June brought us a heatwave and it was a bit too hot for me truth be told – I am much happier in cooler weather. We had 3 consecutive days of temperatures over 30 degrees and as the house felt too warm and airless I sought out the shade in the back garden. It was even too hot to knit so instead I read from a gentle and lyrical book, a perfect read for a shady spot under a tree full of birdsong; ‘Birds, Art, Life, Death’ by Kyo Mclear. But reading doesn’t really help my get-up-and-go as it tends to make me dozy – I think years of reading before sleep at night has conditioned my brain this way. Though I may not have got as much done as hoped for, I am not complaining. That kind of heat is a rare treat and one to be savoured:
I love the start of hot days, with the haziness that appears just after dawn when it’s already warm and balmy and you just know the day is going to be a scorcher. It brings to mind my 1970’s childhood holidays in Cornwall or Devon and the promise of a long day on the beach building sandcastles, splashing about in rockpools and eating warm, slightly gritty sandwiches, because somehow the sand always managed to sneak into even the most tightly sealed tupperware container. Speaking of food, it’s been too hot to eat much so we’ve been living off salads. Mostly impromtu combinations of avocados, tomatoes, rocket, spinach, french beans, goat cheese and whatever else is lurking in the fridge like a smattering of left-over roasted beetroot. Light and summery food that doesn’t involve standing near a cooker, that makes me happy.
I also love the evenings of hot days; the hum of the lawnmower from 2 gardens over; the song of a blackbird (still so vocal at this time of year) proclaiming his right to this patch; the drifting smoke from a barbecue somewhere nearby coupled with the smells of flowers, dusty paving and sun-cream, all mingled into the unmistakable scent of summer. The summer evening sunlight paints my kitchen with a rich gold that is so particular to this time of year. Then there’s that magical shade of blue that appears after sunset, before it’s fully dark, so luminous and so difficult to capture or re-create. Summer days like these have a magic – probably because here in England they are not so common and so have the power to transport us back years, or maybe it’s just me being nostalgic. Either way I have enjoyed them.
With July cooler days have arrived again and it’s a more comfortable knitting temperature which is good because I’m busy auditioning yarns for the next pattern. I’m sure you can guess from the yarn colour which kind of animal I’m working on 🙂
I’ll keep you posted on progress, but with the summer holidays approaching it is likely to be early autumn before it’s ready to share.
little cotton rabbits 
Oh my goodness, those pinks! So pretty…I think I can guess which animal it is going to be.
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pink…. let me guess, I believe it can only be a magic pink unicorn? would you please, please, please ?? 🙂
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I know it will be pigs 🐷 patterns 😍 Love you Julie 💓💓💓
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Yay – I’m hoping that it is pigs!! I can’t wait.
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I’m feeling nostalgic now too, you have captured the sights, sounds and smells of summer so well Julie!! Let’s hope we have a couple more months of summer to come.
I’m guessing there are some little piggies in the making!! 🙂
V x
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Beautiful words and beautiful photos. Summer’s been glorious so far hasn’t it, and I love your childhood summer memories. I remember my friend and I used to take a tall Tupperware beaker of lemon and lime squash with ice cubes in it to school when it was really hot. Happy days. I’m guessing pig or pink flamingo… Hope you have a good week Julie. CJ xx
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oh, both pictures and words – poetry!
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As usual you usually light the fire for my summer knitting! I do hope for a little pigglywiggly 🐷 but I would be thrilled with whatever you want to offer. Have you ever thought of offering an online/in person finishing workshop? I would sign up in a flash lol! I love my LCR friends I have made but would love to hear tips & tricks from the LCR CEO herself!
Enjoy the days of summer!
With a summer sigh, Lori from Port Perry 🐷…🐶🐱🐭🐰🦊🐻🐼🐵🐐🐏🐑🐘
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I thought when the lovely pattern for the sheep came out, wouldn’t a pig be nice. Some friends have an orphan black pig and it is so cute. But getting very big now about 6 weeks old. I totally love your knitting Julie, a true inspiration.
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Is it a giraffe?x
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Looking forward to a new pattern from you Julie, whatever it is (but I guess piggies too!), it will be lovely. Glad you are enjoying relaxing in your beautiful part of the world. Sue x
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Little pigs patterns to come! Yeah! Your pictures are gorgeous as always Julie. Have a nice day.
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What a lovely selection of pink yarns. Looking forward to seeing the next pattern.
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A little pig pattern will be so cute – I look forward to it.
