crochet on a summers day....

Well it's so hot here today that my brain has turned to mush and I thought it might be a good time to blog. Being that it has been about 3 weeks since my last post and perhaps the heat will melt any blocks that I seem to have. 

Today is the hottest July day on record. 36.7degrees at Heathrow. There's talk of possible thunder storms on their way tonight. I'm doing my weather presenter thing again! The crochet was from yesterday, so far it's been too hot to crochet today.

The other day I heaved my old swing seat out from under the exploding bamboo plant it seemed to be supporting and decided it needed to be used as a seat. I had to find an old mattress, cover it with cushions and a nice sheet and put it in a shady corner. I realize you can't really see all that here. But anyway, summer with a swing seat will be good, especially as I think we really will mainly be holidaying here this year. 

Although yesterday a bird dared to poop on my lovely sheet, whilst my back was turned, so leaving crochet casually strewn around is not a good idea. Thankfully it was not on the crochet!

This is my view of the climbing rose, so I can't complain! Isn't it lovely. Smells good too. I also have a rather huge and wonderful new bird table to show you soon, made for me by the teen as part of his woodwork lessons. We just need to varnish it and then think of some fun decorations, I'm sure he won't mind!

And the lovely common is truly in it's sweet place right now. All the meadow grasses and wild flowers. Beautiful. Like a painting. I feel very lucky to have this view. I don't feel so land locked I think because I can see the river in the distance, which is kind of coast line really being at the top of the Bristol Channel. I expect it's a little cooler at the coast today, perhaps.

It's been early starts this week, tying to beat the heat. I'm up walking here by 7.15 with the dog. By the time we're back at the car it's almost too hot. Although 2 and half weeks ago it looked like this! 

It always feels good to come back and blog....I don't know how the summer's going to go. I'm still really in the process of de-cluttering my life and also hoping to expand my shop and keep on making.

I have forever de-cluttered my clothes and my books. I've probably halved those now. The real job that I keep putting off is to sort out my photos, both in albums and on-line. I think I will feel considerably lighter once I've done those. And of course there's the daily dramas to negotiate.

I've decided to turn off comments, once I've worked how. We all have to try things out and find our happy place on here. I'm going to try it out, maybe for the summer. It's just to simplify things, which is really where I'm at at the moment. I need to step out from the spiral of expectation and hopefully things will feel simpler for you too.

So I am just trying it, following my intuition. I am quietly on instagram too. Maybe we will have a chat there, or flickr or facebook. So many choices!

Have a lovely summer, going to go and share the fan with the dog now.

♥

I like.....

I like kind,

I like honest, funny, real, genuine.

I like inspiration!

I like brave, 

I like warmth,

I like welcome.

I like creative, artistic, modern,

I like pre-loved,

I like home, journey, travel,

I like endeavor

and I like care.

I like daring, safely......!

I like heart and I like soul,

I like moving and stretching.

I like gentle and strong,

I like reading and seeking,

I like watching and growing,

being and seeing.

I like colour,

I like encourage,

I like motivate.

I like friend,

I like lover.

I like smiles,

I like opening.

I like forgiving,

I like green,

I like trees, sunshine and stars.

I like creative folks,

blue sky and flowers,

I like handmade, homespun and thrift.

I like mother earth wearing it's big beautiful breathing flowery dress on the common!

Welcome July!

is there anywhere you go daily and watch things grow?

have a good week,

Heather
X

thank you.....

first off I just wanted to say thank you,

this week and my last post has been a hive of activity,

it's been so lovely to read your comments and I've met some lovely new folks,

so a big thank you for all the support, especially my early followers!

these pink roses I planted this year in front of my balcony,

they are called compassion,

I hope they will climb and ramble as far as they can!

***

.......well, I've checked the calender and we have only two weeks left of holiday,

I'm trying not to feel panicked!

I feel like we have hardly done anything or been anywhere really......

except for the olympics of course,

it's just been a hanging out at home kinda holiday.

so what have I been doing?.....

well here's a few snipits,

eating juicy blackberries from a very brambly patch in our garden,

feeling very healthy.

I told my son these were natures happy pills!!

all those anti-oxidants......it's got to make you feel good, right?

reminding myself that I do know how to cook, at least a bit......

this is 'omelette with whatever you fancy',

I added cooked onion, peppers, courgette, tomato,

 indian cheese (paneer) and a good load of smoked paprika,

I had to finish the top off under the grill,

yum!

