Sunshine and Dulcimers

A very quick post today, folks, and sorry I am late, and remiss in reading and commenting on yours (you other bloggers). Has been a very full and tiring week overseeing mum's kitchen installation and then putting everything back In entirely the wrong places, of course. And amongst the rubbish we threw out were two old skewers and a plastic bag full of small plastic bags. These items have taken on an importance far outweighing their actual worth, but they are important to mum so must be replaced.

Anyway, the sun has been shining for two whole days and looks set for another couple so hey, we are into SUMMER! The garden still looking ok.

Ooooops! Sorry, should have rotated before uploading to blogger, can't do it now. Crane your necks...

I've even been sitting outside myself to do a little stitching, heavily dosed with antihistamine and vaseline up nose and sunglasses when possible! (Not up nose, don't be silly.) Yes, hay fever here with a vengeance, and our garden in particular has some nasty little pollen-bearing blooms somewhere, but haven't isolated which ones yet.

This is a nice little shady nook. I could hear the bumble bees humming away round the flowers, I love to listen to them, they live in the beech tree which overhangs our garden.

                      Applique all finished, now embroidering. So relaxing this felt stitchery.

And now, to finish up with, a photo of my latest impulse purchase: an Appalachian or Mountain Dulcimer. If you check out Joni Mitchell's 1974 BBC concert videos, she plays one on the California and A Case of You videos. Not that I can sing like that! (Who can??) But I thought it would be a fairly simplish instrument to play to sing with...if I can find my key!

It is quite a basic model, probably the cheapest you can get here in the UK. I would love a hand-crafted one, perhaps if I get on with it I will think about it.

Now then folks, I have a load of ironing (yes, I know, twice in a month!) Lunch, then pack and pack up the car. I am off to Sheringham Festival up on the  North Norfolk coast. The Mollys are dancing there both days, so we arrive this evening to set up camp. Yes, at my age I am spending the weekend under canvas. No, I don't believe it either! Last time I did that was the last time I took the Guides to camp about 26 years ago. I hope the weather is better, I seem to remember being up at about 2 am wringing soaking wet girl Guides and their sleeping bags out in the pouring rain. Deep joy!

So I will be sans laptop for a couple of days but will hopefully have some great photos to share when I get back. Hope the sun shines for you and yours , have lovely weekends.