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how lyrical you are today…..and so glad the heat wave for you comes rarely and doesn’t linger. wishing i could say the same here in my sweltering corner of the world. an intriguing book title that i must hunt down….and whatever that pink turns into….i’m sure i’m going to love it! happy summer!
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Pigs! One can hope😊
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Your photos are as much of a joy as your words. A feast for the senses!
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Oink, oink ! I do hope it is? This would be a wonderful gift to me as my favourite animal …. love, love.
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A pretty pink piggy! So funny to think it is hot over there when it’s winter here 😊
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Great post Julie, thanks!
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I envy the hot weather you’ve had, we had such a slow start into summer although who knows what July will bring. Love your gorgeous photos, and I hope that July is a bit more comfy for you!
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Lovely post, Julie! My guess is that you are designing an armadillo, to branch out a bit from previous patterns. Armadillos are pink, right? What is the prize for guessing correctly? 😀
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I’ve enjoyed your previous reading recommendations, so have just read up on that book – sounds perfect, so I’ve ordered a copy! I am already familiar with escaping from the reality of a father with Alzheimers into the world of nature, so I think this will be my cup of tea! Reading ‘H is for Hawk’ at the moment.
Your description of a 70s summer brings back memories!
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With such lovely shades of pink, it must be a little piggy. Can’t wait to see what you create. They are always such a treat.
Had to laugh a little at 30C. This is nothing compared to the sweltering California sun. Every year we seem to have more days of temps in the triple digits (F). Definitely not my favorite kind of weather either… But I do love our mild (compared to yours) winters with no snow. I feel sorry for my relative who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. She said that her thermometer quite often registers 120F+ (49C+) during the hottest months of the year. Of course, they all have air-conditioned homes, but who wants to be confined indoors so much of the time? I hate to think what would happen if the air-conditioning or power gave out.
And there are those leaders among us who think global warming is a joke…
Love seeing your gorgeous photos and hearing about your activities. Thanks for sharing.
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Julie,
As usual your photos make me dream. I live in a hot place so dreaming of cooler weather does it for me. I knit even when it’s hot because that’s pretty much all I get. But I grew up in France where the weather was closer to what you have, and it does bring back some memories of good afternoons outdoor.
Thanks for sharing,
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Ooohhh💕 loving the glorious variations of PINKS🌸 yummy thinking of wee piglets🐖🐷
Whatever you Surprise with, can’t wait..it will be FABULOUS🌠😉💜
Thanks for capturing summers in such a marvelous 🎶 articulate manner.
We have HOT Humid temperature😲 here the last decade I guess.. going into triple
Numbers often. So hot folks do not even go in their pools😩 Sun is TOO HOT. Ground is TOO
HOT animals won’t go OUT🐶🐱🐕😩. We get thunderstorms most afternoons making it worse.
Thankful for air conditioning. We were raised in the North by big lake😉💜 FABULOUS weather ALL year. Changing seasons, and food.So fun to sit out and knit in the breeze anywhere anytime.
Fabulous photos
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Oh my! I have my fingers and toes crossed its going to be Piggys!!!
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You are such an artist — with photographs, texts, and, of course, knitting. Thank you for publishing this blog. I come here often for beauty and inspiration.
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This reminds me of the seventies summers where one could almost take for granted, day after sunny day. We have a very loud blackbird too who doesn’t seem to feel that his job is done yet. You’ve reminded me too of Tree Top tropical squash in Tupperware beakers. I think we must have kitchens that face the same way because we only get direct light on a summer’s evening.
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Oh Julie your weather has been so hot but up here In Largs we are onthe coast and our weather has been very much send with even days that I have put our heating on!!!!! Then next day it’s very humid s I don’t know where we are lol
Like you we have a nest someplace real close as mr blackbird is down each day shopping for food in the garden and today I had crackers for lunch and I usually don’t feed the birds in summer but crumbled a half and put it out on door step and down he came with his wife!!! So I stood and just watched they were not afraid at all so feeling good with myself!!
I’ve not been knitting much as our daughter had a baby boy two weeks ago so been busy with them all but no doubt the orders will soon come but she already has a son so maybe it will not be too bad lol
I am loving all the pinks maybe dresses?? Maybe wee pigs?? It will be wonderful whatever.
Have a great summer Julie and love be Toby and family. Xxx
Hugs
Ellie Scotland xxxxx.
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The yarn in the lower right of your basket looks to have a little bit of an “oink” in it . . . and, the shade seems to be mighty piggly too! 🙂
Have a wonderful summer, Julie.
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