June 2011

8.38pm and I just this minute legged it up two flights of stairs to go take in the evening light. GORgeous, isn't it just?? My June view is looking lush and green and typically mid-summer after rather a lot of mixed up sunshine-and-rain this month. We've had a lot of wet weather of late. Oodles of it. But today has been bright and golden and gorgeous and I've loved feeling the heat of the sun on my face as I went about my day.

My June calendar has a lot of scribbles on it. Mixed up dates (I keep getting things ludicrously wrong), cancelled appointments and re-scheduled visits, forgotten birthdays. But here we are almost at the end of the month and it's not been so bad really. We've muddled and we've scribbled and we're nearly through. Tweet-tweet-tweet, aren't those little fabric June birds sweet?

My Ideal Home calendar hangs by my desk and I find the images so restful and calming, such a pleasure to gaze at day after day. I look at that picture and I think to myself, oh yes, I remember our last house where we had an expanse of lawn dandelion infested grass, and how lovely it was to set the table for an al fresco Summer meal, to sit and eat whilst feeling the cool twiddle of grass between bare toes. I don't have a lawn any more to twiddle my toes in, but neither do I have to hold heated debates with J over who's turn it is to get the lawn mower out.

 

No lawn then, but oh I am enjoying my weeny walled back yard this year! My pots are looking fuller by the day, the wet weather has certainly been good for growth. I'd still like to have a lot more greenery out here (I'm fancying some big oversized tubs to grow small trees and bushy-leafy things), but for now it does very nicely. Morning coffee, a quick lunch, a glass of something chilled in the late afternoon, I'm really enjoying my time spent out here.

That funny old wall with it's chipped render and green mould has really grown on me this year. I was all for painting it and sprucing it up last year, but am glad now that I left it be.

I've got lots of geraniums on the go at the moment, a mixture of upright ones and trailing ones. The above flower has just bloomed for the first time this week (it's one of the trailers sitting in a pot on top of the wall), and oh my the colour is magnificent.

My sweet peas are a bit slow/late in getting going but that's ok. I'm really looking forward to them, I bought some old fashioned variety that supposedly has amazing scent.

This little blue bench thingy sits right outside my kitchen door and brings me a lot of pleasure I have to say. I've got mint, chives and flat leafed parsley growing here, and I absolutely love love love stepping out with a pair of scissors to snippety-snip a little something to go in the cooking. Today I made sweet potato and smoked mackerel fishcakes, with fresh parsley from right there. They were yum. I had to chuckle to myself, nipping to my desk, firing up my laptop and Googling "Attic24 Fishcakes" in order to find and recall my own recipe. Bloody marvelous thing this blogging you know.

In the sunny part of my back yard I've got thyme and rosemary growing, lovely little snips to go with garlic roasted veggies. I'm trying to eat as healthily as I can at the moment, trying to resist the (alarmingly powerful) urge to combat stress by comfort eating all manner of sickly sweet but hugely desirable foodstuffs. It's working to a point. I'm eating an awful lot of fruit. I really wanted to show you the amazing ripe cherries I bought from the market at the weekend (deep red glossy fruits in a beautiful blue-glazed mexican dish, a fantastic photo opportunity), but by the time I got my camera I realised that I'd eaten nearly all of them. There was rather more mexican bowl than fruit. Only six cherries left actually.

I've been keeping very busy this past week or so, busy doing the things that need doing around here. Taking pleasure in piling, hanging, pegging, un-pegging, folding and re-piling. And sniffing of course. Lots of laundry inhaling been going on, it calms my soul to inhale the scent of sun-dried and freshly laundered cotton articles.

Mid summer, and I dug out my snuggly winter socks last week.  My feet have been feeling cold, especially in the early mornings. And when I say early I really do mean it :: Little B is waking up his bouncy little body shortly before five ay-em most mornings. I went through a spell last week of really wholeheartedly resenting this fact, my-my but I was getting my knickers in a twist over these enforced early starts. Not so this week. I'm taking a different approach this week and am embracing the 4.45am starts, bringing Little B downstairs for some lovely sofa snuggle/playtime before the rest of the family awakes. The ripple blanket has been such a comfort on these mornings, I love it's instant warmth and cosiness, it's quite the perfect blanket to have hanging around the place.

One of the things that has not been happening much in recently weeks is The Tidying. Quite frankly, I simply cannot be bothered to do it at the moment, it's such a thankless task. When I stopped to think about how many times each day I was putting Little B's toys back in that basket there it was mind boggling. I seemed to be continuously stooped over tidying things up, only to find them slung back on the floor minutes later. So now I just leave it, and hope no one trips over and breaks any bones. The upside to this messy existence is that when Little B begins his toddling day at 4.45am, his toys are all ready and waiting for him right where he left them. What a Marvelous Mummy I am!!

Little Man is an early riser too, not quite in Little B's league, but usually around 6am or so. This morning he decided to bake and ice a batch of buns before breakfast. Uh-huh, before breakfast. I don't know if this is freaky-abnormal for an eight year old boy, but I don't much care, I love that it happens. Very much so.

It's been such a long time since any hooky business appeared here in the Attic, and for that I really am sorry. I have been hooking away quietly in the background, but haven't managed to find time to share all that I've been doing. Right now in my bag is a lovely stash of bamboo/cotton yarn and a few little animals. I'm making some crochet toys to sell at a summer fayre in a few weeks time, but so far the sum of my efforts amounts to two finished rabbits plus the head (minus ears) of a third so I'm not doing very well really. I promise I'll share more yarn and pattern details when I can find time to photograph and write, but at the moment I really do need to crack on with the actual making part.