I have been chatting to the cows on the common,

there has been a mutual moaning about the weather!
although there have been some sunny days too,

I've been renewing my appreciation of dappled sunlight,
 appearing through shady woods,

not so keen on the squelchy mud though......

and slowly making more cushions,

I realise I simply have to finish all these cushions and do something with them,

I have been sitting and wobbling on the fence of indecision for far too long........

reading this little message left for me a while a go and remembering this is true,

even when other terrible teenage things are said........!

and today I am sorting out my craft room, I was up until late last night beginning, finally.

so my mission of the day will be this, it feels good to remember what I was doing, 

what I was in the middle of, 

what my ideas were.....!

so this is me this summer.

******

and I must also remember to thank Caroline of  scraps of us for awarding me with the liebster blog award!

The word leibster means dearest in German.

 This award is given to blogs that have less than 200 followers,

as a way of raising their profile and to encourage new bloggers,

how nice!

Anyone receiving the award can pass it on to 5 other blogs that they enjoy/admire,

and with less than 200 followers,

......if they would like to,

so I would like to award this to:-

Deborah of  happilicious...when your so happy you can taste it

Janie of  beeswax & broomsticks

Sassy of  muddle puddle

Trudy of  playing in the attic

Lizzie of  the pea pod

I hope you get a chance to pop over and visit them,

  have a good week,

Heather 

this blue jug

I just love this blue jug.

There's something about it.....

Something about its shape and the glaze,

 and the colour,

It says made in japan at the bottom.

It feels japanese......just a bit different.

perhaps the polka-dots are unusual for japan?

I like it a lot.

on the subject of blue,

I spied these flowers whilst walking the other day.

 amazing flowers growing in gardens,

luckily I had my camera .....

I have called them heavenly blues and purple wows!

not their real names of course!

it's doing quite well at being sunny today,

more blue skies please!

Heather
x

yesterday...

yesterday, what a glorious blue sky was waiting for me up on the common! It was nine o'clock and it was showing all the signs of an absolute scorcher. Walking on the track out across the common, the wildlife was humming and the day was already hot. I was thinking that I would need to come up here an hour earlier possibly if I want to have a walk in the cool beginning of the day!

see the cows already sheltering from the heat, such a lovely spot at the top here.

the hazy heat hovering over my home town in the cotswolds. The River Severn in the distance, with Wales beyond.... I am a suburban girl really, brought up on the out-skirts of London. This is amazing to live in a place like this with such an incredible view. It does it for me everytime. Wow! such a great way to start the day. The mood and atmosphere of the landscape changes depending on the weather. Today, up here on the peaceful common, there is a sunny feel of expectation down in the town.

today is the day that the olypmic torch will be travelling through Stroud. All is calm at the moment. The colourful bunting flutters in the breeze, the union jacks line the streets, waiting. People are quietly wondering around.

In the afternoon we will come down to the town, I live up the hill!

people begin to gather, the children leave school early. Small children holding flags and golden home-made torches appear. We start to look for our spot. Seats fold out on the paths, we find a shady spot to wait in for a while. The anticipation builds. The local bobbies have fun with the teasing school kids. It is Hot now! phew.... we wonder how many will come. It feels exciting to be part of it.

This morning after two hours of waiting I finally managed to get two tickets for the Volleyball during the olympics. My son is desperate to go. Its all that's left! but we will enjoy it and enter into the spirit of things, perhaps also a day pass into the olympic park will happen.

we find our spot on the green by the canal. Our friend finds us. Lots more people now. The excitment is tangible now. The crowd moves forward and takes over the path. The stewards and bobbies hold us back. Alot of fun is being had in this heat. And I can tell you, it was hot! we waited for about 2 hours. The flame was late of course! we watched the local buses get confused over the road being closed. We all cheered the lone cyclists which were still coming through!

first came the vehicles, and boy were there alot of them! Well the crowd duly cheered them on as well. Infact everyone was happy to cheer anyone in the end!

and look, here comes the torch, can you see it there? Give a big cheer now!!

just look at all the crowds! you see him going by.

fantastic atmosphere, it was great to be part of it. It was a first for me, and great to see so many people turn out for it. and wow it was a hot one!

ok, home now, have tea and feet up, ready for a lovely bit of crochet........

have you seen the flame yet? will you go?......

                                                                 Heather