Oh what a difference the weather makes, we have been basking in some beautifully warm, glorious sunshine the past few days and it has made everything seem so happy! I was trying to think what the opposite of Droopy might be (ie the title of my last wet post full of misery) and Perky was the first word that sprang to mind. How happy I am to declare my current perkiness!
Yesterday and today has seen us spend a lot of time outdoors doing perfectly perky May things, and it's been such a relief to let go of all the weather-induced resentment. We've been eating outdoors, picnicking with friends in the park (that's my new little picnic lunch bag there, I am quite smitten with it), and generally just spending time sitting around soaking up the sun rays. I kind of felt like my internal battery had run flat and I was desperate for a bit of solar power to recharge and feel energised again.
Last night at eight o'clock, I strolled up the back streets on my way to Tracy's house. The light on the hills was so pretty, they were lit with a sweet rosy glow that made my heart squeeze. I thought to myself :: ahhhh this is more like it! This is precisely what May Evenings should look and feel like! Pheww. I'm so glad May has sorted itself out a bit, I was feeling proper cross with it last week.
I usually meet in the local pub on a Monday night with a lovely group of yarny-minded friends, but occasionally circumstances mean that it's easier to transfer the location to one of our houses. Yesterday we met at Tracy's house, which we are always mighty pleased about cos Tracy's house is rather gorgeous and special. Plus she makes her own homemade garlicky hummus for us all to tuck in to, not to mention great slabs of homemade cake. I had the delicious experience of drinking Pimms whilst eating almond slice and hooking up roses, it was a rather unexpectedly lovely combination.
The banter was happy, the munchies were super and the hooky time was great too. It was a lovely, relaxed, sociable and productive evening.
I came downstairs with Little B this morning at about 6.30am, and as I walked in to the living room I was completely bowled over by the light. My house is currently in a huge, disgraceful mess (been a tad lazy of late with the ol' Home Blessing stuff), but the sun made it all look so lovely. Even the piles of plastic toys looked good bathed in golden light.
I treated myself to a bunch of flowers today to celebrate the return of the sun. A really gorgeous, vibrant bunch of Scented Stocks with their incredible sweetly spiced scent. They are sitting on my dining table and I can smell them now. So beautiful.
My plantlets have really put on a growth spurt in the past two days, and it made me realise that it's almost Pot Time. I usually wait till early June before sorting out my back yard pots and planting them up with annuals, and I can't wait to get going with it this year. Need to visit my lovely Plant Man and get my usual haul of geraniums and lobelia (my favourite summer pot combo).
When we returned home from toddler group at lunch time today, the temperature had really soared. We were in the mid 20's I would say, oh it was such a treat! Little B and I ate our lunch together outside, then I got busy with providing some sunshiney outdoor entertainment for him in the form of an underbed storage box filled with warm water. What fun! He stripped his clothes off and leapt in, it was such a joy to watch him play. He was in a complete frenzy of excitement at one point, squealing and splashing and frolicking around, I sat and watched him and laughed out loud at his antics. Sweet boy.
I've really enjoyed the past couple days (can you tell?), it has been so warm and blissful on the domestic front. All rather ordinary I guess, but satisfying and very happy nevertheless.
I'll have a Ring o' Roses blooming for you tomorrow, don't think that's been forgotten. Looking forward to a bit of pretty Ta-dahing, see you then............
❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀xxxx❀
I just recently discovered your blog and I am hooked. You have a wonderful way with words and the way that you speak of your children is beautiful. We went away in our motorhome for the weekend to a local campsite and all I could think of was your wonderful colorful little caravan and how much work I need to do in mine to get it half as homey as yours. Keep up the beautiful work. Take care.
Posted by: Eileen Collingwood | June 18, 2012 at 02:33 AM
I'm glad to hear that the weather has improved, enjoy it!
Posted by: Lianne | May 25, 2012 at 08:46 PM
I got the giggles reading this!! I'm in Australia and we're just on the way to winter. So today I was shivering, freeeezing cold. It was the first "rug up, put wool jumpers, scarves the whole shebang on...."
Wanna know the temperature? Mid 20s!
Isn't it wonderful that living in different areas, we get so used to our weather that we can experience it so differently? Never ceases to amaze me!
Posted by: Zara | May 24, 2012 at 05:21 PM
Ah, we had a bit of sunshine a few days ago, but now back to Spring rain and cool weather. It is the Pacific Northwest and to be expected, but sure would be nice to have a little sun too.
Lovely photos, as always, Lucy. Love your writing.
Posted by: elsa | May 24, 2012 at 02:58 PM
I've just been away for a few days and took a suitcase of warm woolly clothing...so pleased to be home and in a cool linen dress and sandals...crazy and sudden ( but welcome) change in the weather!
Posted by: Kate | May 24, 2012 at 02:46 PM
I love your world Lucy--your town, your friends house, your house, your new lunch box ---to mention a few...and smart mamma using an under-bed box for an impromptu pool for little B...it always makes me smile the way babies and toddlers love to play in water.
