Seven (good) things on Saturday

Well you know how it goes.  This was going to be a Five on Friday post, but here we are and it’s already Saturday.  But no worries, because there are easily six good things to write about.  And then I couldn’t resist a seventh.  Equally alliterative.

1. Summer and sunshine – while one part of me knows that this is almost certainly a manifestation of our climate emergency, I am still able to enjoy the summer and the light and the warmth.  I spent several nights sleeping outside in our garden room, where we have a futon in case of extra guests (and just for the sheer joy of sleeping out).  It is a still, quiet space and I love to be there.
2. Gardens – we try to make sure that we have one day a week when we go out somewhere together, and that’s usually somewhere outdoors.  Often a long walk somewhere, but recently we have visited several gardens (Heale; The Courts, a NT garden nearby; Stourhead; Piet Oudulf’s garden at Hauser and Wirth in Bruton), sometimes with friends and sometimes just the two of us.  Plus this year I am so much enjoying the fruits of my labours at home – especially sitting out on the terrace on summer afternoons and evenings reading and knitting.  And then of course the wonderful gardens at Bath City Farm, where we’re regulars.  So many good places to enjoy, none of them too far away.
3. Summer food – today my lunchtime salad was a confection of leftovers from other meals with a few additions.  A green salad (with added finely cut raw red cabbage, grated carrot, marigold petals and nasturtium petals for colour), leftover cooked brown rice, leftover cooked courgettes, plus cashew nuts, toasted mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin), a few chopped dates, and a chopped piece of salted lemon (from the jar I made earlier this year).  All mixed together with a drizzle of oil and vinegar.  A meal in a bowl, put together in moments, and utterly delicious.  No food waste, no plastic, mostly locally grown or produced.
4. Good friends – last weekend we had a visit from some of our closest and oldest friends, on their way home to London from a much-needed holiday in Cornwall.  We were able to enjoy a relaxed and relaxing time together, a good balance of doing and being.  We ate good simple food, visited some stunning gardens, and just enjoyed each others company.
5. Taking stock – halfway through the year feels like a good time to take stock of progress with various projects.  Some are going really well, others not so well, but there’s still lots of time to move things along.  On the whole, I’m happy with how things are going so far.  Still both room and time for improvement.
6. Yoga – after a long period of intending to do some and planning to do some, I’ve finally got round to actually doing some.  And of course I’ve loved it.  So far, using online resources (Yoga with Adrienne, recommended to me by daughter-out-law).   Maybe eventually I’ll find/make the time to go to an actual class.  In the meantime, I’m 8 days into her 30 days of yoga programme.  I’ve made a start, I’m enjoying it a lot, and this has encouraged me to make a start on some other projects not yet begun.  One thing leads to another…..
7. Granddaughter – oh the joy (and privilege) of being grandparents, particularly of a grandchild who lives nearby.  Now she’s 13 months old.  She’s walking confidently, starting to talk (and has some signs she and we use as well), and she’s a determined climber and explorer.  She loves our company, and we adore her.  Sometimes we manage to kidnap her for a whole day, and one of those days is coming up shortly.  We are old enough to have retired, but young enough to have energy and enthusiasm: a perfect moment to savour.

Oudolf’s Field, Bruton

Garden terrace in the afternoon

Detail of model vegetable garden, The Courts, Holt

Bath City Farm – view from the cafe kiosk, with lupins