The Bigger Picture....

Hello again to you on this last Sunday in June.  I'm pleased to say that the heatwave we had here is over, and we're back to the cooler temperatures that we're used to. It was fine for a couple of days, but then it got a bit too much for me, I must admit, although I'm sure there were others that were loving the hot temperatures, especially the lovely Summer evenings that came with it, where you could stay outside until dusk.

I have to be honest here, and say that the idea for this blog post came from a friend, Penny Gadd, who writes a very interesting blog, entitled Autumn Leaves.  Thank you for the idea, Penny!  Quotes today, as always, from Pinterest.com

 

I was sat in the garden the other day, with one of my daughters, bemoaning the fact that the garden wasn't looking as good as it could. Too many weeds had suddenly appeared. As soon as I cleared one patch, they would appear elsewhere. Shrubs needed to be cut back, the gazebo's needed painting.  My daughter told me that I was a perfectionist.  I suppose that could be true - I used to be able to spend hours out in the garden, making sure it all looked lovely. Unfortunately, I'm not able to do that any more. Well, to be honest, I don't WANT to do it any more. It's all become a bit of a chore, which is not what it's supposed to be. 

 

So here's where we come to the title of my Post today. Am I worrying unnecessarily about this?  When others visit, do they see the garden through my eyes, or do they see the bigger picture and admire the profusion of roses, the pots of coloured geraniums, the perennial plants waving in the Summer breeze, with the view of the fields beyond?  In other words, as I have mentioned many times before, am I sweating the small stuff, instead of seeing that bigger picture ?!  Answers on a postcard please! 😊😊.

So I have decided that I must just do what I can, and what doesn't get done will have to wait for another day, and I will try, once again, to just live in the moment...

 

On another tack, I think we must also  be gentle with ourselves if we don't feel awesome every day.  We are going to get days when we feel a little out of kilter with the world, but that's okay too. This too shall pass ....

 

 

On a lighter note, this is the best advice we can give ourselves - a quote from Elizabeth Taylor, another lady who I greatly admired...

 

That's about it for today then.  May you find many blessings in the week ahead. Look after yourselves out there ❤️

Mid-Summer Days Here In Heavenly Devon...

 

It's almost mid Summer's day, and we are being blessed with sunshine, bright blue skies and lovely warm air. How lovely it is to feel the warmth of the sun and to feel a cooling breeze. When we have weather like this, it really is heavenly Devon in my little part of the world. A time to drive to the coast and watch the sun disappear over the edge of the ocean, and when I'm driving my Mini to the beach, life suddenly seems much simpler and more relaxed.

 

The seasons change .... far too quickly for me these days... and, with this glorious spell of weather, the farmers are out making the first cut of the grass before the hay making begins. As you will see from my new header photo above, I see this at very close quarters!

 

 

We're having some glorious Summer evenings at the moment, and it's lovely to sit outside with a glass of Rosè and appreciate the garden, rather than working hard on it all the time.  Very soon, I expect the hot air balloons will start to float just above the fields. I had a ride in a hot air balloon once and enjoyed champagne at 1,000 feet. I enjoyed it, until it was time to land!

 

 

 

I really like this last quote (all quotes today are courtesy of Pinterest.com by the way, where you can find anything and everything).

In June, the world smells of roses, and I have more than my fair share in the garden at the moment..

 

 

 

 

I do hope that you are enjoying some sunshine as you read this, although I realise that for some of you, it will be the season of Winter. Anyway, wherever you are, try to take some time just for YOU - we have to look after ourselves, in order that we may help others.  Sunny and positive thoughts are coming your way from here in deepest Devon.

Sunshine and Blue Skies

My last post was on the 28th May, and here we are at the 11th June. June is supposed to be Summertime in the U.K., but this past week has brought dark days, fierce winds and heavy rain. 

Fortunately, I have been visiting one of my daughters on the island of Ibiza, just off the coast of Spain, where the weather has been warm and sunny, with endless blue skies.  My eldest granddaughter has also been here, as she is on holiday from Madrid University - it's always such a treat to get to spend time with her, as we don't get to see each other so often now. 

 

Life is so easy and relaxed on this beautiful Island, although for the next couple of months, the population will increase considerably with the influx of visitors - which also happens where I live, in heavenly Devon.  A price we have to pay for living in such a beautiful place. 

I was interested to learn that UNESCO has officially named the harbour area of Ibiza Town as a world heritage site, owing to its 'majestic and staggeringly chic' appearance. Daughter number one and I, with Ibiza Old Town in the background.  

 

 

The Island is also known as the White Isle, because of its predominantly white houses, and due to the fact that the sun nearly always shines all year round. 

 

 

Tomorrow, I will be boarding a plane to fly homeward once more, and very much hoping that I will be taking some of this sunshine back to Devon with me 🌞