Almost Midsummer

Normal life has started to tentatively resume here and it's strange. I'm back at work full time, although not in the usual classroom or with the usual children, and Angus has returned to school, but he sadly won't be going off on his Year 6 residential as he was supposed to next week. I noted with regret that Bella's parents' evening should have been last week (I always like going to Bella's parents' evenings - teachers love her) and that, like so many other things, has been cancelled. Bella is still learning at home, and John is still furloughed so we're fifty percent there. It's been good for Angus to see his friends at school and Bella has been able to meet up with cousins and friends in the park - time away from family and the house has done them both the world of good. We were able to have lunch in my parents' beautiful garden yesterday and the Zoom catch ups are still going strong.

But, strangely, I am finding the easing of restrictions harder than the full, early lockdown. I think I felt a sense of togetherness and solidarity with everyone else that I don't feel now. I was motivated by the unexpected time at home, we powered through our list of DIY tasks, unsure how many weeks we'd have altogether. And then spring was over, and now we're almost at Midsummer and the weeks drift by. I think I've just completely had enough of it all. Of course I understand why it must be so, and I obediently follow all the rules, but my heart isn't in it anymore. I can only imagine how those still shielding must feel, with no tangible end in sight yet. 

But there has been good stuff happening, so much good stuff. John celebrated his birthday on a gorgeously hot day and we ate cookies and cream cake (looked better than it tasted if I'm honest) and went to the beach.

We've had some really lovely walks lately. 

Just our usual, local places, nothing that exciting, but everything is just bursting with that early summer green, full of wild flowers and lush ferns. 

These walks are so good for me, and for us as a family. Even if it's just an hour, together, wandering along the footpaths. 

Thank you all so much for your comments on my lockdown sampler. I am glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. I did miss the rhythm of sewing a letter a day at first, but after a few days break I went straight into the next project - my English Paper Piecing patchwork quilt.

I have been slowly sewing hexies over the last couple of months in the evenings, in front of the TV, and have now used every single scrap of spare fabric I had, which feels wonderfully satisfying. I have the box above of coloured pieces, plus the neutrals below.

I have (I think) 995 hexagons altogether which is enough for 142 flower shapes made from 7 hexagons. My plan is to make them all then arrange them, for that pleasing random effect (that isn't actually random at all) and then sew them together. I don't know if this will give me a big enough quilt. I don't really know what I'm doing, let's be honest, but I'm having fun. I'm really loving the slow, organic, hand-sewing process of EPP so far. I think it's a good fit for me.