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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Thank you Julie for the wonderful photos of your beautiful bluebell woods! Your words took me back to my childhood in southern England when I would feel the same way walking through our local woods. Thank you.
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Good Mornng Julie ,
It is Autumn here in Sydney now and all the leaves are turning their lovely colours of reds, yelllows and brown.
After a very long hot Summer in Penrith (outer Sydney) where the temperatures are in the high 30’s and regularly in the 40’s, it is wonderful to have some cool mornings of 9-12, then it gets to 24-25 during the day..
I have made many of your patterns over the years, at the moment the Mice are very popular.. I make them for a Children’s Hospice called Bear Cottage, where my Grandson died several years ago with a rare Brain tumor, and the staff tell me the Children love the Mice. I Crochet little Hats and Bags and embroider Flowers on them…. I can’t remember how many Bears I have made over the years. I am currently Knitting Rugs for the Children, each square a different Animal.
I love all your wonderful photos and your news of your Son, my Neighbour has a Son who has similar problems. you are both awsome ladies.
I lookd forward to more great photos and patterns
Look after yourself.
Best wishes
Margaret 🥀
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so heartwarming to read of your making little mice to delight, its good to be reminded of such kindness out there. I have a neighbour who knits hand held teddies for a similar cause and I love to see them al lined up in their array of coloured yarns.
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Wat een mooie foto’s van de boshyacinthen.
Prachtig kleurenpalet. bedankt voor al je prachtige verhalen.
lieve groetjes van een Nederlandse vrouw in Belgie, Wilhelmina
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Wonderful as always Julie☺️
I too have a bluebell wood right next to my back fence it really is a joy and it’s what’s kept me living where I do for over 40 years .🩵💙
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Thank you! I look forward to your postings – they are my quiet time.
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Hello
Your bluebell photos are beautiful. I’m in Western Canada, and the same thing is happening here.
See you in May
~ Mary
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What a joy your photos are. Wild bluebells, what a glorious sight. I had some in a garden bed once and before long they had taken over!
Your quiet morning knitting and listening to and being in nature is a timely reminder to enjoy the simple things in life and live in gratitude.😍🌷🤸🏾♂️
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Thank you for the beautiful photos. Walking through our woods these last few weeks has been wonderful. (Not that it isn’t always lovely.)
The smell of the bluebells and the colours, misty blues, purples, the odd pink and white ones. Pink campions and white greater stitch wort and various greens with the brownish black tree trunks and branches. All fantastically beautiful.
Thank you for sharing. Helen.x
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I do agree its a lovely time of year , I have to remind myself to stop and just take it in . I particularly love the scents in the air and the birdsong . I am so conscious of how different each day is …some things seems to grow so fast its an ever changing scene…as a friend used to say her grandma advised she ‘take time to smell the roses’ well the roses are still tight in bud but we know what she means …and we must .
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