Midsummer Weekend

Finally, finally, some sunshine. Just in time for the weekend, blue skies and warm weather arrived, flooding the house with bright light, while the garden positively glowed in the heat after so much rain. It lasted a whole day and a half, only to be replaced by low, dark cloud and suffocating humidity that saps all my energy and sets off my hay fever. We may have thunder tomorrow.

But look, proof of sun.

The lawn is lush and growing faster than we can keep up with mowing it, and my blackcurrants and redcurrants are ripening beautifully and are not far off being picked.

On Friday the four of us went for a walk after work and school. I love an evening walk in the summer, it's the nicest way to start the weekend, and marks the end of the working week in a much calmer way than rushing around the supermarket. We rarely find time but luckily the dog gives us an excuse to go out.

Even on Sunday, under hot, leaden skies, the woods were so green, just buzzing with growth and life.

I abandoned the crochet socks I recently started and picked up this blanket project instead. I don't know why but the socks just weren't doing it for me, I couldn't settle into a rhythm with the pattern, so they've been put to one side in favour of this granny square blanket made with cotton yarn. It's been lying half-forgotten in my basket since last autumn, but when I got it out and had a look at it, suddenly we were friends again.

The colours and shades make this very much a summer blanket for me, and I am filled with enthusiasm to crochet as much of this as I can whenever I have a moment.

My parents recently returned from a holiday in the Cotswolds with the best kind of holiday souvenirs: a couple of additions to my little Observer Guide collection and a box of eggs.

The books have been browsed and admired (cue much excitement from John when he spotted his beloved Leeds United FC in the photograph on the cover of the football guide) and the eggs came in the prettiest box, with the deepest yellowy-orange yolks. Heaven.

I've been cooking as much as ever, just forgetting to take photographs. I am enjoying overnight oats a lot lately, making them with coconut and chia seeds, and often take them to work in a jam jar with some fruit if I don't have time for breakfast at home. There have been salads, so many salads, and a lot of fruit. I can't quite believe the amount we get through in this house. I mean I'm not complaining, but I have to do two or three midweek top-up shops for fruit alone. We eat at least twenty bananas a week (we all take one each to work or school), a couple of bags of apples, melons, a pineapple, grapes, and if I buy strawberries then they are gone in a matter of hours. 

Bella and Angus aren't always that enthused by talk of a big salad, preferring instead to eat the tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce etc that they like plain without me throwing on seeds, herbs or dressing. Unless, that is, I mention Rainbow Salad, and then they are fighting to chop and arrange the vegetables for me. Aren't these bowls gorgeous? They're made of bamboo so perfect for indoors or out, and are from my favourite local shop/studio Winter's Moon. I have bought bits from Julia's shop over the years and love her eye for style, but also her support of ethical, independent, vintage and local suppliers and makers. We need more of that, I think. 

We started painting Bella's bedroom over the weekend. These things always take longer than you think, don't they? Hours were spent sanding, preparing and undercoating while I was itching to just slap on that bright white. It's almost there, just the two feature walls to do and then hopefully we can assemble some of the new furniture this weekend. Baby steps. 

Wishing you all a happy week ahead.