Despite sunshine forecast, we’ve had mizzle all day here and so we’ve been working in damp and humid conditions. Through the rain and mizzle, I’ve walked past this Echinops what feels like hundreds of times in the last few days, although in reality its only dozens of times, because it happens to live on the path between our sawhorse and the log store. I’ve been back and forth carrying logs in the wheelbarrow to store them ready for burning this winter. We reckon we only have two more days of cutting and chopping to go before it’s all sawn and we’ve got a completely full log store. Both of these achievements are a massive relief. DM ‘fessed up earlier today that he’d doubted whether we’d ever complete the job and I was relieved because I’d felt the same. It’s going to be done now!

The plant looks like a sun radiating different colours to me although in fact it’s just a damaged flower. It just goes to show how damaged things can sometimes be as beautiful as their pristine peers. I like the way the colours radiate out in different layers out from the heart of the flower. I think it must have been trashed by marauding dogs who insist on the tennis ball game as an integral part of any work outside. This is what I mean by a photo “jumping out” at me.

I’m close to finishing one of my goals for the summer – it’s a good job one is being realised given the vast number that have been destroyed by circumstance throughout this summer. If the weather holds out for another week, I may get two ticked off – I’m not sure I dare hope for that!