Sunflowers encore

The small front garden of a pretty cottage in Shoreham (kent) village was full of bright golden sunflowers.

We had our first long walk since the beginning of july, as it has been too hot to do any rambles. It was 20C and felt quite cool but ideal weather for the walk from home to the Mount Vineyard.

It was very busy there with people waiting for available tables. We got a bottle of their Flint Key white wine and sat outside in a quiet spot by the pond . We have seen the vineyard change over the years. Originally it was run almost as a hobby by the then new owner. Now it is a bustling and thriving business. Better for them I am sure, but not for us as we preferred it before the commercialisation and the price increases that followed. That said, it is a lovely place to stop after a beautiful walk through the Darent Valley.

We had coffee and teacakes in a recently renovated tea room in Shoreham . I loved it's vintage style of decor and the coffee was very good .

A good walk back home stopping off to taste the strawberries in the polytunnels and pull up some huge dandelion leaves for the chickens. They are being spoiled at the moment with their 5 a day fruit and green veg. Their eggs are very tasty.