Early July

These sweet days of mid summer are just beautiful, and I feel like I need to soak up every tiny little summery thing and absorb it right into my soul. I feel a strong desire to stock pile these visual details, preserve the sights, sounds and memories of summertime in preparation for Autumn when it all fades away. My view is so green and lush right now, and every day I stand at the end of my street and breathe in the sight of it, even in the grey mist/rain that we've had of late it looks lovely. 

On Saturday morning I walked through the park with the Little People to visit our rather fabulous farm shop. It was a lovely day and we were on a mission to choose and buy some things to put a picnic tea together, it was such fun seeing what they chose and how they thought our picnic should be. We came home with a full bag - pork and apple sausage rolls, garlic stuffed olives, Italian salami, cherry tomatoes on the vine, fresh crusty bread, eggs to hard boil, a punnet of strawberries, chocolate chip cookies. J wasn't particularly keen on the picnic-in-the-park idea, but I showed him the chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and reminded him that all he had to do was sit on a blanket, eat yummy food from a plastic plate and drink wine from a plastic glass. What's not to like? Besides, the Little People were sooooooooo happy about the idea of picnicking, he didn't stand a chance really. 

It was lovely, with that particular quality of summery light when the day starts to gently fade and early evening creeps in. It was round 8pm in the above photo, Little Lady and I lazing on the picnic blanket at the top of the hill chatting about this and that, whilst J and Little B ran round after a football. 

We found a new place to walk at the start of the month, a little bit of an accidental discovery. We were driving around familiar lanes in the Yorkshire Dales (J and I, one Monday lunch time) looking for somewhere quiet and scenic to enjoy a bit of a picnic lunch. We had food and drink, I had my crochet, he had his Kindle, and we had in mind that we might spend a few hours partaking in some pleasurable idling with a view. We saw a sign for Grimwith Reservoir and on whim J swung the car off the road and up a teeny lane to take a look. Turns out that it's rather picturesque and has 4 mile footpath running around the whole perimeter. So just like that we abandoned the idea of hooking/reading and took off to walk instead. I happened to be wearing flip flops at the time, and as I always feel like I could happily walk miles in them I decided to give it a go - turns out that I did just fine.

The following Saturday we went back to the same place, this time with the Little People. They moaned a little and said it was boring (four miles translates to just under 2 hours with Little Feet) but you can't win them all can you? On the plus side, I found some gorgeous pheasant feathers and indulged in my summer grass fixation. Very lovely grasses grow plentifully around Grimwith, in case you are ever in the area and fancy checking it out!

Talking of grasses, I discovered the beautiful work of artist Hannah Nunn just recently - do go and feast you eyes on her blog and have a look at her stunning photographs of summer grasses {here}.

The clouds were pretty spectacular on that day.....

.....ganging up on the horizon and looking rather spooky and unreal (these are Lenticular clouds which we see quite often up on the hilltops here in Yorkshire)

I added the pheasant feathers to my mug on the mantel, which doubles up as a nifty kitty amusement device. I'm sure you can picture the scene - she is very adept at extracting individual feathers which she carries proudly around the room as if she hunted them down in the wild. 

We are devouring punnets of strawberries at the moment (well not right at this very moment as I've run out), we eat these ripe sweet fruits on homemade museli for breakfast, with lunch, after dinner and many times in between. Interestingly, if I were to offer up a lowly apple as an after dinner Pudding Option, the Little People would look at me as if I'd grown two heads. But if I present a plate of chopped strawberries, they descend like locusts and forget to be disgusted that I've given them fruit for pudding instead of something "proper".  Works a treat, every time. Some of the fruits we are getting are massive, and can easily please three children.

Not a lot happening in the vicinity of the back yard just now as I keep forgetting to water the pots. I've got some slightly wilting herbs and some rather leggy lavender plants which are hanging on in there, but my best success at the moment is the clematis which is flowering really well this year.

