The simple things...

I missed you on the phone today, Kate, so haven't had a chance to fill you in on the past couple of days.  We spent last night and today in the north-east and Tom and Sophie loved catching up with their special family up there.  This morning reminded me of school holidays in years gone by where our adventures were defined by the parameters of this farm and what we found on it.

The kids played for ages in the truck, going off for a 'drive', the four of them together taking turns at the wheel.  The dust, leather seats, squeaks of a door needing rust - they all took me back to the simple times of years gone by - our years gone by, not even our parents' time.  What a lot has changed since the 1970s and 1980s of our childhood?!  Sometimes I think our beckonings can just be answered by a walk in the fresh air with the kids - or a drive in a stationary vehicle - to remember the joy in simplicity. 

One of the biggest excitements for the kids - and the adults, for that matter - was seeing this European Wasps' nest that had been discovered in the creek wall.  Its outer layers form what looks to be an intricate ceramic sculpture and its interior features complex, beehive-like structures.  It was fascinating to think that this had been built underground - the only sign it existed due to the wasps hovering above its surface.

Playing with the grasses...

Apologies for the late start to our week in which we prove that purple is under-rated.  It's the perfect foil for the blue of the grasses - more picniking for me this afternoon!  Where would we be without purple?!

He coloured with pink!

The day after I blogged about how Tom didn't like pink, I found him creating cars with pink highlights.  When I queried him about this, he said he only liked it sometimes.  But at least he's helping Kate's and my dictum that pink isn't just for girls!

Watermelon, watermelon, I love, you love watermelon...

Pink, fleshy, juicy watermelon.  Planted as a seedling and raised by Joe to a huge, delicious specimen on which we are feasting.  Just served plain, or in a salad with feta, balsamic and mint.  It has been worth the wait!

Don't tell him it's pink!

Tom has a typical male attitude towards pink - he thinks it is just for girls.  As his mother, I disagree and I think that this shirt looks particularly lovely on him.  I don't think he would wear it if I commented on its pinkness, so it can just be a secret between you and me!

Hop bine shade

This is the last green glimpse of the hop bine that shades a favourite house each summer.

The last, nearly ripe watermelon...

Here lies a watermelon with the hope of a family resting on it - the hope that we will manage to let it ripen without picking it too early!  This is the last one in its bed that's almost ripe and we are watching it very carefully.  There have already been three casualties...

The first one was at my own hand.  There are a few signs to look for when testing ripeness of watermelons - and it's best to make sure they're all there before proclaiming the fruit ripe as they do not ripen off the vine...  It sounded hollow and the skin underneath had turned yellow, so I decided to harvest it...  but I hadn't checked its pigtail, which is where it joins the vine.  This has to be brown.  Unfortunately I read this part after the early harvest.  Casualty number one.

The next sad watermelon tale was of an accidental harvest.  Someone (who shall remain nameless - and it really wasn't me) decided to check if the watermelon had turned yellow underneath.  Whilst turning it over, the pigtail snapped off and we had casualty number two.

A day later, Joe and I and the kids went to do our usual weekend harvest.  Joe and I were looking at the corn, when  all of a sudden Tom appeared, proudly cradling a watermelon in his arms - casualty number three!

'Look what I found!' he said, delighted with himself.

Joe nearly dropped to the ground.

So he feels like putting a 24 hour guard on the last, nearly ripe watermelon in its bed.  We are all fans and can't wait til it's ready.  But we'll leave it up to Joe to decide next time.  After all, he is the gardener!