July's full moon is known to some as the 'thunder moon' and that has been most appropriate this week.
Overall this year has been really dry and when rain has been forecast it's either completely evaporated before reaching us or we've just had a short shower. This last week has had a different story though and we've had several summer storms that have swept in quickly with dark, ominous clouds bearing torrential rain. Roads have been dramatically turned into rivers and the windows shaken by the loud thunder before the storm has headed off over the horizon leaving a wonderful sunset and the sound of dripping leaves.
It's been good frog weather, which has pleased Toby who finds a hopping frog to be the funniest thing on the planet, though if they hop in his direction and get too close he is liable to panic and run away squealing. The rain has been great for the garden too, everything is green and growing fast with flowers attracting lots of visitors.
This week has also seen a welcome slowing to the pace of life here. The last month has been really busy as we've been taking Amy up and down the country to visit various University open days. She has a year left of A levels before she leaves school and hopes to go on and study English and creative writing, which would be perfect for her as she's always written the most wonderful stories and has a flair with words. Hopefully everything will come together for her during this next year and she'll be starting a new chapter in her own personal story. The departure of a grown child is a strange time for a family though and is contrasting the very different needs of our two children even more than before; one ready to fly the nest and begin a new independent existence and one becoming even more dependant with the ending of the school years. It is what it is though and we are excited for Amy as she starts to make plans and preparations for her future, whilst trying not to dwell too much on how quickly the years fly by.
little cotton rabbits 
what a lovely picture of you and Amy! like you say it’s hard to believe how fast the years fly by. we have watched her grow up in the background of your blog and she is certainly a lovely young woman with an exciting future ahead of her.
enjoy the rest of the summer all of you .
Susan
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Awe look at your lovely grown up girl…please don’t dwell on passing years Julie, its hard, I know but in the end what can you do!
Beautiful photos, especially little froggy, I do love them but my husband is just like Toby and likes to avoid them should they come in his direction. 🙂
I’ve never heard of a thunder moon.
Happy summer,
V x
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What a lovely photo of you both. Lucky Amy going to do creative writing, that’s something I would have loved to have done. I hope she finds the right university and has a wonderful time there. Fantastic deluge pictures, I love the phrase Thunder Moon. I’m waiting for rain here today. CJ xx
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LOVE your pictures – especially the one of you and your beautiful girl. She looks just like you. It will be so exciting for Amy as she enters into this new chapter of her life. It’s not wonder where she got her creativity. Hugs to you and your entire family. Thanks for sharing some of the gorgeousness from your neck of the woods.
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Hi Julie – I hope you enjoyed the Open Day experience – I think it is a very positive way for parents to help make the next stage exciting rather than intimidating. Universities are happy to welcome family because they know that their support is vital for a student to achieve their potential. There are lots of great Creative Writing courses but do check out Royal Holloway which has a very successful course in a lovely campus environment. X
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Your photos are always exquisite. When I saw the watering can, I hoped there was not a dripping wet rabbit hiding in it. So much more charm than my plastic one, which no self-respecting rabbit would attempt to hide in. I was in agony when my son left to start the new chapter in his life. My only, so I thought I’d be totally lost without him. Fortunately, I found the virtual company of so many women (and a few men) around the world who offer so much of themselves to all of us through their blogs. It helps so to have a diversion and inspiration after the repetitive busyness of housework for 18 years. I felt such a sense of relief when a university was chosen and the agonizing application and decision-making process was over. We are able to be much closer now than we were when he lived here, even though we’re 1,000 miles apart.
What if there was a collaboration between a writer and a photographer somewhere down the line. How grand would that be.
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It’s so good to have you back here blogging more regularly Julie. The photo of you and Amy is lovely (and your new found selfie skills are definitely improving!). X
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Great to hear from you more regularly again Julie, I do look forward to your blog. Such exciting times for Amy, I was wondering how she was getting on. So pleased you were able to visit a prospective university together. Lots of changes happening for you Julie, it is lovely that you feel able to share your thoughts with us. X
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Your daughter looks very like you and obviously has inherited your creative talent. I do like the frog photo – they are fascinating creatures.