I love the colour of the petals against the blue of the sky....

....and I'm enjoy a few blooms on my table too.

Isn't lavender just so very summery? I do love it for that.

This past week has seen quite a bit of rain fall here in my patch - I'm NOT complaining (my peas are happy! And the countryside is lush!), but it has made flip-flop wearing a real no-no. There have been pretty rain droplets caught in the Alchemilla leaves though, which never fails to delight me every year.

Awwwwww Tilly, you sweet and naughty little kitty cat! She is soooooo exasperating at times, so deliberately attention seeking and Diva-ish, but I love her ways all the same. My Summer Harmony blanket is growing so beautifully and I fall a little deeper for it's colourful charms every day. More on that journey soon.

My Daffodil socks are coming on nicely too and I'm loving the very stripyness of them. The yarn is inspired by the daffodil emblem used by the Marie Curie charity - more details here.

This picture is to remind me that amongst the Summer sunshine and picnics, the colourful yarn and flowers, the ambling walks and jaunts, there has also been quite a bit of quiet stay-home recovery time for us just lately. On Thursday last week, Little B went back into hospital to have another operation on his hand. He had his first op back in November 2015 which was partially successful in that his left thumb was fine and dandy but his right thumb refused to be fixed first time. It's been tricky for him at school during this past year as he's right handed, but we are hopeful that the operation has worked OK this time, fingers (and thumbs) crossed. It's not always easy doing this parenting thing, and I admit I've felt the strain of it this past week.

Thank goodness for yarn and crochet - total feel-good therapy and stress relief right there in that bag.

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Comments

[Brenda Cupryna]

I wondered if that was a west Yorkshire Spinner yarn as I am sock knitting too with one of their very similar yarns. Think I will have to add to my stash!!

[Kathryn Ashe]

I had to look up "punnet" in the dictionary. Punnet: a small, light basket or other container for fruits or vegetables.

[Camilla Sjölander]

It is so nice to read about your walks. I always start to plan visiting UK and Yorkshire when you write about them.
I recently finished my version of cottage blanket, if you want to see it I wrote about it in my new blog (it is in swedish but google translate maybe will help you).

Best wishes for you and your family, and I hope you will continue to have a great summer.

[Zorana]

Wishing Little B a very speedy recovery! Hugs from Bosnia

[Eilidh]

I'm just wondering if that sweet little rabbit creature on your mantle is going to be the creative project at Yarndale this year? as I noticed the woolly sheep made an unobtrusive appearance there last year before they were officially launched!

[mrs. smythe]

Hoping Little B is feeling much better and that that the surgery is a complete success this time. As an aside, I love your beaded flip flops in the Harmony blanket pic. So fun!

[Denise]

Beautiful photos Lucy makes me quite home-sick, there is nothing like an English summer.
trust little B will soon be enjoying his holidays.
I am very excited as my Summer Harmony Blanket wool arrived yesterday such beautiful colours, how prompt the wool warehouse are.
Now all I have to do is learn to crochet !!

[Carole]

Love your photos and stories on your travels. Makes me think of beautiful Yorkshire.
I don't crotchet but my aged mum does and loves what you make.
Your blog reminds me that with all the troubles in Europe at the moment - England still has some wonderful untouched places.
Having been born in UK and live in Australia - your photos are a constant reminder
Home is always home. Thanks!

[Debbie]

Do you still get to spend time in your Connievan? Havent seen any updates on your cute little caravan.

