Hodge Podge Summer fun

The weather of late has been amazing, sunny, hot and mostly dry, people are out there doing their thing, swimming, fishing, boating, lounging around taking the sun, lovely.

However, my gripe is don’t forget your sunscreen firstly, especially on children and secondly. don’t forget your pets, they don’t need the sunscreen but all too often I’ve seen dogs tethered out in the hot sun, with no water left in their dish, if they have one and no shade either. I know we can’t all be at home all the time, but in these temperatures it’s dangerous for your pets, they pant to keep cool, but the panting dehydrates them, so a good supply of fresh water close at hand for them is essential. This helps them to stay alive in very hot weather.

Whilst on the topic of hot, don’t forget also that your pet’s feet can be burned by the sidewalks when it gets too warm, they are barefoot, and that hot Tarmac can really hurt them, so please take them out when it’s cooler or think about getting some of those booties that the pet shop sells to save them pain. Take an ice cream tub and fill it with water and some treats for the dog. Then freeze it, so your dog can nibble on the ice block as it melts, getting the reward of a treat here and there and stay hydrated at the same time.

Make sure you yourself and your children stay hydrated too, going to the spray park is fun, but make sure you reapply that sunscreen regularly and often and make them wear a hat. Sunstroke is not a nice thing to suffer from. If you plan for the trip, everyone will get home without any nasty lasting effects that spoils the memory of the days outing and your pets will be safe and healthy too might save you a visit to the vets as well.

The jamboree has started, I hope the weather stayed good for that too, I know lots of children enjoy that, all the more reason for you to be vigilant about the sunscreen and wearing a hat.

Rant over, my potted garden is coming along nicely and is starting to really come along, my sweet peas are almost in bud, my beans are nearly in flower and my tomatoes already have flowers, I’m so happy, one of my Mother’s Day presents of a big pot of pansies has been blooming for ages and is quite lovely, such lovely mixed colours and they smell heavenly, I go out to look at them every day and do a bit of dead heading, it’s nice to see everything growing especially as my first crop of plants were devastated by a naughty mouse that got in here and ate them all, so I had to re plant and start again.

If anything, I planted grows and flowers I shall be a happy teddy. Next year I shall grow my seeds in a covered seedling pot, not like this year in an open tray, those mice won’t get another fresh green salad out of me, especially as the seeds were heritage ones, not cheap.

Anyway, enjoy the weather whilst it lasts I say, me, I love the autumn, and am hiding my time till it gets here, cool days, still get sunshine and far less bugs out there, perfect, I will be able to enjoy my cardigan and my blankie, both think I’ve forgotten them and lastly enjoy my coffee in the morning.

So, have fun and as always, be nice to one another.