Summer has arrived here in this little corner of England. The last few days have been wonderful weather-wise and over the weekend our whole family has been outside – the sunshine even coaxed Amy out of the teenage stereotype of preferring bedroom living 🙂
I've been sitting in the shade at the end of the garden and working on some end of term presents for Toby's teachers. I plan to pair each strawberry bookmark with a pretty note book and pencil and wrap them up nicely.
Free pattern from Pezdiva (with a few adaptations).
Toby has of course been enjoying bouncing, swinging and paddling
even the chicken has been enjoying the hot weather with a paddle in her own pool
Poor H has been the only one not relaxing or keeping cool – he's still been hard at work building paths and paving around the garden room.
I am also working on a little batch of knitted animals. It's been a while since I offered any for sale so I hope to have them finished soon, I'll post some pictures when they're ready.
Talking of knitting, thanks so much to Love Knitting for featuring little cotton rabbits as their blog of the week last week.
Thanks too to all of the people who sent me emails and messages about the book of the week on radio 4. 'The reason I jump' is written by Naoki Higashida an autistic boy living in Japan and takes the form of questions put to him and his answers. It is a fascinating and thought-provoking insight into the world seen from an autistic perspective. My copy arrived yesterday and I'm already halfway through (and scribbling notes to myself as I go). The introduction by David Mitchell is brilliant and any parent of an autistic child will be nodding in agreement and probably like me welling up with tears at reading things that so often go unsaid.
The book itself is revelatory and has again made me tearful many times, both in recognition of the huge implications it could have in the way that others perceive those with autism and because current state schooling often deeply underestimates and mis-interprets many autistic children. My head is literally buzzing and I'm trying to think where we go from here in order to give Toby a way of communicating all that is in his head (rather than just his basic wants), because there is a lot more going on in there than most people give him credit for. I'd urge anyone involved with any aspect of caring for autistic people to read this book, it is an eye-opener and has the potential to change lives.
Thanks as always for popping in to visit. See you again soon
little cotton rabbits 
I love your bookmarks and I am sure the teachers will treasure them. I would like to read that book, having been a teacher of autistic children in a previous life.
LikeLike
I love your strawberries and your photo’s
LikeLike
Dear Julie….I have downloaded the book onto my kindle and I look forward to starting it after I have finished ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’. Love those little strawberries, lucky teachers. You are so kind and thoughtful. And kudos to H, working away in this weather. It’s looking good. Xx
LikeLike
Adorable berries. Makes me hungry!
I just heard of another book and I thought of you, but I got distracted and don’t recall the info, but it did strike a note. I’m hoping I can recall it and will forward to you. So glad you are enjoying your summer. A little freedom as it is.
LikeLike
I’m going to order that book and read it ASAP. Thank you for the review suggestion.
Our weather here has been wilting and scorching. Even in the shade. I’ve been taking the kids to the city pool to cool off.
Your strawberry bookmarks are such lovely gifts! Do you ever do anything for yourself?? You are always doing and giving to others…….
Your H is a good man. Bless him….
LikeLike
Beautiful strawberries – what a wonderful gift. Handmade gifts contain so much love and gratitude I think
I often work with children with autism and their families so thanks for the book recommendation – have downloaded it already
C xxx
LikeLike
Yes, I listened to that – it was amazing!
Penny
x
LikeLike
Hi Julie – You are SO clever, they are the most beautiful bookmarks, everything you make is done so perfectly.Kate x justpootling.blogspot.co.uk
LikeLike
As you were talking about expression I was thinking of two books you and amy should read if you haven’t. One is ‘rules’ by Cynthia Lord and the other is ‘Out of my mind’ by Sharon Draper (this one is esp. touching):
http://www.amazon.com/Out-My-Mind-Sharon-Draper/dp/1416971718
Thanks for the other book recommend, I’ll check that out.
As always, lovely to see your garden, can’t wait to see more of the room!
LikeLike
p.s. I also laughed. My daughter is in her room a LOT now too. I remember doing that at that age, but it’s still weird. My neighbor says they’ll ‘resurface’ at about 16. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh Julie the Strawberry book marks are so beautiful, so neatly made as are all your knitted items ….. looking forward to the knitted animals too….
So glad you and the family are enjoying this glorious weather. blessings to you all x x
LikeLike
What lucky people Toby’s teachers are receiving such beautiful gifts!
So glad you are all enjoying outdoor living, especially Toby as I know how much he loves the outdoor life!
V xxx
LikeLike
Those bookmarks are soooo sweet, lucky teachers, so glad you’ve been enjoying this lovely weather.
Clarexx
LikeLike
those are such lovely gifts Julie x I have a bedroom teenage girl too! I am hoping to get a hammock to lure her outside with x
LikeLike
I’ve just ordered 2 copies of that book. 1 for myself and 1 for my step-mum who looks after my step-sister’s autistic 3 year old. I caught little snippets of it on the radio and thought it was really exciting. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
I adore those strawberries x
LikeLike
Beautiful strawberry bookmarks…there’s something very luxurious about that great summer berry! Heard the book on the radio too, and wished I’d had it when I was working with my teenage boys.
