Reasons to be cheerful in the rain

There is colour in the garden, but the days seem colourless at the moment.  We need reasons to be cheerful along the theme of raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, pink and fluffy kindness to raise our damp spirits.

                                        
                         
I've been able to use my beautiful pink dotty umbrella which my friend gave me for my birthday, there is no need to keep up the fake tan as it is not warm enough to bare the legs and the water bill will be cheaper this year now we have no need to hose the plants.

Our wine consumption is very much reduced compared to previous summers, there have simply not been the opportunities to enjoy balmy evenings in the garden whilst sipping our way through a cold bottle. And now I think I've come to a halt on ideas, so I've made a colourful lunch to cheer the day, with a naughty treat of unsalted butter on my baguette.

With a drizzle of the rapeseed oil  which I discovered at Hampton Court Flower  Show
and sprinkled with garlic oil.  Finished with a few leaves of Greek basil which
has a much stronger aroma than the larger leaf variety.

I think this grey atmosphere is causing a very unsettling feeling.  I can't focus on any work today, so I'm going to do some dressmaking and keep an eye on Andy Murray's semi-final match at Wimbledon. I'll find a length of fabric from my vast material stocks and make a summer dress to greet the day when the warm sunshine arrives!