Second Sunflower

This is the second of J's sunflowers to open. It's darker coloured than the first, with a very red central area and bright yellow tips to the petals. The seed was a pack of mixed colours, so it's exciting to see what appears.

Today has been fresher outside, though the house is still quite hot. Today's greatest pleasures have been starting to read Ali Smith's Summer, the last of her seasonal quartet, on the balcony with my coffee, and immediately feeling drawn into its world and chara; Ps Ajo Blanco, iced soup made with cucumber, almonds and garlic, for lunch, and seeing the summer pudding I made yesterday turn perfectly out of its basin. It tasted good too.