As a kid, I remember playing in the sprinkler at my grandparent’s house. My grandfather would have the sprinkler out anyway, religiously watering the lawn over the hot summer months to ensure that it stayed thick, lush, and green. I vividly remember that bright green lawn of rye grass and how it contrasted against their yellow house. My grandparents were proud, fastidious gardeners, ensuring that every blade of grass, every azalea bush was trimmed to perfection. Their front lawn and house a picture postcard that implied a perfect life full of sunshine and sparkles.
The gardening gene? Well, that didn’t get passed down to me. It’s all I can do to regularly cut the grass (which is really 90% weeds) and pull a few weeds. I’ve experimented with a bit of gardening this summer by planting a little herb garden but even that’s not looking too healthy these days.
But playing in the sprinkler? Now that’s something that I can appreciate. Our English summer has seen lots of hot sunny days and since last year’s paddling pool sprung a leak, the sprinkler became the best way to cool off outdoors. His favorite thing to do with the sprinkler? Pick it up and chase me with it. Lucky for me, he never figured out how to pull the hose out longer allowing me to easily outrun its showers.
Please continue around the blog circle to see how Melissa has been enjoying the great outdoors.
i now know this is why I run, why would you go to a gym when you have this? + and it’s free + and it’s the best feeling in the world to get up and go exploring + these moments of solitude with mother nature are precious and make me feel alive + yes, I stop and take photos on a run, because I’m not training for the Olympics and sometimes you’ve just got to stop and appreciate the now and the wonder around you + running along the Southwest Coastal Path is certainly more treacherous than around my neighbourhood + the dramatic coast of 
a day spent in Padstow + leisurely peeking in shops + walking around the harbour with my ice cream cone + sitting in a corner table at Rick Stein’s Cafe + salt & pepper prawns steamed to perfection + could not resist the fresh berry roulade in a shop window + lots of reading in the Tranquility Space + finishing two books + Nachos!
home to the little man + always nice to catch Stonehenge with a drive by + new robots to build + bedtime stories + lots of hugs and kisses
