I'm delighted to be sharing these pictures with you today, it's made me so happy just looking back at them and remembering the wonderful evening they were taken. They provide a really sweet little window into the past, a snapshot of a sublime evening at the end of May. I remember this day so vividly! I remember how hot and busy the day had been (it was a Monday). I remember the happiness when my friend suggested that we move our evening pub hooky to her back yard to take advantage of the gorgeous weather. I remember the marvelous anticipation of a warm, relaxing evening spent outdoors in the company of good friends. I remember the excitement of going to the supermarket to purchase a bottle of Pimms and a punnet of strawberries for the occasion.
I've been to Tracy's house many times before (I showed you a snippet of her beautiful home a few months ago), but I had never been in her back yard before. Her yard is small like mine is, but it is very much fuller than mine is. Walking in through her back gate was like walking in to a perfect little oasis of verdant beauty and calm. So much greenery! Trees and shrubs, herbs, flowers and vegetables grow in abundance, spilling out of pots, growing up the walls and fences. It honestly took my breath away, it all looked so beautiful on that hot, early summers evening.
Tracy had created a beautiful table setting for our crochet evening. Her old garden table had been draped with a beautiful vintage table cloth, and was dotted with lots of little old glass bottles filled with pretty flowers from her patch.
This allium was particularly stunning, what a marvel of nature it is!
As well as the floral element, there was a scrumptious edible element to the table too. A plate of the sweetest sun warmed cherries, dishes of plump, shiny olives and fat little stuffed red peppers. Bowls of incredibly moreish handcooked crisps. It was all so lovely!
Now on a hot summer's night, there is a definite need for cooling liquid refreshment wouldn't you say? Pimms had been declared the liquid of choice, oh sweet joy as I adore this drink!
This was the first of many glasses that were poured that night, what a beautiful sight hahaha! Now just in case you don't know about Pimms, let me give you a little information. It's a very British drink, gin based with a secret mixture of herbs, invented in London in the 1850's. The traditional way to make it is in a large jug, 1 part Pimms to 3 parts lemonade. Add some crushed ice together with chopped strawberries, cucumber and orange and a few sprigs of fresh mint. Pour into glasses and enjoy.
I have such great memories attached to this drink. Because you make it in a jug, it begs to be shared with friends. It's easy to drink, summery, fruity, refreshing. And it has magical Laughing Properties. Oh yes indeed.
There were seven of us sat around Tracy's pretty summer table that night. With the exception of Heather, I taught all the others to crochet, and so my friendly little hooky group was formed. We've been meeting on a Monday night for over two years now, and I absolutely love the sociable mix of crochet and chatter, laughter and yarn, beer/wine/pimms/tea and creativity. We share a love of yarn and crochet, but also many other aspects of our life, particularly the precious Mothering jobs we all have. It's a fun group, lighthearted, warm and friendly. On this particular night when the air was so warm and the pimms flowed so freely, oh my goodness did we laugh! At one point I honestly thought I would turn inside out, my tummy was squiggled into impossible knots of laughter. It was five solid hours of absolute fun and merriment. And do you know what? I sat and rippled until gone midnight when the stars came out and I could no longer see the stitches in the dark.
I've been thinking a lot about sociable crochet recently, about the huge importance of it in my life. I marvel at how much the direction of my life changed when I was persuaded to go and purchase that 3.5mm stick of metal and start sticking into some loops of yarn!
Tomorrow I've got a very exciting story to share with you. Please come and join me for "Sociable Crochet : part II"??? I'll pour you a glass of Pimms!
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Pimms, strawberries, cherries and friends? Sounds about perfect :)
Posted by: RainStorm | July 04, 2012 at 09:33 PM
O Happy Days!!! Companionship, crochet and quaffing Pimms....sounds like sheer bliss. Thanks for sharing your lovely night with us Lucy... I hope you have many more! XX
Posted by: Amanda | July 04, 2012 at 09:38 PM
Sounds idyllic
Posted by: Julie | July 04, 2012 at 09:39 PM
What a perfect evening for you all. We could certainly do with a few more lovely evenings here in the UK to share more evenings like this with friends. Thanks Lucy for sharing such lovely memories.
Maggie x
Posted by: Maggie | July 04, 2012 at 09:40 PM
Oh wow, I wish I lived nearby, what a beautiful evening....look forward to seeing part 2
Lol Karen x
Posted by: Karen | July 04, 2012 at 09:41 PM
Oh I am looking forward to sitting down with a virtual glss of Pimms & rading your next post..
