It’s baking hot here at The White House today and strolling up the path next to the Bishop’s Palace we were surprised to see filming was taking place again.  This time the shooting is for “The White Princess”, a follow up to “The White Queen” for American TV.

Sure glad I didn’t have the thick woollen cloak the Princess had to wear…………

I mentioned in a previous post that we had started to harvest the garden in earnest.  And it was my onions and garlic that I was most proud of.  I lovingly tied them and hung them in the garage to dry and the following day, went up into The Loft to prepare for our new visitors due to arrive later that day………………….

What a pong………………..

The loft smelled deliciously of garlic……………..

After a speedy opening of windows wide open; copious sprays of my very best Harrods Cahmpagne, Peach and Cassis room spray; and a quick change of venue for the garlic and onions to the summer house; I was calm and serene to welcome my new guests, who arrived a few hours later, loved the suite and did’t suspect a thing.

We’ve started to harvest the vegetable garden in earnest now, and we are eating as much cucumber, tomatoes, potatoes and salad leaves as we can get through.

Yesterday, we pulled the garlic and onions and have stored them in the garage for three weeks to dry them out for eating.

Very satisfying………………………….

We had such a lovely weekend as my niece Kate came to stay for five days with her husband and two daughters.  Its been a year since we saw them and so everyone was excited.

On their last day here, we all decided to go to Street so the girls could buy shoes (needless to say we all came back laden with chocolate from the Cadbury, Lindt and Thorntons shops).  I needed to return early to welcome our new guests and Beth, Kate’s youngest daughter who was tired of shopping, came back with me.

Its a long time since I had to entertain such a small one, and as she was eager to play hairdressing, I jumped at the chance to do a little computer work while she messed about with my hair.  (For those of you who know me well, you will know that this was a real treat for me).

Well, after a while being engrossed in my work, my consiousness came back with a realisation that my hair was damp and there was a very slight chemical smell…..  Beth wouldn’t let me look in a mirror as it would spoil the surprise, and at that moment the door bell rang.

When I answered the door to our new guests, their shocked faces said it all.  After a quick explanation I asked “What has she done……” and the answer came back with a smirk “Its blue…………………………..”

Luckily it washed out and so I’m now back to normal but unsure if I will ever live down the unexpected and strage holiday memory that my guests took home with them.

The Goat…………….

I blogged a few months ago about the lamb who we met in the bank and yesterday we met the same guy walking his goat in town.

Once again, I have been caught out thinkin g I have seen everything!

Chatting to one of my guests over breakfast last week I was fascinated to learn of a taxi driver who had witnessed crop circles appearing in a field adjacent to Stonehenge.  The mysterious event has happended this month and is one of the most complex and spectacular crop circle designs ever seen.

The designhas  become known as “The  Julia Set” because it resembles the mathematical fractal called by that name. The formation is remarkable not only because of its complexity and beauty but also due to several anomalies associated with its discovery.

It arrived in daylight on a sunny day opposite a busy tourist spot surrounded by high
traffic roads such as the A303. What is exceptional about this event is that it is the
first time the window of arrival can be narrowed down.

Absolutely fascinating and you can read more at http://www.colinandrews.net/JuliaSetStory.html

Definately worth a read………………….

The sun has finally decided to come out here in Somerset and boy is it hot!

Everyone is enjoying the change in temperature, including the blackbirds who live in our garden.  Their chicks are gorgeous and its a real new and uplifting experience to see all the fledglings just sitting on the grass at the back of our garden.The only downside is that Bob is grounded for the next few days because he thinks they are squeaky toys…….

I know its a little late in the season but after a lot of hunting for late blooms, I made elderflower cordial for the very first time at the weekend.

So easy to make and absolutely worth it!

We had the first batch in Prosecco and then tried the remainder in soda water – both superb but I know my favorite!

Or is it after and before????

Bob finally had his long awaited visit to the “beauty parlour” on Saturday and after three hours of primping and preening he came out, not just smelling of roses, but smelling of mangoes.

Not sure if the photo trully does his “new look” justice but he certainly looks much more like a Schnauzer now!

The vegetable garden is looking paticularly lush at the moment, although the picture below doesn’t do it full justice.  I’ve learned a lot over the last year; I now know the difference between a vegetable and a weed (and I’m not joking!!); and I’ve also learned that by turning over the soil regularly you can stop the weeds getting a hold.

We may have complained about all of the rain in June, but now the sun is shining and we are getting real warmth, everything is just shooting up.

We’ve already enjoyed broad beans, salad leaves and spinach (well, ok, I’ve enjoyed the spinach and not the rest of the family……) and now I’m getting excited at pea pods, cucumbers, courgettes, patty pans and lots of green tomatoes just waiting to  And we also have seven lovely little apples on our Katy apple tree.

Two weeks ago I planted sweet corn, and unsure how that will go, and the only major error I made this year was not to bed down the strawberries with straw, and so the birds and crawlie beasties around us have been feasting on them.

I’ll update you again in a few weeks but must get going as it needs another forking……………….