Our summer days have merged into a flow of lazy, mostly at home days and I'm at that point in the school summer hols where I can no longer remember which day of the week it is.
We've been spending lots of time outside; swinging gently in the shade or lazing on a picnic blanket in the garden; walking in the woods and over hills; riding on the little steam train near here and eating lots of ice-cream. It's been mostly relaxing and Toby is coping. He's also beginning to adapt to the lack of pudding that I mentioned in the previous post and though it's still a work in progress it looks like petit filous yoghurts are becoming his new pudding of choice, which is a great relief!
Out in the garden things have been really productive this year. I'm still picking french beans, raspberries, rocket and kale and the cylindrical beetroot that I planted from seed has done really well and is deliciously fresh – seems I'm not the only one to think that either. Everything is still flowering too, the little oregano flowers are attracting lots of bees, hoverflies and butterflies and we've been watching the rapid growth of a surprise self-seeded sunflower.
There's even been a little knitting going on: I've finally finished and blocked a shawl that has been languishing in a bag for a year or more (Dream Stripes by Berangere Cailliau, details here); have quite a few pairs of socks on the go, as I'm clearly still under the spell of the sock knitting fairy (above are Wildflower and Honeycomb socks by Olivia Villarreal, details here) and there have even been a few animals emerging from my knitting basket too (more on that another time).
We've got exactly a week left until school starts again so we're just going to keep things simple here and try to savour the last summer break days, because days of warmth and sunshine are now numbered for this year. Mornings are becoming hazier and cooler, the evenings are shortening noticeably and the leaves in the woods are taking on that late summer dusty green. Autumn is waiting in the wings.
PS: I knew there was something I'd forget and that's the pictures of the tiny cucamelons that a kind friend gave to me as seedlings. Incredibly and despite unwanted attention from slugs, snails and squirrels they actually have tiny fruits!
little cotton rabbits 
Your socks are so pretty and so is your shawl. I know exactly what you mean about the changes in the air right now, it’s the same where I am even though I’m in a very different climate from yours.
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Those photographs of yours are amazing. I love the beets and the sunflowers in particular, they are real end -of -summer signs. Your socks and shawl have been knitted in such sweet, muted colours too, you certainly have an eye for colour and style. The little cucamelons are something I haven’t heard of but they look lovely too.
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Ooh, cylindrical beets, must look out for them. We’ve had some treats from our garden too, the only slight disappointment were the melons, not very sweet except for the last one. Hooray for petit filous!
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Gorgeous photos, I love the shawl and the produce is great. I’m a big fan of cylindrical beetroot as well, they don’t seem to go woody and they peel beautifully. I’ve had clouds of butterflies on my herbs this year, I think it must have been perfect conditions for them. Enjoy the last week of the summer hols, it sounds as if it’s been pretty good so far. CJ xx
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Lovely pics Julie ( I have a few of your visitors too)!
Your shawl and socks are wonderful, looking forward to seeing your new animals too. 🙂
I can’t say I love this change in season, I will forever be a spring/summer girl but what can you do, you have to try and embrace it, well at least I do. 😉
Enjoy whats left of summer,
V x
P.S. So glad Toby has found a new pudd.
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It sounds like you’re having a nice, relaxing late summer Julie. Your socks and shawl are beautiful — such pretty colors!!!
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Glad you have had a lovely relaxing summer Julie. So pleased that Toby has found a new pudding too! Your garden produce photos and your knitting projects are so beautiful, lovely colours. Can’t wait to see your new patterns, enjoy the rest of your holiday. Sue x
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I rather enjoy these late summer days that seem to herald the autumn. Enjoy your last week of the holidays Julie xx
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oh, julie, everything about this post is yummy…the knitting, the veggies, and particularly the photography! what an eye you have!!! have you ever talked about your photography? what camera/lenses you use…post production? I’d love to know!!! Enjoy these last few precious days of summer!!!
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Thank you for sharing with us, as always. I am looking forward to autumn this year as summer has been hot and muggy. Your pictures are lovely. Enjoy the last few days of summer break!
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your post is simply a feast for the eyes and those pink and grey socks are wonderful-can’t wait to see the finished result-you are hugely talented in so many ways.
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Julie, I always look forward to your posts with thoughtful photos and lovely writing. We share the same taste and appreciation for outdoor beauty and knitting in gentle hues. So glad to hear that Toby has found comfort in a new pudding. What would we do without our pudding?! I seem to require a yogurt each day too. Please give that boy a giant hug from me! Our San Francisco Bay Area summer is still in full swing with scorching temps in the triple digits. But there will be no complaints due to all the discomfort currently being experienced in Texas. My heart goes out to them.
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Oh Julie! You do take a gorgeous photo, and obviously, my favourite photo is of those dinky cucamelons ‘a kind friend’ gave you. (Kind friend is blushing….). My little fruits are still tiny, like yours, but still growing! I’m hoping we both get a bumper harvest.x
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Hi Julie. Our readers will love your beautiful post on Late Summer. We’ve included it in our craft inspiration roundup this week. https://craftylikegranny.com/craft-creativity/ Enjoy the rest of your summer days. Cheers Emily
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As usual, lovely photos and I have always enjoyed your writing… I have to comment on the cucamelons- I grew them a few years ago and we got a real kick out of them… I wish I had kept some seeds, as I haven’t found them since (a kind friend gave them to me too)…
Diane
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