Life force

Energy. Somewhat erratic today.

This foggy image accurately reflecting

the current mood under stormy skies.

This one conveying temporary bursts of energy

when the sun pops out again.

Plenty being done, directed or delegated,

but not necessarily effectively.

To whit the cake for tomorrow's visitors, in a cold oven 

the oven mysteriously having been turned off

at some point in the proceedings.

Never mind - here are cheery flowers

and here are the apples that must be Used.

More cheery flowers I am proud to say

raised from seed by moi

and coordinating tomatoes

raised from little plugs from Rocket Gardens

many months ago.

 Energetic grandchildren wending their way here as we speak.

Stand by everyone. Stand by.

Summery summary

Remember how cold and wet it was in June?

And how much one longed for a bit of warmth to bask in?

Well ha ha ha.

We got it.

That's 114º F.

In the shade.

Not so much basking weather,

as

lurking behind closed shutters

hanging wet towels at windows

freezing towels as compresses

and rediscovering the joys of Uno weather.

Because if you did venture out

it was so blindingly bright

and pulsatingly hot

that even being sensible in the shade

wasn't an option.

There was a lovely pool,

but only one sun umbrella.

Don't be deceived by that cloud.

It never even attempted to shield us from the sun.

The box moth was thriving though.

There were hideous clouds of them

being enjoyed misguidedly by the tourists

in lavender fields.

But these murals were unexpectedly lovely.

And being awake early one morning

I heard a roaring sound and to my astonishment

saw this -

Since returning to a land of wholly acceptable variants 

on normal summer temperatures

I have been grateful for the ability to think, move around freely and sleep.

The grandchildren had meanwhile surely grown 

more than a week's absence could have made possible.

One of them having clocked up his first year

in the blink of an eye.

Full to the brim

It's all or nothing

at this time of year.

I'm tripping over my feet

and the blog is getting left behind.

We've had the tulips, haven't we?

the wisteria,

the cow parsley.

Wait. Cow parsley.

Isn't that June?

The mad weather.

The lovely house visits.

Here - take a look out of Rudyard Kipling's windows

and catch your breath. 

Scotney Castle

doing all the colours

especially in the azalea and acer ranges.

Irises.

Each flower just a one day showing.

Sissinghurst on  a warm sunny Easter weekend.

Are you mad you ask?

The hordes.

But no.

See?

Not

a soul.

Because

if you arrive before opening time

and eschew the café

walk briskly

 and purposefully as soon as they will let you in,

you are quite likely

to be ahead of everyone.

And finally, if you aren't paying attention

the grandchildren will be

off to big school

and the shopping trolley

parked under the piano

will be very old hat.