Jenni xx
LikeLike
Hello Julie,
May I also recommend another book which deals with a grandfather
s letters to his autistic grandson (true story). Beautiful book ! I am sure you will enjoy.s Lesson on Love, Loss and Gifts of Life* by Daniel Gottlieb*Letters to Same: A Grandfather
I love your blog ! You are very talented and inspiring.
maria
LikeLike
Sorry ! I meant Letters to SAM
maria
LikeLike
Hi JuLiE!!
I’m so excited and ready to buy some of your darling bunnies! I can’t wait. Also, I love your radio (Pure) will that work in the US? It is lovely!
Your knitting is by far THE BEST! Love, love it 🙂
LikeLike
Hey Julie, another good book if you haven’t read it already is “I Am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice” by Elizabeth M. Bonker
LikeLike
Hi Julie,
Just wanted to let you know that the pattern is no longer available on the Flicker page for the strawberries 😦 .
LikeLike
Hi TerriSue
It’s such a lovely little pattern, it would be a shame if it did disappear but it is still there:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pezdiva/133734949/
🙂
LikeLike
I just watched a biographical movie last night, borrowed from our local library. I have to say I enjoyed it so much, the best movie I’ve seen for a long while and it was about an autistic girl named Temple Grandin. It gave me a greater insight into living with autism as the parent and as the individual. As you say there is a lot more going on in Toby’s head than people give him credit for. Have you seen the movie Temple Grandin? Temple Grandin also has her own website to help others with autism. http://templegrandin.com/
LikeLike
love your pictures. thank you for the little strawberries
daniela
LikeLike
Lucky teachers!
I’ll have a look for that book, sounds fascinating. There is a possibility I might be working 1-1 with a little autistic girl in Sept.
Talking of a lot going on in heads, I knew a young man with severe autism in Athens who everyone assumed was a bit of a lost cause. One day he discovered his sister’s computer, used it, and it turned out he knew four languages (they were an international family) and was extremely clever but had previously had no way of verbalising it. Yet again a lesson to us all, never assume!
LikeLike
Charming bookmarks, and bless H for the work he’s doing. It’s going to be so lovely when it’s finished. It’s still very hot here, and I spent the day oddly – long phone calls with family, mucking about with the irrigation for hours and hours, talking to horses and doing family research. A strange but satisfying summer day. Our lives are very full, not necessarily the way we thought they would be, back in the day when adult life was only an idea. Loves costs us. But it never leaves us empty.
LikeLike
Gorgeous little bookmarks!
And I’ll definitively check out the book. Thank you.
LikeLike
The strawberry bookmarks are beautiful! I’m sure the teachers will be delighted with them.
I recently listened to the extracts from the book on the BBC iplayer. My friend has a 6 year old autistic son and I listened to it with tears in my eyes too, thinking of all these things going on inside him, with him unable to communicate them. I do know that my friend found the extracts very moving and helpful and has since started reading the book.
Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine!
Katie
LikeLike
Such a beautiful present idea!
LikeLike
Do I see DPNs for the strawberries? Glad to have you back.
Hope to see you soon. Garden is looking good, well done H
LikeLike
Bookmarks are gorgeous – thanks for posting just as I was going into ‘really must do something about teacher presents’ panic mode! My son will get the choice of giving these or your knitted cupcakes – perfect!
LikeLike
I knew you would enjoy that book Julie. Quite an eye opener for most people I would imagine. Hope to see you soon. x
LikeLike
I thought of you when I heard about that book, I’d hoped a copy would find it’s way to you 🙂
And what a prfect gift those strawberries will be 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Julie,
How spooky is that. Having read your blog on Thursday I got home from work to find D sat reading the very same book. I couldn’t believe it. As he has already started reading it we have decided that he should read it first and then I will and see what conclusions we both come up with after that. D’s uncle heard the radio programme and immediately ordered us a copy of the book. So far all he has told me is that it will change the way in which we view our son and the way he views the world.
LikeLike
Hello Julie,
I have just found your blog through the piece on Love Knitting’s website and have read the whole thing over the last week. I adore your little bunnies and have bought the patterns – so much imagination and such meticulous finishing – I just hope mine come out half as well. (I do have to say I find the baskets of body parts a little disturbing also the legs hanging on the line!) I saw the translator of that book talking on BBC Breakfast and promptly forgot the title – I will order it now so thank you for that too.
LikeLike
do you know Julie I almost e-mailed you about that book but assumed that you knew of it already. I found it a real eye opener, it explained so much about the things you sometimes mention that Toby likes to do and I have to say it totally transformed the way I think about autistic children. Not that I come across them in my day to day life, but even so it is a book that helps you understand the world they live in which is so different to the one the rest of us inhabit.
LikeLike
Wishing you all the best for the summer hols may this lovely weather keep up so your gorgeous boy can have plenty of time outside. Godbless x
LikeLike
I love knitting projects that look like real things. Those strawberries are adorable! I especially love the yarn you used.
Would you be interested in posting some of your knitting on Kollabora, the crafting and DIY community? I always get excited over creative knitting projects, but I haven’t been seeing many on the site lately.
LikeLike
My 1 year old sons favourite things to eat are strawberries. As he uses makaton to communicate he’s telling us all the time he wants a strawberry. Unfortunately as it’s now winter there aren’t any in season ( English is best !). After seeing this I decided to get his nan to knit some for a bit of fun. Unbelievably the knitted strawberries have satisfied his craving. He doesn’t eat them, just plays with them. Not sure whats going to happen in summer. Thanks for the inspiration.
LikeLike