It's true, time definitely passes faster as it runs out. The last three weeks have zipped by and I can't believe we're almost half way through August now.
The two Workaway lads, Lewis and Yaems, proved to be great. I was sorry to have to take them to the station this morning for onward travel to their next host.
They cleared nettles, shovelled three trailer loads of manure, collected 800kgs of animal feed, cleaned gites, weeded, cleaned vehicles, sorted out the gym, cleaned out all the animal buildings, sorted the storage caravan and made numerous trips to the tip, cleaned and filled the swimming pool, etc. etc. Yaems also cooked several meals and made great flapjacks. He had a little disaster with a giant brownie - it wasn't edible - he asked if he should throw it. I replied "yes, but not at anything which matters!" Luckily they were here for the first part of the summer honey harvest and turned the extractor handle which is seriously hard work on a manual extractor. They worked well and were really good company.
With friends, Claire and Debby, we removed 16 half frames from two hives and extracted just over 25kg of beautiful golden honey into 250g jars and about 1kg from the cappings for kitchen use.
There are still two hives to harvest when we get a suitable weather day and the girls are free to help again. A friend, Lorna, has asked me to share a stand with her at a fete this month so I shall be selling my Rainbow Cottages honey there.
The beautiful rose, Princess Alexandra of Kent, which Colin and Val gave me for my 70th birthday is blooming beautifully.
Other flowers in the garden
Achillea, perovskia, rudbeckia, leek flowers, I think, and monarda.
My previous Workaway, Jonny, planting trees and laurel in the hen field. Hopefully they will give the hens, ducks and geese some extra shade when they're established.
Here is a favourite view on the top lane
The raised beds behind the polytunnel are doing well and from there and the polytunnel I've already had courgettes, tomatoes, cucumbers, runner beans, broad beans, peas, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, onions, potatoes and herbs - more courgettes than I know what to do with!
Lastly, a photo of me with my son, Matthew, taken in Cornwall in July, which I really like.
Three things I like:
1. Flapjacks made by Yaems with raspberries and chocolate.
2. My new quail just settling into a run in the garden.
3. Finalising our holiday in Portugal.
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