place, mustn't forget where.

I have just come back from 2 weeks holiday in Spain. I stayed at my d in l father's house in Andolucia, right up in the mountains. The first week it was just me, my dh and my d in l were there on our own looking after the animals (3 dogs and 10 cats) they foster stray animals until they can be found homes.  D in l's parents came to London to see the Summer Art Exhibition and the Pompei Exhibition, so we were the foster carers for a week.  The 2nd week my ds and dd and her hubbie, came out so it was great.  Visited Marabella (to see how the other half live) and Gibraltar.  We all had a smashing time, can't wait to go again.

 

Here I am with my other half, in Gibraltar.

 

I just had to show you a photo of apes on Gibraltar, can you see the baby it's a week old.  aaah. I think there are about 200 apes on the rock, and they are all looked after very well.  Make sure your car windows are shut and hold on to your bags, as they are not averse helping themselves to whatever they fancy.

 

 View of the mountains from the terrace.

 

 Muppet ( a water dog) joining in the fun.

 

 Group photograph in Marbella.


Back to reality now, though I think we must have brought some Spanish weather back with us, as it has been in the high 20's up to the 30's.  This is very hot for us here in the UK.  The gardens are struggling, every evening we are out watering.  Though the roses are terrific, the colours seem extra vibrant.  I hope you like the rose I put as my header it is Zephrine Drouhin, and it is thornless!

I have been enjoyed sewing this biscornu, first one I have made, it has tiny beads on it and the thread is variegated.

Now making a needle case using a similar design.

I am also sewing 4 table mats, I have quilted them and I will be using that spotty material to back it.

I hope all of my friends in blog land are well, and having fun in whatever you are up to.  I promise that now I am back in the swing of things I will be back.  Thankfully June gave me a reminder to rejoin blog land, and I am so glad she did.

Take care of you and yours.