Hi There,Hope you're having a wonderful summer and enjoying the glorious weather we've been having, albeit a tad windy over the past couple of days, the sun has still got his hat on!Furniture wise things have slowed done here at the moment to make time for holidays and the things that make Hope Cottage what it is, more of a lifestyle than just a business. And so we are harvesting from our garden, in the photo I'm preparing Lemon Balm leaves which I harvested earlier and dried out, this makes a lovely tea which is good for all sorts of things. In the past I've used it for nerve and deep tissue pain, but it also calms in a way that doesn't make you sleepy, obviously as with anything herbal you have to use with caution if you are taking conventional medicines as they can interact. We are also harvesting herbs and soft fruits this year, which have included strawberries, gooseberries and now blackberries, along with rhubarb.In the veg patch we have potatoes, peas, cabbage, garlic and here also we've harvested feverfew and made it into a tincture for future use (it's good for headaches among other things).Holidays this year found us camping in the Forest of Dean during a very hot week weather wise, and not a tree in sight for shade would you believe! Apparently the origin of the word forest means something other than I was expecting when I thought of a forest! It was sooo hot, happily there are no available photos of me with a wet scarf on my head trying to keep cool! but we did have a great time, if not entirely stylish!Needless to say we took camp beds, foam mattresses, duvets and pillows to sleep on as I have decided my roughing it days are over.We had lovely neighbours in our surrounding tents and our immediate neighbour Grace is a new friend. We met so many lovely people over the course of a week and as we didn't leave the forest for 5 days it felt like quite a culture shock when we eventually re-emerged.So that's some of this summer so far, loads more to tell, but that's for another day.How about you, what has your summer held so far?I'd love to hear.Love and best wishes,Jacki
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