After the dull, drab, cold and wet winter months the arrival of April is a breath of fresh and delicately scented spring air.
Everywhere you look there is new growth. Suddenly the grass in the meadows is inches tall, and the canopy above the woodland is changing from a high vaulted ceiling of interlaced bare branches to a softly dappled, shimmering green layer. And there are so many more shades of beautifully fresh green splashed across the woodland floor, and along the hedgerows and the roadside verges.
The absolute highlight of April around here is the annual emerging of the bluebells. Their small flower spikes develop quickly over a few weeks, racing upwards to have their moment in the sun before the tree leaves unfurl and the woodland canopy closes over for the summer. En masse their wonderful scent is strong, but individually is beautifully delicate and so redolent of spring. It is such a privilege to sit quietly alone in a bluebell woodland, and already knowing this truth I took a snack and my knitting with me and spent the morning there, listening to the birds singing in the thickets and the tree tops and to the drone of the bees, busy making their way from one flower to the next, I had it all to myself and it was utter peaceful bliss.
At home there has been knitting too. There are always several different pairs of socks on my needles at any one time, and I often switch between them as the mood takes me, but unusually for me I have finished a full pair from start to finish this month. The pattern is Truleigh Socks by The Knitting Shed knitted in three shades of Ainsworth and Prin classic sock yarn also from The Knitting Shed. I’m also busy knitting up new samples of my rabbits, foxes, and seasonal dress and sweaters patterns as I would like to refresh the front covers of those patterns. I think I mentioned that before, but gosh it is a long slow process these days so I will no doubt be mentioning it several times more before there is anything to show for my efforts. I have however now finished and wet blocked most of the sweaters, so progress is gradually being made.
Well, here we are on the cusp of May – my most favourite month of the year (though I do often say that of October too), so I will hopefully be out and about with my camera at the orchard, to admire and adore the apple and pear blossoms, and also along the riverbank where the best cow parsley grows. So, see you again in a few weeks, until then I hope you have plenty of small pleasures to season your days with hope and happiness, J x
little cotton rabbits 
Always a pleasure thank you💕
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Thank you for providing the glimmers of joy and beauty in your part of the world. As always, your photography, especially the attention to the details in nature, is a feast for the eyes and a welcome respite.
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Oh I saw your blog in my e-mails and the excitement I felt..It always fills me with delight! 💗
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You are such an inspiration, it’s an absolute delight to read your blogs. Wishing you all the best for all your endeavours. X
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So many pretty blues in your post Julie, from the sky to the gorgeous bluebells to your pretty socks!!
May is my favourite month too … enjoy!
V x
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This is lovely. What beautiful pictures. And the picnic looks brilliant.
Our son and daughter-in-law were flying home from a conference in Kuala Lumpur last week and their plane could not land here because of the “snow event” we were having. My husband drove four hours to the city they did land in to fetch them home. From +40ºC and 100% humidity to a blizzard (but it’s a dry cold 🙂 Welcome home to the great Canadian winter. It’s all melting nicely now but it will be weeks before we see proper green; a good rain to rinse off the accumulated dust would be a start. Makes me really enjoy the lush growth you share in your photos. Thank you.
PS Hope your little fox is doing well.
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Your countryside has such beautiful delights which you capture with your
camera so beautifully!! The bluebells are stunning!
Your socks are so pretty! What colorways did you use from the Knitting Shed?
Thanks!
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I so enjoy your writing. It helps me with my healing. It is warm and comforting like my favorite quilt..
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Spring…the season of hope! Here, 🇨🇦, the days are getting longer, bird friends are returning in droves, my gardens are displaying the promise of blooms & my chickens are thrilled to be out of their coop to free range. May is my favourite month too! I was born on the 8th, Mothers’ Day, Lily of the Valley blooms & the Sun’s warmth soothes one’s soul. Fresh start, new beginnings & still cool enough to knit. Just finishing a LCR Piggy for my friend. Love to you across the Silvery Sea!
Lori from Vallentyne
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I love reading your blog Julie. And having just been to the Uk and experiencing its cold and grey and gloomy skies ,I can really appreciate how you must feel when spring finally arrives.
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What are the colors in your bluebell socks and what yarn is it.
Its lovely
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Loved the photos of the bluebells. I must buy some bulbs. We had a lot at the last house we lived in but not here. Our weather in New Zealand is beginning to get cooler in preparation for winter. Love your rabbit patterns. I am a little bit addicted to them. Kind regards Jan Jacobi
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