Warm June Evenings

Recently, I saw a quote somewhere, which read 'June is the gateway to summer.' I sincerely hope this is true and that we haven't seen the last of the warm sunny weather.

June began with some truly glorious sunshine and high temperatures, which continued up until last week when heavy showers finally interrupted our long spell of dry weather. And even though the rain has been much needed for the gardens and in order to replenish the reservoirs, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will be only a temporary blip in the grand scheme of things, and that summer, in the way I prefer it, will return again very soon.

Today has been very dull and incredibly wet. The garden has breathed a sigh of relief and the cats have returned to their usual positions on the beds - even Mog! It is for this reason that I try to embrace those warm sunny days whenever I can, sometimes even on a school night! 

This is often all done in  bit of a hurry, and it isn't always easy, especially while having to factor in the time for homework, necessary household chores etc. But every so often, I remind myself that life moves quickly,  and it is so important to just stop and be present in the moment. Creating those special memories while we can.

On several evenings in the last few weeks, we've been down by the lake shore. It's a wonderful time of day, and it is surprising how quiet it can be there, especially knowing how busy it would have been earlier in the afternoon. And there are also not many activities that compare with watching the late evening sun setting over the fells. This is something that can only be enhanced while enjoying a chippy tea, which has happened on more than one occasion recently :)

We've walked by waterfalls, paddled in the lake and simply sat and watched the world go by from beneath the cool shade of a large oak tree. 

Last week, however, we got to indulge in one of the most idyllic swimming spots in The Lakes, all to ourselves. We walked there late in the afternoon, with Lily still wearing her school uniform dress and her trainers. This must have been great timing on our part because this beautiful, naturally formed plunge pool, surrounded by fells and overlooking the lake was ours alone, for a short while, at least. It was so relaxing, and we enjoyed such a wonderful evening swimming under the bright blue sky, in the crystal clear water. It was the perfect way to cool off at the end of a hot day. 

If June is, in fact, the gateway to summer, then I am looking forward to seeing what else lies in store for us. 

J. X

I

Just a Lovely Week

Last week was our half-term, and we were so very lucky in that it coincided with some absolutely glorious weather. The sun shone every single day, and I did my best to make sure we made the most of it - after all, this could be our summer :) When it is like this I often find it tricky to find a balance between trying to get out whilst the weather is so nice, along with taking some time out to relax at home. This is a consequence of living in an area where it usually rains - a lot! You would think I might be able to take it easy and enjoy it for what it is, but I do so love the warmth and sunshine, that I make sure to soak up every bit of it while I can. 

The countryside is looking incredibly  beautiful just now. In fact, I think June might just be my favourite month of the year, when the weather is like this, at least. Cow Parsley is spilling out onto the lanes, we've been watching damselflies in abundance down by the pond, and everywhere is looking so incredibly green.

After a lot of hard work, the garden is now looking so much tidier than it had been. I managed to dispose of the large trees I'd dug out, cut back a lot of the groundcover shrubs beneath the wall, and pulled up an impressive amount of weeds. The borders are now much clearer and I have replaced just a few of the frost damaged plants with new ones, which I have been assured will establish themselves quickly and be able to cope with the cold winter weather. 

 

The apple trees are coming along nicely and have been moved to a new position alongside the shed. And I don't know if any of you remember my experimental lockdown lemon trees, but just look at how well this one is doing! I can't tell you how excited I will be if it ever grows actual lemons. I believe they can take between 4-7 years to produce anything, so watch this space.

 

Lily and I have been out walking with a friend, and it actually felt rather special to introduce her to this beautiful part of the world that we know so well. We shared a tour of Rydal and Grasmere, which included waterfalls, caves, two lakes and a fell summit. We cooled off with a paddle in Grasmere, then of course we just had to treat ourselves to an ice cream when we returned to the village.

Towards the end of the week, and as the temperatures rose even further, we went swimming in the outdoor pool. I'm really hoping this will be the first of many visits this season.

I've enjoyed lighter meals, eaten outdoors.

Then just before returning to school, at the beginning of the week, we walked through the fields and into the woods, along the old tracks that hold a comfortable familiarity for us. It's elderflower season, and we needed to gather just enough of those frothy white flowers to make our cordial. So quick and simple to make, it has the taste of summer that I find so deliciously refreshing.

Also, we managed to squeeze in a few short days away in Stirling. But more on that in another post. 

J. X

June

Lately, I feel as though I've lost my blogging voice. Misplaced, rather than lost, perhaps. Then again, day to day life has become hectic once more and, I suppose, I lose track of time, then I can't seem to find the words to pick up where I left off. Therefore, I'm going to use the advice of another blogger and let my photographs (hopefully) lead the way.

Much the same as last year, we've been spending a lot of time in the garden and I'm chuffed to bits at how it has changed in such a short space of time. Earlier in the month, the pea shoots which  Lily brought home from school were already growing quickly, as were the runner beans and the wildflowers. She even won another packet of seeds in a school competition, so we have since sown those as well. We are receiving a lot more feathered visitors this summer, including a friendly little robin who pops in regularly to sit on the swing and then onto the rotary drier. I put food out each morning while Mog is upstairs fast asleep.

Last week we enjoyed a walk from the village of Patterdale up over Arnison Crag, Birks and then on to Saint Sunday Crag. It was a beautiful day and not too warm - perfect for being up on the fells, especially as it was lovely and quiet there. There may have been some protestation from Lily, as the walk, although straightforward, was a little steep in parts, but she was perfectly happy once we'd  reached the summit. It must have slipped my mind as to quite how high we would be climbing :)   

The next day, a far more gentle walk along the lane and through the fields meant we could collect some elderflowers for making cordial. It's a favourite of mine and so simple to make, although it continues to frustrate me as to how the best flower heads are always just out of reach. Never the less, we collected enough to make the cordial, which was ready to drink the following afternoon. It tastes delicious, and this year, as well as bottling some of the cordial, I have also frozen some in ice cubes trays, so it will be more convenient to store and make it easier to use just the right amount for each drink. The link to the recipe is here.

Back into the garden. As you can see, many of the wildflowers have grown rapidly since the first photograph, which was taken two weeks ago, and just as we had hoped, there is a constant buzz from the bees as they go about their business. We've also got some peapods now, the cornflowers are just about ready to open  and, more importantly...

I can pick fresh strawberries to eat with my yoghurt 🍓🍓🍓

J. X