Sunny Days

 It's been a wonderful summer here in the west of Scotland.  It started badly in early June. It was ridiculously cold for June but then about mid June it dried up and just got hotter and hotter until we felt we might melt!  I know other parts of Britain haven't had the summer we have which is a shame and highly unusual.  The west of Scotland is not reknowned for lovely summers!  Even this past week when all around us had thunder and lightening and flooding we've had a dribble of rain!  So much so I had to go out with the hose last night to water my tubs.  The temperatures have gone down to more pleasant degrees and the only downside of the dribble of rain is the midges have come out and I've been bitten after my early evening watering session.  I even put off cutting the grass recently as I was sure it would just look like a brown, dried up mess so I left it until all around was getting flood warnings then I cut it and it looks lovely and lush and green now.

We've spent most of the summer in the garden.  We've had breakfast, lunch and dinner outside most days or I've been sitting in the shade reading or dealing with all the things you have to do in the garden in the summer.   I cut down an old Honeysuckle that had died for some reason.  I'm not sure if perhaps I damaged the stem when I was hauling it about to paint the archway.  Strangely I couldn't find a before photo of the arch but take me word for it, it was covered in honeysuckle and clematis which both had suddenly died much to my disappointment.  There are, however, one or two big jobs that have been put off for various reasons.  One is the demolition of the old hut.  I just can't work up the enthusiasm to clear it out.  I don't know what to do with the stuff in it.  We don't need the stuff but it's too good to throw out but not good enough to sell or even give away!  I know I'm just putting off the inevitable and then of course it was too hot to work the past two weeks!  The other big job is a more creative, artistic job which I'm keen to do but cannot source the stuff I need to do it!

This wall is our conservatory.  Unfortunately the rough cast is falling off.  You can see the bottom of the photo its come away and the rest is hanging on by a thread.  Hubby is planning to knock the lot off and have a go at rough casting himself but this little part which is where our table and chairs are is in a little sheltered area facing my kitchen window and I had the bright idea I'd like to tile it like a little Spanish courtyard.  As I said to hubby when he told me the tiles would all fall off in the frost, if that that happens whats the worst that can happen, we can rough cast it again if they fall off.  However I don't think they will fall off, not for a few years anyway.  It's a very sheltered spot and my little tile picture on the wall opposite has lasted for years now so I'm hopeful.  However..... I cannot get the tiles I want anywhere.  It seems I'm either ahead of the fashion trend or way behind it all the time!  I want simple 6 x6 inch tiles in navy blue with a few assorted ones among them of red, yellow and white.   Have you noticed everything in the decorating world has gone monochromatic lately?  No, neither had I!  Colour is not to be found in the tile world unless you want those rectangular tiles with the bevelled edges which are no use to me!  I was looking on Ebay at lovely hand painted Mexican tiles but because they are clay tiles and hand painted I'm not sure if they really would be able to cope with the weather.   I'll keep looking and hopefully something will turn up before the winter sets in!

I hope everybody is enjoying the summer no matter how good, bad or indifferent the weather.  Hopefully the sun will shine for you for a while yet.  Take care. x