Life: Summer 2025

Summer this year has been lovely. Maybe not so lovely for the environment, being so hot and dry, and my goodness the garden has suffered; but it has afforded us the opportunity to get out and enjoy the local area. I've said it before, but when you work predominantly from home, it feels more important than ever to actually get out and about during free time. 

Having recently started being interested in ornithology, we went to see Mya-Rose Craig (aka Birdgirl) when she was talking about her birding life at A Patch Wilder, Axbridge. This location is a conservation project in the Mendip Hills, and was lovely to visit that summer evening. I believe this nature reserve/project is free to visit.

Scenes from A Patch Wilder

It's also fascinating to re-do some of the walks on our doorstep and really see the difference in the seasons. Bearing in mind that I live on a housing estate, I feel very lucky that these scenes are just across the road from me.

Sheep grazing in the field opposite our estate

Poppies growing in a local field

Friendly cow 

At the beginning of July, we went to Hampshire to see my sisters. One of the things I am really trying to make a habit, is to maintain an art journal. Time doesn't always allow though. This is my page from our visit to the buried crypt at Chilton Candover (free to visit).

Sketches of the buried crypt

It was probably a big mistake to visit The Newt, Bruton on the hottest day of the year, when it was almost unbearable to walk any distance, but it was a convenient meeting point for my son and his girlfriend. I do love visiting - everything is so polished. You do need to be a member to visit The Newt, or be taken by a guest.

The wasps and bees were out in force as we danced around trying to eat our lunch.

Sunflower at The Newt

There is always an impressive seasonal display in the entrance barn at The Newt

Felt like we were in the Med at The Newt

Despite my watering, the vegetable beds in the garden have really not produced much this year. I did, however, get a bumper crop of redcurrants and raspberries earlier in the summer. The downside was that Dougie (our big Maine Coon) used the fruit bed as a regular hiding place and there was a fair bit of fur removal required from the redcurrants!

Homegrown and home-furred redcurrants

Evenings in the garden

The sunflowers were looking beautiful grown alongside sweetcorn in the walled kitchen garden at Knightshayes, Tiverton last weekend. I particularly like the richer orange coloured ones and I need to make a mental note to try to grow some in our garden next year. Knightshayes is a National Trust property, with paid entry or membership.

Sunflowers and Sweetcorn at Knightshayes

Another wonderful discovery this summer, was the Lost Kitchen, which is actually very close to Knightshayes. I took Mum there for her birthday - another plus 30 degree day where everyone was seeking shade. We had wood fired pizzas and then shared this delicious plum Eton mess with toasted almonds.

Plum Eton mess at Lost Kitchen

Deliciously refreshing cucumber and mint cooler

Some of the outside space, Lost Kitchen

We have done a couple of longer walks around local reservoirs and lakes (Clatworthy, 5 miles, and Wimbleball, 9 miles), where you can really see how the water levels have dropped. One of the nicest things about a slightly longer walk is taking a picnic. On one of these, our youngest son had been at cookery school all week and our picnic was full of the most delicious bits and pieces that he had made. Clatworthy is free, Wimbleball has parking charges but otherwise free.

Wimbleball Lake

Clatworthy Reservoir

We had a little Bank Holiday beach trip as well to Beer, a steep pebbly beach. The little town is interesting to visit with a few arty shops and places to buy fudge (my favourite is the rhubarb and custard fudge). Our plan was to sit on the beach, soak up the sounds of the sea and then have fish and chips. We did do the former, but it was too busy to get fish and chips, so we just picked up a quiche in Tesco on the way home instead 😀!

Hope you enjoyed my little roundup of my Summer.

Love Mrs Jones x