garden stuff · general stuff · wildlife

Long hot summer

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

If you asked me when it last rained here I honestly wouldn’t be able to come up with an answer – certainly it’s been hot and dry for weeks. I’m old enough to remember the summer of 1976, in which the UK baked under endless blue skies and ended up with water shortages, drought and damage to crops and wildlife but being a small child at the time all that sticks in my mind was that we weren’t allowed to fill up the little padding pool in the back garden. We’re a way off from water shortages here at the moment but it has been so very hot and dry that crops, plants and wildlife are being affected.

Happily the robin family that have been nesting in our garage are OK and are enjoying regular deliveries of wax worms through the post (btw if you’re looking for fresh live food for wild birds then I’d not hesitate to recommend The live food warehouse – their service has been brilliant, always next day delivery and free postage on orders over £5 – and this is not a sponsored mention, I’m just so pleased with them, having tried some other suppliers previously and been disappointed). The third batch of chicks have hatched and should fledge sometime next weekend. We think there are at least 3 but I’ve not managed to get a good look yet and don’t want to disturb them. Mum and Dad robin are doing a great job though, having already fledged 9 chicks so far already this season.

Toby has been struggling with the heat – sleeping less well than usual, so we’re all feeling a bit tired and frazzled and hoping for some slightly cooler weather – around 23c would be perfect if the weather gods are reading, oh and a little overnight rain would be good too. Most of my plants are suffering but I’m managing to keep watering with the dregs from the water butt and whatever the chicken doesn’t drink each day. Not that I’m complaining about the weather, it’s been glorious especially early in the morning and during the evening and we’ve been eating all of our meals in the garden. After breakfast and getting Toby off to school I’ve been heading to my favourite spot for morning knitting in Toby’s swing chair. It’s a lovely shady spot until around 11ish when I have to find somewhere else to knit as it’s too hot in the full midday sun.

Talking of knitting, I’m making some progress with knitted things but don’t have much to show yet other than lots of scribblings. I think I’m ready though to knit up samples for photographing and then I should be able to start to put this new pattern I’m working on together.

Well, that’s all my news. I just wanted to pop in here and say hello because it had been so long since my previous post. Hope all is well in your corner of the world and you’re enjoying whatever the seasons are bringing your way. See you soon x

 

32 thoughts on “Long hot summer”

  1. Lovely photographs as always Julie. Your breakfast bowl looks particularly inviting and Mrs or Mister Robin looks terrific despite the 3 broods! It’s so hot, I feel as if I’m ‘self-felting’ my knitting projects with my sweaty hands. I cannot wait to see what you have planned on the knitting front. Happy Summer.

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  2. So nice to hear from you again today. I always enjoy your pictures and hearing about the birds. Our weather issue for the past month has been the cold, with snow only a few weeks back. Snow plows out in full force. Not fair? Well, it is Newfoundland, Canada. Not totally unusual, but the snow is not welcome at this late into the year. Enjoy your warm weather. Send some my way.

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  3. oh its so nice to see your post come up,, I’m sorry to hear Toby is struggling with heat, our grand daughter is too, she doesn’t take change well even a change in climate, Ilove that outdoor swing in the photo, it looks like a perfect nest to sit and contemplate or knit lol,,best wishes ,, keep cool,,

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  4. Love the robin photo, he’s adorable, and three batches of chicks is pretty impressive. I have lots of blackbirds here, enjoying the blueberries and other fruit. They are raised on superfoods! That swing chair looks blissful. I know what you mean about the lack of rain, the garden here is parched. It usually starts to rain when the summer holidays start… Lovely to see a post from you. CJ xx

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  6. I think one of the loveliest things about the good weather is being able to eat outside, it always feels so special. I’m so glad your little robin family are doing well, Mr and Mrs Robin must be so grateful to you for all your help!
    I think we are getting rain tomorrow.
    Enjoy your al fresco knitting,
    V x

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  7. Oh having those robins nesting and raising so many baby birds would be wonderful Julie.
    Have some of the cool here in Victoria Oz from me all the way over to you there.

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  9. Here in West Cumbria it hasn’t rained for over 2 months, and no doubt when it starts it will forget to stop so we are making the most of it too and enjoying eating outside in the evening.
    Your photos are beautiful as always. Your garden robins have done really well with your generous help. And I love Toby’s swing chair, perfect for knitting.
    Enjoy your knitting Julie, lovely to hear from you again. Sue x

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  13. Beautiful summery pictures as always Julie. It’s so nice to have such settled weather and be able to “live” outside. I’m sure we’ll have some rain soon enough, but in the meantime, let’s hope the weather stays calm for at least some of the summer holidays.

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  14. Love your pictures and that swing is wonderful. I think I would take advantage of cool mornings sitting there too! I’m sorry the heat gets to Toby, it’s been hot here on the east coast of the US and it’s been affecting me and my pain disorder as well. I hope that cool weather comes soon and the equilibrium is restored to your family for the rest of your summer. Looking forward to see what you’ve been knitting!

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  17. Ah, the long hot summer of ’76, I remember frying an egg directly on the manhole cover in our garden. Can’t remember if we ate it though. It’s not been quite that hot this year, not in Worcestershire that is.

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  18. I think I read somewhere that you’ve had some rain by now? I hope so. And I hope it rains and rains for the next week to get it out of it’s system and then it will be sunny and clear for a few weeks LOL! Oh, and thanks for the robin updates — I had no idea that they had more than one group of babies a year!

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  19. Thank you, as always, for posting. I so enjoy reading your writings and your pictures are always stunning. You have many, many gifts. In the mountains of NC (USA) we are having a very hot (for the mountains) wet summer. Everything is moldy and mildewy. Yuck! It makes me look forward to fall. I have plans to knit a blanket for sitting on my back porch when it’s chilly, but I’m waiting for cooler weather as I don’t want that in my lap.

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  20. My grass looks a bit like that, too, in Michigan. =( Hoping it will green up again if it starts to rain and it’s not actually dead…
    What a lovely spot for knitting though!

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  30. Love your photos! I am curious what brand of shoes you have? Thank you. I have liked your shoes before, they look comfortable!

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  31. thankfully the weather has cooled down now but still not much rain here. I love the swing seat in your garden, I am sure it would just rock me to sleep! I am glad your robin family are thriving too.
    xxx

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