Stony Garden

Back in Stony here's a very English bit of planting.  Hope Mar would have approved.

Gran - and Pat - would have liked tthis

When we bought our Italian house and set about renovating it, Pat got Mar to tell her all about it, show photos and share the delight.

Then Pat sent us a cheque to buy something to help decorate the house, and this is what we bought.

Every day we plonk umbrellas or walking sticks in Pat's Pot.

Happy memory.

Birthday challenge

With Gran's birthday coming up this week, I challenge you all to do something  that reminds you of her to mark the day.

Max has suggested a marmite sandwich or watching Shaun the Sheep! To kick us off, Max and I played two rounds of clock patience before bedtime, a game Gran taught us both (with a 30 year time gap). He did so well in the first game that he only had two cards left and asked me to take a photo:

Max the author

The second published author in our house! Max's short story has been chosen for publication in a local anthology. 

French Open

Anyone else finding that they're paying more attention to Andy Murrary's progress in the French Open than previously...?!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/33010749

Haha! Snap! I took this photo and meant to post it before we went to Chicago. That one bud has now bloomed and several more have joined it! Beautiful.

Not so violent now...

... That two of the African violets are blooming beautifully on the windowsill.