Thankful Thursday

 What a truly glorious day it has been today, and definitely worthy of Thankful Thursday.

I certainly feel very thankful to have a view like this and very blessed indeed.  

Of course I have been a bit very stiff and sore today after yesterday's hard work in the garden, and although I had planned on doing some more gardening, by mid morning when I had started to get moving a bit easier, it was too hot really to work in the garden, so I have enjoyed a day of quiet reading, studying and just general pottering around.  I'm reading a lovely book at the moment that was put in my 'Free Library', called 'The Shining Levels' by John Wyatt "The Story of a Man who went back to Nature' set in the Lake District after the war I believe.  I am really enjoying the gentle well written telling of his life and it is an easy read to dip in and out of.  Actually all that stops me from reading from front to back in one sitting is the fact that reading seems to put me to sleep very quickly nowadays.  Doesn't matter what time of day I read, I discover myself nodding off.  Can be rather frustrating.

Just loving this gorgeous vibrant flower that I have grown from seed.

I went for a lovely walk later afternoon.  Just stunning it was and still very warm - I wished I'd changed into my shorts before I set off.  I'm starting to find the hills a bit tough though, I think the lowering dose of medication is starting to affect me.  Certainly my feet are SO much sorer now, particularly in the evenings.  It is funny, but you almost forget what it is like and then it all comes back!

Total walked today: 3.1 miles

My lovely neighbour brought round some quiche, salad and new Cornish potatoes for me to have for dinner.  It was delicious!  The potatoes were SO MUCH NICER than my very disappointing home grown potatoes.    

She also brought me round a bunch of sunflowers she had bought for me earlier in the day which I must remember to photograph tomorrow.

So all in all a very Thankful Thursday indeed.

Thankful Thursday

Happy 1st June!  What a beautiful day it was too.  

Today I am thankful for my gorgeous roses which always bring me much pleasure.  These photos were all taken this morning.

We went and visited some friends and had a lovely lunch out at The Silver Fox Pub in Hertford Heath.  We walked to the pub and it was lovely to see a lot of the gardens in the village also had roses, although I didn't have my camera on me to take any photos.

I took a couple of portrait photos of two of my guinea pigs this morning as well.  Need to take two more.

Felix looking good.

Sleek Sylvester.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that I have come home to some pretty lovely weather.  It is certainly better than they have been having in New Zealand, with terrible winds, rain and floods.

Spring has sprung while I have been away and the garden is looking colourful.

Magnolia

Cherry blossom, never ceases to make me smile and is flowering much earlier this year than last year.

Pear Blossom

Gorgeous Tulips

Camellia is almost past its best, but still putting on a good display.

Apple blossom from our three apple trees.

The Maple is coming into leaf.

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Two more books arrived today.

Another of my friend's recommendations.

The other one I saw recommended on Sue's blog 'The Cottage at the End of the Lane' which can be found here.

Now I really mustn't get any more books until I have read this latest lot!

Thankful Thursday

I am really thankful for the lovely weather we have been having lately.  I have been out walking early in the morning in shorts and a sleeveless top and not been at all cold - most unusual!

I am thankful that these two boys are getting on so well.

Thankful that Mark and I get to pop out and make the most of the weather due to the flexibility of him working from home in his own business.

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon walk in the local park and I found the wood totem sculpture I missed earlier on in the year!

Some more wooden sculptures.

Rats?  Thankful?  Well I am thankful these are not running round our garden!  Not that I have seen anyway...we keep out bait stations well stocked up.  I am surprised that the park didn't have any dotted around - we saw five rats all together in one group, just roaming around a few feet from where we were standing!  

Thankful Thursday

Today we were thankful that the weather stayed dry while we visited the Garden of the Rose in St Albans...it has been lightly drizzling with rain on and off most of the day, but we decided to brave it anyway as the gardens are only open for another week.

We had some lovely sandwiches and a piece of cake for lunch.

The flowers were as spectacular as ever

Trying to get Percy to pose and look at the camera is always an act!

Did he get his treat?  How could we possibly refuse that little face?

The water lilies looked wonderful

I managed to get a shot of three of the Koi in the pond.

This is was so striking.

Another very vibrant and pretty rose.

This one had a gorgeous scent.

A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.