And so into June

So here we are, racing through June at such a pace I can hardly catch my breath. Just this morning I happened to catch sight of the date and was astounded to find out that we are already in the middle of the month and goodness me, the Summer Solstice is less than a week away! Say what???!!! I remember it was just the same last year, so maybe this is what May-June feels like at this time in my life? I think it's because our winter season seems to take foreeeeeveeer to be over and done with, that once Spring finally arrives it rushes in and out like a flood tide. 

Towards the end of May my Dad and Lady B journeyed all the way from Dorset to visit for a week, it was a holiday that had been postponed since 2020. Back then in pre-covid times my Dad's memory and general health was very much more robust, so I was a little worried about how he would cope with the lengthy train travel and also being out of his usual environment and routine. Lets just say it was a challenge - whether he was really aware of it or not I'm unsure, but his level of general confusion was pretty heart breaking. So yeah, it was a very intense week, not stressful as such, but highly emotional and draining nevertheless. 

On top of the worry about my Dad's health decline, I also tend to experience a surge of emotions at this time of year - ever since I lost my Mum five years ago, the month of May weighs heavy on me. I'm the kind of person who tends to deal with these things silently and inwardly which is probably not the best way, but keeping everything tightly wrapped up is just the way I am. I'm still trying to come to terms with many things to do with my Mum and the way her life came to a very sad and abrupt end, gosh this kind of deep rooted stuff isn't easy is it?

Anyhow, I'm not here to dig into my past because my childhood and my relationship with my parents has always been quite the messy tangle which I keep locked down tight, but I did just want to let you know a little of what I've been going through lately. Thankfully these times never seem to last for long and I'm pretty adept at bouncing back - boing! I'm here, it's mid June with summer almost upon us and all is warm and well.

At the beginning of June the UK commemorated the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and as such we were treated to a four day bank holiday weekend. The weather was mixed (of course it was) but it mostly held dry if a bit on the chilly-breezy side. The town was hugely busy with visitors, both on the pavements and the waterways and I love the hustle and bustle of a high season holiday weekend when the atmosphere is joyful and celebratory.

On my friendly little street with it's terraced houses all tucked together in close proximity, we collectively organised a laid back Jubilee street party. We applied to the council for a permit to close the road to traffic, hung up strings of red, white and blue bunting and gathered together enough food and drink to feed a small army.

It was a lot of fun just being able to sit in the middle of the road and chat to neighbours from up and down the street, most of whom we did already know (thirty houses in total). There was cake....

....and of course there was Pimms served in paper cups. It was really ever so British and made me remember how very much I love Pimms (and cake) in the summertime.

May and early June is such a l-u-s-h time in the countryside and the abundance of greenery and general floral frothiness has really lifted my spirits lately. 

My daily morning walks in the woodland have continued to keep me simultaneously grounded and uplifted and I'm so thankful for this place that I call home.

Up until this week, the weather has been unseasonably cold (and very windy) during the past few months. I really hope that Summer will bring plenty of warmth and sunshine as I desperately feel a need for both.

I've been keeping an eye on the elderflowers around and about as I'm hoping to make a nice big batch of cordial again this year. The above photo was taken nine days ago, and since then most of the bushes I walk past are now in full floral froth. It's a glorious time of year and I absolutely love to (literally) bottle it up - I'll go and buy the sugar, lemons and oranges tomorrow so that I can get busy with it over the weekend if it stays dry. The recipe is on my blog here >> {Elderflower Cordial recipe, scroll down through the long-winded chatty blog post to find it}

What else to tell you? Building work finished here early last week, resulting in the safe dismantling of an old disused chimney stack and the back wall of our house being repaired and repointed. We asked the builders if they could leave the actual chimney pot for us as I thought it would be fun to plant something in it - my goodness, we were totally unprepared for the monstrous size of it, it's gigantic! It must stand four feet tall and was on top of a stack of heavy stone which was as high again - imagine, an eight foot tall chimney sitting very precariously on top of our bathroom roof, it blows my mind every time I think about it.

Our back yard is still in disarray because the scaffolding hasn't yet come down. I'm impatiently waiting for that to happen and then I can get busy with cleaning and tidying and planting up my pots for the summer.

The past few weeks I've been in full Mum-mode, supporting Little Lady as she revises and sits her A level exams. I think she's doing remarkably well in terms of managing both her time and her wellbeing, putting in many hours of revision and coping with a certain inevitable level of daily anxiety. She's only got two more exams left to do now, so next Tuesday I anticipate there will be much rejoicing, and I will finally be able to breathe out again.

