Ahhhhh! The beautiful month of May. And it's been especially lovely this year. May has always been one of my favourite months, with the promise of summer being just around the corner. But this year, it's as though summer has arrived earlier than usual, and I've been enjoying every moment.
It has felt energising and restorative being able to spend so much time outdoors. We've already enjoyed more meals in the garden than during the whole of last year, and there might also have been a glass of wine or two for me :)
I finally got around to repotting the blueberry bush and filling the new strawberry planters. And a small tray of marigold plants have added some much needed colour to the borders.
In the daytime, the sun has felt delightfully warm on my skin, but the nights have been comfortably cool, lacking that intense heat that can often cause restless nights. But the ground is looking parched, the streams are dry and the lakes are low. As I write, I can hear the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance, which will hopefully bring with it some much needed rain.
Since I last posted, I'm feeling much more at ease. I've been reassured regarding some of my working hours, and I think my new role will work much better for me. It should mean that I will spend more time focused in one area, rather than constantly changing. It will also, hopefully, be a longer term position.
Another difference, since I last posted, is that Lily turned 12. I have so many feelings about this, that I'm not quite sure where to begin. I turned my back for a moment and it's as though she's all grown up. Of course, I know that's not really the case. Not quite yet, anyway.
She chose to celebrate her special day quietly, with a picnic at the lake. Several of Lily's birthdays have been spent here, as it's one of her favourite places. First, we went for a walk at Aira Force, where the lack of any recent rainfall was more than evident. Then we spent the rest of the morning beside the lake, although for one of us there was quite a lot of time spent in it :)
After drying off, we took the longer route home, stopping off at the dairy farm for ice-cream.
I chose liquorice...
It's so lovely there, and the ice-cream is absolutely delicious. We enjoyed our ice-creams, then Lily had a great time playing on the slide. Maybe she's not quite so grown up after all.
J. X
