Flowers and faces and cats on postage stamps

 

The hot weather continues, and Yorkshire Water's finally declared a hosepipe ban.  Frankly, they should've done that weeks ago given how little rain we've had for the best part of three months.  Anyhow, better late than never.  

The catananche are looking so pretty, as are the hollyhocks.  

Clumps of sweet marjoram on the allotment are alive with butterflies and bees. 

That kind of makes up for the total lack of courgettes.  They need lots of sunshine and lots of water, and while the courgette plants have had the sun they've been starved of water.  Never mind, the local supermarket will have them in stock, I don't doubt, and there's always next year ... 

At home, I've finished reading 'Scarlet Town' by Leonora Nattrass.  It's a terrific read.  She's one of those authors who are reliably good, and even a couple of pages into the book I had the feeling I was in safe hands.  

Another kind of book.  I'm still working on this fabric book.  The outer cover's nearly finished.  It's very over-the-top, which is maybe why I like it so much.  

I've also been mucking around with watercolour paints.  I'm not naturally gifted at painting and drawing, but lately I've become less critical of myself.  I don't mind having a go, and maybe I'll succeed, maybe it'll look like a dog's dinner!  

These faces were fun to do.  I also made some silly cards with cats on them. 

They'd make gift tags for the cat lover in your life.  

I've also been painting flowers, trying to be spontaneous and not spend ages fretting over them.  

Finally, I treated myself to a few more die cuts, including ones that're like postage stamps.  So, I make faux postage stamps in honour of our feline friends.  No idea why one's wearing a party hat instead of a crown!  But that's cats for you.  Always the unexpected.