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Love reading your blog… I’m your fan!
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Lovely photo of you and your daughter, i wish her the best for fullfilling all her aspirations.
I will share soon with you the melancoly from the departure of my daughter. She is way older than yours and could achieve her PhD here in our city, but nontheless… when she will be abroad we will feel a bit lonely. Bur they have to spread their wings and fly!
Have a good summer and send us here some of your rain, we crave for it in this so dry season.
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Awww, you two look so cute! It sounds like you’re having a good summer and oooooh — count me among your fans hoping for a … oink oink LOL!!!
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Thank you for another lovely post and sharing your life with us. You’ll always be Amy’s mom no matter how far away she may be and your love for Toby shows in every post. I love that he loves the frogs. 🙂
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Hello,
This comment may seem a bit of a “bolt from the blue” so I had better start by explaining that I found your blog while looking for a knitting pattern for an elephant-in-pink-socks, to knit for a friend’s daughter. Your blog, as well as your patterns, was lovely, so since then I’ve been reading through with increasing sympathy and concern for you and Toby as you face an uncertain future. I think it’s wonderful how much you care for him, when too many people treat severely special needs children as a disaster to be swept under the carpet.
You’re obviously in contact with many other families dealing with autism, but have you ever considered CEASE-therapy?
Rather than the usual behaviour training or palliative care, this actually treats the brain disturbances at the root of the problem, to unlock the kind, gentle and caring person trapped behind the autism. The several cases I know are all much younger children, and not so extremely autistic, but I don’t see why the same treatments and principles wouldn’t apply for Toby. Even if it only helped a little, a slightly calmer, happier and more responsive Toby would be worthwhile?
There’s more about the whole CEASE-therapy concept here: http://www.cease-therapy.com
And an excellent and very caring UK therapist, based in Buckinghamshire, here: http://www.paulalattimerhomeopath.co.uk
I hope this can be of help to you all, and that you’re having a sunny day today.
Kind regards,
Helen
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The photos are lovely. Do you know how much you brighten my days?
Congratulations to your daughter – I hope her University experiences are some of the most wonderful of her life.
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Thanks so much Susan. It is an exciting time for her, a bit nerve-wracking too! Hope you have a lovely summer too
J x
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Your words are wise Vivienne and I will try to hold on to them and not be panicked by the speed which days whizz by!
Happy summer to you too, I look forward to popping by to visit your blog soon as I know it will be a treat to see all the flowers blooming in your lovely garden x
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Thanks so much CJ. I expect you’ve had some much needed rain by now but if not I think there’s some heading your way today – we had a terrific downpour and thunderstorms overnight! Thanks for you kind wishes for Amy, hopefully all will fall into place for her x
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You’re very kind Kimmy thanks so much for your lovely comment
J x
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Hi Alice and thanks so much for the recommendation, we know that it’s one to explore coming from you. We’ve booked in on their open day in September and have had a good read of the course outlines and it sounds perfect and the campus looks wonderful. Thanks again for thinking of us
J x
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Hello I have been looking for some special patterns of animals to make for my little grand daughter. Now I have seen your designs nothing else comes close. They are amazing. Is it possible to buy any of them so i can try and make them myself.
Thank you for reading this.
In hope.
Sue
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Hi Sue and thanks so much for your lovely message.
Yes, I have patterns for most of my designs (there is still the pig and badger pattern to come which I’m working on now).
You can find a link to purchase my patterns from my blog:
http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/knitting-patterns/
or you can purchase via Etsy
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Littlecottonrabbits
In both places the patterns are instant digital downloads following payment.
There’s also lots of help in following the patterns and you can see lots of other projects that people have made by following my patterns here:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/little-cotton-rabbits
If you have any questions please let me know
with best wishes
Julie
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