No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

Afternoon everyone, well I think summer has ended, the swallows are gathering and that means they are going back south for the winter. I've seen very few this summer, swifts too, but am aware of numbers of them in the area now. It's been an odd year so far and I know we had the very hot weather but summer seemed short to me and then no defining line but straight into early autumn. Crops in the veg plots are ripening early and finishing early, our first runner beans are over now and normally I'd still be picking them into early October and the apples are beginning to fall on the big old tree at the front and looking red and almost ripe too. The wild harvests too are early and we picked perfectly ripe elderberries and I made cordial on Saturday afternoon, even the wild blackberries here are looking depleted and on thier way to finishing. I think it might be a bleak year for wildlife that relies on hedgerow provender for getting through the winter too.

I wonder if we'll have a protracted autumn or an early winter? we're seeing leaf drop already although that might slow down now we've had this much needed rain and that might perk up what is left in the gardens too, we'll have to wait and see but I'm glad I've got a good store of firewood and a good store of preserves and frozen homegrowns to see us through if we do have a colder than usual winter.

The pond is gone, the fish rehomed and we're well on the way to sorting out the bed for grass seed and the willow structure I'm going to make for my Zebra. It's DDs first wedding anniversary on Friday, doesn't seem possible that just one short year ago we were gearing up to the big day and it feels like we've been grandparents for a very long time as the little fella has had his own place in all our lives since day 1. He met DSILs protracted family on Sunday last, including some cousins from Austria and he's the very first new baby in the whole extended family so was made much of all afternoon and apparently took it all in his stride and loved being handed round to everyone for cuddles, he's very social and likes people, lovely!!! One of the cousins has been doing the same searches for thier side of the family that DD1 has here with ours so there will be collaboration between the two sides to get Zebra a whole family tree for when he's old enough to be interested which will be an interesting exercise.

Hope you are all well and happy and just busy doing the things that need doing at this time of year, Love and hugs Lyn xxx.

Hi FTM Nell is here with us at the moment as it's her birthday next week and she goes back to work actually on the day so we're having an early celebration now. She wants chinese tonight and I've made her a mummy cake - victoria sponge with homemade raspberry jam in - and tomorrow we're off the Ikea on the bus for the day where I'm sure to be able to talk her into letting me buy her some presents then off to the pub quiz in the evening. Whales as a project will be so interesting, they're amazing creatures, when the girls went on thier first holiday together they went to Iceland and booked a whale warching trip to see Minky Whales and Ruthie was so horribly seasick it put her off boats for a long long time. Nell however has sealegs and thoroughly enjoyed it. Best whale watching experience for Ru was in Capetown when she was doing her 'abroad' assignment in a south african hospital when she was at uni and they had a couple of big old humpback whales playing in sight of the bay and she's got some lovely photos, I'll see if I can find them and send you some images on e.mail. nice to have you back with us, love to the tots and you of course, Lyn xxx.

Hi VJsMUM wonderful news for your DD she must be so happy knowing her place at drama school is safe and secured, well done that girl. Nice to have you posting again too, I've missed you as well. Hope you had a wonderful summer and feel better for the break. Feels like life as normal again, woohoo can only be good!!! Lyn xxx.