The summer has been too hot for me - I really hate the very high temperatures and scorching sun, however much others may enjoy it.

Today, for the first time in weeks, I've spent much of the day gardening - it's just been too hot until this week. For the past couple of months, I've popped out to feed the animals in the morning, collected any food we want then popped out again at the end of the day to water and check the animals.

It's been heavenly to actually spend some real time out there - I've cleared all the flower borders of the tops of the herbaceous plants and annuals, ready to top dress with spent mushroom compost if I can remember to take my supplier, Mr Bourne's number to work so I can order some. I've also cleared about a fifth of my vegetable beds, ready for autumn planting of veggies for the spring. That's good progress for a single day - mind you, I've had a lot of help this year from the hens who have free-range of the whole garden (well, except Archie & Rosie's domain) these days and seem much less intent on killing each other since they've been out and about. They do a fab job of clearing the soil of weed seeds and nasty insects so all that is a great help to me - what they do, I don't have to. BTW if you follow the link to David's picture of the hens helping me to clear the garden, please don't think they are not cared for because of their feather loss - they've been to the vet who says there is no sign of mites or any other reason for the loss - they're just a bit broody that's all! The only downside to letting them out (well, apart from needing to be more vigilant about foxes) is that we have to go on 'hunt the eggs' sessions as they seem to have completely abandoned their nest boxes in favour of a little quiet bit of the garden - and it's never the same place twice - I have this sneaky feeling we'll be finding stale eggs all over the place soon!

So, after a miserable day yesterday things are looking up. I post my pic with the satisfaction of a job well done and now I'm off for a soak in the bath...........mmmmmm that's good.