I've got one of those..............

..... is what I seemed to spend most of today doing! We went to spend the day in Maiden Newton, where they are holding a two day wartime re-enactment. The village was important regaarding tank warfare, and was on the southern stop line (or words to that effect), so it has an important historical link with the war. Lots of vehicles, dressing up by re-enactors and visitors, period music, home front stuff, children dressed as evacuees.....
Bean was filming the event for them to be made into a DVD later, so we tagged along; an enjoyable day on the whole, although I did have problems with the weaponry and the macho posing with "guns" and weapons, that sort of thing.......
However, the home front parts were most interesting to me, and I realise I have a rather good collection of bits and pieces now, a lot of which actually get used, much to peoples' surprise today lol
I bought a few plants from the allotment society as a reminder of the day; they had worked with the school children to make a Dig for Vicotry garden, including a couple of chickens and plantings in old tin baths.
There was a lot I could have bought, but managed to resist! Good beer too, from the lovely Piddle brewery - a pint of Silent Slasher and a pint of Piddle lol

I make no apology..........

..more roses..can't have too many! This is in flower out the front right now, my all-time favourite, the extraordinarily beautiful rosa mundi; named after Fair Rosamund, a mistress of Henry II, England's monarch from 1154 to 1189.
Its scent easily matches its beauty :)

Taking tea in the garden...........

This is where I sit:

Elderflower wine

One of the very best of the summer flower wines to make - quick, easy, abundance of main ingredient, quick to mature - what's not to love about all that? lol

For one gallon:

1 pint of flowers, gathered when sunny and dry
1 gallon hot water (not boiling)
2 1/2 lbs sugar
1 lemon, sliced
1 teabag
1 tbsp dried yeast

Remove any leaves and thick stems from the flowers; I've found that the very fine green stalks amke no difference, so no need to be too pernickity. Place in brewing bucket/pan and pour over the water; add sugar and stir to dissolve, add lemon and teabag. Stir. Activate the yeast, and add it to the wine when the liquid reaches blood heat. Cover closely and leave in a warm place for 4 - 5 days, then strain into a demi-john and leave to ferment out. Rack off after 6 weeks, then bottle when sttled - another 2 weeks or so. Can be drunk at about 6 months or so, but does improve with age.
Lovely served ice cold, preferably sitting out in the garden :)

First roses of the summer

Always makes me smile to cut them for the house :)

Home made butter

I'm getting back into the butter-making habit; you really can't beat it!

Thought for a summer Monday.............

I believe in cord wood, iron stoves and breakfast
I believe in freshly baked bread and mail order catalogues,
Ticking clocks, dogs and cats and corn right out of the garden.
I believe in families who laugh together and because of this
I believe in tomorrow and the day after
And the goodness of man and the joy of living.

Maxwell Mays

Rainbow.............

A beautiful double rainbow appeared this evening a wee while ago; by the time I'd got the camera ready, the second bow had faded, but I managed to get this:

The predicted rain showed up early evening - a proper deluge for about half an hour, but the sky is stormy looking out there, and I'm hoping the thunder doesn't materialise. Showers again tomorrow, it's said, but needed for the garden, so that's OK by me :)

Letting things be................

My garden could be described as somewhat rambling; this year it's gone blowsy and full, dripping with fertility, resulting in the most glorious slightly unkempt looking mix of flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs, grasses - you name it!
I love it like this - the wildness takes the edge off man's attempts to control nature, and nature herself cannot be bettered for colour combinations, getting the right plant in the right place and making sure everything gets along just fine.
The picture of the yellow Graham Thomas rose scrambling up the the young hazel tree could be a metaphor for life - don't interfere - take a step back, and things will find their own place and balance, there will be mutual support and help along the way, the result being something that will astound you in its simplicity and its sheer and absolute rightness.