Cheers!
Lx
Posted by: lydia @ Twelve | July 04, 2012 at 09:47 PM
Oh Lucy pleasant evening, when you tell the events of your day you have the ability to transport people in your place and make them live that you're living, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Maria | July 04, 2012 at 09:51 PM
Lovely! I so envy you having a group to crochet with, maybe I need to start one??
I look forward to part 2 xxx
Posted by: Rachell | July 04, 2012 at 09:54 PM
Sounds idyllic Lucy, we don't have many summer nights warm enough to enjoy outside in our neck of the woods so it was good you were able to take advantage of the lovely evening. Looking forward to part 2 :)
Posted by: Linda | July 04, 2012 at 09:55 PM
Jealous! And not much chance of a similar evening with the weather as it is - will just have to make do with the pimms!
Posted by: Maggie Cawthorn | July 04, 2012 at 09:55 PM
Can I bring my knitting please?! :)
Posted by: idiosyncratic eye | July 04, 2012 at 09:55 PM
I feel just the same as the previous commenter, and I notice we share a similar name! I'm just not sure about teaching crochet to other people. Maybe one day. Looking forward to part II
Posted by: Rachael Iddon | July 04, 2012 at 09:56 PM
It all looks so lovely - I can't wait to read Part II! Beyond nosey.....!
Posted by: MsZeb | July 04, 2012 at 10:03 PM
There is a group of gals that I hang out on Thursday nights. We have dinner and knit and talk for hours. I love this me time. Sounds like you have lots of fun this your group as well!
Posted by: Barbara | July 04, 2012 at 10:04 PM
5 hours! I'm impressed and wondering if you could still take focussed photos for part 2?
Ellie
x
Posted by: Ellie | July 04, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Oh lovely. I do adore pimms too!
Posted by: Eleanor | July 04, 2012 at 10:05 PM
I did get a few ladies together to teach them to crochet but in the end they were just not interested. I have such a passion for it and these women apparently did not. My sister and another friend are really in to crocheting so at least there are some people who treasure this
wonderful craft.
Posted by: Delena Johnston | July 04, 2012 at 10:10 PM
....and can I pop over with my quilt? What a lovely post, Lucy; I treasure my 'stitch and bich' friends too, and the hours we spend chillin' in each others' company. I too enjoy an odd glass of Pimms -it's the quintessential English summer drink, isn't it? Now all we need is the flamin' summer!
Posted by: Lynne Gill | July 04, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Sounds great, I'll bring a big summer fruit trifle! Eagerly awaiting the next instalment and wonderful photos! Have been enjoying your blog for a while, I'm from your hometown originally so love seeing the pictures and getting homesick (in a good way!) Have sent your blog link on to my mum who now lives abroad, just know she'll love it as much as me! You're so right about the importance of social crochet - I tried following so many patterns in books and on the internet when I wanted to learn, but only when I sat with my step-mum for a whole lovely afternoon did I 'get it' and crocheted my first granny square!
Marg x
Posted by: Marg | July 04, 2012 at 10:17 PM
It looks like a fantastic evening....and what great memories to treasure especially when the evenings are so gloomy and wet at the moment...it seems a lifetime away since our last warm summer evening.
Looking forward to Part 2!
Fleur xx
Posted by: Fleur Cotton | July 04, 2012 at 10:24 PM
That sounds utterly delightful - looking forward to part two!
Claire
Posted by: Claire | July 04, 2012 at 10:27 PM
You have found a perfect combination of friends, crochet and refreshments. Enjoy !
Posted by: Elsie_h_99@yahoo.com | July 04, 2012 at 10:27 PM
You're so lucky to have a great group of friends to hang out with. You kind of remind me of the group of women friends in Sally Godenbaum's Seaside Knitters Mysteries. Except obviously you crochet, and don't solve murders!!! But other than that...
Looking forward to tomorrow's post.
Posted by: cate | July 04, 2012 at 10:30 PM
Oh Pimms! I'm in! My favourite drink too, made even better when drunk with friends in the sunshine, bliss! Here's hoping for plenty of Pimms opportunities to come. Can't wait for Part 2.
Posted by: Claire Jackson | July 04, 2012 at 10:31 PM
You can add me to your list of learners because I only ever succeeded by following your instructions and photos!! x
Posted by: CANDICE | July 04, 2012 at 10:34 PM