She folded all the clothes and cloths that I took off the washing line

Now the children are playing under the shade of an umbrella

Since lockdown we have celebrated two of the three annual foot festivals at The Gables, Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost). Will we still be here for the third in October? We know not. Nature is not bothered by our problems with a virus. The hen and her eleven chicks are thriving.

The pots of sweet peas that Jeremy carefully sows each year are flowering and the scent is heavenly

The kid goats, born just before Passover, are sturdy and strong

In the centre of the lupin cups tiny droplets of water shimmer like diamonds

In the pergola the Poundland lilies are flowering

After two hot, hot days of festival and sabbath, the hanging baskets, tomato tubs and flower beds were crying out for water. Plenty more attention needed tomorrow as the “drought” continues (and man made fires rage in American cities).

But they will have to make space because……

But they wanted a mineral block to lick – and they got one today but they have to learn to share. Hmmmm

The tayberries from the freezer (last year’s crop) has gone into this sour cream cake. The recipe is in mum’s handwriting and was given to her by her old friend (? – there’s a story) Mavis and given to me by mum about 30 years ago. Tinned, drained berries can be substituted for frozen

There’s a lettuce to wash and make into salad. I’m adding spring onions and these sun dried tomatoes that I bottled in oil last September and stored in the fridge

A few butter and currant biscuits – it’s the first time I’ve baked biscuits for weeks as son in law and grandson make chocolate chip cookies every week. This week they’ve made chocolate biscuit cake and cheesecake in honour of the festival of Shavuot (Pentecost) that begins tonight.

And in the background the call of the cuckoo

Nearly four hours after Farmer Rob arrived, 11 sheep and two lambs have been shorn.

I tied the fleeces and then took over from Jeremy so that I held the sheep whilst Rob sheared. My tying was a bit of a disaster so Jeremy re-rolled and tied them and stored them in the paddock barn. Click below