Summer Days

We've not had the greatest Summer weather here lately, it's been incredibly wet and cool for June. The upside to all the falling wet stuff is the complete and utter lushness of the countryside, it's just so greeeeeeeen and beautiful everywhere, if a bit on the damp side.

On Monday morning J and I drove up into the Yorkshire Dales to walk around the picturesque village of Malham. This is only a short walk (around 4 miles), heading out of the village across lush green fields and into the small woodland that surround  Janets Foss waterfall. 

From there it's a steep climb up....

....until you eventually reach the top of the magnificent Malham Cove.

This limestone pavement is world famous (I'm saying that, but I'm not sure if that's actually true? It feels like it should be famous though!). Famous or not, it's an amazing geological feature and the subject of many school geography lessons.

It's not especially easy terrain to walk on and the "grykes" (the gaps between the limestone rocks) are pretty deep. But it's fun to hop from rock to rock, making a slow journey from one side to the other.

J really doesn't do well with heights, so I ventured on my own towards the edge of the cove to take in the spectacular view down the valley. It was drizzling with rain at this point so a little murky and grey, but nevertheless still very beautiful.

The descent from the top of the cove is via a very, very long higgledy piggeldy run of stone steps. Malham cove is 260 feet high, so that's a lot of steps....over four hundred of them believe it or not. It makes you very quickly realise you have a whole heap load of muscles in your legs that don't very often get a work out.

I took regular stops on the way down to admire the long distance views and to appreciate the close up details too. There was lots of wild thyme flowering amongst the rocks and the colours seemed even more vibrant that usual in the dull, grey light.

It always amazes me when we reach the bottom and look up to see how very, very high that limestone cliff face is.....and to realise that we were up there ON TOP just a short time ago. Wow....it takes my breath away. Every. Time.

The stroll back to the village is gentle and scenic.....

.....a beautiful meandering path through flowery meadows.....

....then a short jaunt down a quiet country lane.

It was lunch time when we arrived back into the village, so we decided on a welcome sit down in the local pub for a quiet drink and a very tasty light lunch.

It was a lovely day, and for the gazillionth time I said my silent thanks of gratitude for the six child-free hours that J and I get to spend together every Monday. It's such a blessing.

Back on the home front and summer is still blooming....it's Peony Paradise right there on my table this week, and I am so happy about it! One bud is still to open, but the other four stems are putting on a spectacular floral show. I am enjoying these flowers so much and drink in their beauty many, many times during the day.

Yesterday evening I rounded up Little B and asked him if he wanted to come with me on an elderflower gathering expedition. He was overflowing with enthusiasm (sweet boy) and so at 7.30, off we went into the soft early evening to see what we could find.

We have a place that we visit each year to gather elderflowers - even though they are very common hedgerow trees and grow in abundance around our neighbourhood, I prefer to go somewhere quiet and out of the way to snip and gather (rather than the local park where folk can be a bit on the blunt side when they see you snipping at trees, say no more).

The place we go now is a very quiet little lane off the beaten track on the edge of town - we can easily walk there, but it's out of the way and there are about eight trees that are can gather from so that we leave plenty behind for the wildlife. 

I put Little B on snipping duty which he was thrilled about - you can see how big and blowsy those flower heads are....

....we had no problem gathering in the fifty or so heads that we needed for cordial making. In fact, there were so many flowers this year that I'm probably going to head back again at the weekend if it stays dry and gather in enough for a second batch. 

I did two batches last year so that I could stash away some small plastic bottles of cordial in the freezer. It was such a delicious treat to pull them out in winter and have an instant reminder of summertime.

I called into the supermarket after the school run this morning and lugged back the huge two kilo bag of sugar along with the lemons and oranges that go with the flowers to make Elderfower cordial. It's extremely simple to make and the recipe I use is one that I adapted from Sarah Raven (I use less sugar in mine).

There you go ↑↑↑ I made this for me to print and keep, so thought I'd share it with you too.

Citric acid is magic stuff and super-easy to find online....Amazon sell it (of course they do, they pretty much sell anything). Although you usually have to buy it in 500g quantities, it's not too expensive and keeps for years if you seal it up well. Find it on Amazon ((here)).

