Well, here we are at the start of the school summer term. Happily it's a long 7 week one so I'm really hoping to get a lot of things ticked off my to-do list before the summer break starts.
The half term hols went well here with lots of warm sunny days for Toby to enjoy bouncing and bubbles in the garden. I also tried to get him to help with a spot of gardening but it didn't go to well – too much goes in his mouth for him to be a good gardener! But nevertheless our little patch is looking good with all the herbs, beetroot, kale, rocket, beans and spinach all growing well.
I'm trying wherever possible to involve Toby a bit more in household chores, though it is very difficult for him to grasp the purpose of such tasks. We have one eye on the future here as it is our hope to continue caring for him at home once he leaves school – something that is fast approaching and is a really daunting prospect so we are trying to take small steps now towards a meaningful, enjoyable and busy weekly schedule for him. Over the school break l've involved him in pegging out washing on the line which, as long as the items are small, he is getting quite good at, though he has yet to understand the need to stretch things out and to use 2 pegs for some things. We're not doing quite so well with clearing the table after dinner. He has a very strongly defined sense of order and is good at knowing where things belong; cutlery in the draw, glasses in the cupboard, plates on the shelf etc. but he has yet to understand the concept of clean and dirty and so will tidy away any dirty spoons or plates that he comes across. We are working on the idea that dirty things go in the dishwasher or by the sink and hopefully he will eventually start to understand and be able to do some of these household tasks semi-independently with just some verbal prompts and simple supervision. Later this year he will turn 16 and so begins the transition over to adult support services. There is so much paperwork involved that I already feel exhausted and we've not really started, it will be a case of a day at a time and hopefully things will fall into place.
In knitting news I am currently finishing off a small batch of animals so will pop back with an update when they are done. For now I'll leave you with the pictures I took a month ago (and have been meaning to post ever since) from a visit to a local orchard nature reserve. It's a wonderful place full of ancient apple trees buzzing with busy bees who are based in the hives on site. There is a flock of very grumpy geese who hiss and posture as you walk past their enclosure and up in the woods there is a large badger sett – I hope to go and visit one evening as there is a viewing hide where you can see them quite clearly from.
Thanks as always for taking the time to visit my blog, I appreciate you stopping by and so enjoy reading your comments x
Tewin Orchard, Early May 2017
little cotton rabbits 
Lovely pictures as always Julie. You highlight the beauty of nature so well. Wishing you all the best as your son makes the transition to adulthood. Thank you once again for your inspiring work and blog. x
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Your photos are so beautiful. It sounds like Toby is learning a lot and that you’re making strides in the transition to adult life for him. I hope the summer terms affords lots of good creative time for you before the holidays come. Take care.
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Julie,
Your outlook on life is beautiful as shown in your words and your pictures. The gentleness and caring shines through. Thank you!
Hope today is kind and brings you and your family joy and hope
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Beautiful photos as always.
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Lovely photos Julie. Hope Toby continues to make progress. Sue x
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Glorious photographs of an English summer. You are so busy with caring for Toby and yet you have time to design patterns for us and see the beauty in your surroundings and show it to your followers. Many thanks for all of it and best wishes for getting through the paperwork.
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Julie, I love your pictures and hearing about your challenges raising a special needs child. It’s important for every individual to reach their full potential and I can see that you’re doing your best in helping Toby achieve this goal. I know that he has autism, but I’ve recently been reading about a different genetic mutation that results in something called “Mosaic Downs Syndrome”. We have a Downs child in our extended family who is quite low functioning. (She doesn’t have “Mosaic” Downs which is usually less severe.) I had never heard of Mosaic Downs since is much more rare. However, depending on the number of cells affected, the physical traits of Downs can often be noticed. Knowing about these cases helps me to better understand people that I come into contact with. For example, I ride the train each weekday with someone who may very well have Mosaic Downs. And yet he holds a job and can function to a great degree on his own. I’m very interested in genetics and understanding how the human mind works. Toby seems happy for the most part, and I guess that’s what’s most important. A lot of people with superior intelligence don’t see to be able to find happiness. Hurrah for bubbles and bouncing! Hugs from Kimmy
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Since you mentioned at the end of your message that you like to read comments, I thought I should write and tell you how much I enjoy your words, pictures and your beautiful work. I cannot knit but enjoy crochet and have messed with yarn enough to appreciate your wonderful choice of colors and your high level of technique. I hope one day I will be lucky enough to own one of your marvelous critters. Your phrase “grumpy geese” tickled me. Once a gaggle of free-roaming geese in a park came at me, probably expecting to be fed. I had no food, didn’t realize how big, noisy and demanding geese can be and simply turned and ran. I’m glad your geese were in an enclosure. They can, indeed, be quite grumpy.
