We both added a few extra pounds due to excellent food while we were on holiday, so it’s time to start eating healthily again… This tasted better than perhaps it looks in the photo – a halloumi cheese salad with nectarines, pine nuts and a sweet dressing. 
I’ve been a member of the Royal Photographic Society for some years now, and finally decided I would like to sit their Licentiate assessment – success confirms a reasonable competence in photographic skills. Assessment entails submitting a panel of 10 images to the committee for review, so the first step is to choose some potential photos – they need to be technically perfect, and show a variety of subjects and techniques. So I’m drawing up a short list of photos to consider…
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Even though we cut them right down each autumn, these beautiful Verbena plants pop up just the same the following year. One of many strains, these ones are apparently named Verbena Bonariensis and grow to about 1m tall. They do seem to attract butterflies too…
As well as getting shopping (see yesterday’s post) the other priority when getting back from holiday is mowing the lawns. Fortunately the ride-on makes fairly short work of it – just a shame it can’t do weeding too…
This is Daisy, aged 10, kitted out for her first lesson in beekeeping from our friend Andrew. I think she found it a little intimidating…
Sometimes when I see an open gate I wonder where it leads to, and what it is intended to keep in (or out). This gate however is directly in front of our house, and leads into the farmer’s fields. It’s normally left closed to discourage casual walkers, but has been left open by a neighbour taking their dog for a walk…
… starts with salad. We decided to ‘perk up’ one of the walls in our kitchen with some wall art, and loved the sentiment here. So with it being cold and miserable outside, what better than to celebrate with a glass of prosecco!
A break from the almost constant rain over the last week gave me an opportunity today to check out the greenhouse. And how it’s grown! So much so that the sunflowers, which I should have planted out a couple of weeks ago, have now reached the roof. I really do need to get out there and sort things out…
Today is apparently World Gin Day, so a perfect reason to drink my favourite gin – Audemus Pink Pepper Gin. As if I really needed an excuse… 
Fair to say we did not expect to light a fire at home during June! It’s been pretty cool the last few days and seriously wet, so sitting in front of the fire this afternoon with coffee and hot chocolate seemed a great idea…
One Day At A Time... 