Summer has arrived. Here the month of June has the longest days of the year, and the countryside all around is at it’s most green and pleasant so as there are only 2 more weeks until Toby finishes college for this year, I’ve been making the most of what free time I currently have. I’m getting out and about with my camera as much as possible, because although we’ll walk every day over the long summer break together, walks with Toby are all about his needs rather than my wants, so we’ll be going at the pace he dictates, along the route he chooses and he’s really not keen on me stopping to take pictures of things.
For my solo adventure this last week I headed off to Panshanger Park. Though it’s on the edge of Hertford town it feels like deep countryside, especially midday in the midweek, when there are few people there. Oh my, this place makes my soul sing, there’s so much there to delight in…
wandering along the woodland paths, dappled with sunlight and cool green shade, listening to the small bird chatter in tree canopy overhead.
wading down through the open meadows, past the great gossamer globes of the goat’s beard seed heads, swishing through the long grasses which move like the gentle swell of the sea in the breeze and buzz to the drone of bees, dragonflies and hoverflies and where the longhorn cattle go about their business of meditative munching.
squelching along the marshy margins of the lakes and the meandering river, where coots, ducks, swans and grebe all call out their warnings from nests hidden deep in the reeds and rushes.
The heat of the summer sun has not yet been with us long enough to have bleached the intense green from the leaves and everywhere there are flowers; exquisitely delicate lace of cow parsley, fragrant heads of elderflower, tiny flowers of deep periwinkle blue that glint in the verges along the path, daisies and buttercups and dog roses. I walk with a big smile on my face and a lightness in my heart that has been a little lacking of late.
Back at home I’m making plans for the autumn, which is when I’ll have time to work properly again. I’m drawing up lists of the patterns that I’m planning to work on, and the tutorials that I’d like to share. As always these lists will probably be rather more ambitious than realistic, it’s hard to factor in the limitations that caring for Toby brings and I forget that everything always seems to take twice as long as I’d imagined it would. I do however already have samples made for a blog post on the increases and decreases that I use in my patterns and their relative merits – I’m hoping to write that up and share it soon and as always I’ll keep you posted on news of new patterns later in the year.
Well that’s it until next time. I hope that you’re able to find some of the same kind of joy that Panshanger brings to me sometime in your week ahead and that you’ve enjoyed seeing some of these pictures, thanks as always for visiting with me here, J x
PS: In my 3 hour wander I managed to take 443 photos! So these are the heavily edited highlights 🙂
little cotton rabbits 
What amazing photos Julie!!!
Such beauty in nature.
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Thank you so much for sharing this beauty with us!
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Have a lovely summer Julie. I look forward to your new creations in the autumn. Thanks so much for your beautiful mole, busy knitting my second one, along with the lovely coats and cardigans. Happy holidays
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Awe Julie your words and photos paint such a lovely picture .. I do hope you manage to squeeze in some ‘me time’ during the summer months.
V x
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Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing.
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Thankyou for such a wonderful post. The lovely way you describe everything makes me feel like I’m there with you. Look forward to more knitty bits!
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Your photos of your woodland rambles are always so serene and beautiful my friend. I feel like I am almost there with you in that beautiful setting. Thanks for sharing them.
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So beautiful pictures Julie! They remind me of my last visit in my home in northern Germany where I grew up. I do understand how precious the time before summer break is! My daughter has Retts syndrome, is almost 30 year and needs help with everything and soon the daycare centre closes for some summer weeks..
all the best from Oslo
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What beautifull place, I am glad for you ! You can find peace and rejuvenate you.
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Wonderful photos. They tell a beautiful story of a summer walk in the countryside. I feel like I was there myself. Thank you so much for sharing.
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Don’t laugh but if you had posted 443 photos I would have looked at all of them. LOL What a great park and a treat to be able to wander as you did. be well and enjoy Toby’s time at home.
hugs, Susan
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Makes my heart happy seeing your beautiful countryside. You are a talented photographer!
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It’s glorious out there at the moment isn’t it, and you have captured it absolutely beautifully in your photos and in your words. I just love, love, love this time of year. Those cattle are rather spectacular as well aren’t they?! I hope you have a good week. CJ xx
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I can only repeat what others have replied …………….. your words are so uplifting and calming. Your photos are reminders of the wonderful countryside around us as well as how lucky we are to have the freedom to enjoy what nature offers. Thank you. I look forward to more patterns and knitting tips in the Autumn with the pleasure of knitting yet another teddy bear – number 9 – I love them!
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Thank you, Julie. Your shared photos and thoughts always fill me with such joy, especially during the times when not much joy appears to be found in our modern world… Wishing you a very happy summer, filled with calming moments and hope for the future.
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You are a very talented photographer. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos.
I live in Tasmania, Australia and Winter is here!
The colours are so vivid & I especially love the dandelion pictures.
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Gorgeous photos. I especially loved the insects making a heart right in the bright yellow centre of the daisy.
Take care and I hope that Toby has a settled summer.
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That’s a lot of photos Julie — a photographer after my own heart LOL! Your photos are beautiful. I always love the glimpses into your world. I hope you will have a good summer with Toby and I can’t wait to see the projects you have on the horizon! XO
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You write as beautifully as you knit! Your lovely blog posts create a ripple effect of peace and contentment. Thank you!
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So beautiful! I’m glad you got some peace and time to fill your soul. Hope your summer is going well.
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hi julie, i had been looking for doll knitting patterns for a week or 2. i saw your 6 cable sweater pattern early in the search but thought as lovely as they are they will never go over her head, well after several searches with little success i thought maybe i can put an opening at the back. so purchased the pattern. on deciding to do the pattern as you have done, to my amazement it fits over her head. WELL THE CRUX OF IT IS, I AM HOOKED AND WANT TO KNIT THEM ALL. IHAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITH THEM ALL. WILL HAVE TO FIND SONE KIDS
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These are gorgeous photos, Julie! The English countryside at its finest!!
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