Summertime Joys

Here it is, at last! My favourite time of the year. The sun is shining, and it's time to relax and enjoy the summer. It is especially welcome this year, as these last few months have been quite challenging, while I've been getting used to my new role at work. It's all positive, though. My line manager is more than happy with my performance, and it also means that my hours will be far more settled when I return in September. Happy days! I just hope that I won't have forgotten what I'm doing by then :)

The past month has been incredibly busy, so this weekend it's been lovely to take my time when getting up each morning. I'm still awake at a ridiculously early hour, but it's so nice not having to rush around getting everything ready for the day ahead. I can ease gently into the morning and not need to worry about getting the washing hung out, making lunches, or wondering what we'll be eating for dinner that evening. All of these can simply wait a while. 

The house is gradually getting a much needed clean and tidy, but this has become a far easier task, having gotten rid of a lot of unnecessary clutter since the beginning of the year. There are still some items left to sort through, but the difference has been huge, and I'm sure that any time I spend cleaning must have halved. This is time which, for me, I am much happier to spend outdoors, especially at this time of year. 

The cats are notable by their absence.  The warm, sunny weather instantly has them seeking out the shade of the long field grass or a nearby tree. I've long since recognised that I'm not to worry (too much) when I don't see either of them for hours at a time. And I'm sure that will change again just as quickly, once the weather begins to turn. 

For the third year in a row, we celebrated the final day of school with a chippy tea down by the lake. It was a balmy summer evening, and unusually quiet there, down by the water's edge. I also took a flask with us so we could enjoy a drink (or two) of tea from our enamel mugs.

This weekend has been quite a contrast to last, which saw me walking up Helvellyn, over Striding Edge, on what was the warmest day of the year so far here. It might have been hot, but the conditions were perfect, and the views were absolutely stunning. Then later that evening I was on a boat, on Windermere celebrating with some friends. It's was the most beautiful evening for it, and watching the sun set behind the Langdale Pikes felt quite magical. 

The following day, we went swimming at the outdoor pool. It was the ideal way to cool off in the heat of the midday sun, and it was so good to see Lily regain some of her confidence in the water. 

During the week, I've been keeping busy with my new crochet project. My plan is to make a colourful, cosy blanket, large enough to go over my double bed. I've chosen the colours based on my new pillow cases. I just loved this design. And if you look closely you can see butterflies and bees among the flowers!

In the garden, this week, the sunflower has opened up. If ever there was a summer flower, this is it for me. My all time favourite. 

And there are more strawberries ripening,  much to Lily's delight. I'm ever hopeful that she might even try sharing them with me :)

At dusk, I'm often to be found sat on the back step, watching for bats against a pale pink sky. They put on quite the display. 

And on this occasion I had some company. 

Back soon. 

J. X

Filling My Cup

As lovely as it is to get away, it usually takes a lot of planning and preparation on my part. Often, the most relaxing times, for me at least, can be those days spent closer to home. These kind of days are more spontaneous, take minimal planning for, if indeed any at all, and besides a little petrol, don't cost anything.

I enjoyed one of these days, this week. After an early lunch, we took a short drive out to Sizergh Castle, so we could have a wander around the gardens. It is really beautiful there, and although it can get busy at this time of year, there is plenty of space where you can experience some peace and quiet.

The flower beds are gorgeous, and there is plenty of contrast to keep my interest. Not being overly green fingered, I might not know all their names, but I can still appreciate them.

And we are always keen to get to the kitchen garden. I love to see the rows of vegetables, interspersed with companion plants, the fruit tree borders, sweet peas, and sunflowers. And Lily always loves to see Charlie, the resident cat, who on this occasion was lying fast asleep on a bench.

The fruit trees in the orchard are laden with apples and pears, and the wildflowers are attracting so many pollinators.We sat for ages in the limestone garden, watching out for the bright blue damselflies above the water there. The acers look really pretty now, but they will put on an even more stunning display of colour in the autumn.

Once we had visited the main pond at the front of the castle (of course we had to see the Lilies), we set off for home again, feeling relaxed and happy. Some places seem to have that affect don't they. Then my cup was filled even more, when I discovered what my own vegetable 'garden' had produced for me.

J. X

The Last Week of the Holidays

Each time I have tried to write this post, my attempts have been thwarted by someone already utilising my laptop.  Previously, I have sometimes managed to post using just my phone but my weary eyes can only take so much of that. Also, I've been missing reading any blogs this week (see above 😁) so I'm really looking forward to popping the kettle on and having a good catch up with your news over the next few days.

Even by my usual standards this post will probably be quite picture-heavy, and for that I apologise. I keep thinking I should perhaps take fewer photographs when I'm out and about, but I do love to look back at them and the happy memories they evoke - some which would have otherwise been easily forgotten over time. 

Last Monday we went swimming at the outdoor pool. I can't tell you how much I have appreciated this facility over the summer months. To watch Lily's confidence return after being out of the water for so long has been a delight and, if I'm honest, a relief. And I'm also happy to have learned that her swimming lessons are going to be starting again in two weeks time. With her love of the water this is something I have always prioritised, and has been much missed over the last eighteen months.

The following morning we set off from Glenridding to walk up Birkhouse Moor. As is usual for us, we took the lesser frequented route up. It was an incredibly steep climb but still much more pleasant than the more obvious path, which was full of hikers heading towards the infamous Striding Edge on Helvellyn. We passed a lot on our descent although, given how many of them appeared totally unprepared for what lay ahead, whether they made it to the summit that day, I'm not so sure. 

On Wednesday we ventured into North Yorkshire and enjoyed a lovely circular walk from the village of Malham, taking in Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove. The walk felt strangely flat compared to what I'm used to but that didn't stop my knees from complaining while I was descending the steps from the limestone pavement. Lily gave up counting them when she reached 139! 

On Thursday morning I kept my promise to Lily and we went for a boat trip on Windermere. It was a lovely bright morning and we caught the first small boat which visited Wray Castle and then Brockhole, before returning again to Ambleside. It was such a scenic journey and for a short while we even had the boat all to ourselves. Naturally, Lily couldn't return home without first getting her feet wet, so we stopped off at Borrans park for a while, where she got to paddle in the lake.

Friday saw us in Ulverston to visit  'Gaia', an art installation which is an exact replica of the earth, suspended in the Coronation Hall. While we were there we also took a walk up to the Hoad Monument and then to the Buddhist temple, before taking a walk along the shore. Surprisingly, even though there was an incoming tide, there was hardly a breath of wind on the beach, which made it the perfect place to stop and enjoy some picnic lunch before treating ourselves to coffee and cake at the café.

Finally, over the Bank Holiday weekend we returned to Yorkshire to visit the lovely little town of Settle. It is a few years since we were last there and we weren't disappointed. The flowerpot displays were a joy to see dotted all around the town and after a chippy lunch, we enjoyed a walk up through the woods to Castleberg Crag to take in the view over the rooftops.

This last week has been wonderful and I'm so happy we have been able to squeeze it all in before school and work begin to fill and structure our days once again. I feel so very fortunate. And even though my focus is on my very small part of the world, my thoughts are never far from those who are suffering just now.

J. X