A Walk Around My Garden

   The grass is dry and brown but I am keeping the plants and veggies well watered.

Lots of blooms on the hibiscus that I over wintered indoors.

Flowers just starting to appear on the potato plants.

Ten potatoes have sprouted and behind them are the raspberry bushes. Not much fruit this year.

A very miserable tomato plant - I have watered it twice today but it definitely does not like the heat!

The Ladies Who Chat

Kathy, me and Susan. Can't wait to get my hair cut!

   Another cool and comfortable day so it was out early for a game of tennis. Then back to "chez moi" for coffee and a good old chat. It's great to be able to socialize again! FYI Susan and I won the first set 6-2, and Cathy and I were up 6-5 in the second when we decided to quit.

Kathy, Cathy and Susan.

 I made the strawberry rhubarb jam this afternoon and it turned out better than expected. I will try it on my toast tomorrow.

Pick Your Own

   ......strawberries, that is. That's where I headed today and now have half a dozen jars of strawberry jam in my larder. Tomorrow I will make a batch of strawberry rhubarb jam and a pie if I have enough.

This was half an hour's work.

This took a bit longer but well worth the effort. That's me set until next June!

   It was a cool breezy morning when I set off, so good picking weather. The strawberry farm is about 40 minutes away but things were a bit different this year. I had to book a time to pick and pay in advance so didn't get quite as many berries as I usually pick. 

   The berries weren't quite as big and luscious as in previous years, probably because it has been very dry here for several weeks. The field was surprisingly busy despite the restrictions so I think they were letting in a few people who hadn't booked. I was just glad to get it done and dusted for another year!

None Too Smart

   Funny story. Now that I have a working pool heater, I invited the grandkids over for a swim today. Went out first thing to turn on the heater so it would be warm for them when they arrived. No luck, the darned thing wouldn't start up! Fiddled with the switch and the thermostat, but still nothing.

    Phoned the pool company, very indignant - why is this thing not working? It worked yesterday. Got a reply, "needs good pressure, check that baskets are clean (they were) and give it a backwash (done last Monday)". Still nothing.

 The family came over and I explained the problem. Daughter took one look at the dial and figured out I had turned the thermostat down instead of up. Problem solved. She has now declared herself a qualified pool technician. This to be added to veterinary assistant when she doctored a sick gecko lizard recently.  

   In my defense I have to say, on the old heater you turned the thermostst to the right to increade the temperature. On this one you turn it to the left! The kids went in regardless and the water was warm enough for the adults by lunch time.

A diving game. James (youngest) won.

Elliot expertly barbecuing hot dogs for lunch. It's not hard!

Treats afterwards while they dried off. It was too hot for me to sit in the sun.

Natalie choosing not to be photographed in her skimpy bikini.