I was feeling a bit restless this afternoon, caught between feeling antsy and wanting to do ALL the things and feeling lethargic and wanting to do Sweet Fanny Adams*. So yeah......faffing about, wandering in and out of rooms, not knowing quite what to with myself. All of a sudden I just knew that I needed to be out of the house. So I grabbed my camera and took myself out the back door, up the cobbled back streets to the top of the park. Down the grassy slope and through the wooden gate into The Meadow. Just as I had hoped, the buttercups had already started flowering even though I don't usually think about them being there until early June - it was utterly spectacular. The air was full of pollen (atchooooo!) but I didn't care - the sneezing was worth it in exchange for the gloriousness of all that full-on floral beauty.
There is a cut grass pathway all around the edge of meadow (and right up the middle) so you can't go tramping about right amongst the flowers as such (the meadow is a protected site), but you still feel as if you are surrounded by it all. I picked a few stems - nothing much really, just a few sprigs of cow parsley, buttercups, plantains and grasses. I popped them into a glass jar when I got home and sat them on my outdoor table as I can't have them indoors (they make me sneeze). I made a jug of iced water and sat a while to write a few notes in my planner, and felt so much better for being outside.
Later on after dinner, I noticed the sun was low and still beautifully golden in the sky. So I took off again just for the pure pleasure of going to see the buttercups for a second time. I had a desire to to see how the light would look skimming over the meadow in the early evening - oh, it was breathtaking! Long shadows and a golden glow over the landscape, it was really, really beautiful. I am constantly inspired by the seasonal changes in the landscape - the colours, the views, how it looks, smells, and feels. I especially like to feel the seasons somehow, to connect emotionally with where we are in the year as the months gently pass by. May is just so brim-full of emotion for me, ALLLLLLL the feels.
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*in case you were wondering, "Sweet Fanny Adams" is something that my Mum used to say and it tickles me to be able to write it in a sentence! You can look up the meaning if you like, but only if you don't mind a little bit of filthy language, be warned!
Oh my! When our family moved to Alton in Hampshire years ago the story of 'Fanny Adams' was the first thing the locals told us about. The reason the phrase became popular was that she had been cut into many pieces and year later those in the navy used to joke that the tinned food they were given contained Sweet Fanny Adams' remains...
https://www.hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/content/true-story-sweet-fanny-adams
Posted by: Sam | May 24, 2018 at 06:59 PM
You really know how to make me smile!!! I'm speechless. You really do live in a little piece of Heaven.
Hugs, Kimmy
Posted by: Kimmy | May 24, 2018 at 05:48 PM
My mum always used to say sweet fa. I still use it a lot but not heard anyone else say it for a long time. I am on annual leave from work next week and I am looking forward to spending some time in the garden, going for long walks with the dogs, a lot of crafting both in and out doors (weather dependent) and as for the rest of the time I intend to do an awful lot of SFA :-)
Mitzi
Posted by: Mitzi | May 24, 2018 at 02:17 PM
What a beautiful site! I can see why you had to visit it again. I would have too! We have a field that we let grow wild half the year for the very reason of seeing the wild flowers bloom and for the bees to gather from. A couple years ago in mid summer a quarter of it was covered in a pinkish purple flower that hadn't been there before and it was so pretty. I'm curious to see what blooms this year the most. Have a fab day! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | May 24, 2018 at 01:57 PM
My Mum and her sisters grew up opposite a bit of a busy body called Mrs Adams, who they privately referred to as 'Fanny Adams'. Unfortunately for them, they called her that in front of me, and as expected I then called her Fanny Adams to her face, to much blushing from my Mum and Aunts!! They still remember it. Two of them are in their 80's and my Mum is a bit younger, but they still do impressions of me! :)
Posted by: Jo Howes | May 24, 2018 at 01:54 PM
That is beautiful! I used to live in the Southern US and they had buttercups, but I now live in the North and they don't have them. It makes me sad because they are so cheery. The fireflies are better here though.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful countryside with us. I love your pictures.
Sincerely,
Karen
Posted by: Karen | May 24, 2018 at 01:49 PM
HA - I'm 72 and my chin is permanently stained yellow! And of course, I still love butter. The field flowers were spectacular and a lovely way to start my day. Thanks for a walk in nature this morning. Question: are there larger animals loose in the protected areas? We have wild hogs (dangerous) many snakes and alligators in the wetter parts, tons of deer, rabbits, armadillos and opossums,but the hogs and deer would just tear everything up. Just wondering how your land differs from our (Florida).
Posted by: Mary W | May 24, 2018 at 12:48 PM
I particularly liked the photo with the white flowers in the jug with the rocks. Loved the blues and the grey of the rock wall. Such a pretty picture. I'm in New England, and I find the light this time of year - especially in the late afternoon - particularly compelling. I get itchy to get outside into it too.
Posted by: mrs. smythe | May 24, 2018 at 12:35 PM
I’m jealous! Getting cold here now but still got roses blooming. Not for much longer if weather forecast is anything to go by!
Snow for the Deep South mind you all the skiers are happy!
I’m more of a beach girl!
Posted by: Carolyn wood | May 24, 2018 at 07:48 AM
Lucy, thanks so much for sharing your creativity here. :-) I have followed you from across the pond for years and commented from time to time. At Teresa Kasner's suggestion a few months ago I used your flat circle tutorial as the base of making a slouchy hat for my 76-year-old sister. In a blog post about creating the slouchy hat I linked to your blog and Teresa's and here is the address of the post. https://grayseasailor-onesaylorslog.blogspot.com/2018/03/a-slouchy-hat-for-spring.html
Posted by: Gracie | May 24, 2018 at 06:34 AM
THE perfect colour yellow...my favourite!
Posted by: Camcas | May 24, 2018 at 02:03 AM
You live in a beautiful part of the world x
Posted by: Anorina Morris | May 24, 2018 at 12:15 AM
Thank you Lucy for the lovely photos! Here in Adelaide we are grey and damp and cold, so to look at the lovely buttercups and bright green is a real treat.
I am not artistic but I can see a hooky blanket in those greens, yellows, white, cream with a touch of pink :-)
Might think of one of your blankets in those wonderful summer hues.......
Posted by: Linda | May 23, 2018 at 11:34 PM
Lovely field and some fab social history - thanks x
Posted by: Daffy Suburbia | May 23, 2018 at 11:32 PM
Sweet fanny Adams has quite a grim story to it - sailors used to joke that the remains of a butchered 7 year old was in their meat tins!
Posted by: Sophie | May 23, 2018 at 10:20 PM
Thanks for this lovely post Lucy. I love buttercup meadows SO MUCH! They are wonderful after the brash harsh yellow of the rape fields. Do you and your children still hold them under your chin to see if you like butter? For those who don't know this test ... the yellow reflects on your skin if you DO like butter!!
Posted by: Penny | May 23, 2018 at 10:19 PM