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

[Wendy]

Great photos of Bolton Abbey.

I lov your button jug and all th eother bright and cheeery things you have in your house.

[Nathalie abi aad]

Hello lucy, love all your work, because of you im into crochet now, your colors dazzle me, can you give us a tutorial for the heart garland with the small flowers inside. Your tutorial for crochet are the best, everything looks like a piece of cake. :) Nathalie XO

[hazel]

hello, i'm a lurker come out. i love the pics and can relate to this time of year, it is the same in my neck of the pacific nw. in the us. chill in the eve, warm in the afternoon. your pictures remind me of one of my favorite book seires by diana gabaldon, who did the outlander series. i bet you know it. anyways, your pictures come right out of her book to me. love button jug too:) you have inspired me to get my hook out again. i have some squares waiting for a nice rainy day to get going again.

[Kate]

Hi Lucy, Thank you so much for brightening my days with your lovely, cheery views on life... you have helped me to appreciate the little things and become a happier mum.
Kindest regards from Tasmania, Australia
(where Spring is struggling to start...)

[Gill]

Oh how I've missed your posts. I've recently moved house and was up to my eyeballs in boxes and bags and no broadband connection either. You've no idea how your colourful posts have revived my flagging spirits. I'm so glad you had a cracking holiday and I love your purchases especially the Avoca stuff - I love love Avoca. Maybe I could persuade my other half that I am in need of some retail therapy - for the house of course.

Love and stuff xx

[Salad Daze]

Oh, what a wonderful post, so many lovely pics, and at last you have got the button jug! It looks great on your table, like it's come home! And once again I feel the urge to return to Skipton, especially Bolton Abbey! As you can see, I have finally started my blog! xxx

[Patricia]

Beautiful pictures. I love the button jug. It's so colorful. I love your pretty spoons and soaps too. Reading your blog is always such a joy. PUre eye candy!

[Claire]

I found a link to your blog again somewhere admist looking for crochet patterns (probably on Ravelry) after having found it once long ago... and I'm very happy I found it again! You have a beautiful blog, and if my home was half as cheerful and bright as yours I would be an incredibly happy woman...

[Pom Pom]

Oh, red knobs! Everything is so happy looking! We all need more color.

[Robyn]

Hi - I found your blog by chance and I have to say it is my most favourite of all blogs.

I live in Australia and I have purchased through ebay some stylecraft special dk to make a granny stripe blanket. Your UK (especially Sirdar) yarn is just divine.

You have a wonderful talent for writing and am currently reading your archives. Thank U Lucy for such a lovely blog!

[mahek]

I know exactly how you felt when you saw and purchased that button jug, I feel the same many times and right now i am feeling it when I see all the Cath kid son things , they are so so lovely , I would love to be able to own at least one piece of this beautiful stuff but how will I when we do not have this shop here in India and getting them to deliver it from there would be too too expensive.
I cant even find something similar to that in the market
can you suggest how I can get at least one piece of her products.

[Valerie Slater]

Hi Lucy, Just love the pics that you take and share with us!! We were in the Dales 2 years ago on a National Holiday but couldn't get in to the Abbey - very disappointed - so it is nice to see it on a beautiful pic tho. Loved the Dales area - was a Summer Wine trip. Looking forward to coming back and having another look - and your pics certainly keep me interested! Love your crocheting too :))

[Kate]

I love dahlias - and gerberas, and zinnias, and peonies, and anything big and bold and loud! Thank you for the pictures and commentary - we are just heading into spring down here, and looking forward to warmer weather.

[Meredithe Clark]

Hi Lucy, have just recently come across your blog (being new to this part of computers) and have to say, every time I visit I leave feeling happy, contented, creatively inspired and in awe of your gorgeous photos. Thank you so much for your blog - it cheers me up no end, even when I don't need cheering! Cheers, Meredithe

[Teje Karjalainen]

Dear Lucy, again so much wonderful photos and great post! I love autumn and here in Crete we had 1.9 first sense of autumn. I'm waiting all the nice things you are going to do now when the autumn is giving us new inspiration!Best Wishes Teje

[Louise]

Life is good, isn't it! You've got beautiful photos and tales - and lovely purchases! Hope the children get on well at school and that you grab ten minutes peace!

[caitlinbree]

Every time I visit your blog & super cute craftiness.... It makes me smile! :)

[Alice]

Oh, just look at your beautiful photo's! How gorgeous! Your holiday looks like it was so fun!

I do so adore reading your blog ...it always puts a smile on my face.

[Laurie Freeman]

Hi Lucy I enjoyed hearing about your summer holidays. Love the heart bunting will there be a turorial???? It makes me happy to see the countryside as an ex-pat in Australia I do miss the NE sometimes. I made the stripy bag from your pattern had so much fun doing it and it is admired often, thanks for the easy instructions, happy days Laurie

[Jussara Bretas]

You're just adorable!
I'm from Brazil, promote your blog, it's wonderful, I come to thrill me with his talent and sensitivity. Congratulations!
Here in Brazil, we love everything colorful, you enchants the Brazilians.
Kisses

[Michelle]

Wonderful photos, sounds like you had a wonderful time.

[G.]

Beauuutiful pictures and wow, what a choice of wonderful picnic spots! Wishing you a good start into the new school year!

[Queen of Whatever]

Isn't it strange how the little things can add such happiness...like the spoons..love em.

[Fiona]

Lovely pics today. Love the scrummy dahlias. They're one of my favourite flowers. Must be because they're around in the Autumn. I'm trying to remember but I have a feeling my Sis staying at a gorgeous cottage in Hubberholme. It was up a steep track high above the river. I think it was a National Trust one and was decorated with Laura Ashley furnishings. Gorgeous. I seem to remember the pub there was very nice. Looking forward to seeing the toilet roll people. x

[The Garden Bell]

Luc,Luc,Luc,
Where to begin... you know how I feel about your little "patch"...yeah, a patch right. it's more than just a patch. it's close to heaven with those clouds, blue sky, green grass... then you go and talk about a punnet of berries, no clue {word}...but sound yummie. then off to fish, then pick some flowers, then a button vase, then a trip to see what's up in the bath, then C.K., then to new soaps, then some hookie flowers, then red knobs on the cabinet, then a peek around the hobbit house, then some more fun new goodies.... I'm exhausted. Way too much too early...can I borrow one of you blankets, I seriously need to take a nap to remember all this in my sweet dreams.

FYI-Thanks to Little B, I googled, doodle...what a can of worms this opened....

tOOdles,
T.G.B.