Picnics and Pretty-things

 

The first day of September today, and our Summer holidays are officially at an end :: back to school tomorrow for the Little People. The past few days have been really lovely here, both the weather and the little things that we've done as a family to round up the holidays. The change of season is very noticeable now, the shortening length of the days, the slight chill in the air, the incredible light. I took the above photo this morning, gazing out of the attic window into the sunrise at 6.43am, it really honestly took my breath away for a moment. And do you know what?? I just had a quick trip back into my September archives from last year and had a little chuckle to myself at the total sameyness of my life year on year....look at my attic view on 1st September 2009, and note the time, teehee!!

We've been making the most of being out in the countryside these past few days as we are being blessed with the most glorious late summer weather here in my patch. Yesterday we decided on a last minute jolly to Bolton Abbey for a late picnic lunch. The landscape is looking glorious, the distant hills turning purple with the heather already.

The early afternoon sunlight was magical, and the air was warm as we walked.

This river beach was our picnic destination, and the Little People were very excited at the prospect of river paddling and tree climbing to accompany their lunch.

Isn't the beach amazing? It's proper sand, just as you would find at a seaside beach, only instead of the sea, we have the river and the view of the old Abbey. Oh, and a lovely grassy bank to sit on beneath the shade of a big tree. It was blissful.

 

This morning we had the toe curling business of buying new school shoes, so we weren't organised enough to go anywhere for lunch. But as the weather seemed almost too good to be true, we decided to head out mid afternoon with a picnic dinner instead. We drove right up into the Dales to a favourite picnic spot of ours :: beside the river in Hubberholme (you can read more about this place here)

 

It was glorious. We spread out a blanket on that warm flat rock up above there and lazed about for a while, enjoying the heat of the sun on our faces and the sound of the babbling water. Well that's to say that J and I did, oh and Little B too, we three are very good at lazing. The LP, as you well know, do not sit or laze about. Good heavens, how silly to think that they might! No, they run, leap, paddle, throw stones, build dams, construct twiggy sailing rafts, chase ducks.

 

All that riverside activity made us hungry and we ended up eating quite early. We generally picnic very simply :: fresh crusty bread, goats cheese, cherry tomatoes, apples. A punnet of sweet strawberries and some left over birthday cake (Little Man turned 8 on Monday), washed down with apple juice/tea. It was absolutely wonderful.

 

The above photo was taken today at 5pm as I was drinking a mug of tea and nibbling cake. Oh, and indulging in a little bit of riverside hooky....

 

...yes, I did manage to make four little flowers, gosh how industrious!

 

Travelling back down the dale on our way home, J suddenly swung the car into a lay-by and declared that he wished to go fishing. We were at a little spot by the river that he remembered from his own childhood where he knew for a fact that it was exceptionally good to catch bullheads. And as we happened to have the fishing nets in the car, that was it :: he and the Little People leapt out and went forth to trap fish. Little B and I stayed in the car to do a little bit of dribbling/chewing/babbling and some crochet, which I was more than happy with. We had the car doors open, and I sat looking at this wall for ages...such beauty and craftmanship and history in these old dry stone walls, I had to take a picture to show you. Love love love them I do!

Hanging above the dry stone wall were these tree branches laden with berries...I do believe that Autumn is peeking around the corner isn't it?

And talking of Autumn, it's the season for my absolute most favouritist flowers from the market ....yaaayyyy it's DAHLIA time!!!!!!!!!!

I bought myself two bunches from the market at the weekend, I was hugely excited to see them looking all exuberant and showy in their pavement buckets just the same as last year. Oh my heart was going bump-bumpety-bump carrying these beauties home!

The dahlias are sold as very long tall stems tied up with brown string, but really I prefer to have them much shorter when I get them home. I like to chop a lot of the leafy stem off and bunch the flowers altogether in a jug of some sorts.

Dahlias just have to be put into a jug, there's no other way.

They are simply not vase flowers in my humble opinion.

It has to be a jug.

Something pretty and bold.

Something like this perhaps???

