Summer Snaps :: late August 2022

Hello, hello, hellooooooo!!!!! How're you all doing out there in the Big Wide World?

I've been meaning to check in here for the past week or so, well ever since Little B returned to school actually, and it's been tricky to find the right time of day/evening when I can be fully present without other things clamouring for my attention. Finally I've managed it - it's 7.30pm and I've come to sit cosy in bed with my laptop as it's been a surprisingly chilly day and I needed the comfort.

I had a long debate with myself earlier on today about how exactly to jump back in here, and in the end decided to give you something of an end-of-summer round up before everything starts to get forgotten in the seasonal shift. Although I'm embracing the return to the school and working routines and the fact that Autumn is sitting very close on the horizon, it's always lovely to look back and celebrate every last bit of Summer.

J had some time off work at the end of August which allowed me to take some time down south (more of that in a bit), but also for us to enjoy a bit of a staycation week here with the Little People.

We took a day trip up to Cumbria to visit a National Trust property called Sizergh. It's quite a grand old house with a huge estate, so we did a four mile circular walk with a picnic lunch, then spent some time enjoying the house and gardens which were at their peak in late August.

The kitchen garden was absolutely beautiful and I couldn't get enough of the abundant colours....

....oh, it was glorious!

I also loved this long walled border which was bursting with later summer colour....

....and attracting a good many bees and butterflies too.

It was a lovely day out and I'm hoping we can do more exploring of new places in the months to come.

Closer to home, we've been getting out and about to walk in the local countryside right on our doorstep. The weather at the end of August and into early September was seriously lovely, remaining bright and sunny and warm enough to walk in t-shirts. I can't adequately describe my constant levels of happiness in relation to the warm sunny summer we've had, but it has been pretty sky high. Finally a summer that behaved itself and truly felt like a Proper Summer!!

I walked and walked, often two or three times a day I would find myself keen to get out there and walk. J and I continue to enjoy our 7am fast-paced, slightly breathless power walks through the woodland (so good, love love love it), then a solo stroll around town sometime in the morning for me - walking along the canal, a trip to the café for coffee, errands to run, groceries to buy. And then sometimes an evening walk too, usually with Little B, to take in the summery evening skies and breathe it all in.

My daily coffee, taken outside most days through the warmth of late summer. I simply can't imagine life without this pleasurable mid morning pause, I love it so much.

I enjoyed being at home as the summer shone on through late August, our sash windows pushed up high to let the warm breeze blow through the house. 

At the every end of August I set off to travel south on the train down to Dorset. This seems to have become the norm for me now - frequent solo visits every 3 or 4 months to touch base with my Dad, making the most of these times when his health is still pretty stable. It's also lovely for me to be back in my childhood place too, and I find myself soaking in that deep-rooted familiarity and feeling very grateful for it. 

I hardly ever eat ice cream, but on this day I joined in with my Dad and Lady B and had an old fashioned Mr. Whippy with a flake. My goodness, what a hit of nostalgia that was, I felt like I was ten years old! 

We strolled slowly, slowly along the promenade - I think my Dad is honestly the slowest walker I have ever met in my life and I have to dig deep to find the patience to slow my own pace down to a dawdling shuffle. But promenades are good places for slow shuffles, so once I adjusted to it, all was well.

The sea was incredibly calm on this day with barely any waves at all, and even though I prefer it when it's noisy and crashing and salty, it was still lovely.

My trip to Dorset was only short this time, and after two nights I was off on my travels again. I took the train and journeyed east into Hampshire - destination Portsmouth Harbour. I was then heading across the water to the Isle of Wight, traveling at high speed on the fast catamaran that operates between Portsmouth and Ryde. It was all very exciting, and a first time for me to travel on a catamaran (you can see here what it looks like, it was much bigger than I expected). I sat next to the window and tried not to fidget too much with over excitement, wishing that the trip was way longer than twenty two minutes long.