Posted by: Dinahsoar | May 24, 2012 at 12:38 PM
So happy your sun is back! Unfortunately for me, I think what you are enjoying at the moment is what I was enjoying last week! Let's hope next week the sun decides to get big enough for us all! ;)
Posted by: Jennie | May 23, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Yes I do remember when I lived in England, how glorious sunny days in England were. It made me decide te be extra thankfull for all the lovely sunny days we have here in Cape Town. Enjoy it nothing beats England on a sunny day
Posted by: Sonja Mizen | May 23, 2012 at 08:59 PM
Glad you are felling more "perky", the really does lift your spirits doesn't it. Lovely post, I love your lunch bag and those stocks are divine, bought some myself at the weekend, pretty pink and cream and they smell divine. Have a great week. Elisa xx
Posted by: Elisa | May 23, 2012 at 07:43 PM
It has been a beautiful few days, need to make the most of it! Your yarny group sounds lovely, cake and alcohol, now that's a suggestion I need to make to mine! ;)
Posted by: idiosyncratic eye | May 23, 2012 at 07:32 PM
Everything looks so lovely there with the sun. Isn't it amazing how much better we feel when the sun shines. I'm living in Victoria, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and the day is overcast, windy and raining, so not much gardening for me. My lettuce that I planted last week however, is doing very nicely. I think it likes the cool temps.
Posted by: Heartsdesire | May 23, 2012 at 06:31 PM
I have a request! I am having my 4th child in Novenber. I am excited because this time, I have the opportunity to crochet some fabulous, unique items for baby. I didn't have the opportunity to before, because I had triplets & by the time I would finish a project for all three, the season would change & my little ones wouldn't have the occasion to wear them. For this baby, I would love to crochet a colorful cocoon. Have you created or sketched out any designs for these interesting little things? I am in LOVE with these little cocoons, but I have yet to see a pattern I want to duplicate. You have such a beautiful, colorful, artistic vision for crochet, & I would love your perspective on creating one for the baby-on-the-way!
Posted by: Tabbitha | May 23, 2012 at 05:32 PM
Glad you are feeling perky now.....I think all that rain made everyone and everything rather droopy! What a difference some sunshine makes....your post is so bright and happy. I love stocks too, just beautiful!
Helen x
Posted by: Helen Philipps | May 23, 2012 at 04:41 PM
Can`t wait for the Ring o` Roses tomorrow. Yay!!
Love Carole from Rossendale xxx
Posted by: Carole | May 23, 2012 at 03:47 PM
Can not remember how i found your blog,but i love it x
Posted by: joy | May 23, 2012 at 03:33 PM
Sounds nice!
It's chucking it down like anything here in Sardinia for the third day in a row, poor tourists I say! The weather has been pretty much the same since march, strangely cold for us! So no picnics for us. That lunch bag is soo pretty! I used to have a group of yarny friends back home (we called it academic sewing club, since we all had PhD's, mostly engineering or scinece, or were studying for it.), oh the happy days! Although knitting and crochet are getting more popular, for some reason the trend hasn't yet landed on our island.
Posted by: suvi | May 23, 2012 at 03:06 PM
You said the weather was in the 20's and I thought, OH MY how cold! LOL. That's what I get for living in Cleveland Ohio, USA haha! Glad that you are having some beautiful weather to enjoy! Can't wait to see the roses.
Posted by: Angie | May 23, 2012 at 02:52 PM
I'm so glad your Spring arrived! I was feeling a bit guilty with the gorgeous weather we've been having but then you'll enjoy your summer and I'll be in the house with the ac full blast as it gets really HOT here in the summer and humid.
I wish I could get that picnic bag as it is too cute. I love it! All the things you pick out are always so pretty.
That's so cute about little B...it brings back such fond memories of my little B who's now a Big B with a little B of his own. I finished my ripple blanket which was just supposed to be a throw but it almost fits my double bed! I got a little carried away but I so enjoyed doing it.
Now I get to pick out a new project!!!! So exciting! This time something small with almost instant gratification.
I visited Patchwork Chickens and now following her too. I sure wish I could join your group. It sounds like so much fun. Enjoy your Spring and all it entails!
Posted by: Sandra Licher | May 23, 2012 at 02:51 PM
Oh dear lucy, you're so happy, ablaze, restless. I'm so tired... and I have only one litlle boy! I realized then that I'm in depression. And you're help me ever.Your blog is a inspiration to me. I'm so lonely, feeling as the last human in the Earth. Nothing is important to me more. But I have the crochet (it fell me better) and I have my baby. I need feel this power, I need to be strength to counter so much unhappines. I only want to thank you. I would like to be like you...
Posted by: Ana | May 23, 2012 at 02:36 PM
Sounds like a lovely time!
Posted by: kara | May 23, 2012 at 02:19 PM
We are very perky here too, hurrah for the sunshine FINALLY reaching Yorkshire. The school run is so much more enjoyable when it's warm and sunny.
Posted by: Gillian | May 23, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Oh you are so lucky! I went to take Noodle for a picnic yesterday only just as we went to walk out it just started pouring rain. It has been gloomy and icky here for days. But at least I got alot done in the garden without getting my usual sunburn :)
Posted by: Christina | May 23, 2012 at 01:38 PM
So glad the sun is shining on you.
What a lovely evening at Tracy's you had - great company, great food and great yarn - what more could you want! Did Tracy show you the bag she won in my giveaway?
Looking forward to seeing what colour roses you buy this week .....what about yellow (my favourite!)?
Keep Smiling
Fleur xx
Posted by: Fleur Cotton | May 23, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Ohhhh!!! I love your post!! THANKS Lucy!!
Hugs,
Martina.
Posted by: Martina | May 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM
it is amazing how the weather can affect one's disposition. I am also glad that the weather has changed here in Germany. I was just writing over on my blog how I too feel recharged by the weather. Funny how it seems to be a common tendency.
Posted by: wooni | May 23, 2012 at 09:44 AM