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

[Sarah]

What a pleasure to read your post feels like an old friend catching up x

[Pam]

Hi Lucy, I too absolutely adore May and June, though I get a slight sense of panic as the solstice approaches. I think it’s because I realise that the year is already half over and the daylight hours will start to decrease. Still we have been making the most of the weather in the past week or so and been having early morning coffee outside. We’re lucky that the sun rises over our back garden so it’s been glorious. I look forward to seeing your CAL when it’s revealed though I have just started on 3 pairs of candy cane socks by Winwick Mum for my daughters for Christmas. Take care of yourself Lucy and I hope your daughter does well in her exams.

[Lauren]

Oh Lucy, it sounds so difficult for you to go through the emotions with your parents. Families are complicated! I’m glad you’re immersing yourself in your next CAL and excited for November to see what it’s like. Enjoy the warmth coming your way and thanks for your post.
xx Lauren from down under

[Vicky]

Always pleasantly surprised when maths and crochet collide! :) (I teach maths when I'm not crocheting..or is it meant to be the other way round ;) )

[Sheila]

Absolutely love your blog posts. Thanks for sharing news on your dads visit and the ups and downs. Lovely photos as always. Excited about your next CAL and look forward to seeing hints in your future news x

[Gillian Harriss]

I love reading your posts even though I can't crochet. I really feel for you coping with the decline of your Dad, my mum had dementia and unfortunately got quite violent at times. I called it the living death and it took a long time to get over her death. I hope your daughter's exam results are good and she gets to follow her dreams for the next stage in her life. Take care

[Louise]

It's nice to here from you. I am so sorry to hear about how your dad is getting on.I understand your heartbreak. Xox. You know that amazing chimney pot is like a gorgeous piece of art. A new sculpture in your little garden. Maybe it could do with a seasonal yarn bombing? It's lovely to see your warm, lush summer photos. We're having a dank winter. Hideous. While your summer Solstice rushes up too fast, our winter one can't come quick enough. Then I start looking forward to improving conditions and signs of Spring in August. Xox

[Mary]

An edit to my post: not provide us, but prodigious!

[Jools]

Good to know you are doing ok, Lucy. And great to have another peep into Attic goings-on, too. Hot weather forecast for tomorrow, so make the most of it :-)

[Mary]

Thank you, Lucy, for sharing about your dad. I’ve been through that, and it’s not easy. And, as always, thanks for sharing your provide us talents with us! Sending you hugs!

[Angela]

Lovely post Lucy. I’m always just a little bit envious (not in a horrible way) as you go into your summer and we’re entering our winter and everything looks grey and miserable here haha! Im sending my thoughts and prayers to you, your Dad and family. It truly is difficult witnessing the decline of someone we love. All the best, take care x

[Susan]

Lovely to see this post pop up and understand fully the anxiety over your Dad. Great photos once again and that chimney pot is ENORMOUS....I can see it planted up and used for crochet items in photo shoots(giggle). Enjoy your warm weather, ours is mighty cold, wet and windy) and take time to smell the flowers. Looking forward to your next CAL. Thanks for sharing, take care & hugs from down under.

[Bonnie Brocklehurst]

Always love your posts Lucy, thanks for sharing your ups and downs with us, our Summer weather has been late as well but lovely here today, everyone is in a joyful mood. I am so curious about your November cal, always exciting to start a new Lucy blanket.

Take Care
Bonnie from the island of Newfoundland, 🇨🇦

[Cathy Tucker]

xx from Sydney Australia as we move into our (very mild) winter. Thanks for the lush greenery pics.

[Margeruite Jepson]

I love your posts and photos - not to mention all the lovely blankets :). It is difficult to watch the decline of our parents. I am sure your dad enjoyed his time visiting you and the challenges that you faced will always be worth it. Exams are stressful times and I applaud a the young people who are coming to the end of their GCEs AND GCSEs - soon time for celebrations. 😁

[CJ]

It's absolutely glorious out there at the moment isn't it, and your photos are fabulous. The chimney is indeed huge, glad it is safely down. In the thick of A-levels and GCSEs here, nerve-wracking isn't it? I am also trying to put in some hours clearing my dad's property as he died at the beginning of the year, so that has been quite tough. Your street party looks brilliant. I have a yarn bombing photo to post that I think you will love - the best Jubilee post box topper ever. Also a whole knitted Jubilee scene with a stack of cakes that appeared in the local secondhand book shop, it's brilliant. Hope the last two A-level papers go well. CJ xx

[Inez Din]

Great post. Thanks for sharing. I’m looking forward to your next blanket. I am making my 2nd Aria now. I gave the 1st one to my daughter and want one for myself.

[Amanda Jones]

Thanks for a lovely read. Also looking forward to Tuesday as the end of the A levels exams for my daughter - definitely needed a bit of crochet to keep me sane & calm the last few weeks.

[Carol]

Love your blog posts. Hugs to you and prayers for your dad. ♥️♥️