It's been eighteen years since I visited the Isle of Wight - one of my best friends from my art/textile uni days lives here and I used to regularly come and stay with her in the years before I had children. We've been friends for thirty four years, isn't that something? It was absolutely wonderful to see her and her family and how much they have grown since I  last saw them (three ginormous, handsome boys, and I mean they are huuuuuuge, well over six feet tall all of them). We had such a fun time, some delicious meals out, bottles of prosecco, chatting in the garden, picking blackberries out in the countryside, walking the dog and generally just enjoying a massive, long over due catch up.

On my last day there we took a long walk all around the eastern coast and it was really interesting to see how different the beaches are. The coastline is very woody with trees coming right down to the beach in many places.

We stopped off for lunch at a really beautiful café nestled into the trees overlooking the beach. It was warm enough for us to sit out on the decking and enjoy a chilled glass of refreshment and some delicious food with stunning sea views. I felt as though I was abroad....I mean, just look at this beach.......

.............just WOW!!!! Isn't it beautiful? You can see the café tucked into the trees above, and imagine how bloomin' delighted I was with it all.

After three super happy days it was time to say goodbye and begin my long journey home. Back across the water to the mainland (that ship is HMS Warrior, an old Navy vessel docked in Portsmouth Harbour), then a train up to London.....

....where everything was it's usual hectic, noisy, crowded, busy city self. Then it was the final three hours on the train back up to Yorkshire, and I tumbled in the front door at around 9.30pm. It was a lot of hours on the move (eight in total) but I happen to like travelling by myself and really enjoyed every bit of it.

I was away for six days in total, and the day before I left decided to cast on a pair of socks. I've not done any knitting since last year and had this yarn waiting patiently to be transformed into stripes. Socks make great travel projects and I really enjoyed knitting the hours away as I journeyed up and down the country.

The sock yarn matches perfectly with my latest blanket too, a delightful happy accident which is making me very pleased with the visual harmony. I'll be able to share my new blanket with you very, very soon - yarn packs will go on sale on Wednesday 21st September. I'll be here to tell you all about the blanket which I've named "Fireside" (cosy, warm and comforting vibes) , and as always there will be a free pattern and tutorial for you too. I'm really looking forward to showing it to you.

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Comments

[slottoto]

yuk gabung bersama slottoto

[Patricia S]

Have you ever thought about teaching us how to knit socks. I do knit but haven’t been very successful making socks. You are such a great teacher, I know you could teach us all how to master them. Thank you

[Linda Spooner]

I am glad someone had a lovely, controlled summer. In north Texas we had 100+ degrees F. most of the summer. It has been miserable. Many days 110 so too hot to go walking or anything else. I enjoy your blog very much. I have Scottish ancestors and to see Northern England is very interesting. Take care. Linda

[Devonna]

Such a beautiful place where you live! I live in Texas, USA where nothing is ever that amazing emerald green. The heat was really extreme this past summer and lives on even now. I just want to sink into those luscious green pictures and stay a while. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures!

[Kay]

Such a cosy and relaxing post to read, I could feel your happiness.

[Nora McGrann]

Once again Lucy, a wonderful blog..

Your trip had many of us en route with you, and you never disappoint..Gorgeous photos as ever too..

Loving your sock colours..am knitting socks at the moment..getting ready for the colder days..

Thanks again as ever for your joyful posts..

Take good care

Nora x

[Carrie-Anne]

Lovely to hear you enjoyed visiting the Isle of Wight. I grew up there (in Ryde by that very beach!) and visit a few times a year. Thanks for sharing :)

[Winwick Mum]

Lovely post, it was great to see your photos! That sock yarn is really nice too, I do like those stripes! :) xx

[Juliana]

What a beautiful post, thank you so much for it! I love to virtually travel through your blog posts, since I love crochet, gardens, the coast... even your day-to-day life looks very inspiring for me!
Wishing you a cozy, nice autumn.

