The sun has gone again.....

 

Last week we had sunshine, this week back to the rain again - just so fed up with this weather!

So we are making the most of the sun when it's around, and had a good walk last week whilst it was still sunny and warm.


 

The bluebells are all but finished in the woods near us, their long leaves bent over, yellowing and drooping, starting to die back.

But in their place the broom is now in full bloom - vibrant yellow swollen flower buds, with a soft scent, and beloved by the bees.

 

At times we have to stoop low, avoiding the heavily laden branches bent earthwards by the weight of the blooms, and at other times where the bushes meet and overlap across the path, we have to brush by quickly whilst trying not to disturb the busy bees.

 

The ferns are growing tall and fast, on a roll now from all the rain that has fallen this spring, followed by some sun, but they are looking very leggy and skinny - like a gangly school child having a growth spurt

 

almost as tall as Bella

 

and way taller than little Logan

 

thistles too have grown tall and thin this year (see right of picture), again as tall as Bella

 

so we have had sunshine and blue skies, and enjoyed it, and are now back once more to the rain.

 

Confined indoors again, what's a girl to do (to avoid housework) but paint!

This pretty shaped side table, picked up for a song at an estate sale a couple of years ago, was looking perfectly shabby chic with it's old cream paint, but it had lots of scratches on the top (which you can't see here) and needed just a bit of a spruce up - and I wanted to paint it in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, using my favourite Paris Grey.

 

Before, above

and after, below.
Yes, I know it probably doesnt look a great deal different to you, but it is, honest!

 

Two coats of Paris Grey, lightly sanded in between coats, and again before waxing

 

 

Then a coat of clear wax, then sanded back to the cream underneath in places, and in others back to the bare wood

 

 

 

 

Can you spot the pooch?

 

 

look at that spoilt dog on the cosy blanket!

 

in his favourite place snuggled on the sofa.

Best place to be.....put the heating on for an hour this afternoon, my hands, feet and nose were cold!
In June!

Thanks for all your comments on my last post, and Welcome to my new Followers!

Seems like I am not alone in not knowing much about the changes to Google that will impact on the Followers thing in Blogger, and also that most people are already signed up to either Google + or Bloglovin, either of which will keep us all in contact in the world of blogging, so it doesn't really matter anyway!

Bring it on! I can do change!

Have also braved the world of Windows 8 at last! (You see? I CAN do change!)
Thankfully, like some of you, I too have a clever, techy sort of hubby, and although I am pretty good with using most IT "stuff" (having once worked in the Real World for many years as an Accountant using spreadsheets and accountancy software ) and am the resident expert (oh yes) here on the wireless network and most of the software (oh yes indeed!), I am not so good at the technical setting up from scratch sort of stuff. In fact I wouldn't have a clue.


So what have you been up to this week?


Edited to add:
OK, finally found some info on forthcoming changes here and here, as per Bloglovin.

As far as I can work out,
It is Google Friend Connect and Google Reader RSS Feed that are going on July 1st. 

Google Friend Connect is where you click to "Follow" in the "old-fashioned" way (which is what I have in my side bar from when I first set up my Blog) and which is going on July 1st.

Google Reader gives you a summary of the latest posts for those Blogs that you subscribe to the RSS Feed (which I never did, preferring instead to see the latest posts from Blogger.)

Therefore it looks like you need to do one of the following to keep in contact with Blogs that you follow and who follow you

EITHER upgrade to Google + (just click on the Google + option (in the left hand sidebar when signed into Blogger) to sign up) so you have the new Friends and Circles thing

OR join Bloglovin (which is what I have done) and get a daily email telling which blogs that you follow have posted (but you need to sign up for Bloglovin, claim your Blog, and follow each blog either direct from a Blog clicking on the "Follow with Bloglovin" button if they have signed up to it, or via Bloglovin going down the list of blogs and clicking on Follow where you want to.)

OR sign up to each favourite Blog on their Blog page to be notified by email when they post, if they have facilitated that (ie be notified by email  for each individual blog when they post - but lots of emails!)

NB: Warning!
As I'm not fully aware of all the changes, please don't take what I have said here as being totally correct and definitive as I may well have misunderstood. DO check the links above to confirm this for yourselves!

And please feel free to share anything more that you know,or to correct me if I'm wrong!