The scent of this flowery concoction is a bit odd as it's "cooking" and to be honest it doesn't smell especially good. But........oh the resulting syrupy drink is absolutely divine I promise you. It's floral, sweet and citrusy and refreshingly zingy. I love love love it, it's a taste of summer that I never tire of.

You dilute the cordial with water (sparkling water is especially good), or add a splash to a glass of prossecco or gin/tonic for something a little bit more weekendish. Oooo, now I'm really looking forward to my weekend summer tipple....it'll probably be the highlight of my Saturday!

The sun was in and out today, with a surprising fall of light summer rain catching me out on my way home from the shops this morning. The kitty follows the sun around the furniture, usually finding a warm patch of sunlit crochet to curl up on for her extended daytime naps. She isn't really a laid back cat (she is a feisty little diva) but there are occasions when she really does appear to be very mellow indeed.

Over on the sofa this morning I found a monster lurking - like you do. Little B is running on Summer time and is getting up pretty early in the mornings right now. It's not unusual for him to be pottering around at 6am, immersed in his own nine year old world of play. He goes through phases where none of his toys interest him any more and all he wants is screen time (insane cartoons mostly) but at the moment there is a lot of playtime happening and I have to say it delights me no end. Long may it last. We've got four more weeks left of the school year here, then we are into the six week summer break, so I'm hoping the play phase carries on for a good while yet. Please let it (silent plea).

I've not photographed my view for a while, so I took a quick snap today as we walked to the top of the hill on our way home. The light was so clear after the earlier splash of rain, and everything is looking beautifully green and lush. 

Summer time always makes me want to feel lighter, healthier and more energised, so I'm making an effort to curb my sweet tooth and am forcing myself to stay away from the calorie laden pastries and biscuits when I go shopping. Instead I've been buying extra fruit, not just the ordinary every day fruits that we always have in (apples, pears, oranges, bananas), but special fruity things like mango and strawberries and passion fruit. I really love fruit so it's not a hardship to snack on a plate of it, I've just not got to be so lazy about preparing it for myself. 

I am so in love with these long, light days. Even when it's been raining and miserable and I've lit the candles to banish the gloom, I still love that the darkness doesn't creep in until well past ten o'clock at night. It's a magical time of year - Summer Solstice tomorrow and I'm keeping all crossed for a dry evening so that we can head out and celebrate. I'm not sure what we'll do - I kind of hope that there's cake or ice cream involved, and possibly a glass of chilled prossecco, but who knows whether I can motivate the family to head out into the greenery and be mid-summerish with me? I've been remembering this day, gosh, six years ago now, how is this possible? Our family dynamic has changed considerably since then and I am so grateful for my blog and the beautiful window it gives me back into the past. Happy memories indeed.

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Comments

[Pamela]

When I opened this blog post and saw the pictures I thought: Malham Tarn? Yes - it is world famous! Thanks for sharing! It brought back good memories of visiting that area years and years ago.

[Diane Scanzaroli]

I love your blog so much, It makes me very happy! Thanks for sharing.

[Angela- Southern USA]

I really should pick some elderberry flowers and make that, I have a few bushes growing I planted several years ago, the berries are great to make a syrup with for colds and flu. I totally understand that taste of summer, for me it's a wild grape here called muscadines that I make a kompot drink out of and can for just that purpose, to drink in summer during those long grey days of winter. Have a wonderful summer! xxxxxxxxxx

[Hooks and Needles]

Everybody seems to be making Elderflower cordial at the moment. I really must try it one day. A lovely walk out Lucy, thank you for showing us around. Cathy x

[Shasta]

Wow you live in such a beautiful part of the world! All of these views are so different from mine and oh so gorgeous!

[Jamie]

I tried elderflower cordial for the first time this weekend after reading about it here. It was really lovely. Reminded me of lychees.

[Charlotte.]

Have never tasted elderflower cordial. Don’t know that I would recognize the flower. Must look into this.

