If you've popped in here for a visit over the last 5 days you may have been greeted by a blank page and been wondering what has happened to me and the little cotton rabbits. Last thursday Typepad (who host my blog) were targeted by a rather massive and sustained distributed denial of service attack which knocked out all of their services and since then they've been working round the clock to get up and running again. Fearing for it's safe return has made me realise just how much I love my blog and the contact it gives me with others who like woolly stuff and similar things and I'm very happy to have it back.
Anyway, I'm getting back into the term time swing of things here, catching up (albeit rather slowly) with an email backlog that built up over the school Easter break, settling back into pattern tweaking and writing for those seasonal sweaters that I promised and generally just enjoying having some time to call my own instead of Toby's. This morning I've been on a bluebell walk as the local woods are full of them and we have a lovely sunny morning here today so it would be daft to sit inside all day.
I always think of April as the month of unfurling and those bright chartreuse green shoots emerging everywhere from little brown tree buds are quite magical. The most magical sight of all though is the carpet of bluebells.
For just a couple of weeks each year the woods are transformed into a place where you can really believe that fairies exist. When you sit quietly on a mossy log in a bluebell wood, troubles fade away for a while and you feel a sense of timelessness and peace, at least until a dog comes bounding up to lick your face as one did to me earlier! Still, it's a lovely way to escape from modern world stresses and I have resolved to go walking in the woods on my own more regularly, and of course it is the regular weekend activity with Toby – the woods are his favourite place to be.
Hopefully if you pop in again you'll find everything in it's place but if things do go wobbly again please don't give up on me as I will definitely be blogging here for a long time to come 🙂
little cotton rabbits 
What beautiful photos. I love this time of year as all the new growth looks so bright and green, pretty blossom fills the air and all the bulbs start coming up.
Thanks for sharing your walk!
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Such lovely photos. Thank you for sharing them. Spring is about a month late in my part of the world (New England, USA) and it is nice to get a peek at what we are waiting for via your blog. I often think there is no better place in the world than the woods in spring.
Cheers,
dana
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Spring Springing is always rather special, there is something about that chartreuse. It doesn’t last long but while it here it is like the trees are on green fire.
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So glad you hadn’t disappeared … absolutely beautiful photo’s. We’re off on a Bluebell walk this Saturday and I’m really looking forward to it.
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Those pictures are gorgeous! Especially the last one. It’s so peaceful looking – thank you for sharing such a beautiful scene! And I particularly love your comment “For just a couple of weeks each year the woods are transformed into a place where you can really believe that fairies exist.” A perfect description. Enjoy your peaceful time in the woods!
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So relieved to see you back online. Sad to think that these “random attacks” on servers can bring down so much positive web living. Love the bluebell photos…we are behind you in Canada, bloom wise, but can’t wait for the bluebell & trillium festivals that are to come. The last picture I can see. Baby bunny hugging on to the Mommy bunny in the branches to the left 🙂 thanks for sharing….Lori from Canada.
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Lovely to see you back Julie!
Beautiful photos as always! Helen x
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The photos are beautiful and carry the sense of how calming it must be to sit among the bluebells. I’m in the Southeastern US and have had a yard full of tiny wildflowers. In the midst of it all we had a freeze, but the plants seem to be rallying. We don’t have bluebells here, and I love seeing yours. Our irises are just beginning to bloom, though, and they are beautiful.
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Those fields of bluebells are breathtaking! You are so fortunate to live within walking distance!
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Wouldn’t ever give up on you Julie – love your gorgeous blog too much for that !
Your little piece of calm in the bluebell woods looks truly magical, the colour of the bluebells is so vibrant isn’t it ? Imagine a blanket made in that colour.I have just finished a spring blanket that has the bright green in it and it just shouts Spring !
Have a good week,
Kate x
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So glad you are back with us .! And that you are ok . X
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I realised that your blog had gone a bit AWOL (as had some others) but no chance of ever giving up on you – far too enjoyable to miss!
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I don’t think I have commented before, but I am pleased that you are back! We have similar bluebell woods at the end of our road. I think it is a very healthy place to go to – just think of all the massive trees and flowers pumping out oxygen for us.
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Oh Julie, those photos are breathtakingly beautiful! Thank you for sharing; I’d love to see the bluebells in person! So glad you are back in the bloggy world – I’ve missed you! x
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Happy to see you’re up and running again! I certainly missed you, so opening the blog today and finding the inspirational pics of fields of bluebells was awesome! You are quite a photographer…thank you. I have been equally inspired by the knitty items you create and crocheted an afghan like yours which was quite a challenge for me, as I’m more of a knitter . But, it was a delight to do through the cold winter months and now is a wonderful addition to my bedroom. I am now working on the Dream Stripes shawl. I’m loving it….the colors are ones I love and although I’m not a ” shawl” person, per sa, I am giving it a go. Again, love your blog! Thanks!
