Hello, how are you holding up?
I expect that you’re just like me and are finding that the days have lost their identity and all merged into a constant stream of sameness. Here we have settled into new routine of sorts. Happily Toby now enjoys a long lie in – something he has recently been starting to get rather good at, after many previous years of waking at dawn. So my early mornings do give me a few hours of precious free time and my favourite activities are tea, toast with honey and knitting in bed (currently working on lots of clothing patterns for the small version of my rabbits); reading (currently The Wild Remedy by Emma Mitchell, an inspiring and comforting read) or pottering in the garden. Once Toby’s up and dressed and lunch is dealt with we’ve been keeping occupied. On sunny days we’re outside in the garden which has needed a tidy up and a rearrange ready for summer. H has spruced up the trampoline, which needed a bit of TLC after the winter, and Toby has had fun bouncing with lots of bubbles from his bubble machine. On rainy days we’re inside for some boxercise, yoga or a disco, depending on Toby’s mood. Toby loves music and he’s also really enjoyed watching the music videos on ‘The Singing Walrus‘ – be warned before you listen as I often go to bed at night with the catchy songs still circling in my head! We’ve also been baking, tidying and sorting too and Toby’s got quite good at helping peg out the washing.
Early evening is our time to walk in the woods. We aim to arrive there at around 6ish as this seems to be the quietest time and we usually walk our 2 miles without seeing another human soul. We do see plenty of other creatures though, rabbits, squirrels, woodpeckers, a host of small woodland birds, a sparrow hawk, a red kite and in the last 2 weeks we’ve regularly heard cuckoos. It’s been lovely walking the same route each day and fascinating to see the progression of Spring throughout the wood. Back in March the trees were still bare but now the lanes on our short drive have once again transformed into leafy green tunnels and throughout the wood there’s a gorgeous lime green light created by the new leaves dappling the sun. As soon as the leaves started to unfurl they were besieged by an army of tiny munchers and the lower branches are now strung with silk-suspended caterpillars. When we arrive back at the car we have to brush them off our shoulders. I always come away from the woods feeling deeply grateful that we can walk there. Toby has a couple of meltdowns each day at home but it doesn’t matter what has happened during the rest of the day, our woods walk is always a peaceful and happy time, as you can see from his face 🙂
Then it’s home for dinner and a quiet evening. Toby likes a bath with lots of bubbles and water balloons and then some quiet music until bedtime – hopefully before midnight as I’m usually ready for bed by 10.30, but like most things in our house Toby dictates when we can all turn in. I usually fall asleep with my book in my hand and then am woken up by the hens clucking for their breakfast, ready to start a day of the same again.
What are your days like? I hope there’s a little room in them somewhere for the things that bring you pleasure x
little cotton rabbits 
The woods sound wonderful, so much wildlife. I’m glad you’re getting a bit of time to yourself in the mornings now, that’s good to hear. Lovely photos of Toby, I can see how much he likes it out there. I shall go and check out Emma’s book now, I hadn’t heard of it before. Days here are good. I have been sneaking a little time outside in the afternoon, gardening and evening sitting in the sun doing some editing and reading a good book. Fingers crossed for some more sun this week. CJ xx
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I’m so glad the woods offer you both the peace you need and happy too that there is some kind of routine to Toby’s day now that school is out.
Everything has become so green, I think that is why May is my favourite month of the year, just a different kind of May this year.
Looking forward to seeing the little clothes! 🙂
V x
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As I look at your photos in the woods the quiet you and Toby find there brings me a peacefulness. He looks so happy. I’m in the US and I’ve settled into a new routine. I’ve been sewing doll clothes and doing needlework. Enjoying all the beauty of spring. Have a beautiful day Julie.
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Oh your woods walk looks wonderful and Toby does look very happy. Your days are very busy and great there are times Toby enjoys some fun. Lovely post and here may your days be filled with sunshine 🌞🌞
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Happy Singing Walrus songs often come into my mind all different times of the day nowadays since our schools have shut for the school year in most states here in the US. Our students love them! I so enjoy all of your photos/blog entries and wish that I lived where there are such pretty, wild areas. Glad that Toby has such a lovely family and place to be. I feel like I have been off from work for half of the summer break already and it is not even summer yet. I was able to pretty much transfer into my summer schedule early with the closing down of everything. Knitting, crocheting, enjoying the birds singing, and normal indoor life goes on. I look forward to seeing your new little animal clothing. I love all of the knitting but not the sewing of things together so much, but I need to get some bunnies put together. Thank you and have a wonderful tomorrow!
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Sadly I cannot access country walks. Confined to house and garden and missing bluebells cuckoos and nightingales. But most of all my daughters and little grandchildren
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Here in Lisbon (Portugal). Here, in the city, there’s not a chance to walk into the Nature. Or even to go and look to the river Tejo or to the Atlantic Ocean… We only may go out from home to buy food, medicines, or to work ( not my case, and lots of people are working from home).
However I’m very lucky to have a three year dog, since the 21st of December. My other one had died in August the 2nd with the beautiful age of 16,5 years old. It was very hard and then in November this opportunity came ( through a french Facebook page “Terrier Sans Frontières), and then the owner ( he was moving, he said and had a new job that made him travel a lot) as he surely liked my “talk”, writing, motives, Terriers’ experience, he asked a portuguese friend that was coming to enjoy Xmas with the family at Guarda (300km from Lisbon) to bring the dog. So I went to Guarda (an adventure, as my car is very old, and it was a stormy and raining weekend.
So I have to (allowed these days) walk her everyday, and I walk her 5 times a day 😉 That’s my joy and my company. Tilly that’s her name!
Other things I sketch, paint in watercolour, read a lot (I’m going to check the book you’re reading), in the evenings after dinner some TV series. And think a lot on the importance of things in my life, and what is not so important as I thought.
Wish you and family good vibes. I love to receive at my mail these posts of yours.
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Such a lovely post Julie, Toby looks so happy, what a beautiful photo. It is good to hear Toby is finding peace in the new routines you have set up for him. These are very different times we are all living in, I’m so glad you are able to find some sunshine.
Take care xxBrenda
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Toby looks so happy there with you in the woods. I think about you often and hope all is well with your family. So glad your Wood was waiting for your return. Much peace to you and your family during this strange time.
Bonnie
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It all sounds lovely ,TOBY GETTING SO BIG.
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It IS all about routine and sadly I’m still searching for mine. My gnat-attention-span had me initially madly deep cleaning the house, then rabidly weeding the garden (I should know this is not a one time activity!!!), followed by sitting tirelessly though weeks of photography webinars–culminating in a new website and blog platform!!!…..and at no time have I allowed a gentle routine to develop. You are always such an inspiration to me—with your knitting, your photography, and your graceful acceptance of life. You are my hero.
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Your photos are always so lovely, thank you for sharing with us all. It’s somehow comforting to hear the way the days of others wander along, such an odd time for us all. Hamba kahle lala kahle (go well stay well, the Zulu greeting!)
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Your pictures are always so wonderful! I feel them as much or more than see them.
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Thank you for the book suggestion. I bought it to read, I struggle to find new books that aren’t all dreary and this looks so beautiful.
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