Sunday, August 02, 2020

Into August

August already.  Days just fly by even though we are not doing a quarter of the things we would normally do with them. 

The weather has gone from cool to hot over the last few days.  There have been blustery winds throughout but the skies have been wonderful.

Above and below daytime skies on Thursday

Up amongst the clouds were at least twenty herring gulls, whirling, swooping calling with their evocative seaside sound.  I think many of them have probably never seen the sea.  That seems a great shame.

Above and below skies around 9p.m. on Friday with just a light rumble of thunder in the air and a few gentle spots of rain not enough to dampen anything.
There were also the sounds of people's voices from beyond the fences and hedges enjoying their gardens and the crackle and pop of fireworks could also be heard  in the distance.


On Wednesday we ventured to Waitrose which was very quiet, everyone wearing masks and respecting each other's space, the staff were well protected by screens and visors as well as masks.  All very strange but comforting too.  I was able to wear one the the masks sent to us by a good friend who has been making them over the last few weeks for friends and family.  We received them the day before they became mandatory and they are very comfortable to wear.  I wouldn't want to wear a mask for too long though but an hour or so was easily coped with.


A few posts ago I told you about the wheat that had grown in the garden and how we had harvested it and left it to dry.  We had hoped to grind it with stones but this rather romantic notion wasn't practical for various reasons so the grains were ground in the chopper and some French T55 flour added to make enough dough for four little rolls.


Lastly as I'm missing visiting places of historic interest I've been looking at places on line and have enjoyed some virtual tours of houses and gardens and church buildings too.  I was taken with one tour I found via The Friends of Friendless Churches.  I'll put a link below.


I hope you are all enjoying the weekend.

18 comments:

  1. I love the picture. Goldfinches and poppies are two of my favourite things. The rolls look good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jean, it's a lovely colourful illustration isn't it? The rolls were lovely:)

      Delete
  2. Gorgeous skies and well done on the bread making. We only have to wear masks on the bus at the moment. Yours look very stylish. Have a good week. B x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Barbara, yes the masks are very well made and a cheerful colour, I actually had a dream last night where we were at a concert all sat together and they started handing out masks once everyone was gatherd together - very weird:)

      Delete
  3. We've certainly been treated to some wonderful skies lately. Those rolls look tasty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you John, the rolls were lovely. Skies have been so wonderful recently like gazing into far off lands:)

      Delete
  4. I love the August calendar photo and those rolls look super - how clever and wonderful to make them from your own wheat :)

    Thanks so much for the church link I will enjoy that. Life still seems so strange at the moment and I am so missing going to historic houses and gardens and villages and churches. Ventured out today to Temple Balsall where we had to open gates! So am trying to expand into doing more things. World seems divided by those who are still mainly at home and not going out much and those going out as normal even pubs and holidays. The masks will be useful - I seem to be spending a fortune on masks,hand sanitisers, dettol surface cleaners and gloves especially now my daughter is back at work and needs to use them. I haven't yet been anywhere to wear a mask but there are some in the car just in case. I had heard Waitrose were good at imposing measures whereas other super markets aren't and are relaxing things somewhat. I do miss doing my own shopping but still not prepared to go round here. When we next go to Herefordshire may venture to some gardens and perhaps a village. If we don't feel safe we won't stay!

    Take care Rosie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you RR, I hope you enjoy the church tour I thought it was very well done. The masks feel so much better to wear than the one use pleated ones we got from Boots when we both needed them to go for blood tests and surgery appointments. The fabric ones are made of closely woven quilting cotton with a metal nose fitment and a filter pocket. We managed to get some disposable filters on-line from Rymans. Until we went to waitrose I hadn't been in a supermarket since the middle of March. I had to pop into a chemist to get a prescription and also we've been in the farm shop. It is hard to think about going any further. I'd love to visit a garden or a museum but can't quite summon up the courage yet. We hardly ever eat out except the occasional lunch with friends when we meet up somewhere but we loved going out and having morning coffee somewhere nice as a treat, I miss that. It must be a worry for you and your daughter being back at work. I hope her employers have good measures in place. Take care and stay safe:)

      Delete
  5. Very impressed that you managed to bake some rolls. Love looking up at the sky. It makes me think, wow I really do live on planet earth, when I see all the clouds whirling around. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you shazza, I think the flour we got from the wheat would have made perhaps half a roll, I expect if they hadn't been good the birds would have benefitted. The skies have been wonderful haven't they?:)

      Delete
  6. Beautiful skies, ever changing. Haven't the rolls turned out well, perhaps they will become an annual celebration. I had a look at the link, so nice to be able to 'walk' around the outside of the pretty church as well as enjoy all the features inside. 😊

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Karen, yes the rolls turned out well and were very tasty too. I enjoyed the church tour very much, I thought it was well done and very informative:)

      Delete
  7. There's been very little rain here - despite forecasts of thundery downpours, and hot again forecast at the end of the week too.
    Your evening sky photos are brilliant.
    I'd never really given a thought to the gulls who've never seen the sea - now I feel sorry for them too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sue, rain here in sporadic bursts today. One just after we got home from taking next door's dog for a walk. When I hear the gulls I long to see the sea, the ones here seem to live and nest on the tall buildings like Wilco's in the town centre, I feel the same about the cormorants on our local lakes:)

      Delete
  8. I love that you've been able to make the rolls from the wheat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Pam, I'm glad we didn't just put the wheat in the garden bin or compost heap:)

      Delete
  9. I've been using bandannas as opposed to masks. The masks seem to tug at my ears.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Idea, some masks are quite uncomfortable:)

      Delete