Drowsily Warm with Dozens of Bees

Hello Lovelies ,
it's properly hot here at the moment, with such temperatures that we just don't get every year.The big fan has been dug out of it's hiding place at the back of the shed and is whirring away all day.
When the weather is like this my favourite thing is sitting in a shady corner of the garden with a cold drink listening to the bees and watching the butterflies.

iced water with a squeeze of lemon juice....very refreshing on a hot day.

By mid afternoon it's a sort of still , all enveloping heat that makes you slow down. Everything just seems so much more of an effort.
And it's been reminding me of the first lines of a childrens book I used to read to my boys when they were much younger..........



I wonder if you lovelies are familiar with the Hairy Maclary books. I loved the rhyming nature if these simple stories, such a pleasure to read out loud.
This one is the story of when Hairy Maclary  just wants to rest on a hot day, and  begins.......

Unfortunately for him a little yellow duck   has other ideas.

The story is about all the ways Hairy Maclary tries to avoid this little duck.

Of course they eventually become good friends, and the story ends up with the two enjoying the shade on a hot day, listening to the bees together.

It's a delightful book with sweet illustrations and I saved it for sentimental reasons but I haven't read it a number of years as it's most suitable for pre school children.

I was wondering to myself why this story kept popping into my mind when I noticed something unusual behind the shed.......

it's a scruffy corner of the garden I wouldn't normally share here :0)

If we get a bit closer you will see what I mean.........

Dozens of bees ! They must have made a nest under this old patio and when the temperature rises they are constantly ,busily , going in and out.
I took these pics from a distance as I'm a bit wary of disturbing them. The good zoom on my new camera certainly came in handy.........

I was so happy to see bees making their home in my garden though.....after worrying that there were not many around in June it's great to see them doing what bees do........

and it's just wonderful to have some sustained hot weather to enjoy.....just hope it sticks around for  the school holidays .

I hope you lovelies are enjoying the heatwave if you are in the U.K.

Jacquie x

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy♥ 28/52

Hello Lovelies,
 it's been a rather busy week here with many school activities to attend and plenty day to day stuff that needed my attention. I will be glad when the school holidays finally arrive.
Here are my happy things from a week when I've not had time to write any other blog posts.

1.Picking the first bunch of sweet peas from my garden. I'm sure they are late this year , but oh what a joy...and their scent is amazing, so pretty and intense........

2. Yesterday afternoon was sooooooo hot, even though some cloud had appeared. I sat in the garden and watched a cute bunny enjoying some more garden roaming. Can you see her?

Zoom in a bit......... Here she is :0)

3. Last Sunday was also a scorcher..........

 so I sat in the shade with my little sketch book.........

And drew Sparkle with the geraniums.......

She is featuring here quite a lot at the moment isn't she.

The next 14 photos really deserve their own post but I just don't know if I will have time to write one so I'll include them here.

4. Early morning sunshine. This was 7am yesterday morning. I set out for a run but quickly decided it was already too warm and everywhere looked so gorgeous in the early morning light that I wanted to slow down and enjoy it. 

The year is turning, and the colours of this hot July are mellow . The farmers are already hay making.........

and wild geraniums look pretty along the roadside........

The hogweed is turning to seed, love the pinky colour .......

Thistles are having their moment........

Trees cast long shadows and the distance is hazy.........

The brambles are flowering, with promise of yummy blackcurrants to come..........

And the grass seed heads are rather comical when you look at them close up..........

I'm happy to come across a clump of rose bay willow herb as I wander along in the still warm air.....

As pretty as any garden flower and looking stunning on such a perfect day...........

The fields are full of crops that are getting pretty tall.........

It's  wheat and I take a  close up shot as the footpath goes right through the field..........

I do love loving in an area where there is mixed farming as it's lovely to see livestock as well as crops.......

 There are a lot of animals ( horses and sheep ) in this picture.....almost all of them are sensibly hiding in the shade.......

Yes, the countryside looked just perfect in the golden rays of the sun rising on a hot, high summers day.

And on the way home I couldn't resist taking a picture of this wonderful garden . When I'm walking I always stop to peer over the fence at this delight. Isn't it beautiful...........

Hope you are coping with the heat if it's hot where you are . Wishing you a week with time to enjoy some simple pleasures.

Jacquie x

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy ♥ 27/52

Hello Lovelies, 

Firstly I need to say THANK YOU for all your wonderfully kind comments on my latest posts. I was touched that so many of you took the time to encourage me in my drawing. And my poppy post contained so many good wishes for mum again....what can I say....you lot and the best.

Here are some of my other happy things.

