Summer Moments {four}

☀ Humid, hazy weather here right now, with low slung cloud and the constant threat of rain in the air. It feels warm and muggy, and I find myself lacking in energy and slowing down to a lazy dawdle. I fantasize about loafing around on a well padded garden lounger sipping chilled wine and taking afternoon naps, but that really isn't happening at all, in any way, shape or form. Well, possibly the chilled wine might be happening a little later on.

☀ Drinking a mug of fresh coffee out in the back yard in the mornings, listening to the  rooftop jackdaws calling to each other and the neighbourhood gently going about it's business. We bought our Nespresso coffee machine almost five years ago now and I love it more than ever. The ritual of making and drinking my morning coffee is something I enjoy very, very much. I add quite a bit of lightly frothed up hot milk to my lungo coffee shot, then finish with a liberal dusting of chocolate powder. Deeeeelish. 

☀ Stripping off my bed and pegging out the freshly washed bedding on the line, keeping fingers and toes crossed for the rain to stay away long enough for it all to dry. I absolutely adore these Cath Kidston pillow cases, for some reason it really pleases me that each side has a different design. Gosh, there is honestly nothing nicer in the summer months than climbing into a bed made up with freshly laundered, sun-dried bedding, it's one of life's pleasures for sure.

☀ Tilly kitty, curled up on my Moorland blanket enjoying the quiet warmth of a sunny spot. I don't think she appreciates the constant noise and movement which comes from the Little People being at home during the holidays, but in the times when all is quiet downstairs she definitely makes the most of it. 

☀ This was a bit of a bitter sweet Summer moment as I drank the last of the homemade elderflower cordial this week. Oh, the cordial tasted soooo good this year, the perfect combination of fresh/sweet/zesty and I am missing it now that it's no longer around. Commercial elderflower just isn't the same.

☀ We walked through the park to the farm shop one afternoon last week, partly to  buy some fruit and salad which we needed, but mainly just for something to do when the sun suddenly came out to play. It's about a 20 minute walk each way, and we always stop in the park on the way back. I loved this view from the picnic bench, the sunshine and shadows along the tree lined pathway reminded me a little of a Van Gogh olive tree painting. 

☀ Part of the trip to the farm shop generally includes a small treat for the Little People, which always goes down well. There is an amazing bakery at the shop and these cookies are a real favourite. These short local jaunts with a pit-stop-picnic are so simple and summery, but I love how much the Little Peeps seem to enjoy them. 

☀ Ahhh, let me introduce you to my latest salad crush - fresh pea shoots. Actual pea shoots!! Who would have thought you could really buy a bag of these tasty little morsels from the shops, they are so yummy and I could honestly eat a whole massive handful straight from the bag. They taste so good that I'm quite happy to devour them in the nude (the shoots that is, not myself), but I'm thinking this Asian inspired salad dressing sounds amazing. Or perhaps a simple lemon vinaigrette would be good. 

☀ A little fruit haul from the *eh-hem* untamed section of our allotment plot. Much like the elderflowers, the blackberries seem to be especially good this year, maybe due to a very dry spring followed by a shockingly wet summer? Whatever the weather whys and wherefores, the brambles are producing some mighty fine fruit right now, and we are loving it. We tend to eat them as nature intended as they don't last long enough for me to contemplate turning them into cooked up food stuff.

☀ A morning walk around the reservoir on a day when it was warm, grey and moody-looking. The low light levels and pervading shades of grey weren't particularly inspiring, but it always feels good to get out a bit with the Little People and remind them of the natural gorgeousness we are so blessed to have on our doorstep. Plus, the summer grasses swaying in the breeze made me happy!

☀ This is such a beautiful old tree tucked next to a dry stone wall that runs alongside the reservoir, its trunk is huge.  I always feel like I want to wrap my arms around it and give it a hug when we visit, although I'm sure J would have a fit if I became a tree-hugger. The colours of the bark are so soft and lovely, and I find myself beginning to think of a tree-inspired colour palette (the new Lincoln green is right there!)

