A slow drive back from Castres and it feels like summer used to feel–a season fully committed.
Flaming June, going on July, bursting out all over!
The sunflowers are showing thick and healthy on the ground this year.
Green and medium build at the moment but growing fast. I spotted one in flower but shy–just peeping out in the clump.
Rain and sun in equal measures have made them strong.
They’ll be a picture in a couple of weeks just as the Tour de France moves south–days to go before “the off “.
It’s always great to see the TV shots of the pelaton, a multicolored snake strung out along a stretch of road–half hidden behind a field of yellow tops, enjoying their moment of fame.
Garlic gath’rers pass,
Leaving the scent in the air;
It’s that time again.
Men stripped to the waist (as if that’s going to help)–why not wait until the sun retreats? It makes no sense to labour thus in a sweltering 30 degrees.
The workers’ cars compete for shade under the fully-leafed walnut trees, already ladened with green fruit.
(I shall be ready in early October and on the prowl–but hunting walnuts rather than hares and rabbits.)
The youngsters, Ben and Midnight, lie full length in the shade beneath the fig in the courtyard–their black coats soaking up the heat–just too much effort to move indoors.
Young Midnight jumped from a first floor window into the driveway this morning–startled by a sudden human presence. He hesitated a nano second, Meredith says, then decided there was no alternative and leapt.
Cats can do such leaps, she says, and land on their feet uninjured–and I have to believe it. Nine lives and all that–but just writing about it gives me vertigo.
But there he is under the fig–no worse for wear, more bothered by heat than heights!
I need him in the kitchen. Just spied a tiny mouse sheltering from the heat. He spotted me at the same moment and disappeared into the fireplace.
Not a safe place for mice here! Stay put, Mr. Mouse–there’ll be a quiet time later when you can move on safely.
Cats generally don’t fly in the dark–though one shouldn’t second guess a cat called Midnight!
* “back in the days”
Robin Ellis 