This past week or two I've been working steadily away behind the scenes, finalising the colour palette for my next CAL blanket which will be revealed in November. I generally work around five months in advance which can be quite challenging for someone like me who much prefers the do-it-right-now spontaneous approach. Ahhhh......I can't wait to show you more, so exciting! I'm now working on the stitch design and it's been the usual frustrating, stop-start affair, but I spent a good few hours noodling with yarn and hook today and think I'm finally getting somewhere.

Goodness knows how many hours I've spent at the dining table during these past few weeks as it takes a LOT of time to work through the colour and pattern design process for one of my blankets. My whole heart and soul goes into each and every blanket and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Well I think that's about all for now, I hope you are doing ok out there in the world and enjoying these mid year months. Despite the emotional ups and downs, this really is my very best favourite time of year by far.

Thanks as always for popping into the Attic to visit, it's always so good to be here for a chat and a catch up....see you again soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

Comments

[Gaye Turner]

Hi Lucy,
It's time to pick a new blanket pattern and yarn pack. I am having trouble viewing pictures on some of the patterns. Some have pictures some have picture markers. When I click on a picture marker I get a big black screen.
Is this on your end or mine? Weird that I can see some pattern pictures and not others!

Cheers! Hope your day is glorious❤️

[Denise]

I loved seeing the differentiation Calculus of your daughter's logs and exponentials ...is she going to do maths at university....i did that 50 years ago . Good luck for her.

[Ashlynn]

My condolences to you and your family. Losing a parent is never easy no matter how old you may be...Lovely post as usual, especially the picture with the ladybug.

[Ida]

I thought I was alone in feeling that time goes by faster and faster with each passing year. I looked in the calendar today and realised that June went in a blink of an eye, and my husband said that if it keeps on at this rate, it soon will be Christmas before we know it.

Losing loved ones leaves its marks. Sometimes memories bubble up that I thought I had put to rest. But I can look at them and say; "You are here, but you can manage on your own without me. You can not stop me from rejoicing in what I have today and I can be grateful that my life turned out quite well anyway".
Thank you for sharing your thoughts; your every day life and your wonderful crocheting.
Take care, Ida

[Olwyn Phillips]

G’day Lucy,
You asked for some “happy news”. It’s winter here in Queensland Australia and after a very long hot summer and a very wet autumn we have some lovely weather….cooler, beautiful warmth streaming into our sunroom, (we think it’s cold if the temperature is below 15!), crocheting in progress (my second Dalia quilt) a grand daughter’s wedding in our 107 year old home which has seen seven generations of our family live in. Our first wedding in the old home.
It’s been an exciting year and it’s only halfway done!

Looking forward to what you have for us in November

[Janet Jones]

I just love reading your posts… you have a such a beautiful way with words and images. You’re living my dream life, …big sigh …thanks for sharing. So much of what you write resonates with me.❤️

[My creative life]

Lovely to catch up with your news Lucy. I totally understand the whole complex family situations. Mine is nothing like normal. We went through lots with my lovely in-laws as they declined in their health. Sadly my parents are getting worse now. The speed of decline is shocking sadly. Take care, love the sleeping cat photo x

[Kate]

Thanks, Lucy for being authentic—- reminds me we are all the same.

[Lucie]

... thank you for everything on your blog, it's silly to say, but I'm glad there are people in the world like me ... Same note! Lucie from the Czech Republic.

[Ruthie]

Dear Lucy, thank you for sharing your month. I completely understand your worries about your dad, it’s so hard to see a parent not able to cope any more. You are within your rights to speak to his GP, just so that they know there is a problem. They would not be able to discuss with you without his permission but you can give them information.
Take care of yourself. Good luck to your daughter with her A Levels. Such a stressful time.
Love from Dorset
X

[Beverley]

Thinking of you and your dad and sending love.
Best wishes to Little Lady in her A levels
Looks like you and your street had a fab Jubilee celebration :)

[Leslie Susan Clingan]

Discovered your world through our mutual friend Deb and Deb's World. What a pretty space you have here. Love that it is decorated by your lovely photographs of life in England. Will be back.

Had to look up Pimms and have pinned a recipe for making it on Pinterest. Sounds very refreshing.

[PennyL]

Thanks Lucy. I feel like I’ve had a really nice catch up with a friend xx

[Marili Bezerra]

Olá. Amo ler seus posts, adoro as fotos. Meu coração se aquece e fico muito feliz. Gratidão. As fotos sempre lindas e o jeito como vc narra tudo é maravilhoso, natural e como se fosse de uma amiga para outra. Também perdi minha mãe faz 4 anos e penso que entendo como vc se sente. Não é fácil.
Aqui no Brasil é Outono e está um friozinho bem gostoso.
Um grande beijo para e muito grata por seu lindo Blog.

