Today is Toby’s last ever day at school. Fifteen years in the same severe learning difficulty school is a long time and it’s hard to know how he’ll react to not going there again. In many ways it feels like we are sailing into uncharted waters, I just hope we don’t lose the paddle along the way 🙂
With the long summer break on the horizon, I decided to make the most of the last few weeks of familiar routines to go on a couple of solo mini adventures with my rucksack and camera. We’ve had perfect growing conditions here this year and the countryside around us is so green with lush summer growth. There are summer flowers everywhere: wild honeysuckle, cow parsley, daisies and buttercups. Fruit is swelling on the trees and the brambles are thickly tangled, studded with flowers and busy with bees. So many of the things that I love about our local countryside. I also love picnics and am happy to have had five of them recently, including two lovely ones down in Surrey with Amy, who is staying in her uni digs until the end August. We’re very proud of her as she’s done really well in the finals of her English and creative writing degree, getting a 2:1 mark and is now looking for her first full time job, not an easy task in these chaotic times, but hopefully something will come along.
I hope to post periodically over the summer break, but might not manage to be here very much until the autumn. I will definitely be back though to celebrate my 15th year of blogging in early September. I hope you have a good couple of months, J xxx
Pictures taken at Tewin Orchard, July 2021
little cotton rabbits 
Julie, I hope you are able to enjoy your summer days. Congratulations to Amy on her accomplishments! I’ll be thinking of you and praying that you find the right situation for Toby, whether that is at home with you, with an adult day care or something else. You are strong and resourceful and your love is inspiring. Be sure to take care of yourself when you can.
LikeLike
There are two blogs I read immediately every time I get a notice of a new post, and both give me a sense of peace and I come away encouraged with every word. One is yours, Julie. It never matters what challenge you are facing; you always have something to say that gives me hope. I appreciate your words of wisdom so very much.
Congratulations not only to Amy, but also to you and her dad for the encouragement you have given her along the way. A graduation is not only an accomplishment of the person who has finished the degree, but also for the ones who gave that person the foundation by which to accomplish it. You’ve done a great job; rejoice!
I will continue to pray for you as you make the decision as to the future for Toby. It will be a demanding summer, but I want to thank you for sharing with us so freely your feelings and your beautiful pictures which somehow always give me an insight to your thoughts. Thank you, and God bless.
LikeLike
Hi Julie,
Such beautiful pics. I can see how you love this beautiful area. Glad you are able to spend some time with Amy. It just seem like yesterday that she left for collage. I hope she finds a good job that she loves. Keeping good thoughts for her. I hope the transition forToby is to upsetting for him. I know you’ve said he hates change.. so I’m thinking good thoughts for him too. I hope you still find some peace in you life and find the time to go on your adventures.
Thank you so much Julie for all the wonderful patters as of late. The dog is so adorable abs everyone love it.
Much love to you and your family.
LikeLike
Dear Julie,
The pictures bring me joy and those little apples??? I cannot wait for this years crop.
Yes, the summer is bound to be a little chaotic without the usual routine. Praying you find a good solution for Toby and the family and Amy gets a job!
Thank you again for keeping us aware of what is happening. God Bless.
Love, me
LikeLike
Love reading your blog. Hope all works out well for you all. The photographs are beautiful, we live in a stunning country don’t we. Enjoy the rest of the summer and God Bless you and your family.
Much love x
LikeLike
Beautiful images Julie, so glad you’ve had some lovely days out (your picnic looks delicious)!!
Well done to Amy on her great results and best wishes to her as she looks for a job.
Wishing you and Toby a happy, peaceful summer …. and goodness 15 years, where does the time go to!!!
V x
LikeLike
All the loving best Julie. Beautiful photos.