[Becca L]

I'm glad you enjoyed the Isle of Wight. I grew up there and love going back home. We last went in May but it already seems so long ago! Looking forward to your new blanket.

[Ali Farthing]

Greetings from the Isle of Wight ! So glad you made it over and the sun shone for you , your coastal blanket has adorned many a beach over here 😊 hopefully you’ll visit us again some day x

[Hedy]

Thanks again for your beautiful pictures and lovely post. I would love to walk where you live. It’s all asphalt and concrete with highways everywhere. Hardly anyone walks, it’s not safe with all the cars and no paths. But I love your posts, keep them coming.

[Susan]

Which sock yarn is that please? Great blog, thanks for sharing.x

[Louise]

The Isle of Wight looks gorgeous. And that's a very southern Australian looking beach. It reminds me of the beaches around here at Sorrento! It's currently 12.40am here as I watch the live broadcast of the Queens funeral. Such a magnificent spectacle for an amazing lady! How many different types of guards are there with all of the different helmets? But I digress. Loving the summer photos. Warm weather is starting to appear here now. Thanks for your post!

[Charlotte Hodge Thomas]

Aw, Luce! Lovely to read this and your take on visiting me on the Isle of Wight... It was SO lovely spending long overdue time with you. Already looking forward to the next time XXX

[Elizabeth]

So nice to visit your country through your eyes. I always have to look up the places you name on the map and put it in perspective relative to the whole country. It's quite a delightful geography lesson. Here, the summer hasn't been quite so pleasant -- with its blazing hot temperatures -- so I haven't crocheted in over two months. I am very much looking foward to the cooler weather of autumn so that I can finish the two blankets already in progress, and start on the ones still in my head. Thank you for sharing your adventures. I do so enjoy hearing about them.

[janet]

Hi Lucy i have been trying for a long time to subscribe to your web page for newsletters but no luck hope you can help me out with the problem.

[sylvia]

Lucy. What needles are you knitting your socks with? I use double ended ones but like the idea of working with a circular needle.

[Linda]

How lovely…..a Lucy post with the Isle of Wight in it. We lived there for 14 years and I miss it so much! We lived at Seaview and it looks from the photos like you walked round that way to end up in Ryde. Priory Bay was my favourite beach and we lived 5 minutes walk away from it.
Were you there for the Fort Walk?

[Sarah]

Hey Lucy. I was just wondering what blanket pattern is on the couch/chair where your cat is sitting??

[Simon]

I won't be telling my Mother that you've had a Mr.Whippy🍦 - she'd be ever so jealous! I love the colour of those socks!🧦 All mine are black, which I must say is a little boring. It's strangely cold down here, it's not usually at this time, but then I s'pose it's been a strange year all round. Take care.

[Debbi Robertson]

As usual, it is a treat indeed to discover something new from you, Lucy. My crochet friend in New Zealand had sent me a photo of your Fireside blanket 3 days ago, and I couldn't figure out how it was she had such an inside scoop. Glad to be "in the loop" now, too! Welcome home, happiness to you and your family.

[Becki]

Hi Lucy, I’m so glad you’ve had a lovely summer and really happy to see your post again. The Isle of Wight is somewhere I’d love to visit and hope to do so one day soon, so really enjoyed your gorgeous photos (as always). Can’t wait for the wonderfully named ‘Fireside’ blanket, am imagining cosy crackling log fires already and really looking forward to getting back to crocheting again, especially with those stunning colours. Hope your health is more on an even keel now, take care, love and hugs to you. Becki xxx ☺️🥰

[Susan]

What a lovely post and glad to see it pop up as so many of my blogpals have been absent of late. Loving all those beautiful photos of places you've been & a trip to the Isle of Wight tops it all. Glad you enjoyed & I look forward to seeing the new blanket. I've recently been given my late birthday/mothers day present from DD & it is one of your lovely wool packs, so will be enjoying some crochet times soon. Thanks for sharing your late summer snaps, take care & hugs from down under.