Hotter than the 4th of July

And it certainly has been hasn't it.  We've had some glorious weather here in the UK but the poor garden is suffering. We go out and water first thing in the morning and again around 8pm at night but the poor grass really looks dried out and listless.  Not that I am complaining after the snow we had here right up until March this weather is most welcomed.  Being a semi red head, well there is probably more grey than red these days, I do tend to burn really easily so I go out with a cardigan on in the searing heat to prevent being burned. D thinks I'm crazy but we knew that didn't we so that's nothing new.

But this weather has also meant I have been able to spend some time sorting out the garden and putting in some new plants.  And my poppies well what can I say.  When we lived in the cottage the garden used to be covered in them as they had self seeded everywhere.  They hadn't come up by the time we moved house and I was quite sad to think I wouldn't see my red poppies dancing in the breeze this year being visited by all the bumbles for their pollen.  I then spotted some that had seeded themselves in the pots that we bought with us. They were only tiny and a bit stringy and I wasn't sure if they would even flower but they did.  I waited patiently until they had gone over and duly collected the seed heads and dried them and then sprinkled the seeds along the hydrangea wall. I wasn't sure if any would take but as you can see they did and some.   They are now starting to go over and the seed heads are appearing.  I am slowly collecting them and will put them into a paper bag so that when the seed heads open to disperse the seed I will be able to collect them all ready to sprinkle around my garden.

We've had lots of birds visiting the bird baths over the last few weeks diving in to keep themselves cool and in need of a drink of water.   We've had visits from the usual suspects of great tits, blue tits and sparrows and Mr and Mrs Chaffinch and their brood.  The swallows have fledged but both the parents and young are still around and its great around tea time when they take flight catching little insects on the wing.

It was two - three weeks ago when I woke up one morning and could hear a tap, tap, tapping noise. I wasn't sure of where it was coming from to begin with and we have had sparrows nesting up under the eves of the house.  I just thought they had put their hob nail boots on that morning.  It wasn't until I got downstairs and looked out of the window and there hanging off one of the feeders was Woody Woodpecker.  I've only ever seen one up close once before and that was whilst on holiday in Scotland a few years ago.  He looked so handsome with his sheer black back and white collar.  He almost looked like he was wearing his dinner jacket.  We thought it may be fluke that he came to our garden. The feeders are quite near to the house and we assumed he had just made a pit stop and would be on his way to his intended destination.  But no on and off over the last few weeks he has been paying us a visit up to three times a day that we know of.

And he has even got a bit bolder and has started sitting on the chairs by the back door of a morning.

With the sunshine has bought more time for sitting in the garden and doing a little crochet.  This is a blanket I am making that is to be auctioned for charity for a little boy called Dylan who has a rare condition and his mummy and daddy are trying to raise funds for specialist equipment to be able to take him on holiday, but I will tell you more about that when its finished.

This weekend we ventured off to Belvoir Castle which is about 5 minutes from our house.  They were holding a classic car show, the first in 15 years, so we thought it would be good to support the neighbours haha.   If ever we go to a car show I always go looking for a Triumph Herald.  My very first car was a Triumph Herald, she was dark red. I paid £200 for her and named her Fiona or FiFi for short and I loved her.   Just like your first boyfriend I don't think you ever forget your first car,  but I have to say she was much more reliable than the first boyfriend was and I had her for about 18 months. 

The bearded one said if we were stuck for what to get him for his Christmas present this year that the kids and I could club together and get him one of these.  I don't think that's likely Mr B may be a hotwheels version if you're lucky. 

For some the school holidays have already started.  Our teen has another two weeks and he is counting down the days until he finishes.  It can't be much fun being stuck in a classroom in the midday sun anymore than it is in my office.  Whether you have already escaped the school run or counting down the days and madly planning how you are going to keep the kids entertained for six weeks enjoy the weather whilst it lasts not forgetting to keep up your fluids and sun screen applied.

Mx