[Miriam]

We have already had an early heatwave in May in Italy. This is not good for people’ health and for the environment. Climate change is having bad consequences. But, yes I like the sun and more light during the day. I have about your age and need them. I feel the same way as you describe in some posts. You inspired me to stay more on the balcony when I read that you live a lot your courtyard during summer.
I have enjoyed to read about the Queens’s Jubilee, and tried to watch everything I could from the Italian television.
Have a nice weekend,
Miriam

[Tonia]

Losing a parent is so hard and the grief sharpens at unexpected times I've found. Never thought a shovel would render me speechless and weepy but I could remember my Dad using it and felt the freshness of loss all over again.
The green is a balm to the soul though. It is a glorious time of year, even if my polar-bear soul is happy to see the barometer drop today!

[nayan parmar]

Double Bed Blanket
Quilts can be used for Often antique quilts are used to make doll clothing or reupholster furniture. something from mattress protecting to wall decorations. The versatility of quilts additionally lends itself. made from down feathers because of its usefulness as a thermal insulator.

[Pat]

Was at my monthly sewing group, most were knitting or crocheting. :-) I was given some lovely wool yarn. Only three colours. Hope the new CAL is doable in them. :-)
I did the trellis pattern in three colours, baby pink, baby blue and white for my niece. Have not made another blanket for her second baby. That baby blanket looks gorgeous. And she has dibs on one of the bags of yarn in two of your colour packs for me to make a blanket for the first baby when she is older. But she hasn't let me know which blanket she wants or which colour pack.
I do like your patterns and colours.
I am working on a blanket that I designed in 2019, in another colourway, to see how quickly I can make this one. The first one took me only two months. How long this one takes will be an indicator, to me, of how well I am doing in getting better. Still not up to designing.
Life gives us troubles and hiccoughs and we just need to plow on thru them.
We have a cleaner coming in once a fortnight. When it started, once a fortnight seemed too little. But as time has gone on, now it seems to frequent and an intrusion on our peace. :-)
We humans are funny creatures.
Take care Pat

[🌷Hanneke 🌷]

Thank you for posting all those beautiful photos of the countryside, street festivities and early Summer. Also.. It’s good to know we’re not the only ones struggling with the feelings that pop up when we experience our parents getting older and all that goes on… My mum passed away quite suddenly 10 years ago in the early stages of Alzheimers. She was quite a happy person with it for 2 years, but was often also getting ‘lost’ in her ways already, when a brain infarct took her away. Probably for the best, I think at times, but then again I still miss her so much.
Anyway, it’s Winter here in New Zealand and time to finish my Yuletide.
It was too hot and muggy up till recently.
Thank you for creating and sharing 🤗🌷♥️

[Lesley Wilcox]

Love your posts - new to blogging How do I subscribe
Lesley
Lesleyannewilco@gmail.com

[Kerry]

I'm nearly 2 years on from losing my mum so I can sympathise with lots of your feelings here. Hoping you can find comfort in the beauty of nature and colour. X

[Rachell]

So strange because yesterday I said exactly the same …how can it be mid-June? Where did the before bit go before we hurtled towards midsummer’s eve. I’m reassured that it’s not just me!

I also did a proper blog for the first time yesterday too! We are in sync.

Gorgeous photos, I really like all the different angles. Have you got a new camera / phone? Looks like you might be playing with a new toy Luce? xxx

[gina in alabama]

Thanks for the update. I have been hoping all was well with you. The chimney pot is gorgeous, cant wait to see it full of lovely plants or yarnbombed this fall. Its going to be near 100F here again in Alabama, more of the same next week. A little wistful for cool and breezy!

[Linda from Boston]

So nice to catch up with you. I started another granny stripe from my stash, but had to order some more colors. I don’t need another blanket, but my fingers just need to be crocheting!! It’s such a stress reliever. Can’t wait to see more of the new CAL. Something to look forward to. Enjoy your day!

[Janet Patterson]

Hi Lucy,

I love catching up with your posts and seeing what you have been up to. I have just finished my very first blanket. I loved the colour combination of your coastal ripple pattern and really enjoyed following it. I plan to take it too the beach and take a couple of photos. I have bought the moorland pack of wool from attic 24 but it doesn’t include a pattern. Is there a pdf for the whole pattern or do I need to follow through the posts for the knit along?