 

Ahhhhhh-HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes, The Button Jug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I finally got the delightful Button Jug that I have been lusting over for months on end (remember me mentioning it in this post back in April?), I am so happy! I spotted it in the shop window of Fuego in Lyme Regis last week and that was it, I just knew it had to come home with me. I simply could not walk past and leave it behind. Wonderful, super-duper, heart-skippy stuff for sure.

A few dahlia blooms made it upstairs to my bathroom windowsill too, they make me smile every time I nip in there.

Something else in my bathroom too look............

 

....there on top of my bathroom cabinet........

 

......thats my new Cath Kidston washbag that I bought in York the other week, plus two beeeautiful soaps that came home from Dorset along with the button jug. I can't tell you how wonderful the soaps smell, in particular the rosy one. I keep yanking them down and inhaling them, but can't yet bring myself to open them cos the packaging is so damn pretty.

Both the jug and the soaps are made by the same Irish company Avoca, which I am quite in love with.

Just one more thing to show you, well two things actually, that were part of my little itsy-bit of Retail Therapy...two pretty little melamine spoons. For stirring my morning coffee in a very pretty way.

Ahhh spoons and jugs and soaps, such Deliverers of Pleasure! I do love my new purchases very much indeed.

And on that happy note, I shall say night-night, it's all gone dark and I am nearly ready for the rosy pillows.

Will be back again soon with a quirky little TRP Ta-dah. Hope you hadn't forgotten about them, the Toilet Roll People?? They are waiting patiently for their moment.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Katy]

I love the view from 'attic' central, one reason to be up at that hour! I also love your retail purchases. Goodbye Summer - Hello Autumn :)

[joan]

hi i have just come across your blog and i love it. Could i ask where you live?
I am in South Yorkshire and it's great to read a(english)blog like yours thanks for sharing
from just joan

[Nancy]

Lucy, thank you so much for all the lovely pictures that you take and post of your homeland--I'm unlikely to be able to see in person (we're in California). Appreciate the bit of history, also. And of course, I enjoy seeing your colorful home and crochet! And I'm really grateful for your clear and detailed tutorials--making gorgeous things!

[frou-frou]

That button jug is soooooooooo gorgeous. I have rather a large and obsessive button compulsion! I'm sure its not healthy!! And the soap - well I can imagine how it smells just from the name! Enjoy it! Fi x

[Annemieke]

Beautiful pictures! Really nice that you can enjoy all those places so close to your home. Great things you bought too. I visited the Avoca website and there were lots of beautiful things to see and to remember. Tried out your ripple pattern and was very excited when it turned out right!Hope to start a blanket.
Thanks for the tutorial,
Groetjes
Annemieke

[Jo Child]

I love the melamine spoons; they are just so gorgeous!!! Love Bolton Abbey too; I originally came from Leeds so I am familiar with that neck of the woods; many happy picnics I have enjoyed there. Crocheting some granny square armcaps for my felt tip adorned sofa atm, then I'm going to have a go at your lovely jar covers, and a cushion cover in granny stripe methinks. Crochet is so good 'cos you can do it whilst breast feeding. Lol.
Thanks for an awesome blog.
Jo

[Renata]

Que lugar lindoooo!!!Tô vendo que vc já esta nos presenteando com mais um de seus trabalhos maravilhosos!!!Amo suas fotos!!!Que Deus abençõe vc e sua família!!!Bj gde,Rê.
Campinas/São Paulo/Brazil

[Tilly]

Will you ever use the soap? It looks too good to open. And where did the spoons come from, they're lovely!

[Sandi Lee]

Oh Lucy, how I love your blog, I so look forward to reading it. We are now into the second day of Spring, it is 7.15am and the sun is shining today. Yesterday it was grey and raining. I do so love spring and the not too hot summer. Happy birthday to your son, I am sure he had a wonderful birthday. Loving all the photos and your retail goodies. I would be doing the same if I had my own home.
Happy, happy days for the little people off to school.
Hugs Sandi xx

[nicoletta]

♥

[Kris]

Greeting from USA....I love that you get such enjoyment from the surroundings in which you live. Such lovely places to skip off to and have a little picnic!
Love the soaps and goodies!

