Tuesday 19 June 2012

Thankful for Fresh Air

A dose of fresh air works wonders for me after a busy, busy week. I was almost glad of the dismal weather on Saturday because it meant I could cosy up inside, getting to grips with the house, make it feel properly at home while the energetic ones in our family were doing energetic things.

I needed a few hours pottering, straightening crochet blankets, finally fixing cup hooks onto the dresser, cutting flowers from the garden and putting up pictures while it poured down and the gales blew to make me feel relaxed again.
And when the clouds parted on Sunday we took Woody for a Father's Day outing to a favourite village (Monyash, Derbsyhire) which is always somewhere we head to for an afternoon of gentle country pursuits; pond dipping for tadpoles and sticklebacks, an ice cream treat after tumbling around the playground, then a stroll around the lanes before a special tea back at home with my Dad and Mum for company.
Our wet, grey summer stretches on. Patches of sunshine appear here and there (always when I'm stuck in the office) but the Atlantic is still throwing lows and fronts full of rain our way.
But even under lowering skies, England is still a beautiful, beautiful place in the summertime.

20 comments:

patchworkandlace said...

Lovely pictures ,i love your bunting too and your dresser xx

June said...

Lovely photos especially the one with the ducks! What a beautiful village!
June

Karen said...

I love your pictures and so agree with you about England.
Its been a beautiful day in Sussex and I have had to water our garden for the first time for days. Still like the cosying up indoors though. Karen X

Viv said...

I love Monyash too and your delightful pictures - in fact I love nothing better than to have a day out in Derbyshire and then a quick stop at the Pilsley farm shop to buy something from their homemade vegetarian selection as a treat for our our tea. Have you been to the Winster Secret Gardens - another pretty village and some beautiful gardens.

DEB said...

Irises by the pond, how beautiful!

Unknown said...

How lovely! I have been lurking around your blog lately, but I had to de-lurk ;) to tell you how your photos just brighten my day! :-) I think we read recently about "sticklebacks" in the The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter...I don't think we have them here in the Midwest, USA! Maybe since I don't claim to be a fisherwoman! ;)

Thanks for continuing to share a bit of England with us! :)

Country Rabbit said...

hello lovely steph, i really did need that post- the calm and serenity. I think my head has been like the weather a bit shaken up like the stormy rain we've been having down here in devon. At least the suns been showing her pretty little face again.
I love the large pond on the green- I can imagine your sweet boys enjoying looking for wildlife and spotting a toad and frog or two...My daughters off to the zoo on thursday with the school and as she's just had a trip feeding baby goats at the farm she asked me if they can feed the lions. I did giggle. I could see her strolling happily in to the cage with her milk bottle at the ready.

Beautiful photography steph. sounds good for the soul to have a little time pottering about the house when its blowing a gale outside- something quite comforting about that.

have a happy week,

x Kazzy x

VintageVicki said...

You live in a very pretty area :)

Whilst all the rain isn't great it does mean all the plants look extra green & lush this year - a small blessing perhaps?

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photos! I now live over the border in the wilds of North Wales. Those pictures made me homesick for England. Time for a vist!

It's definitely a make the most of any sunshine kind of year here, too.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photos! I now live over the border in the wilds of North Wales. Those pictures made me homesick for England. Time for a vist!

It's definitely a make the most of any sunshine kind of year here, too.

Tangled Sweetpea said...

Gorgeous photos! There's nothing like a beautiful walk in England's stunning countryside!
Victoria xx

Frances said...

As I scrolled through this beautiful post, admiring both your writing and photography, I was stopped by that close up view of the tiny white five-petalled flowers. I got out my sketchbook and a pencil to just do a quick sketch of the pattern of those petals...the one petal so much larger than its companion quartet.

I hope you won't mind my sketchbook borrowing of that natural beauty.

xo

Katy Noelle said...

Dear Steph,

I haven't been able to comment, lately, but I always jump to read your posts. You always circle my heart and mind back 'round to simple pleasures and the heart of the home and how sweet life really is. Thank you, lovely lady!

just wanted to say 'hi!' =]

xo

Katy Noelle said...

Dear Steph,

I haven't been able to comment, lately, but I always jump to read your posts. You always circle my heart and mind back 'round to simple pleasures and the heart of the home and how sweet life really is. Thank you, lovely lady!

just wanted to say 'hi!' =]

xo

Mum said...

It certainly is beautiful.
Love from Mum
xx

...Nina Nixon... said...

Purely gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous Steph.

Have a lovely day,

Nina x

Louise said...

As ever, a lovely post with great pictures. I love the english countryside. You cant beat it.
louisem x

john bain said...

We have just had our summer here in West Sussex. It lasted two whole days! Very nice photos.

Nicole said...

Such lovely photos.
You are blessed to be surrounded by such beauty!

Tea with Prudence said...

Aye, that it is lassie, a beautiful place indeed.

pond dipping for tadpoles - memories, memories. Kept in jam jars no less, along with the bumble bees, but not at the same time, of course

cheers
Fi