#4 VEG PATCH

My veg patch has suffered with the rain, heat, drought, rain, heat drought scenario recently, especially the carrots which nearly all have two legs (or more) and are a little strong to taste.

To summarise: potatoes-not so good, peas-great, parsnips-awesome, turnips-edible, onions-awesome, salad-scant, broccoli-cabbage whited (again! but I do love butterflies so.) 

I think the soil needs some attention this winter. I'm no veg expert and ashamedly don't devote that much care or attention to my patch aside from sowing, weeding and harvesting so it's no surprise really. You get out what you put in as the saying goes! Nevertheless, we still manage to enjoy a few tasty portions from it. 

I don't like to use any pesticides or chemicals in the garden and cant bring myself to pull off the little innocent caterpillars to certain death by starvation either. I need to try netting next year.

I'm also not organised enough to have any winter crops. I'd love to go the whole year round getting produce from my patch... one day. With Daisy's help we go for the scattered seed approach and if its not tough, it wont make it. 

Gardening with a 2-3 year old - direct to say the least!

#3 BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES

Aren't the butterflies amazing at this time of year! 

I have 4 buddleia shrubs in my garden - white, mauve (which seeds everywhere hence I have 2) and dark purple ('Black Knight' - not as hardy or resistant as the others but flowers later in the summer.) They are full of fluttering beauties! The verbena bonariensis has seeded itself everywhere, much to my delight and although it takes a humble second best they love that too!

So far this year, in various bits of the garden I've spotted peacock, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, painted lady, large white, small white, comma, gatekeeper, meadow brown, ringlet, skipper, even a brimstone. I'm delighted!

Daisy loves the small tortoiseshell butterfly decal on her bedroom window (pretty and practical, it stops the birds flying into it.) 

I know nothing can beat the real thing but at least there's a way of having them all year round too!

#2 SUMMER

Snippets of our summer so far...

Beautiful Tiger Moths.

Me & Daisy in the sea.

Daisy on the beach at Bournemouth.

Tilly enjoying the sunshine.

Well, there has has been some wonderful weather so far this summer, including the thunderstorms - I like the atmosphere.

I wanted to share some recent photos from holiday and home life. Tilly our whippet loves the hot weather, sunbathing is definitely her main priority! 

Daisy and I were recently treated to week away in Bournemouth with the in-laws. The sun shone for the entire trip - perfect beach weather. I love swimming, especially in the sea and it was very special to take Daisy in for the first time. She's paddled before but never been fully submerged which resulted in crying initially but she soon decided it was OK. 

On a trip back from the beach one afternoon we nearly trod on a pair of Tiger moths mating. Such amazing patterns and colours, gorgeous cream and brown wings with reddish orange undersides. I didn't want to disturb them so took a quick photo and put them on the rocky cliff wall, out of harms way. They were totally entranced in their ritual and passers by may not have been so observant otherwise I would have left them in peace.

We will be off on our hols again in a few weeks, this time to North Wales. I hope the weather holds as I cant wait to get back on the beach.

Don't you just love summer!

#1 NEW HOME

My best friend and little sister moved in with her man today. They now have their very own home to cherish and adore. I remember the new home feeling well myself. Unfamiliar smells and bare rooms ready for a fresh coat of paint and some lovely furniture. I'm so excited for her!Start making those happy memories Kate.I'll see you in the morning complete with rubber gloves and scrubbing brush!