Easy Summer Days

Hellooooooo! We are back home again after a fulsome and very enjoyable jolly in Connievan last week, boy it was certainly fulsome! I'll be uploading my holiday snaps in the next day or two to share with you, I'm looking forward to doing that very much.

The past few days have been spent easing back into our lazy summer routine at home after all the activity and hectic-ness of last week. It feels rather wonderful and luxurious to wake and greet each day with a blank schedule. No timetable, no appointments, no arrangements. Just me and the three Littlies hanging out at home.

After a rather wet and dismal weekend, today has been super-duper here in my patch. Stunning blue skies, warm sunshine and a breezy breeze. Perfect for doing Easy Things and making the most of outdoors.

This morning I took my coffee and snook out to the back yard, bare foot and still in my jammies, tiptoeing quietly out the kitchen door away from the children. The morning sun was creeping into the yard through the gate, it was a wonderful, sneaky little bit of me-time. Those quiet sunny moments alone were very much appreciated I can tell you.

Once my coffee was warm in my tummy, I went about my daily chatter with my flowers. Oooooooo the glorious orange of the marigolds in my hanging basket really made me smile! Can't normally grow marigolds in the back yard as they are prime fodder for the sizable slug and snail population, but in their hanging garden they are safe.

And my sweet peas have finally begun to flower too, I was so excited to see them there at the weekend. I am completely over my fear of cutting them, in fact I mercilessly cut them the instant they show any sign of petal. Snipetty snip and indoors they come, I am so addicted to the smell of them, I just have to have them right there under my nose.

I'm so very proud of my little ink bottle garden posies, so proud that these delightful flowers have come from My Very Own Garden!! Every year I bring in these small but precious little handfuls of flowers and love them to bits. Like really love them in a totally over the top way. I can't get enough of them. I sniff them and admire them and want to somehow eat them up. They're just sooooooo beautiful!

I screech like a Mad Thing when Little B climbs onto the table and pulls them all out and tries to drink the water from the bottle. Uh-huh, it happened. Twice. The climbing-pulling-drinking-screeching. Followed by precious re-arranging. Twice. Gosh. Calm me down. Tell me, do you think I am a nutjob?

Breakfast on these lazy, easy summer days happens as and when. As and when the Little People realise their little tummies are empty and grumbling. I've started bringing in their brekkie things on a tray when I make my morning coffee, then leaving them to help themselves as and when they are ready. It's all a bit sloppy really, but they seem to like it this way. They like pouring their own milk and seeing how much sugar they can get away with administering. They sprinkle liberally when I'm not looking, I just know they do.

I do eat breakfast with Little B though, we eat together every meal. He is pretty good at feeding himself now, just needing a little help with scooping or stabbing, depending on whether it's a spoon or fork job. Today he had mashed banana with warm ready brek, yum yum. He opens his mouth ridiculously wide to accommodate the spoon, it makes me laugh every time.

Ahhh I just LOVE being home in the hols with my Little Peeps, I really do. I love them so much. Their simple requests, their happiness when they are granted their wishes.

Little Man says Mum, can I make myself a honey sandwich?? Yeah, sure, go right ahead I say. He punches the air with a happy Yeeeessssssssssssss, delighted at the prospect of extra food between meals. Happy happy.

Little Lady says Mum, can you paint my nails like you did last holiday, with red and blue nail varnish?? Yeah, sure, why not. Lets do it. She rushes upstairs to my bedside drawer to get the little drawstring bag which contains my modest nail varnish collection. I have five bottles :: pearly white, pink, red, peacock blue and clear with glitter. Happy happy.

All three Littlies have been treated to new wheels this week. Little B has this new plastic cart that he pulls and pushes along and it's proving to be a huge hit. It only cost a few pounds from the supermarket, it had some sand toys in it with a dinky little red spade and watering can (strewn across the back yard now I think). He doesn't like to put anything in the cart mind you, he insists on keeping it empty but he appears to love it very much.

The Little Peeps both have new scooters. High excitement. Little Lady's scooter broke last week at the caravan site so we bought her a replacement which she is very happy with. Little Man has a Birthday coming up in a few weeks so we treated him to his Hearts Desire and bought him a much longed for JDBug scooter. He has not been separated from it since, and is more than happy with it.

We head to the park almost daily now, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. You can see the Little People scooting down the grassy slope look, fast tracking their way to the swings. We often take other children with us from the street too, whoever's about and wants to come along really. I had 5 of them with me this afternoon, and it was fun! Once I got over the heart-in-mouth nervousness of watching the boys tackle the ramps and slopes in the skate park on their scooters, I had fun! Honestly!

In between the business of mothering my brood, I am amazingly managing to carve out little snippets of me-time. The past few months I've had no time or inclination to stroll in Magazine Wonderland, for some reason I just haven't wanted to sit and read at all. But like a parched and dehydrated addict who's not had a drink in a fair while, I've been totally indulging in recent days. I think I've read about five magazines cover to cover, one after the other. Three issues of Country Living and two of Country Homes, with one still left to go. It's been wonderful!!! So much visual lovliness and sparkling inspiration, quite overwhelming at times, but oh so good for the Creative Spirit. I remain Addicted, no question about it.

It's late in the day here now you know, eleven pm. I am riding on caffeine (tut tut) and feel like I could sit and chat with you pretty  much all night, but really I do need to sign off and go to bed. It'll be a 5-6am start in the morning and although the days are easy (ish) and lazy (ish) they are still long.

But I've had such a lovely day today. Full of sunshine and breezes, kids and friends, play and chatter. Easy summer days filled with nothing in particular. Just the way I like it.

