Brown marmorated stink bug

 I think I may have spotted a brown marmorated stink bug in my garden.  I didn't know what it was so didn't harm it. Looks like I should have disposed of it after all. I can't see it in the garden but it's probably chomping its way through my fruit trees. Hopefully I'll spot it again and have someone identify it for me.  Do they really smell as bad as the Internet says?

Beautiful scenery

 I've been out walking with friends this morning. This gorgeous scenery is less than a five minute car journey from home for us all

We stopped off for a cuppa in a beautiful country house before continuing our walk. Don't let the sunshine mislead you though. Crikey the wind was bitterly cold.

Absolutely gorgeous weather today

 We didn't make any plans for today as the forecast wasn't very good.  Typically It's been absolutely gorgeous and we should have ignored the forecast.  On the bright side we popped over to garden club and bought some more canes and then spent most of today pottering around the garden.  Tony did a couple of wash loads and pegged them out. They'll smell beautifully of fresh air and sunshine. Tomorrow morning I'm out walking with some friends and then at teatime we're going to some other friends for a meal. Brian always cooks enough for a huge crowd bless him so we definitely won't need any supper. 

Here's my garden today if you'd like a little look

Five minutes from home

 It has rained absolutely non stop all day and I'm thoroughly sick to death of it. Guess I shouldn't really grumble as I would hate to live in a desert when we're surrounded by all this on our doorstep 

We've got friends coming over for a meal this evening and it'll be nice to catch up with them. I was an absolute domestic goddess yesterday and cooked everything in advance so that it had time to develop the flavour. All I have to do is heat it thoroughly and transfer to my pretty china serving dishes. The drinks are chilling and I'm off for a quick shower and change into something nicer than my comfy clothes. 

Lovely evening out

 We're just heading home from our folk dancing club where we danced our little legs off. I'm ready for a nice cup of coffee and a bit of the cooking channel on TV. It's raining gently so my garden is getting a nice refreshing shower.  

Crikey it's turned cold

 I had to flick the heating on this morning as it was rather chilly.  We've not needed it on in ages. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we don't get a late frost as I've planted all manner of flowers and veg outside.  My yellow indoors GreenStalk is coming on a treat and hopefully I'll be picking  mini cucumbers this time next week.  My courgettes of all varieties are popping through now and hopefully I'll be able to grow mini watermelon this year. I've got three promising looking seedlings.

I'm growing sweet potatoes for the first time this year and hopefully will have a decent harvest in the autumn if we get a good hot summer 

Neil

 My friend Debs has a very talented son with an amazing voice. In his spare time he sings in pubs and suchlike down in Kent 

My neck of the woods

 Sometimes I forget just how lovely it is where I live. Then Tony and I take a little drive out and I'm reminded just how lucky I am. 

Gorgeous weather

 It's been another glorious day here in Kemp Castle. Tony went and got some more free compost this morning while I had a crafting session with my friend Jayne.  It's coming up to her 70th birthday party and we've been making table decorations.  The other day I made some table markers for her family and friends tables.

 The colour scheme is Black, gold, platinum and silver. I cut the butterflies from black card and foil pie dishes. Layered up they look very effective 

Perfect gardening weather

 It's been absolutely gorgeous today and I'm sporting a very sunkissed look. Tony has picked up a huge load of green waste compost for me and I have been busy filling big pots and planting out bedding plants. I will have to fleece it all if the cold weather returns. I've planted out my sweet potato slips in big black pots and put a plastic cover over them to give them a bit of extra protection.  They're currently sitting in the hottest part of my garden and hopefully I'll get a crop of homegrown sweet potatoes.  It's my first year growing them so any harvest will be good. 

I'm trying Mosquito dunks in the hope that I can get rid of fungus gnats in the porch. I'm squishing and hoovering them up in their hundreds every day.  They were recommended to me by a comment on my YouTube channel and I've given everything a good water with the solution this morning.  It'll take a few days before we notice an improvement.