Healdsburg CA Grapes.

Bet they are big and ripe and nearly ready for picking and making into the most delicious wine.




So many vines, so many, many grapes.

Mid Florida Steam Train

Yes, this train is crossing the road.





Love this Florida tree, just feel something should accompany the photo, such as a quote, any suggestions?

Mendocino California

Mendocino California, such a lovely place. 

The Birds

Just like the Hitchcock film, suddenly loads of black birds filled the sky!



The came closer,



and closer and right overhead.




I think a bird of prey spooked them, and in turn they spooked me!

When You Do Not Eat Your Artichoke

It waits and then blooms in a spectacular fashion.

Getting Ready

More proof that the season is gradually changing, the swallows are beginning to meet on the wires to preen and twitter, getting ready for the bug trip south, all the way to Africa.
It is lovely that they spend time here building nests and having young and consume vast quantities of insects.

Green Tomatoes and Caterpillars On Cabbage

Tomatoes show no signs of turning red, even in this glorious warmth and sun.



Left a couple of brassicas, cabbages, out of the butterfly net protection.
Look at what happened with caterpillar damage.

Early Morning Rain

Followed by a rainbow.



As you can see, a bit of rain and the grass is already starting to grow and make the fields a tinge of green rather than straw coloured.

These are some clouds this evening.

Old Fence Post

Aged by the sun, wind and rain.

Traditional English Garden

While early summer brings so many flowers, things tend to slow down in gardens at this time of year.
This lovely old walled garden shows that if you know what you are doing, then there are lots of lovely flowers that can be grown to give a fabulous show of colour.

Pink, white, yellow, blue, orange, purple. 
Amazing.








































Of course this is all helped by a lovely old wall and lots of wonderfully enriched soil.
Ah well, something to aim for.

Blackberries

A neighbour has a field edged with blackberry plants, so this morning I went and picked lots.




Of course it wasn't until I was half way through that I thought to take a picture.
So imagine there being a few more berries.



They are now in a muslin bag dripping into the pan and I will make blackberry jelly tomorrow, we decided that having no seeds would be more pleasant than crunching through seeds. Seeds in the mix is jam, no seeds means jelly!!! Just so you know!

Sunset, A Few Minutes Difference

Another lovely sunset.
This was the first photo I took.

And a few minutes later.

Autumn

Keep forgetting to mention that I smelt (smelled) Autumn. 

As the seasons change I can tell the difference, (although to be honest I have never noticed the difference between spring and summer). The smell of the seasons occurs way before the official change, and there are but a few people who can smell these. One person that I know of who can mentions the change within the same week as I do. 
Anyway, to note this yet further, most of the swifts have left. 



So fast and difficult to take photos of, will try much harder next year.

The swallows and house martins are still around.

To add to this our lovely summer weather is due to have a windy, and hopefully, wet end at the weekend.
The garden is in need to a jolly good soaking, although I know I will be moaning about the weeds that show soon after.

Look at this horseradish, being devoured by cabbage white caterpillars.

Fields Of Change

Harvests are being gathered.

Winter wheat has  been gathered in, spring wheat and barley are now being harvested.



Golden rows of corn are replaced with pale gold stumps of straw.




And bales of straw.

Runner Beans, French Beans and Potatoes.

Lots of fresh beans,

and some potatoes.

Olde England

If you know where to look there are still corners of England where time and tide has not changed things much at all.

This is one such place; and yes, although it looks like a movie set, people do live here.

Anyone can buy something from the local bakery.

High Street Flowers and Bunting

Sunny summers, flowers and bunting.

Glorious.

Harry Potter Was Here

This is one of the many locations where the Harry Potter movies were filmed. 

A lovely place.

A Little Taste Of Summer Sun

Tomato soup made from these sun ripened tomatoes, with home grown red onion and garlic.

Tomatoes on the vine.


Tomatoes and red onion.



Tomatoes red onion and garlic roasting ready to be made into soup.



Made the soup, forgot to take photo, all in freezer now.

Summer Fayre Flowers

Some serious competition in the flower arrangements section.

British Village Summer Fayre.

During the summer in Britain there are summer fetes and fayres. Many villages use them as a way of bringing the community together and of raising funds.

Either on the village green, or on a field loaned by a local farmer, the fayre is set up.
Stalls selling locally made and grown items a roped off area of the field for 'events' such as children's country dancing, dog obedience skills, races, falconry demonstrations etc. 
There may be a large tent or marquee with items for sale and or 'the competitions' with home grown vegetables, homemade jams, jellies, cakes and flower arrangements. These are then judged and winners enjoy local kudos.


We went to one, it is quintessential British rural life. 


Here are some of the vegetables in the marquee.






Onions were beautifully presented.

Plums To Jam In Less Than 2 Hours

Today I went and picked the very few plums that we have.



Sadly not a large collection.
So found some other plums and added those, still only half the amount to make one batch.
Washed




Stones removed and in the pan with some orange zest



Slowly bring to the boil.



Add sugar and simmer.



Almost ready


Into pots. 
Just need labels.