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I don’t know which inspires and refreshes me more: your outlook on life or the life you look out upon! Between apple blossoms, forget-me-nots and green places with purple spotted sheeps… I feel as if I’ve walked the paths, fields and orchards with you! Thank you for sharing your life and multiple giftings with the world, Julie. Your are a blessing I’m sure to those who know you and to those of us lucky to know of you. Have a blessed June!
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Beautiful photographs as always. I can’t believe that Toby will soon be 16, times does fly. I hope it all continues to go well for you as a family, what is your daughter up to now, she has probably left for university? Best of luck in the future.
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Such gorgeous photos. I live in the city and don’t get to enjoy such lovely scenery. It’s also so nice to “go on a walk” with you. It seems like I’m right there with you.
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Julie, your photos take me back–I love seeing the blossoms and the sheep shots. Thanks for sharing. As you take Toby through the transition to adulthood, I am thinking of you. My boys are sixteen and we are looking at adult services, supports, living situations etc. It is tough–people with neuro-typical children know the path they will likely follow (school /uni or college /job /probably marriage /possibly children). We don’t know what paths our children will follow and the future is a big question mark. As you go through this with Toby, I hope it helps to know that others can relate to the uncertainty (and some of the battles) that you are facing. ❤
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Ditto what everyone else says; love the photos and find your stories of Toby so touching. Want to add that I began noticing lichen a number of years ago after reading about a botanist who wanted to discover new types. He asked people to send him photos of what they found in their neighborhoods. I never did get around to sending him any, but now I find them fascinating. I’m glad you included some lichen photos in with the lovely flowers.
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Beautiful photos Julie especially the lichen. Best of luck with Toby’s new chores. Love to hear about his progress and I’m enjoying the sheep pattern immensely.
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Hi Julie – wonderful photos as always! You probably know this, so sorry for preaching to the choir, but have you tried drawing little social stories to help Toby with the chores? They used to help with everyday routines when I worked with special needs kids, and my daughter always benefits from seeing something in picture form in order to understand it. Ignore me if I am telling you what you already know!
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Gorgeous photos Julie and I see from Tewin, the scene of Tom and Vicky’s wedding next year! I must go and have a look. Give me more details tomorrow… I’m looking forward to seeing you, it’s been ages! Xxxx
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Lovely pictures, as always, and love to read about your doings. Such beautiful flowers that I immediately thought how I would love to draw them. Last years I did a short course of Scientific Drawing (three months/once a week), and I hope next year ( beginning September) to be able to enroll in another one for the whole year.
Always so nice to receive news from you, through your blog.
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Wonderful photos from the orchard Julie, they are glorious places in spring aren’t they. Good luck with the transition for Toby and for all of you, I hope it goes smoothly. As you say, a day at a time is a good way to go. Your garden is looking beautiful, so green and healthy. I bet the bees love those chive flowers. Hope you have a good week. CJ xx
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Lovely to catch up xx
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Thank you for taking the time to share your beautiful photos with us. I pray that things continue to go smoothly with Toby.
