Hiley Website

The joys of summer continue with fine weather ever since Bill and I planted the trees.

We did have one night of rain and wind when Storm Hector blew through

but otherwise it has been hot and dry like most places . . . good summer weather but not without its problems.

With the summer comes summer growth

and with reasonable watering the veg patch has yielded some nice produce.

A tray of spinach getting ready for planting out

as our first set of plants are going over after producing many helpings of for our meals.

The plants next to the water have grown profusely . . . but look at the water level in the pond !

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As with so many of the local fell streams, the warm weather

and lack of rain is causing them to run slowly

or even dry completely in many cases.

Our pond is still receiving a trickle from a local spring

but the stream is dry from here on.

Likewise Rose Cottage stream is running at the top of their garden

but has dried before it crosses under the road.

It is the other feeder of our little water course.

Evaporation and soak-away add to the problems as well.

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The sunny weather has often brought nice sunsets

throwing lovely colours onto Whiteside, Grasmoor and the local fells.

In honour of the hot weather we have taken a chance and planted an Australian Bottle Brush plant next to the pod.

It has taken well but will need protection in the cold winds of next winter.

Hopefully its location by the pod will protect it from the worst of the cold winds.

	- - - o o o - - - The clear skies have also given us impressive moons. This full moon can be seen rising above Rannerdale Knotts A slight dusty haze brought on by southern breezes has given it a yellow tint. (Picture first posted on my facebook page a short while back) - - - o o o - - -

The fuller sequence of moon shots start with a wider version of the same photo.

The same moon . . . rising now over Great Gable.

Another evening, with a little more mistiness.

It was lower in the sky and set and rose again behind Mellbreak.

The northern sky at midnight . . . with an unknown star shining brighter than the twilight.

The wider picture including all of the Low Fell panorama we more frequently photograph during the day.

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Life is a breeze as they say . . . but one night it was a bit stronger !

Storm Hector blew through and for such a short, stormy night it did a lot of damage.

We did get a little rain as a respite from the drought but the winds damaged a lot of trees (due to the heavy leaf cover)

and it also up-ended this shed which had been temporarily left at the bottom of an adjacent field.

Recent visitors included more fellwalking club friends . . . Jill and Nigel with their dog Ziggy.

The two were good company and Dylan seems to become excited when he has visitors.

He's missing his life-long companion Harry . . .still, there may soon be news on that front . . . but don't tell Dylan yet !

Down at the lake the water levels are holding up

. . . though there are more stones being exposed each time we visit.

One spin-off of Storm Hector was a slight replenishment of our winter log pile.

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Surprise visitors are always nice, none more so that Richard, whom we haven't seen for three or four years.

Molly and Dylan are about four and a half years old . . . Amber, Jo's dog, is approaching twice that age.

It was nice that Jo was visiting that same day as they know each other through the on-line fellwalking club

A picture of Jo's back here . . . but I think the photo was taken because of the hundreds of crows that were flying above Gillerthwaite.

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Back to full summer ( Jill and Nigel did enjoy sunny days elsewhere on their week long stay in the Lakes).

	- - - o o o - - - In the garden, the first set of onions I planted have grown nicely and are ready to pick. The courgettes are loving the outside conditions provided they get enough water. We have also been harvesting the soft fruit but they are smaller that usual due to the dry conditions. You can't water everything all of the time. - - - o o o - - -



Courgettes, blackcurrants and loganberries . . . .	. . . spinach and rhubarb also destined for the freezer.

The salad and rocket have bolted in the heat so pickings are poor some days

but we've found nasturtiums a fabulous addition to salads, as their flowers and leaves have a lovely rich, peppery taste.

	The purple in the photo above is a variety of curly kale. It is destined to make a change from winter "greens". - - - o o o - - - Tucked in with the salad rocket I found and released a common emerald moth The web page says it is common in southern England. It must be on holiday in this warmer weather up north !



Did I mention it was hot ?	. . . and that was at twelve minutes past eight in the evening.

More friends are staying at Scale Hill Cottages up the road

Tony and Hilary enjoying a glass of Prosecco on the seat in the paddock on a warm evening.

Contrast that with Barrie's visit just eight, hot days later . . . no Prosecco and less green grass !

His was an afternoon visit rather than an evening one . . . so it was tea and cake instead up at the house.

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I thought I would take advantage of the hot spell to touch up the paint on the greenhouse.

It has been seven years since I built it so maintenance was slightly overdue.



Some of the roof slats were looking worse for wear . . .	. . . so off they came for painting.

Like all jobs, once you get started the task ahead grows not diminishes.

More of the slats and some of the other timbers were in need of repair or replacement too.

What started out as a couple of days work turned into the best part of three weeks hard labour in the summer sun.



New slats to hold the glass in place.	Replacing them without breaking too much.	Plenty of step ladder work too.

A complete outside repaint including the finials and door and we should be good for a few years.

Hopefully that annoying "leak over the potting shed desk when it rains" has gone now too.

Still all done in the dry and now time to relax a little.

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Dylan and Ann have been busy too . . .



Dylan is now officially . . .	. . . a "Pets as Therapy" dog.

Each week Ann takes him to a nursing home in Keswick or a 'sheltered' home in Cockermouth

where the residents and staff really seem to enjoy their visits.

Conversation abounds as does lots of patting . . . and perhaps an extra treat of two are consumed occasionally !

It is hard work for a dog, especially in this heat . . . so Dylan must include a little relaxation time in his schedule too !

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