♥ Summertime Moments ♥ Evening Landscape

Hello Lovelies,

my favourite times in hot weather are early morning and the evening.

These are a few snaps from one evening last week when I set out to pop to the shops on my bike, but couldn't resist a little detour first............

I loved the golden light and warm stillness, just a little birdsong and the distant rumble of the combine harvester broke the silence.

Thank you for all you comments and understanding about my technology time dilemmas. This feels like a great compromise right now.

Enjoy your Sunday lovelies.
Jacquie x

♥ Summertime Moments ♥ Why, and a Butterfly

Hello Lovelies,

as we head into the long school holidays I've been think about this old blog of mine, and especially how much screen time me and my family enjoy....it's a lot. More than I'm comfortable with really.

I love recording  and sharing here so much , but I also want to live in the moment this summer.

I thought about having a complete break for a few weeks, but I know I would miss this wonderful community and your sweet comments.

But equally I want to be a role model to my boys. How can I ask them to ease off on the technology when I'm so hooked up to it myself.

So I came up with a plan........I'm just going to write very short, sweet posts........a few photo's and fewer words.

That way I'll feel I'm still looking after this special place of mine, but also concentrating on my home and family. I hope this makes sense.
Things will return to normal in the Autumn I'm sure.

small Tortoiseshell

So this is the reason behind my idea for these ♥ Summertime Moments ♥ posts.

 This first one is just to share the beautiful butterflies that have been covering my Buddleia bush this week....aren't they wonderful.......

Peacock 

I had a go at painting one in watercolour , using the photo above.  I think it turned out O.K.........

and it was lovely working with all the beautiful colours.

More moments coming soon.
Jacquie x

Sunny Skegness

Hello Lovelies,

on Sunday we made another journey to the coast. This time it was to visit relatives who were enjoying a long weekend away. 

In many ways Skegness is the polar opposite to my favourite seaside places..... like THIS one.

I think it's held in fond regard by many East Midlands folk  as it holds happy childhood holiday memories, but not having that link to it I can only speak for how it comes across these days. 

I can see it's got traditional seaside appeal.....who can resist the gentle donkeys, giving rides to many happy little children...............

There are stripy deckchairs to hire , so that, as it says on the sign.....you can
 "just sit back and relax !!! ".........

and plenty of buckets and spades of every shape and colour...............

There are wide walkways lined with colourful flags..............

 and flourishing, sweetly scented annuals................

Green spaces edged with beautiful roses................

 aren't the roses wonderful this year

and an iconic mascot who features in fun statues............. 

and tea towels.................

  THE JOLLY FISHERMAN has been synonymous with the resort for over one hundred years.

On a warm July afternoon I did have trouble taking photos that were not FILLED with faces, it's certainly popular with all types of people......well, there is lots to do......

Much of it is based around noisy amusements, there's a pleasure beach with loads of rides and games. The landward end of the pier looks like this............

source

I would have loved to have seen it when it looked like THIS. Today it's much shorter...............

But happily some parts still remain largely unchanged..............

I love this original sign...................

with it's date of construction.................

you can read a little of it's history HERE

 and happily the seaward end looks beautifully traditional.........a quiet place to wander along the wooden boards

 or sit and enjoy the cool sea air....such a pleasure after all the hot and humid days we have "enjoyed" lately.....................

 The beautiful detail on the ironwork is looking a bit rusty.............

hopefully it will be restored soon.

Standing on the end of the pier you get wonderful views, both back towards the hustle and bustle, and in the other direction there are acres of quiet space...............

wonderful

But my favourite thing is wandering barefoot through the shallow water with Mr BM.........

 and standing in the waves watching my boys enjoying their third dip of the day.......those boys, and their cousins, LOVE the sea................

They LOVE a '99 too...............

                                     And in Skegness they are humongous!

The whole family left tired but happy, a little bit more fond of dear old "Skeggy".

Jacquie x

Seven Snippets

Hello Lovelies,

having accidentally titled my previous two posts with two words starting in S, I'm intentionally carrying it on a bit longer :0)

Here are my seven snippets of happy things from the past seven days.

1. This gorgeous Gerbera was a thoughtful gift from my sister in law. It was pretty small when she gave it to me but it's growing super quickly on the kitchen windowsill, with new flowers emerging all the time...........

and aren't they gorgeous........a wonderful colour and so many petals!

2. This weeks thrifty find is this pretty, hand painted jug. I couldn't resist it for 49p and I love looking at it in the bathroom, filled with this weeks posy of garden flowers.............