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Happy to see you’re up and running again! I certainly missed you, so opening the blog today and finding the inspirational pics of fields of bluebells was awesome! You are quite a photographer…thank you. I have been equally inspired by the knitty items you create and crocheted an afghan like yours which was quite a challenge for me, as I’m more of a knitter . But, it was a delight to do through the cold winter months and now is a wonderful addition to my bedroom. I am now working on the Dream Stripes shawl. I’m loving it….the colors are ones I love and although I’m not a ” shawl” person, per sa, I am giving it a go. Again, love your blog! Thanks!
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I think this has happened to several of the blogs I read. Boo.
I think you’ve won the bluebell woods photography prize this year Julie.
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Dear Julie,
please come visit me on my blog. I want to show you the rooms for your bynnys!
http://barbarasblumenkinderwelt.blogspot.de/2014/04/hasentraume.html
Greetings
Barbara
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It’s so nice to see you, Julie. The bluebells are gorgeous, thank you for sharing your photos.
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Your photos are beautiful!
I will see this in a matter of..a week? Weeks most likely~
My sous- bois..is so similar to yours..but not Bluebonnets here in QC..Scillas.
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Gorgeous Julie. Good for the soul. You are a talented photographer as well as a knitter.
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The photos you took are so beautiful. The bluebells in that fantastic blue and the fresh green that looks so perfect. I am happy that your blog came back. 🙂
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Thank goodness! I was wondering if you had shut it down! Beautiful pics.
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Sometimes you just don’t realise how important some things are until they’re taken from you. Good to have you back again Julie, although I never thought you would leave us! 🙂
Bluebell woods are just the most magical of places, aren’t those colours just stunning,
V xxx
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Thanks for the lovely photos, dear. Woods hereabouts do not sport wood hyacinths, as we call them, but having planted them in the back garden years ago they have spread into great swathes and drifts……Thankfully lovers of even the very idea of knitting little critters are not the giver upper type, have no fear…
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Thank you for the bluebell photos . My beautiful Suffolk mother would tell me stories of walks in woods full of bluebells. Now I can see what she meant just amazing. Here Down Under we are watching leaves turning red and enjoying wood fires but your photos make me wish I was in England!!
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such beautiful images…..
xxxxxxx Ale
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SO glad you are writing again…..I miss you 😦
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Thank you for reassuring us! I was a little concerned when your blog couldn’t be “found”. I figured it was a server error.
The photos are stunning! I was up north last weekend (about a 3 hour drive from my home) and the lakes were almost frozen solid – still. Spring will be a while yet but I will try to find a trillium to photograph and post as soon as I can.
Enjoy those walks, Julie. Keep writing and remember that you have many friends who share your joys and challenges – at least virtually.
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Glad you’re not lost in the great cyberspace!
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You know I’ll always be here checking! Those bluebells are glorious.
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Such gorgeous bluebells! It looks like a magical place.
Glad you got everything back and working again – I would miss your blog if you left…
Penny
x
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amen….and thank goodness for that!! love your blog SOOOOOOO much…….thank you xxx
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Wow, how can you not be restored after some meditative time there! Beautiful!
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Stunning photo’s of the Bluebells Julie, such a beautiful place to relax….. I was wondering what had happened when I couldn’t get on to see your blog 😦 I kept trying and then read your message, I have been trying since a few days to write this message, I kept getting the message page not available 😦 thankfully all seems to be working now 🙂 we all love you Julie and would never give up on you ….your a wonderful lady and I so enjoy reading your blog I have been a visiting you since the beginning , love to you and your family x x x
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What a beautiful post! You are so right about how a beautiful secluded place can transport you, take you away from your stresses and problems. And that it is so important to take care of yourself by taking yourself to those places. Lovely to have those breaks, and a great reminder to all of us.
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Wow Julie — those photos of the bluebells are just gorgeous. How lucky to have a place so beautiful in which to wander!
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Oh my goodness Julie, these images are stunning!
Glad Typepad’s sorted, Little Cotton Rabbits would be sorely missed if it disappeared 🙂
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I just love Bluebells, my fav flower. I am from England and its one of the things I miss the most. I have a facebook page called Bluebell Woods as well as my blog.
I am in awe of your knitting. I wish I could have the patience to do some of the wonderful things you do. Every one is special.
Janice
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Dear Julie,
Thank you so much for the bluebell photos. I was enjoying the close-ups, but when I got down to the shots of the whole field, my jaw quite literally dropped.
I’ve always imagined the English countryside and woods to be a magical place. I’d say those pictures prove it. I’m sure there would have been fairies if the dog hadn’t chased them off.
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