[Lisha]

Lucy, thank you for giving me a lovely start to the day. I just got out of bed (it's morning over here) the sky is grey and dreary and it's the second day of spring for us, and here I see a most wonderful post about all things that I love about your part of the country. The green fields, the Abbey, a trickling river, the heather, a little crochet and of course dahlias, one of my favourite Autumn flowers.

I also love seeing the colourful little bits and pieces in your lovely home.

Thank you.

Lishaxx

[Anne]

Lucy you have such a lovely blog, so cheerful, happy and down right gorgeous. I love your retail therapy bits and pieces and that button jug is to die for.
Your ventures into the countryside look like so much fun. With those fab photos showing us just how beautiful your spot in the world is. Thank you for sharing.

Anne xx

[debbie]

Thanks for sharing all the happy skippy things you bought on your holiday! I love the glimpses into attic 24 and seeing that everything is NOT magazine perfect! Makes life so much more interesting.

[Joyce Stewart]

Great photos Lucy....and you want to be in the Avoca shop in Belfast - I could stay all day in it....what about a little jaunt over to Northern Ireland next year...bring Connievan.....great sites on the North Coast. Love the button jug...love anything Sarah Raven anyhow. Best wishes to all the schoolgoers.

[Kyle]

I love your blog! I've made many of the crochet projects that you have on it.

[kathleen]

Hi!
I so love reading your blog, and you seem to be buying all of the things I have been coveting - especially the button jug. I just wondered if you'd seen the Avoca shop in York?! I went to York with hubby and kiddies last week and it seemed pretty new. It was pretty close to the White Company, Cath Kidston and the like - one of the little cobbled streets anyway. I loved the blankets in there and may have to ask Father Christmas very nicely! Beautiful clothes too.
Kathleen

[Darlene Garner]

As always, love your blog. That button jug is to die for - I might have to start browsing around for one. (like I really one), but oh well. Enjoy your cheerful words and beautiful pictures of the countryside.

[Heather]

ahhh Luce, your super lovely post has just made my day. so full of beautiful colour and happy thoughts :-)
My laptop crashed and burned this evening, cue muchos drama (and inability to access important internet savings account for important massive spending...) which just topped off a bad day. So thank you for your happy lovely post, it really has cheered me up loads.
I hope to see you really soon (should everything go to plan etc!)
Lots of love as always, Heather xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[kathleen]

I just looked, and it was actually a NESS shop, but had the button items, and other avoca things, but all the same a beauuuutiful new shop!

http://www.nessbypost.com/cm/Ness_YorkStore.htm

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy today in this part of the country
has been delightful. I love this time of the year! Had early morning tea with a friend of mine at 7am this morning. She works round the corner from where I live and came to visit me as she could not get in to her place of work until 8am. The day just continued with little surprises; a telephone call from work to say Ihad an extra day off work! another visitor and an invitation for a special celebration. A perfect day!!
Sarah Raven still has the button jug in her catalogue as well. Like the look of your crochet project.
My best friend from home(the Cotswolds) had lots of dahlias growing in her garden as her father was mad about them!
Lets hope tomorrows weather will be just as sunny.
Love Sarahx
PS Look forward to seeing the toilet roll models!!

[Dot]

Ah Lucy such a lovely sunrise there, and all those lovely shopping goodies, arn't you the lucky one? can't waite to see the toilet roll people ! x

[Kate Bruning]

It's not the big purchases that make us happy is it. Soap and jugs and spoons. Heaven!

[Ximena]

Hermosas fotografias como siempre!
Saludos desde Uruguay
Xime

Beautiful pictures as always!
Greetings from Uruguay
Xime

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Just look at the colour of that heather on the hills, brilliant!!
You would be very excited Lucy, if you visited the Avoca shop in Belfast. I could quite happily move in and live there it is so gorgeous! :)
Vivienne x