 Sweet peas, nasturtiums, Alchemilla and Nigella

3. On Wednesday evening we had sunshine and showers. I looked out of the kitchen window and saw purple skies?..........I dashed outside and was thrilled to see a lovely rainbow.........

 With pink sky below it and purple above.

4. Soaring Swifts
I saw these birds on an evening walk and wasn't sure what they were. Their outline reminded me of a Swallow, but it was more boomerang shaped. Once home I discovered they were Swifts.............

and learned they are amazing birds that fly constantly for the first three years of their life....wow.

5. Youngests return from his school residential visit.
He borrowed my old camera and came home with just a few pictures. I think they were too busy doing activities most of the time. I love this shot of Chatsworth house he took on an evening walk............

 He said he took it as he knew I would like it....bless him.

I love the fact that he came home with handmade wristbands too. I'm glad the boys enjoyed making and wearing loom bands,  thanks to the generosity of the girls in his class who kindly shared their kits..................

6. Yellow Gerberas . I treated myself to another of these great house plants in the supermarket. They were only a pound and they really make me smile...............

 did you spot my crochet and reading material? 

7. We have booked a holiday in Dorset and I couldn't resist a little book about this stunning coastline to take with us...........

It's a part of the country I've never visited before.....but that I feel a little familiar with, thanks to memorable blog  posts like THIS

Oh, yes I'm so looking forward to seeing these lovely places for myself.
 Lucy continues to be a big influence on my choice of crochet too.........remember THIS post.
I'm concentrating hard on this wonderful but slightly tricksy free pattern. I think it's going pretty well so far
Jacquie x

Seeking Shade

Hello Lovelies,

my but it's hot around here at the moment. On Thursday morning I headed out for a walk and found myself looking for the shady side of the street..............

I decided not to go too far and simply wandered along noticing as many of the small details as I could..........

The sky was full of thin wispy clouds as I headed past the horse field............streaks of white across the beautiful blue............

I was looking for somewhere pretty to sit and had the church yard in mind, but as I got nearer I could here the noisy buzz of a petrol strimmer. I decided to sit on the little bench that looks at the parish war memorial instead...............

It's next to the clump of Lavender, which was attracting many butterflies.............

The reason I wanted to sit down was because I had decided to try painting outdoors. Well, the weather is so nice and I've been feeling inspired by THIS sort of post.

I had an old pencil case of the boys containing a little watercolour paintbox and those blank postcards I used for THIS drawing..............

along with a pencil, two brushes and a pot of water.

My paintbox looks well used because it's not mine, but one of mums.
 I know I'm lucky to have someone who generously gives me art materials if I show an interest in their passion.

It's a great, handy design is easy to transport about and use............

It's   THIS one

I quickly drew my view, not worrying about much detail, and got painting. It's tricky working outdoors. The sun was on my paper which meant much squinting, and I was a little worried someone would come along and ask to see my work. I also forgot to take any kitchen roll or tissues ( which are great to blot any mistakes and clean your brush )

But 20 minutes later I had done enough to feel I had got the essence of the view.

I liked the jolly colours  left on my palette...............

And  this is what I had painted....still wet..........

It made me smile, but I also felt that I had really noticed and appreciated this simple, lovingly tended memorial to three young men from a small village ( two of them with the same surname ), who died almost one hundred years ago.

The sunshine made my picture dry quickly and I was soon able to resume my shade seeking walk.

One last look back to where I sat from the shade of the church yard...........

Through the kissing gate.........

And under the mature trees ..........

I love the dappled sunlight.

The Maple trees here have fully formed "helicopters". It does seem early............

Further along the sheep have the same idea as me..............

and so do the calves..............

That field of tall grass I photographed on last weeks walk is now turning into hay...........

I'm close to home, but decide to walk a little further........along this path.............

To see what the wheat looks like now, I love the biscuit coloured fields..........It  looks like a wonderful harvest...............

On the way home I spot the first Dahlias in a neighbours garden......another stunning summer sight..............

It was only a short walk, two and a half miles, but lovely all the same. 

Yesterday I decided to add a little pen detail and writing to my watercolour sketch...........

I'm really pleased with this simple little reminder  of a walk, and some outdoor painting, on a hot summers day.

Thank you all for your encouraging comments on my previous painting. You lovelies are a wonderfully supportive bunch.
It means a lot.
Jacquie x