LikeLike
Happy summer to you and Toby xx
LikeLike
Ciao Julie,
ho subito inserito su google maps il riferimento al luogo del tuo picnic per credere che davvero sia un posto reale, non un sogno…
Ti ringrazio molto per i tuoi post, non sono finti come spesso si legge sul web, anche se ci permetti di entrare in un mondo fatato che mi ricorda Peter Rabbit e simili, dai la certezza di essere una persona vera, che si apre e che comunica le gioie e le fatiche di ogni giorno. Questo ti fa sentire così vicina e reale…
Grazie ancora, passa una buona estate, goditi il ritmo della stagione, un abbraccio e un “in bocca al lupo” a tua figlia e un grande abbraccio a tuo figlio, vedrai che la strada si fa chiara passo dopo passo. Siete insieme, siete vicini, tutto troverà la giusta chiave.
Un saluto grande,
Ary
LikeLike
Thank you Julie for your inspiring blog. It’s the one I always look out for and get really excited when I see “Little Cotton Rabbits “ have posted. Thinking of you and your family. Just know you bring a sense of hope and peace to me when I read your words and see your lovely pictures. Best wishes.
LikeLike
Well done Amy, and what a lovely degree to have done. I would have liked to do creative writing, it sounds like an excellent choice, especially alongside English as well. Gorgeous photos, I’ve been enjoying the countryside too, so many wildflowers. In fact, even here in town I’ve seen quite a few on verges this year, which has been nice. I hope you have a good summer. No doubt you are all apprehensive as to how things will shape up for Toby as he transitions from school. I hope he finds new routines that work well for him and for you all. I am thinking of you. CJ xx
LikeLike
I hope you manage to enjoy the summer break. Your picnic looks wonderful. I love looking at your photos and reading your blog.
Well done to Amy for graduating with a 2.1 despite the trying times we are living in at the moment.
I hope you find something for Toby in the Autumn that works for all of you.
LikeLike
Dear Julie your exquisite pictures are always such a calming balm. I live in the epicentre of the terrible violence and looting we have experienced in South Africa approximately 10 days ago. It has been horrific and deeply traumatising. So your blog post is a beautiful reminder of peace and beauty in the world. Congratulations to Amy! Fantastic result and a happy and harmonious summer break to you and Toby. And solace and guidance for the months to come. Warmest good wishes Tracey
LikeLike
I am just someone else who wanted to thank you for your lovely blog which brightens our days. Massive congratulations to Amy, that is a fabulous achievement. Good luck with Toby too; I really hope that something positive turns up soon.
Best wishes
Jane
LikeLike
Huge congratulations to Amy, a 2:1 is a brilliant results any year but exceptional when you consider what the last 115 months have been like for students. I hope that things go well for Toby next term and that he does not find the move too stressful. Wishing you all a very happy summer xxx
LikeLike
Gorgeous photos thank you for sharing them.
Congratulations to Amy a great result in these difficult times. Best wishes to her and to you you all for the future.
LikeLike
Thank you for creating the cutest animals that bring a smile to my face each time I see a post. I am caring for elderly parents and your Instagram posts make me smile. Short and sweet your posts make me happy on days when I am weary. I signed up to receive your blog emails which I was not aware of before. No time to really read just look at pictures and scroll on. Keep knitting. Your work inspires me to be hopeful for a creative future one day when I can devote time to knitting again.
LikeLike
Thank you Julie for posting and sharing your projects and patterns. I can only tell you what a feeling of peace it fills me with and why I enjoy knitting these so much for my little grand nieces and nephew. I enjoy your nature photos as well as the project pictures that give me inspiration for the color combinations for the bunnies and the outfits. How wonderful it must be to live where the scenery is so beautiful and the seasons are so picturesque.
After I finish my two pairs of winter socks for Christmas for my husband and son, I promised myself a bunny to knit keep and for myself! I’m excited about your autumn give away! So adorable.
LikeLike
these knitted animals are beautiful a lovely idea for little ones, I would loved one of these and I am considering giving them a go myself to make some small peoples day
LikeLike