A walk along the bay

Another beautiful day.  We've noticed that we've really slowed down in this hot weather, a bit too much if we are honest, almost to the point of not doing anything!  N felt that we should make the effort to get out, so this afternoon we drove a few miles to the coast, parked up and had a very pleasant 6-mile walk along the sea defence wall of Sandown Bay.  

The tide was out, and there were quite a few people, locals and holidaymakers, making the most of the weather, swimming, wind-surfing and sun-bathing.  We really enjoyed it, and yet again we appreciated the fact that we are able to do things like this when we want to.  Having walked to the far end of the bay, we indulged in an ice-cream, turned around and walked back again, just taking our time, glad to be outside and by the sea - there was a very pleasant breeze that is absent from our garden, and it was most welcome!

At the base of the sandstone cliffs, along the revetment, there are masses of flowers - some wild, some naturalised - they were such a lovely splash of colour.  Ox-eye daisies, montbretia (orange and red), vetch, huge antirhinums (slightly bigger than the ones N has raised in our garden) and hydrangeas.  The photo doesn't really do them justice.

More peas harvested this morning, and potatoes this evening.  Some friends are visiting for lunch tomorrow, and some of the meal will be home-grown.

We bought a mattress protector for the spare bed, but it's not a very good fit - in fact, it is a bit baggy for my liking, so I made some alteration to it this morning in the hopes that it would fit better.  It is a bit better, but still not right.  I can see what needs to be done, and N has offered to do the unpicking for me - for some reason he really enjoys unpicking ;) - so I will press on with that over the next couple of days.  I also have a long-term sewing project under way, but I shall wait until it's finished before sharing photos.

This evening, N has been looking at options for a home-made sun shade in the garden.  We both enjoy the heat but it has been just too hot for us these last few days and we don't have a parasol of any sort.  With N's dad coming to stay later in the summer we could do with some shading in the garden.  N has pondered the problem and has come up with a possible solution - we shall be in the garden early tomorrow to try it out.  Photos to follow, if all goes well.

Finally, I remembered a remark my son made while he was with us over the weekend.  We were sharing with him our joys of home-grown produce, baking bread and just generally simplifying our lives.  He looked at me, with a smile, and said: 'You just want to live the Good Life, Mum, don't you?'  He was referring to the 1970s sitcom, about a couple who turn their backs on the rat-race, and strive for self-sufficiency in suburbia, much to the chagrin of their neighbours.  It was a wonderful series, still looked on with much fondness by those of us of a certain age.  We may not be able to do the whole self-sufficiency package, but the small changes we have made to our lives have had a tangible effect on us.  We are less stressed, more content and happy.  It suits us.