Ahhhhhhhh my cherished Attic View (again)...see how green the hill looks now compared to the beginning of May!! Beautiful. And on that happy note I'm going to have to love you and leave you as my bed is a calling. It's not quite dark yet, but it is 10:10pm and waaaay past my bedtime.

Can I just say before I go that I am tremendously grateful for all the wonderful words and positive thoughts that you've sent my way about my Mum. I really, truly appreciate it. She's doing ok, we are doing ok. One day at a time and all that.

Lots of love....be back soon!

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Comments

[jeanie]

I love reading your posts :) Thanks!

[Christine Laennec]

So glad to see you're doing okay. As usual your post is a breath of fresh air and an infusion of colour. You certainly have a talent for making the absolute most of everything. Take care x

[Jill (Stocki)]

What a lovely post! You are such a lovely Mummy... most Mums would have a purple fit if their children started baking first thing in the morning because of the mess!! What lucky children! :)x

[Louise]

Such good news to hear your Mum is on the mend. Lovely post too, your words and photos are always so cheerful and inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing.
Take care,
Louise

[Karen]

Good to see you back. Laughing at the cherry story. Exact same thing happened in this house, mexican bowl and all! Lovely colours.

[Lori]

I'm so glad you're back. I've been checking in every day to see if everything is okay. Your positive attitude is contagious! Thank you for all you do.

[Gillian Statham]

I love to read your blog and see your beautiful colourful photos. I'm glad your Mum is improving, I have been thinking of you.

[redneedle]

I just want to say that I think your blog is wonderful. You have helped me (finally) to get over my fear of crochet and for that I thank you. Tough times with your mum at the moment, stay positive. I remember the toys over the floor, it's just like shovelling snow while it's still snowing and I'm afraid I adopted the same approach as you but there's nothing like an early morning cuddle from a warm bundle is there?

[Rialette Scheltema]

Your garden looks beautiful!

[Pom Pom]

HI Lucy! It's good to see you and your bright world. I'm glad your mum is okay! Your flower pots are lovely!

[Bonnie]

So good to hear from you. Glad you enjoying your summer, your garden and time with your family. So important and love reading about your life. Glad to hear your mum is doing better!

[Julie]

Lovely to 'hear' you sounding a lot calmer and happier, your little bunny poking out of the wool bag is adorable, they are sure to be a great hit at the sale table.

Good news mum is doing ok, that was lovely to read

[Sibyl]

Good to see you back and shiny-happy as ever. The weather has been pretty changeable, but I do like the rain sometimes. If you're indoors, that is!

4.45am?! That's it, I am never having kids!

[jane]

It's good to hear that things are going well with your Mum, have been thinking of you :)
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

[amelie]

it's good to see you Lucy :o)

with such a gorgeous post too

and i love the Miffy :3

lots of love xxx

millie

[Lisa]

I love, love, love your wall and want one just like it. Builders here in the US are trying to make things look like that. It just isn't the same.

[Louise]

I'm pleased things are going well with your mum and hope they continue to do so. Lovely pots in your yard - wonderful splashes of colour. Enjoy the rest of your week.

[katie]

Children getting up that early would be enough for me to be cranky all the time. Your positive energy reaches from there to here in the U.S. Thank you for sharing your sweetness with all of us. Even something as simple as fresh laundry can be a blessing.

[Lynn]

Glad all is doing well. We will still keep you in our prayers! Your blog is so uplifting with your beautiful pictures and words! I have to say out of all I follow yours is my favourite and It is one of the things I look forward to the most everyday! Thanks so much for it!! Lots of hugs!!!

[Emma @ Toddler Wellies]

I really enjoyed reading your post. I am really enjoying all of the seasons this year and trying to appreciate them all. Without the rain we wouldn't have the lush green lanscape that I love. My little boy has been waking up a little later recently but he will still rise at silly o'clock now and again and you have inspired me to look at it in a more positive way and embrace the time.

[Sarah A]

I was glad to see a post from you today- one of your normal posts so to speak.. It makes me happy to see you are working on normal considering all that is actually going on. I say normal in the midst of turmoil is a good thing- it helps all involved to get through the days. You are in my thoughts and prayers and nothing but good vibes being sent across the pond to you from so many. Beautiful geraniums might I add!The town I live in is called the Geranium City. Our town square has hundreds of geraniums planted and it is breathtaking some days! Best wishes to you and yours Lucy.

[Pat]

So glad to hear your Mom is doing okay. Have missed your posts and sharings. Love your little garden:) such a cozy spot for your little breaks. And love the little bunny... very cute and glad to hear you are doing okay yourself, a lovely day:)

[Fiona]

So so pleased to hear that your Mum is doing ok Lucy. Such a lovely sunny post today. You even make Baby B getting up early sound kind of lovely. I slightly dread Frederick starting to do that. The earliest so far is 6. Hope your Mum continues to do ok. Will keep thinking of her. Fiona x

[Elaine]

So glad to hear you are all doing ok. It must be a slow year for Sweet Peas as mine haven't got so much as a bud on yet! I am looking forward to seeing them though and oh that smell..........

[jo sowerby]

good to see and hear you back in blogland. it seems strange without u around. glad to hear your mum is gradually improving, we spent a month in itu with my dad 10 years ago thinking the worst, i dont know ur circumstances of course but it is hard to stay positive and in control at times. i pray ur mum continues to improve.
jo xxx