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!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
beautiful post, very nice pictures, and lovely good news
Posted by: Tic Tac To | June 29, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Good to have you back.
Cakes made before breakfast..I hope one was also FOR breakfast,quality control is so important!
Herbs looking good- fresh picked herbs are yummy,just the scent of them outside as you brush them in passing gives so much pleasure.My sweet peas are taking their time too- perhaps we shall get a bumper amount of flowers late in the Summer.Fingers crossed.
Don't worry about toys staying out,or rabbits not having ears...time for snuggles is so much more important.
A large hug for you and your Mum.
Posted by: Kate | June 29, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Glad to hear your mum is OK, what a wonderful summary of the june!
Posted by: Lianne | June 29, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Glad to hear you and your Mum are doing OK. Thinking of you all lots. Look after yourself.
Posted by: Meredithe | June 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM
What a gorgeous haven you have. And glad to hear good news on your mother. x
Posted by: Victoria | June 29, 2011 at 09:56 AM
I have been following your blog for over a year now and find it touching and inspiring. I have never left a comment before - and thank you doesn't quite cover it ... but thank you! I am so glad that your Mum is a little bit better.
Posted by: Gaby | June 29, 2011 at 09:53 AM
I so look forward to reading your posts. They are so cheerful AND colorful. You never disappoint.
Glad your mum is hanging in there. As you said, one day at a time.
So... until your next post. Take care.
Posted by: Donna | June 29, 2011 at 09:36 AM
What a beautiful view you've got!
I love your warm and cozy pictures of funny socks en colorful crochetworks, makes me smile everytime!
Lots of positve energy is coming your way from Holland, I'll be thinking of you and your family and hope you'll all have a great summer!
Posted by: Mevr. Snoeshaan | June 29, 2011 at 09:35 AM
Happy to see you again, and SO happy that your mom is getting better!
Really LOVE your everyday photos!!!
Wishing you all the best! :-)
Posted by: Pauline | June 29, 2011 at 09:32 AM
I love the way little man has posted some toys INSIDE the fire guard! My youngest used to do that too! He's all grown up and doing very well at uni now, so that must surely be a good sign of future greatness!!! x
Posted by: Jayne | June 29, 2011 at 09:20 AM
So great your mum's recovering! I do hope you can find the time to rest a bit... Love the pictures of your back garden and the little rabbit :-) Take care, Lucy!
xxxxx
Posted by: Nanita | June 29, 2011 at 08:45 AM
So glad to see you are feeling up to posting again. Thoughts are with you about your mum.
Take care.
Posted by: Liz | June 29, 2011 at 08:35 AM
I was really glad to hear you are all doing ok. Littlies are VERY good at keeping us busy and ensuring our minds are otherwise occupied!! LOL! As for tidying...why bother? As you say, it's all ready for them again the next time they want to play....a very kind and considerate act in my book!! Hee hee! Cx
Posted by: Catherine | June 29, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Good morning, Lucy! I am so glad everyday life has become more everyday lifish now that your Mum is doing better.
I am with you on the mindless tidying side of mothering and I too wonder if I should be picking things up a little less but, to be honest, the clutter addles my already addled mind so. It's the sweeping under the highchair every mealtime that gets to me. Chuckle, chucke.
Have a lovely summer week.
Posted by: Stephanie | June 29, 2011 at 08:22 AM
So pleased your Mum and you are doing ok. Oh isn't it bliss to have some warmth and sunshine again, I was starting to think we weren't going to get one. My my my you are having early starts!!!! The things us Mummy's do.
Love
Tickety-boo
xxxx
Posted by: Tickety-boo | June 29, 2011 at 08:19 AM
So nice to hear that your mother is OK. And Little Man baking, and such pretty cakes. Very impressive! Glad that things seem to be almost back to "normal" for you and your family. As always, your photos are wonderful!
Posted by: Carol | June 29, 2011 at 08:11 AM
oxoxoxoxox
Posted by: Mihaela | June 29, 2011 at 08:07 AM
So glad to hear your Mum is doing ok. Phew...you can catch your breath now. Lovely post, as always, sweet Lucy. Hugs, xxx
Posted by: Tina, the quiet homemaker | June 29, 2011 at 08:00 AM
Love the mossy/mouldy wall. Too hot & dry in RSA for that. I'm trying in a shady corner of the garden!
We also had cupcakes last night, with the stars, and small pearly balls. Will bake cupcakes every day if my boys could, they'd just love that!
Best wishes for you and mom, been there.
Posted by: Christelle | June 29, 2011 at 07:44 AM
So glad to hear you Mum is doing OK. You sound much happier.
Love those little rabbits!
Posted by: Penny Peberdy | June 29, 2011 at 07:38 AM
So happy to hear from you Lucy! Sounds like you're having a wonderful Summer with the little people. That's what life is all about. Enjoy it while you can.
Hugs XX
Barbara
Posted by: Barbara Moore | June 29, 2011 at 07:36 AM
Hi Lucy,
I came over your blog in the last days and I love it! I like so much the vivid models, full of colors and joy!
I am also a mother of 3 kids, staying home for the moment and enjoying my knitting and crocheting hobby.
This is my blog http://paturicipentrupitici.blogspot.com/ ("paturici pentru pitici" means aprox. "little blankets for kids"), and I was wondering if you would want a link exchange.
I intend to translate some parts of my blog, so everyone can understand a little bit, but for the moment it's all in pics. :)
Thanks and I am glad I discovered your blog,
Iris
Posted by: Iris | June 29, 2011 at 06:58 AM
I smiled in recognition at the bit where you use Google and your blog as a little but of a brain extension - very useful! Happens round here too!
Your rustic wall is the most perfect photo prop.
And I had a 5am-er too and you are so right - the only way to stay sane is to embrace it. The good news is at the ripe old age of 10 he now has to be shoe-horned out of bed.
Posted by: Ali | June 29, 2011 at 05:58 AM
Yes indeedy you are a great mummy. Sometimes we sweat the small stuff, Little B will soon be grown and toys won't be an issue anymore. I Loovvee your back yard with all your pots of flowers and herbs, so pretty and your chipped mossy wall. I must make your fish cakes they sound delicious. I am racing along with my granny stripe blanket, I have done over 100 rows and I LOVE it so much, so once again thank you for sharing your pattern. I'm thinking ripple next time. Great news about your mum, take care one and all.
x Sandi
Posted by: Sandi Lee | June 29, 2011 at 05:40 AM
*phew* so nice to hear all is well with your mum and a relief to find this post here this morn, knowing all is well with you. thanks for sharing the lovely photos!
Posted by: heidi | June 29, 2011 at 05:06 AM