Summer Solstice and seven days seven photos

 Monday

The first day of the new working week layout - volunteers and I worked in a sweltering warm kitchen garden where one of the many daily tasks was to start harvesting the heavenly scented strawberries. Their perfume intensified by the warm air was intoxicating and we kept lifting up a choice morsel and saying ... this one is absolutely perfect.... No this one is even better! .... look at the size of this one! ... 

Tuesday

Today was set aside for private gardens which are a complete contrast to the hot and bustling kitchen garden, these are cooler, greener, and despite the amount of work completed, seem both more calmer and relaxing. Being surrounded by flowers, hedges and meadows is good for the soul!

Wednesday

Another day in the kitchen garden, a constant stream of people popping in to walk around the raised vegetable beds, asking garden advice or just wanting to chat. Thank goodness for the volunteers as they continue working while I feel to be standing and talking and itching to get on with my almost never ending list of 'Do it RIGHT now' tasks that summer seems to trigger.

Thursday

A different day - teaching. This time instructing 12 lovely ladies how to make a midsommerkrans or mid summer crown or wreath. Buckets of fresh flowers collected, foliage, grasses, green flower pods are coaxed into swirling 'nests' to celebrate the richness and bountiful moments of mid summer.

Friday

Back into the kitchen garden - the day is the warmest of the year so we retreat after lunch into the cool and lushness of the young orchard. I have to firmly encourage the volunteers to enjoy the slowness of weeding around the mini meadows beneath each tree and relish the cool breeze. I start summer pruning the young trees and celebrate the surrounding greenness in stark contrast to the formal construction of the kitchen garden. I also discover my favourite 'tree' - a 'tea-tree' !

Saturday

Himself and I wake up over looking Sunderland Point having set off the night before in the van. After a blissful and much needed good night's sleep we collect Youngest's goods and chattels from his uni digs because this particular lanky loon has finished university and bar the final 'extrav' and graduation day is now a free man (until the next step) - where has time gone? We load up the van while Moss sits in the front and 'guards'.

Sunday

Father's day, the boys send Himself some wonderfully disrespectful cards which amuse us both greatly, then we spend the morning pottering in the garden, baking and tinkering with the van before my folks come for afternoon tea and still slightly warm oaty biscuits.

Seven days, seven photos, many stories briefly mentioned and many which have not. My feet seem not to have touched ground for some weeks now however, with the new hours at work, I am hoping that things will be easier - not because I am doing less or doing more - but doing them at a better pace for me.

Happy summer solstice - this may be the half point of the calendar year but it is the beginning of the astrological summer with all the lushness and warmth and sunshine (being positive here seeing I do live in the north of the uk!!!) that summer can bring!

And, I shall leave you with the toast we shared at the midsommerkrans workshop ....

May the flowers in your hair stay fresh and your dance around the maypole be strong....

 skål !

Winter Solstice 2020

A quiet nod to the turning of the seasons, 

the anticipated move towards the light and hopefully a kinder 2021.

Walking to connect, to escape. 

Walking to clear heads and steel hearts.

Breathing in the damp air, the decaying leaves and the wet earth.

A sublime and gentle light - giving a feeling of hope. 

2020 has been different - by anyone's standard. 

A year of fear and hope, a year of unity and division. 

One of confusion and sadness and a year of amazing courage and strength. 

Solstice blessings to you all, stay safe, here's to 2021 - may she be kinder than 2020.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Summer Solstice 2020 #30dayswild 20

 As the seasons turn and the sun reaches its highest and northern most point in the sky - we celebrate summer solstice and welcome the official start of summer here in the northern hemisphere. The North Pole is at it's maximum tilt of 23.5 degrees-ish facing the Sun which results in the longest day and shortest night.

And we have celebrated the day by being out walking in the most glorious light.

This was also the first time we have been out in our converted van - Zeb.

Not fully decorated but all functioning and ready to play!

As was Moss, she was so so ready for a walk out (mind you - so were we..!)

The views just pulled us in,  

The sky filled our eyes and the bird song filled our soul.

 We sat for a breather, listened to the sounds,

felt the warm breeze,

tasted the damp humid air

Our pathway took us through wonderfully billowing meadows,

below a mobile sky.

 I swear I heard Moss laugh out loud with glee

Then after several wonderful cathartic hours

and many miles,

we returned to Zeb,

put on the kettle,

then sat comfortably and just soaked up the atmosphere.

Then, reluctantly we tore ourselves away,

to head home.

I think I must have smiled all the way home -

another wonderful day

spent on the hills

and with Himself

and Moss.

Solstice blessings

xxxx

Solstice Blessings

We usually celebrate summer solstice - the longest day - by being outside 

for as much of it as possible. Enjoying the light and the air.

The warmth.

Winter Solstice is usually a more inward marking of the turning of the seasons.

Lights, fire, food, candles and chat.

Not this year.

We spent it outside - for the most part,

walking. 

Enjoying the gentle light,

the freshness of the air. 

We still ate warming foods - Yule cake and mince pies,

mugs of tea - sitting alongside our favourite canal.

Not that we could linger long - there was definitely a nip in the air! 

As we walked, we watched the wintery sun slip behind

the dark clouds and leaf-free trees. 

The paths we followed were muddy and wet,

as was the dog .... 

Then, when we returned to the village where we'd parked,

their lights across the bridge were wonderful.

Simple and elegant. 

 A lovely end to a gentle day 

Solstice blessings to you all - here is to the turning of the circle, 

the changing of the seasons 

and the return of the light xxxxxxxxx

Summer Solstice

We watched the sun go down.
Turning the sky from a clear blue to one streaked in gold and cerise.
We'd walked all afternoon, listening to birdsong, the wind through the trees, the rush and tumble of water.
We ate sitting alongside a deep blue fast flowing stream and watched water fowl as our small kelly kettle rattled up a steaming hot coffee.

It was just us. Him and me. (and a dilly-dog).

Summer Solstice blessings to you all - may the turning of the wheel bring gentle sunshine, warm friendships, love and laughter.

Oak to Holly - Solstice blessings

Good morning.

Solstice blessings,

may you fall in love with life 

and the sun shine on you today xx

My garden is gently rattling

to the buzz and hum

of the bumblebees and hoverflies

A heady scent drifts down the path

and into the house,

the climbing roses have

woken up with perfect timing.

Despite the cool early morning air

I have opened the doors,

letting in the outside as much as possible. 

It will be hard concentrating today,

I know I will keep looking out of the studio windows,

keep wandering through the garden. 

In places, after yesterday's rain,

the garden is still damp with jewel-like water diamonds,

each one catching the light and reflecting back.

It is a precious time of year -

celebrating mid summer,

celebrating Litha,

watching the bees

dancing.

May the sun shine for you today.