1. Warm sunny evenings. We are making the most of this glorious weather with many hours spent outdoors.
It's light till after 10pm at the moment and so pleasant to be outside, watching the sinking sun and the lengthening shadows. Much of this has been done at the park, playing tennis and various ball games.
This was a little trip to the river , to sit and enjoy a drink while this sky turned pink and the still water made beautiful reflections.........

 Love the names of these narrow boats. This ones called Tell me tomorrow.

And this name seemed perfect on such a still, warm evening..........

the next three are all garden related :0)

2. Rose season. The roses seem particularly beautiful this year. My neighbour across the road has a simply stunning display. These are picked from my own garden..........

And I've been planting more....a lovely birthday present from my mum in law....

3. cooling down in the sunshine. The boys talked me into buying a bigger paddling pool on Friday. Saturday morning saw us filling it up ( boys were sailing a boat while it filled ).
 It's been great to sit in the shade and watch then have fun with such a simple summer pleasure........

 4. Sparkle enjoying the run of the garden. We only have one rabbit now, she is such a sweety. While we are in the garden she has been enjoying a bit of freedom to hop about where she pleases . Mostly she stretches out in the shade. This was taken by middle son while they were laying under the trampoline together.......

Hot sunny weather... such a rare treat for us.

Hope you are enjoying it too if you are in the U.K.
Jacquie x

P.S. nearly forgot to mention.....I've added a BLOGLOVIN button as I think google friends connect is ending very soon....why? !

Poppy Fields

Hello Lovelies, 

Yesterday, for the first time since before her operation,  mum and I were able to go out for a little weekday drive....nothing too adventurous.

Just travelling along winding roads through little villages and past fields of crops and cattle.

When we rounded one bend we both gasped with delight at the mass of poppies that covered the horizon between the trees........... 

Of course we had to stop and take a closer look............

While Mum sat in the car and did a sketch I got out with my camera. Here's the view from the gateway.......

 And happily there was a little footpath right into the field, allowing me to get a closer look........

 Oooooh , I just love this picture ! the masses of poppies with the yellow and green of the oil seed rape crop, the blue sky with fluffy clouds..........just perfect ............

It was  hard to get a good photograph close up as the poppies bobbed and fluttered in the breeze...........

A little bit further along the road there was a gap in the hedge so we stopped again to get a view back towards the corner.......another wow...........

 Its such an intense mass of bright red from this angle..........

That stretches almost as far as the eye can see..........

It was such a treat to find so many of these beautiful wild flowers , and such a blessing to be able to share it with mum.
Jacquie x

This Weeks Drawing....Summer Fields

Hello Lovelies, 

oh I'm so happy to have one of my drawings to share with you sweet people this week, it's been a while hasn't it. 

I have been enjoying sketching since my last blogged picture and if you are not familiar with this relatively new hobby of mine you can see all my previous pictures by clicking  HERE.

A few of you have mentioned that you missed my drawings, which was lovely to hear. The truth is I've missed them too , but I haven't had much time to actually sit down and draw...plus there is always yarn to tempt me. I wonder how people can ever be bored....my head is always full of things I want to make and do.

Anyway, back to my latest drawing. Once again I've been inspired by walking in  the countryside, as I was in my  first drawing back in February. But now it is Summer.....Oh Summer in the countryside , how I LOVE it. The flowers and warmth. The green fields and blue skys ( some days :0) ) The birdsong and buzz of bees , the butterflies and the tall grasses. I find it really makes me happy to get out and enjoy the seasons, and summer, like spring, is especially easy to enjoy.

The picture I've come up with is a combination of images you will probably already be familiar with.

This picture was taken on a walk last week, and blogged about HERE.........

This picture was taken on a family bike ride the week before and blogged about HERE...........

Here is a quick pencil sketch I did when inspiration struck...........

I then drew this in my A4 sketch book, again in pencil, before going over the plants in the foreground in fine pen.........

Then it was time for colouring in. Once again I've stuck with my favourite medium.....coloured pencil
I love a bit of colouring in. It's a gentle, relaxing pastime.

Here is the finished picture..........

 You can click on the images to make them bigger.

I love how this picture has turned out. I think it captures the countryside where I live at this moment....

I copied the pretty house directly from my photo because I loved it's white walls and interesting shape.......

of course it was great fun drawing all the flowers......daisies, butter cups and clover..................

I'm happy that it really looks warm and sunny in the picture

As with all my pictures it was simply drawn for enjoyment , but it's also wonderful to be able to share it here with you lovelies.
Jacquie x

p.s. sorry Tom Tit is not here. I couldn't work out how to include him this time.