☀ My current late breakfast / early lunch summer food crush. A scoop of homemade museli (oats mixed with sultanas and roasted nuts and seeds) mixed with fat free vanilla yoghurt, topped with fresh fruit (banana, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate). It's not especially photogenic, but trust me it is soooooooo good to eat.
☀ Enjoying the fact that we live less than ten minutes walk from the centre of town. A few times during this past week I've needed to pop to the shops, and Little Lady has jumped at the chance to come with me. In amongst the errands and shopping, we've managed to sneak a quick cappuccino/frappuccino at her favourite town centre coffee shop which has felt like a real treat.
☀ Lots of snuggling up and watching tv/films this week as the weather has been absolutely dreadful with a huge amount of rain. Happy to report that Little B's thumb has healed very well after his surgery and we are hopeful that so long as he keeps exercising, it'll keep bending as it should.
☀ With so much wet weather, we have grabbed any opportunity to get out when we've been able. This was a late evening walk up a huuuuuuge hill, taking the giddy Little People to the Rec high up above the town to burn off some energy just before bedtime. It's a lovely time of day to be out and about in summer (9.30pm in the above photo), such beautiful golden light.
☀ During the summer holidays, we manage to keep our Creative group going at Coopers Cafe on a Friday morning. I absolutely LOVE this part of my weekly routine, and it's always pure pleasure to sit down with something happily growing on my hook/needles whilst drinking a very good latte and chatting with all the lovely friendly ladies who come to join me.
☀ My usual juggling act is well underway as I balance out the needs of the family with my own need to crack on with working commitments. I'm pretty used to blocking out the mayhem and working at the dining table, which is just as well really as I've got a huge workload right now. I'm busy organising the big Creative Community project for Yarndale which I hope to be able to tell you about this week. I'm so excited by it!
☀ We had a few Movie Nights here last week, complete with requested bowls of the stickiest, sweetest toffee popcorn for the Little People. It's been fun - we watched {this} a few nights ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the humour really tickled me, and the sound track was fabulous.
☀ The morning after movie night, and the sight of the blanket-strewn sofa never fails to make me sigh with happiness. My blankets are sooooo well used here at number 24, and that makes me unbelievably happy I have to say.
☀ So. Much. Rain. Every day this week it's rained, sometimes a persistent light drizzle, sometimes short, sharp torrential downpours. I've watched the storms roll overhead and have longed for clear blue skies. I've lost count of how many mad dashes I've made out to the back yard to frantically pull in a load of almost-dry laundry at the start of yet another a rain shower. But when the blue skies appear, oh, it feels so good!
☀ A short morning walk up into the woods yesterday morning, a gentle stroll after a couple days of not being well. I felt rather drained of energy as a result of fighting off a stomach bug, but the fresh woodland air (soooo fresh after all the rain!) was a delight.
☀ The waterfalls are usually gently trickling at this time of year, but at the moment they are gushing at full force. Yes, that'll be the rain again....I'm sure there is a positive spin to put on all this wetness, but really I would love love love for it to be dry and sunny for a while.
☀ I can't deny the visual appeal of so much fresh, zesty greenery though, the woodland and surrounding countryside is absolutely thriving.
☀ I continue my love affair with nectarines, they make me so happy! Sometimes I just launch myself at a whole one (often outside as it's a juicy, messy business), and sometimes I take the time to cut the fruit up into neat slices and actually use a plate. Deeeelicious either way.
☀ A solitary little flower picked from my sparse back yard pots, so cheery and such a vivid shade of yellow....
☀ ....perfect to bring a dash of summer colour to the bathroom windowsill.
I hope you're enjoying your days, whether you are swinging through Summer or cosying up through Winter. And I hope you manage to find some lovely moments which make you stop and take note, feel gratitude and happiness.
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I love seeing your English countryside and town. I dearly hope to visit there some day amd join you at Coopers for a Friday cappuccino and crochet. It is still cold and blustery down here in Kangarooland, but in the past day or two I've detected the faintest scent of Spring. Just a hint mind you of warm wattle blossom, but enough to cheer this frozen soul! Can hardly wait to get stuck into your Yarndale project!
Posted by: Louise | July 31, 2017 at 09:13 AM
Hi Luce, Char here, love checking-in and seeing what you're up to (I never did get that reply newsy email at Christmas... ahem ;))! Hope you're all well, I know you're mid busy period atm but look forward to hearing from you when things calm down a bit! Lots of love, Char Xxx
Posted by: Charlotte Hodge Thomas | July 31, 2017 at 08:52 AM
Loving the hearts and am hoping you are going to post a pattern :) Im very new to your blog but so much enjoy reading it and seeing what you've been up to.. so inspiring.
Posted by: Nadine Nowe-Andrews | July 31, 2017 at 08:49 AM
Thank you again for the lovely photographs they are so calming.A little more sunshine here this past week BUT
Rain or shine, the Lilyvan is full of color, I have started my blanket.
Posted by: Denise | July 31, 2017 at 08:48 AM
I, too, love those hearts... tutorial? I know, I know, you are busy, busy, busy as per usual, but just you know, sometime when work isn't pressing, when life has slowed down and you feel like sharing those lovely hearts, we'll be here, waiting....
Posted by: Edwina | July 31, 2017 at 08:46 AM
Great blog as usual Lucy, so uplifting. Down here in your beloved Dorset we have blue skies today, yeh, with cotton wool clouds racing across the sky. Love your new blanket but don't think I'll be doing this one as I'm not too keen on sewing up. Enjoy the school holidays with the little ones. 😀
Posted by: June Waight | July 31, 2017 at 08:40 AM
Beautiful photos, Lucy xx We took the opportunity to go to St Anne's in between showers on Saturday evening, and had a fish supper on a bench overlooking the beach. The quality of light at that hour is, as you said, just so lovely - opalescent sea meeting the setting sun, with swifts screaming their way along the prom above our heads. Beautiful, and just the does of fresh air we needed xxx
Posted by: Jools Morgan-Jones | July 31, 2017 at 08:34 AM
Look at your lovely nails Lucy. Such an uplifting post about enjoying the small things that make life sooooo much sweeter. Take care of yourself Lucy through this busy time and make sure that you pamper yourself once in a while. Here's hoping that some sunny days are heading up to Skipton for you this week. Love and hugs xox
Posted by: Sarah, Hampshire | July 31, 2017 at 08:10 AM
Thanks for sharing Lucie, I love the hearts ♥️
Posted by: Rochelle | July 31, 2017 at 08:06 AM