☀ A second outing for Little B's pocket kite, this time up on the windy tops of Barden Moor near to where we live. We took a short walk up there last weekend so that we could see the heather at it's peek - oh, it did not disappoint. In fact, I think this year is the best display of moorland purpleyness that I've ever seen, it is absolutely breathtaking. As you would expect, I took a mahoosive amount of photographs......and I took my Moorland blanket up there for the first time too, for a little bit of a photo shoot. Oh yeah! I realised a short while ago that I never wrote up an official Ta-dah for the Moorland Blanket after I finished it, so I really think I need to put that right pretty soon. It's the right time of year to do it, for sure!

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Comments

[Kathy Kraetsch]

Absolutely Love this post!! Thank you so much!

[creativemummybear.blogspot.co.uk]

I've grown pea shoots for the first time this year and had huge success! Any old left over pea seeds popped in a large pot. As soon as they start to grow I nip out the growing shoots and they then throw out side shoots. The more I pick the more they grow! With regular picking they will last several weeks. The crop that keeps on giving :) xx

[Maria João Machado]

Just to say that I love blackcberries, because I have no words, great enough to comment the other pictures!!! XOXO

[Linda geiger]

I love your blog . Haven't followed for awhile and I had forgotten how relaxing and inspirational you are. Makes me want to visit England. Going to make this hydrangea blanket one of my favorite flowers. Love the colors thanks so much for sharing.

[Carol D]

Thank you, Lucy - I feel so much better now after taking these few short jaunts with you and the Little Peeps!
Sharing your walks and your scenery always cheers me up and almost feels as if I were right there with you.
I'd so love to see more of the English countryside. If I'm ever fortunate enough to get back to England, I think I'll forgo any visits to London and tour the countryside instead!

[Zoe]

I love love love the idea of a tree inspired color palate!! A thousand times YES!

[Fiona Lake]

oooohhhh!!! Pea shoots!! In China they are the must have winter veg. We buy them by the carrier bag-full at the local wet market and stir-fry them with ginger and garlic. Yum. Pea shoots are the only seasonal veg we have. You know winter is coming when they arrive in the wet market!

[Bex Crowell]

I just completed a squares blanket using the Moorland yarns, don't know if you can do links here, but this is it:
https://flic.kr/p/XCBDTF

I love it to pieces. Used Victorian Lace(Lattice) pattern on all squares with slight variations.

Thank you Lucy for all you. My life is forever changed because of you.

[Mema]

Lucy, I'm beyond thrilled that you have discovered pea shoots - I mentioned how delicious they were in a comment i left on one of your earlier posts!! I've been buying them for years (literally) since I discovered them in Morrisons near me. Love all the colour in your photo posts, I always check your blog out and knitted socks for my son and d-i-l last Christmas based on your posts!! Take care.

[Luisa Muñoz]

Lovely post as usual :)
I hope someday you decide to hug that beautiful tree, I am a tree hugger myself I cannot help it, it's one great pleasure trust me ;) and if you google the benefits of hugging a tree you might be pleasantly surprised.

Luisa xx

[Susan]

Lucky you with some Elderflower left.must try to not give away so much next year.Go hug that tree😊🌳

[Ingeborg]

Dear Lucy, your blog is my all time favourite and I am looking forward to every single one of your posts. I've come across harsh criticism of your blog, though, and thought, why do those people read your blog if they don't like it? They should stop reading it and be quiet. Negative comments on the www are ugly. So, today is the day I need to raise my voice. Not to throw a piece of ugly criticism on you but to ask you a favour. Nestlé's involvement in slavery working conditions and child work is not a secret. In linking to a Nestlé product, you - by the global power of your voice - actually strengthen Nestlé's market position. May I ask you to please not do this again? I will not stop following you, I will not spread criticism, and I will continue to like you for your wonderful work. I appreciate what you do very much. It's just this little favour I am asking, for the sake of millions of workers in terrible working conditions. There's plenty of fairtrade coffee on the market.
I am happy if you don't publish this comment, it is meant as a private note.
Have a happy bank holiday weekend, Lucy
🌷🌸🌹🍀🌻😊
Ingeborg

