We don't have too many big windows on the south side of the house as we face north where the view is. South is at the back of the house looking on to a high steep bank and gets afternoon shade from the bordering beeches and Scotch pines. The kitchen window would be the brightest but the vines trained over it give a good bit of shade, so much so that we need lights on during the day. Having wall insulation fitted definitely helps - cooler in summer, warmer in winter.
Today is a much better day - I can cope with the heat when it comes with sunshine and a light breeze 😎. Sunning myself on the terrace, bit like this chap .....
Sometimes I think I would love to live in Scotland but not sure I would survive the midges!
They're not that bad @floralies - honest .....only when it rains.... I'm very lucky as they don't bother me. You can always coat yourself in Avon S.S.S. They can be bad on lower slopes of hills if there's a bit of deciduous woodland - birch, rowan etc, but once you're higher it's fine. A good breeze up the Trossachs keeps them at bay I think more or less everyone might get a bit of thunder & lightning over the coming days @AuntyRach. Tuesday seems the most likely for us here. Nice breeze this morning so I've been out doing bits and bobs. Mainly deadheading and watching the birds and bees.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
37C in the shade down the garden and mid 20s indoors. There are thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow. I'll believe it when I see it as they've gone away every time so far.
I've been more seismic than creative and shifted furniture and re-organised contents of 3 glass fronted display units full of crystal glasses, booze and crockery plus a military chest. Found one and a half bottles of home-made blackcurrant liqueur I'd forgotten about and some ancient damson gin I thought we'd finished in Belgium. Yum!
I went into the cave at one point to look for a light fitting for one of the display thingies and had a swift swooping about in there with me. The nest was swallows so it was just being nosey.
Whilst having my lunch the teeniest little bird came and pecked at the buds on the sweet peas little brown job with creamy undersides and a pointy beak. Smaller than a garden warbler so maybe a young 'un Needless to say my camera was in the living room and I didn't dare move.
Love the butterfly pic @chicky. I saw a strange butterfly yesterday whilst watering pots - so no camera, again - it was a sort of triangular fan shape and striped like a swallow tail but didn't have a noticeable tail. Beautiful but a mystery.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
We're suddenly seeing a lot more butterflies and even a few ladybirds, although nowhere near the numbers we used to see. Plenty of butterfly friendly plants around, including a line of NDN's buddleia's, which reminds me I need to deadhead those overhanging our drive before they self-seed all over our gravel parking area.
@Fairygirl who knows what might happen, OH's grandfather was the local GP in Wishaw, so there is still family up there. It looks like we might be in for good storm - or it may just pass us by, it's looking very black over the mountains.
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I'm very lucky as they don't bother me. You can always coat yourself in Avon S.S.S.
They can be bad on lower slopes of hills if there's a bit of deciduous woodland - birch, rowan etc, but once you're higher it's fine. A good breeze up the Trossachs keeps them at bay
I think more or less everyone might get a bit of thunder & lightning over the coming days @AuntyRach. Tuesday seems the most likely for us here.
Nice breeze this morning so I've been out doing bits and bobs. Mainly deadheading and watching the birds and bees.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've been more seismic than creative and shifted furniture and re-organised contents of 3 glass fronted display units full of crystal glasses, booze and crockery plus a military chest. Found one and a half bottles of home-made blackcurrant liqueur I'd forgotten about and some ancient damson gin I thought we'd finished in Belgium. Yum!
I went into the cave at one point to look for a light fitting for one of the display thingies and had a swift swooping about in there with me. The nest was swallows so it was just being nosey.
Whilst having my lunch the teeniest little bird came and pecked at the buds on the sweet peas little brown job with creamy undersides and a pointy beak. Smaller than a garden warbler so maybe a young 'un Needless to say my camera was in the living room and I didn't dare move.
Love the butterfly pic @chicky. I saw a strange butterfly yesterday whilst watering pots - so no camera, again - it was a sort of triangular fan shape and striped like a swallow tail but didn't have a noticeable tail. Beautiful but a mystery.
It looks like we might be in for good storm - or it may just pass us by, it's looking very black over the mountains.