Sunday

Thank you for your really kind comments and encouragement on my last post, I will enjoy getting back into painting again although I have had a reality check so know my limitations!

Mollie's moulting. She's turning a lovely brown.

I thought today I would do a sort of catch up post  of the weekly everyday goings on.

This was my treat from our Paris trip. A teeny vase from Maison du Monde.  I like putting my scented verbena and geranium leaves in there.  A quick rub of the leaves and a sniff is nice. 

 Today I woke at 5am as usual but after a cup of tea, had a wonderful, rare, sleep until 9am!  I decided not to get dressed but to putter about getting little jobs done.  We put up a blind in the bedroom that had fallen off the wall a week ago!  It had black mould speckles along the bottom so I cleaned the black mould  off with white vinegar, I was so surprised it actually worked! 

I have a list of small jobs like this to do and am just beginning... 

I used some leather conditioner cream to nourish my leather bags and boots, I do this every year - then spray all my boots with waterproofer.

Hubby drilled out holes in some logs to make bug houses.  I wanted one for ages.  He drilled deep so woodpeckers can't eat any solitary bee eggs. I am hopeful the odd solitary bee might choose my log for her eggs, ladybirds and woodlice are welcome too.

I picked hydrangea flowers to dry for a wreath I want to make for Christmas, they are such beautiful colours, all grey and pink.  I also went into the woods to pick up a few pine cones for the same purpose, but I still need to cut ivy twine to make the base.

A friend at the allotments has a new panoramic camera and very kindly took this 360 view of my plot from above,  isn't it lovely! See link: 

Plot 60

Our town has 2 allotment sites, On Wednesday I was one of four judges for the 'rival' allotment site entries for the annual flower show, each site judges the other. There were some good entries and I learned a lot about where mine might be lacking - some folk do so much - making nettle fertiliser - I would like to try that - saving their own seeds for next year - will try that.  Mixing flowers amongst the veg crops to ensure pollinators visit - need to do more of that. 

There was a Bbq and morris dancing from the local group yesterday...

We watched Destination X on catch up tv  - disappointing, the contestants got too much air time to talk nonesense and the clues weren't enough to keep you guessing for long. I think after watching Race Across the World we expect more.    

I bought this book - I already have it but it's for my brother who has just taken an allotment - it's so good.  This one is brand new off Vinted for  half the price.  I read mine every day.

The weather is still warm, sticky and the forecast is for a windy storm tomorrow.  The woods are going into early Autumn colours and berries.   I have picked so many blackberries! these and rhubarb from the allotment are filling most of my spare freezer but I have plans for them.  I have seen sloe berries, it's far too early, nature has lots its rhythm a bit;  but I can pick and freeze those too.  My neighbour has an elderberry tree, I recently put some crystals there for good vibes and it has apparently fruited like never before - my favourite wild fruit and title of my blog, it makes a very nice alcoholic drink. She has told me I can pick some.  Elderberry trees around here are scarce but they fruit well about every third year, then they seem to produce a poor crop for two.  2025 is a good year!

How's your week been?  If you have nothing better to do, please leave a comment, it doesn't have to be about my post,, I''m more interested in what you've been doing - maybe I will get inspiration from your pastimes, hobbies and projects :)