This one is Cosmopolitan, planted last autumn and now flowering for the first time:
That is obviously the beginning of my collection and there are many more "babies", potted cuttings, who have found all their way from the North and whilst they make new roots they wait now for a new home. Not all conditions in the garden will be suitable for phlox - that's what I learned so far. They adore to have wet-ish feet and if they are placed in full sun, they will fade quite quickly whilst most phlox does like semi shaded positions. 
After a very dry and hot summer, there is not so much in bloom but the vegetable garden offers plenty of delicious surprises. Zucchinis/courgettes are extremly productive and I will run out of ideas what to do with them. The bread made with courgettes is delightful and moist and a few round ones have grown now, they are going to be stuffed and baked in the oven (courgettes farcies). The first ever beet roots were harvested and we made Borsch, EG always comes home crazy about the Russian Borsch and finally HE did it! It is very tasty and filling. A lot of veggies can go into that but to be honest, it was a bit hot for such a meal.
Finally, the turnips have been harvested for the very first time, as well. They were stuffed and baked in the oven, a very tasty veggy meal, as well. I never knew turnips before, they seem to be very British - I even did not know what turnips means in French (navets) or German ( Steckrüben). 
My days were filled with looking up Mango recipes. EG's business friend from Pakistan is so kind and sends every year mangos. Half of them are sent to the UK to dear MIL and the other half arrives here. A half represents 24 mangos ;-) and it is difficult to find enough good ideas how to eat them. A classic one is chicken with mango and two very delightful ones are mango tiramisu and upside-down-cake (tarte tatin) with mango and pineapples. I will use the last ones for making chutney - with courgettes? ;-).
A lot of time was spent making cards, as there were so many brithdays. Also a Thank You card for the wedding invitation was sent. We are going to Scotland in September and EG will have a good reason to wear his kilt again. So much to look forward to!
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To my big surprise, EG recently decided to open one of the garage's door and have a go on the Jensen. A start! Crossing fingers now that this car is going to be able to move and to breath fresh air one day. :-)
An afternoon was spent in Aubel, visiting again the Val Dieu which was initially called Val du Diable until the monks came and allowed the place to get a kinder spirit. The old brewery is now privately owned and the whole place and abbey is run by 15 people who try to preserve a maximum and they themselves live further to the spirit of the Cistercians. On the second picture from the left is the sign of St. Jacques de Compostelle as the abbey is on that way were the pilgrims go all the way to Spain.
Between all this, the brocantes/fleamarkets were visited and I enjoyed "my Liège" in a very quiet atmosphere as so many people had gone for holidays and there were no jams to travel down town and no fuzz to find a parking space in the near distance. So I went window shopping :-))) No, not that one---
The first lot of windows was of good size and I could carry them in my car. The "bonus lot" was two much bigger sized frames with engravings of ornaments on the frosted bits, for free. Eventually my dealer found 7 others which are not frosted but carved on the top in a gothic style. He explained that they were initially foreseen to decorate an art gallery. The 'Lion Freehouse' is now in the hacienda whilst the other wait for a decent place of revival.
Last but not least, this old sewing machine base wanted to come with me and it can sit outside all year as it has a marble top. Some of the old fleamarket finds have been restored, the lamp is now used at the entrance of the wood shed.
Das Leben ist herrlich.
La vie est belle.
La vida es maravillosa.