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Edit to add :: for those not in the UK, the breakfast cereal the Little People are curently devouring is Weetabix. It was my fave brakfast as a child too.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Pom Pom]

Thank you for clarifying Weetabix for us Americans! It DOES look delicious!
I love reading your rollicking song of summer!

[Kim W]

Oh Lucy!
so glad you are back! Happy you and your family are safe and sound. I can't wait to see the pics. Yours is one of my favorite blogs.
Kim

[ktmade]

Oh lucy, what a delicious post. it made my heart happy. and as always, made me long to spend some afternoons in England. Thanks for posting.

[Sarah]

Not a nutjob - well, not unless I am too, as the climbing-pulling-drinking-screeching-rearranging sweetpeas has happened a few times here as well! Love your blog - thank you for sharing!

[Caroline]

You sound so happy in this blog. I too love the easy-come-easy-go-edness of the Summer holidays although I can't believe they will all be back at school in 3 weeks time (too soon). My girls are suddenly into reading and we have had countless trips to the bookshop to buy the next book in whichever series they are reading and I love books and don't mind buying them. Bizarrely have been doing exactly the same thing with my magazines as you - have stored them for months like a squirrel not having a chance to devour them properly and now am taking my time with a cuppa and tearing out the pages that inspire me - LOVE Country Homes - wish it was twice the size and youngest son has discovered the delights of Lego finally at 4 years old and is absorbed building all sorts of unrecognisable objects and edifices chatting away to himself all the time. Fabulous!

[Anna]

Sounds like you had a "fantabulous" day!

Mine are all grown and gone now, some with littlies of their own, but yes, I do recall those beautiful summer days of mothering bliss.
May you have many many more.

Regards, Anna

[Kate]

Make the most of childhood summers- they grow up so fast....scooters,possibly the best Summer Holiday toy ever invented.

[sarah hine]

Watching the news and feeling depressed at what is going on in our country I find you are back. Immediately my mood is improved and a blustery day made summery. Soo looking forward to the next hooky post loved the cushion. PS if you email your address I am keen to replenish your nail varnish stock!!!A little thank you for the lovely blogs.

[Louise]

So lovely to see the flowers in the hanging basket again! Here in Texas things are so dry! Even our bushes are dying from too much sun. Enjoy the rest of your summer! You just keep making my day!

[krista - Poppyprint]

What I love most is that you take the time to sprinkle a chocolate star on your morning coffee. Enjoy your remaining summer days!

[Liz Cumbo]

You eat three weetabix!!! No wonder you're so creative :)

[Margy]

As an avid reader from "the States" I appreciated your explaining the
breakfast cereal! :)
Thanks!
Love your pictures, especially of the flowers....

[Kezia]

You manage to perfectly capture the essence of these beautiful summer days! Love your blog:)

[Marian]

Aaah...this reminds me of my childhood summers growing up in Norway...lovely read :-)

[Elaine]

Simple pleasures are indeed the best, something a lot of people seem to have forgotten in these busy times is how to just sit and watch the world go by. Glad you are finding time to stop and smell the roses, well the sweet peas anyway :)

[Allyson]

Ah holidays! How I envy you :)

I'm so glad your'e getting some me-time. Richly deserved, I reckon!

Aren't kids just precious? It takes so little to make them so happy. I often wish more adults were like that :)

PS Over here in Australia, we call them Weetbix...and I used to COVER mine with sugar too!

[Nanaofnc]

Pretty lady, thank you for sharing your joy in the little everyday things of life. Thanks also for telling us what was for breakfast; this American thought you were having meatloaf for breakfast! Continue to savor and enjoy!

[Holli]

I love following your blog. I find your entries peaceful and inspiring. You have such a sweet family. I had to comment on the Weetabix. I am from the US, but I have been eating them for years (15 at least, maybe more). There are a few stores here that carry them. They are delicious! My girls loved them growing up. A favorite. Have a good day!

[Donna]

I love reading your life in photos. I check here every couple days craving a new post from you. So entertaining and colorful. Thanks for sharing.

[julia]

Isn't it lovely, to have the little ones at home and just potter with no time limits or anything? I'm loving having me wee girl home with me, pootling here and there, making stuff, sofa snuggling, late nights (ooh yes!) and baking bits and bobs, it's very relaxing!
Look forward to pics of your holiday, sending you love
Julia x x x

[Donna Marie]

Lucy life sounds lovely, lovely. Happiness is certainly to be found in such simple things by the bucketload, or attic load! And now with 2 teenagers . . . one made his own breakfast - a free-range egg and his own home made bread and one hasn't emerged from the quilt!

[Tickety-boo]

Ah perfect Summery and sunshiney holibobs! can't beat it. It's some of my strongest memories of being a child and I hope it will be the same for mine. Glad you are getting some me time too or you end up burnt out and hoping September comes quickly and term begins!
Love that image of Little B opening his mouth extra wide for the spoon :) I bet his eyes go really wide too when he does it.
Enjoy the rest of the hols!
Love
Tickety-boo
xxxx

[PotterJotter]

Love your blue skies pictures and I can almost smell those sweet peas - a gorgeous smell - one of my favourite flowers.

[anne@andamento]

Lovely skies in your photos.
We're on our last week of the school holidays, boohoo!
I've forgotten to plant sweet peas these last couple of years, will definitely do better next year, it is lovely to be able to bring in flowers from the garden.
Nice that you're back!
Anne.

[Serendipity]

Welcome back. I used to love our caravanning days when the girls were small. Glad you're making the most of it. Before you know it they will be teenagers who would rather be with their mates :( xx