Today is the hottest day of the year, so far, apparently. I am loving it.... l o v i n g i t ! I don't even care that I am simultaneously battling a summer cold and hayfever (an ugly combination). I have put my swimming costume on under my dress and I'm playing musical chairs in the garden, chasing the sun.
For now, I've moved into the living room - the coolest room in the house - to keep Lizzie company. She keeps following me into the garden and lays in the hottest part until she pants as though she is about to expire. It worries me a bit. I've got the windows open, a bunch of roses in my new (to me) enamel coffee pot and a Lavender Lemongrass candle on the go. I've got washing on the line and the house is getting properly aired with windows flung wide open. Dinner is going to be homemade burgers with sweet potato wedges and salad, followed by homemade honeycomb ice cream. Life is good!
This is my first summer working for myself and being my own boss is still a massive novelty. At the bank I could've been sitting in a meeting in London, Leeds or Edinburgh right now, not wearing a swimsuit in the garden and floating around with my glass of pop chinking ice. One word: wahoo. Of course, I need to exercise a little discipline too. If the good weather continues I am still going to have to set aside some time to photograph our new products and of course daytime is essential for nice, bright shots; I can't wait until the sun has gone down.
We sat outside last night with all of the outdoor lanterns lit and the garden looked magical. I think people tend to mainly buy lanterns in the winter but they are so perfect outdoors on a dry evening. We have been working on the garden a little this weekend. I am trying to focus on perennials but couldn't resist some lavender bacopa and pale pink diascia at the weekend (the diascia I planted in apple crates last year has survived the winter and is blooming even larger than before. I'm really pleased, it looks so pretty).
The weekend was a lovely mix of housework and relaxing. We went to see Ghostbusters on Sunday evening and both of us loved it. We thought it was hilarious but I think we were the only ones who did! We were the only ones laughing for most of the film, ha!
It is weird now that we have all weekends to ourselves; Andrew's son has recently turned 18 and has better things to do than hang out with us at the weekend. It is great to see him all grown up and doing his own thing but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the nights of Mario Kart and Parks & Rec binge-watching! (I don't miss the early Sunday mornings of dinosaur top trumps and leaving the house at stupid-o-clock to get to a theme park before the crowds.)
I'd better crack on and get my work finished for the day so that I can get back out into the sun. I am starting a monthly newsletter for the Little Green Door and if you sign up you'll get free stuff, discounts and special offers. I just need to work out how to add the 'sign-up' button to my website*.
Have a great week, friends.
Nicki
x0x
*edited to add: I blinking did it! At the foot of the website or on our contact page you can now sign up to receive our newsletters. You will not receive spam, I will not pass on your details to ANYONE and I will not email you more than once a month, pinky promise. You'll get a 10% discount code for your trouble. Thank you!
(PS if you have received an email regarding the loyalty scheme you will still need to sign up for newsletters please; I need your permission to contact you. Thanks everyone.) X