Sunshine!

Today, at last, the sun is shining.  For the first time in weeks and weeks and weeks I was able to do something I love doing - I got out the deckchair and sat in it and did nothing.  Absolutely nothing - and for quite a long time.  I listened to all the sounds of summer we have been deprived of this year - bees buzzing, drowsy flies, the sheep bleating on the hill, the chickens clucking and scratching around, the geese honking and hissing at possible trespassers, the tractors and corn trailers going up and down the hill, the baler baling up all the straw and all the birds singing.

There was a great deal of cheeping in the front porch so I decided to keep watch - and the swallows have had more chicks!  Mum and Dad were flying in and out all afternoon:

and by climbing up on the table and pointing the camera in what I hoped was the right direction I got a picture of one of the chicks:

 

Funny.

I went to pull up some potatoes and beans for dinner - to have with our joint of pork (and 'r' in the month so pork is back on the menu) and saw how all the flowers have finally decided to come out

 

including the strawflowers so I can brighten up the kitchen.

See - a bit of sunshine and the world is a brighter place.