[monica bermann]

Praying for little B.´s thumb. He ´ll be fine. And a hug for you and your hard moments. Kisses from Argentina
Moni

[Jacquie]

Wishing Little B a successful and speedy recovery.
Love all your pictures, and your latest blanket...what can I say. It's almost too delightful to be true.
Jacquie xxx

[Angela-Southern USA]

First and foremost, sending L.B. wishes for a speedy and successful recovery. We've had a very wet summer this year but we're not complaining after last years drought. The reservoir looks like a great find! The socks are coming along beautifully,and such cheerful colors! I've turned the heel on my latest pair. Speaking of flip-flops I saw on-line where someone took only the soles of a pair and poked holes along the edges at the sides and around the heel and crocheted them into a pair of sandals, now my youngest wants a pair. lol The blanket is looking lovely!!! Have a great weekend Lucy!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Eleonora from coastal crochet]

Just gorgeous photos as always Lucy... love the unusual clouds and the size of that strawberry -WOW! Yes, thank goodness for yarn and crochet... :) xx

[fadenspiele]

Wow, those strawberries are gigantic! And it's funny that you call dessert "Pudding", I never heard that before! :)
Big hug from Austria! :)

[Claire B. (Bingley)]

If you visit Grimwith Reservoir again, let me recommend the Cafe at nearby Stump Cross Caverns. Massive home made scones, banana bread, carrot cake etc :-) The Coldstones Cut Viewpoint at nearby Greenhow Quarry, also worth a visit. The big swirling metal signs tell you how far you are from major cities around the world.

[Janette Surtees]

Such a delight Lucy, reading your posts. Lifts the spirits - your descriptions of countryside, landscape, weather, family life, food, and of course crochet. Praying for a speedy recovery for little B's hand. Thank you.

[Linne]

Love the photos; you make me feel as though I'd been there myself, Lucy. I'll keep Little B on my prayer list for a while. Wishing him (and you and the rest of the family) all the best. Beautiful blanket; wish I was working on one just now. And the daffodil socks are so sweet, too. I remember when we had pheasants in this area, but I haven't seen one for a long time. Too many people, I suspect. How nice that you collect feathers and take cloud pictures as I do the same. I'm especially partial to raven and crow feathers, and eagles' too. Nice to see you are having some good days and enjoying summer. Picnics are lovely, aren't they? stay well, Lucy. Warm hugs to you. ~ Linne

[Chy]

Sending Little B many healing vibes! X Chy

[witloof]

Best wishes for a very speedy recovery for little B!

[Laura Gabriela]

Love reading your blog, Lucy.

[One-oh-four]

Lovely pictures - sounds like you are determined to make the most of July. Hope Little B recovers OK. You mentioned hayfever in a previous post and I meant to comment to say that we dread the summer months and being outdoors - 3 of us suffer badly from it, and antihistamines make us feel almost as bad. So this year we have ditched the Piriton etc. in favour of Prevalin Plus - no drugs in it, and you just squirt it up your nose in the morning and again at lunchtime - it is AMAZING although it does feel a bit weird at first. It has been quite a revelation!

[Teresa Kasner]

Lucy, I did not know that Little B had to have hand surgery! I'm so sorry! I hope it all gets sorted out and he's able to use his hands comfortably. Your new blanket colors are eye-popping and wonderful. I'm glad to see you enjoying your project. I also enjoyed the countryside views, too. Enjoy your Summer! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Susan Smith]

Hugs to Little B & hope it's gone well this time. Did you notice that one of your clouds in first sky photo actually looks like a feather? Tea-time picnics have never been my hubby's thing either, but lunch, yes. Not far from you is another place you may like near Timble, also with 2 reservoirs (Fewston & Swinstey), with walks, although we didn't go very far as it started to rain & our coats were in the car,so a mad dash back & to picnic in a shelter, which are provided near the car park. Thanks for the lovely post & yummy Yorkshire pics. I think I'll pop a couple of feathers I've found into a nice container too. Take care.

[Jenny]

Thank you Lucy lovely post ,always enjoy your colourful journey hope little B is on the mend ,lovely blanky. to cuddle up in take care love Jenny xx

[Margaret Simpson]

Lucy, you always make me happy when I read your blogs. Yorkshire has a place in my heart. Lots of very happy memories of my childhood spent there. Thank for 'jogging' my memories. 😊🇦🇺