[Kathryn Grimshaw]

Hi Lucy,
Thanks for yet another wonderful blog and thank you also for being such a wonderful ambassador for our corner f the World. I am a Lancashire lass but I know everywhere that you write about.....even your view!... I spend time every week in a Skipton as it is my favourite shopping spot.
It’s so lovely to see that others from farther afield love your photos and descriptions of our lovely( although often wet) Countryside. Thanks for the lovely blog x

[Annelies]

I saw in your blog that you spotted Thym ( wild Thym)
Today we went up the mountain in the south of France , because we got a receipe for Thym liqueur
- fill a one liter bottle with thym flowers , don t presse it!
- put in 200 gr sugar
- 1 vanillia stick
- 1 stick licorice
- 1 branch of peppermint
- 2 wine glasses of ... here it s called l’ eau de vie 40% alcohol so brandy would be fine
- then filled te bottle op with plain water
- then shake the bottle
Let it rust for 6 months
Then filter it and put it in a bottle and let it rest for about 1 year or longer

Yesterday we had one who was 18 uears old
It was soft and good blend and not so strong

[Margaret]

Loved your photos of Malham - we were there in May and had glorious weather for our walk to Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar, Malham Cove and Malham Tarn and then back again to Malham. I thought of you as we drove through Skipton so perhaps one day I'll get to Yarndale and explore your lovely town as well!

[Kathy Faust]

It's hard to imagine being so excited about pics on your blog OTHER than crochet, but I always LOVE your outdoors pics so very much. You live in the most beautiful country. I can only hope to get to visit there someday... :)

[Libby Parker]

Thank you for giving me an armchair tourist view of your beautiful Yorkshire area. I yearn to see it as so many of my ancestors were British. Your yearly cordial-making makes me wish I had enough yard in which to plant elderberry. Maybe I'll just have to make room...

[gina in alabama]

Thank you for the trip back in time! I remember Connievan with great fondness and always loved your trips with her. I hope she is happy in her new life, but she was a wonderful visitor to your blog and I do miss her.

[Sue Floyd]

Hi Lucy!
Would love to try the cordial myself! Thanks for recipe & tips. The blog musings are wonderful! Please keep them up. I've never been across the pond but your " bird-eye" view (& skilled photography!) allow me to visit frequently. Oh, how you make me smile! Thanks for being YOU!
Sue

[Winwick Mum]

I'm going to have the song "Wild Mountain Thyme" in my head all day now! :) xx

[Liz]

We are staying in Malham when we come up for Yarndale, hope we will be doing that walk to the pavement when we are there.

[Teresa Kasner]

I always enjoy your elderflower collection photos and how fun to have your little man help with the harvest. The lemons and oranges look delicious and I am sure this syrup tastes good in the dead of winter. Enjoy your solstice in whatever way you find to celebrate. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[tammy]

You have such stunningly beautiful nature & solitude..I can't even dream about living in a concrete, congested large city. Oh, If I ever get to England I want to be in the green countryside..sigh.

[Susan]

What a beautiful place for a walk. I have lovely memories of the Dales when I was there 20 years ago and suddenly have itchy feet again! I do find it a bit odd that it's so light at 7.30pm in your neck of the woods. It's pitch black here by that time, even in the middle of summer! xx Susan

[Mitzi]

You’ve put me to shame Lucy our house is surrounded by elderflower and i’ve Never made cordial. Still i’m sure the birds appreciate me leaving them the flowers and then the berries. Maybe i’ll surprise myself and give it ago.

Mitzi

[Ali Dye]

I live on The Isle of Wight but had a school trip to Malham in 1981 when I was 12 ! Your pictures brought back great memories of our week long stay there ! Xx

[Liz]

Fabulous blog as ever - thanks Lucy! Malham featured in one of the later Harry Potter films where they were looking for the various horcruxes, so I think lots of people should know about it. We recognised it in the film as somewhere we’ve been - an amazing place and so unusual. Very envious that it’s so close to you!!

[Linda Lovick]

Loved reading this, thank you Lucy ❤️

[Jacqui]

Ahhhhh beautiful thAnkyou

[CJ]

Goodness, it's ridiculously beautiful in your corner of the world. That walk looks absolutely amazing - I would feel as if I was on holiday if I could go and do that on an ordinary Monday. And you're right about the rain, it's made everything incredibly green, which is just as it should be. Elderflower cordial is delicious isn't it. As you say, it's such a pleasure in the depths of winter to find something that was made or grown in the summer, a real treat. CJ xx