[Winwick Mum]

It has been so very warm despite the rain, hasn't it? It was lovely to see the heathery moorlands when I came up to collect the Yarndale Sock Line socks last week - I really must get some more of my own blanket done! xx

[CJ]

I was walking in the most gorgeous heather last week in Pembrokeshire, it was utterly glorious. I love your walk through the park on the way back from the farm shop, what a beautiful spot. You've reminded me I haven't had pea shoots for ages. I grow them sometimes in a tray with very shallow soil - really easy to do but you do need to use the right variety of pea or they can be a bit tendrilly. Sugar Ann is a good one for shoots. Have a good long weekend Lucy. CJ xx

[Laura Gabriela Martin Del Campo Sescosse]

I just LOVE reading your blog!!!

[Teresa Kasner]

I so enjoyed your post today. So sweet and like I was walking along with you. I actually think you really need to hug that tree and even get a passerby to snap a photo of you! That is so neat that Middle Sized B (lol) is doing so well flying his kite! Great memories for him. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Susan Smith]

Another lovely 'summer moments' post & realising your summer is nearly over, are you contemplating an autumn one? I know I'll miss seeing Yorkshire in all it's 'Lucy' glory, so hope you may think about it.Our rather atrocious winter should be slowly retreating and Spring is definitely popping it's head up with some lovely blossom trees & lot's of gorgeous magnolias, even though my little one has yet to burst it's buds. Your tree is a wealth of unusual colourings & wonder if you'll pursue that palette with a crochet item!! Have a lovely week, thanks for the pics and take care.

[Kath]

Did you know you can grow pea shoots from the dried peas that you can buy in the supermarket? The ones you use for mushy peas. Just plant them thickly in a pot, keep well watered and in a few days you'll have fresh pea shoots. The plants don't last long so pick them while they're fresh. Lovely in salads.
That tree is gorgeous and I can see a tree inspired blanket!

[Tinke]

We spent four weeks in the UK for a holiday this year and we know not to come for the warm sunny weather ;>p But the heather, the gorgeous purple was breathtaking.We made long walks across the moorlands.One of the things we love the most is to take the gluten-, milk-, wheat- and egg-free cookies you can buy in the UK, and the bread of Genius! We bought one every day and tasted every different one Lucinda made. We picnicked every day with tea, fresh orange juice and coffee. Such a rich feeling.I'm curious how that colour combi will turn out Lucy.

[Fiona]

I would be hugging that gorgeous tree for sure!

[Nina]

I just wanted to say hello and thanks for all your heartwarming posts. I've been reading your blog for years now and feel like you're my friend. If we ever meet I'm gonna give you the biggest hug! Greetings from austria, nina

[Mary Nolan]

love love love...thank you for taking me along.. it warms my heart

[Gill]

I thought you would like to know that I made a moorland ripple blanket for my daughter. We live in Norway and the colours fit beautifully to our heather and bilbury clad forest landscape. The blue echoes the harebells that grow here and the forest lakes too. She is about to sail off around the world for a year and her own " little bit of Norway" is going with her to snuggle up with in her hammock on board ship, or throw down on the beach in far flung continents! I like to think of her sitting on the deck watching the stars through the sails, blanket around her shoulders or on one of those days when the sunshine is just too hot and too bright, the gentle earthy colours will soothe her eyes and remind her of home. Thank you for your inspired design.

[Ellen]

I love seeing pictures of your beautiful town! The views are amazing and quite different to my Pennsylvania mountain town. It's so easy to see the same things every day and forget to notice the beauty around us. I look forward to the photos of your projects and your scenery!

[NORA McGRANN]

ALWAYS, BUT ALWAYS! look forward to your blogs Lucy..and this one didn't disappoint...

Continued success with all that you do and ALL the gorgeous projects you share with us all....

Love to you and your family....
Nora x