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I introduced my husband to your blog quite a number of months ago because of the beautiful photos of English countryside. He loves these photos, especially the bench with footprints! In our area (Willamette Valley in Oregon)these would be raccoon. Thanks so much for sharing the beautiful orchard photos and the challenges of raising children with disabilities. Our oldest daughter has a disorder called Chiari Malformation, so the challenges she has faced have been mostly physical. She was diagnosed with this birth defect at the age of fifteen, and is amazing her doctors with her determination to live a normal life, still working full time at 42!
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Your pictures are always fab. x
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Gorgeous photos, I can practically smell the blossoms! Your garden looks amazing. It sounds like you are doing great with Toby, and while it might be hard to see the progress while you are in it, it is fantastic that he is able to help more with some basic chores.
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Thanks a lot for sharing your eye for beauty. It is, as always, a great inspiration for me to read how well you cope with the challenges of life!
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Soooooo many beautiful pictures !!! Thanks 😉
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Hi Julie,
You are such a good Mum to Toby even though I’m sure he can be a handful at times – especially as he gets physically bigger. My godson is quite mildly austic but is still very strong willed – nevertheless, I still love him and enjoy his company.
I hope you do find your way through the minefield of paperwork and get the support both you and he will need in the years to come.
Oh, and thankyou for the beautiful photos – you have a real talent there!!
Tina x
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Keeping you and your family in my prayers. I always enjoy reading your posts. Beautiful photos. You always brighten my day.
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Julie,
I have been a “lurker” for sometime. I have two “special needs” son’s and your comments on teaching your son to empty the dishwasher hit home. One of my son’s jobs is to put away the dishes. As soon as a dish hits the drain board he is putting it away. This has resulted in me having to “train” the rest of the family not to leave their dirty dishes on the drain rack! ha It took us quite awhile to teach “pegging out the laundry”. We lost quite a few pins in the process.
I’m not sure why, but when they finally have success in managing a small task, we have such joy. Continue on, don’t give up!
I also wanted to tell you that I have spent many enjoyable hours knitting from you bunny pattern. I have knitted from many, many patterns over the years, but none as clearly written as yours. Thank-you
Blessings,
Becky from Alabama, USA
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Just a day at a time…. love your blog!
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Fabulousness🌼 in your garden. I always adore your Nature photography😉 wishing
We were along. Can’t wait to see your future knitting. You always🌠 inspire us.
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I love the phrase “pegging out washing;” perhaps I need to add a clothesline somewhere. The badger hide sounds fantastic. Perhaps we will see a badger in your pattern line in the future!
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Absolutely beautiful pics. I so love to see photos of your corner of the world. It is so different from mine and I find it so refreshing. Thank you for sharing.
I always look forward to seeing your latest knitting projects. I’m still working on your fox. Got sidetracked with some shawl gifts but look forward to getting back to Mr. Fox. I so appreciate your detailed instructions.
You are a marvel, a wonderful example, and such a good mum. Thanks for keeping us posted on your family life challenges and joys.
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Dear Julie…this is the sixth time I have been back to read your post, hesitating to comment as I struggle to figure out how to be supportive as I struggle on the other side of The Pond with my Jack. How do we work towards a meaningful life? What does that look like for all of us? …including my other two boys who are young adults? It is a challenge as my friends talk about their retirement plans and my plan is to start some business to provide Jack with supported work…we all need a reason to get out of bed! An elderly friend of mine used to always say, “It’s a good life if you don’t weaken.”…@ 20 this sentiment didn’t make sense…as I age it is becoming quite clear! I appreciate your comment about the paperwork! Endless! Numbing! Please know you have someone cheering for you & wishing you gentle days ahead.
Fond regards, Lori from Port Perry
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your garden is looking lovely.
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Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos.
Lots of Love, Kim
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Hi Julie, good to hear happy news from you! So glad for Toby’s wonderful bits of progress. Your new lambs and rams are precious. Love all the garden and sky pictures. We are leaving today to visit England, and so looking forward to it. I have never been, but Adam has many times over the years. Will be nice to escape our Texas heat! Take care, Leslie
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