Wednesday 16 July 2014

Summer greetings...




Dear blog readers,
Have you entered the summer "lull" yet, 
the lazy days,
 the stopping what you are doing long enough to spot the most wonderful of growing inspiration, 
of "Nothing Is Impossible" and two fingers in the air to anyone who says 
poppies cannot grow out of a dry stone wall if they feel like it...


Does you laundry smell wonderfully fresh from spending hours in the light summer breeze, weaving more than fresh air into the thread count of the sheets, storing life and new beginnings in the same...?




Is your home-made elderflower cordial drunk yet, 
drunk with sparkling water to the tune of the ice cubes clinking and clanking in the glass,
drunk till the last drop of golden summer flavours is devoured 
and the longing for next year's harvest has begun...?


Has your vine started producing grapes yet? 


And more importantly... 
- have you stopped to smell the roses?

I confess, I am not quite there yet. 
My work has not gone on holiday, so neither have I.
But occasionally, and eagerly encouraged by my youngest son,
I do stop to smell the roses.
Literally.
My son says:
"Mamma, you have got to come here and smell this one. It smells like lemon."
Although he says it in Swedish. 
"Den luktar citron, mamma!"
"Oh, and come here. This one smells like raspberries!"
So I stop.
And I smell.
And he is right. The yellow rose does smell a little bit like lemon, the red one like raspberries.
So I pick one, put it on the table.
The scent of lemon, summer and sweetness fills the room.
Wraps us all in the arms of summer, despite the boys still having a week left before school finishes and my having more work than I dare to think about...
Lemon. Roses. Raspberries.
Sometimes that is all it takes.

Helena


29 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post! Such a tranquil setting.

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  2. A beautiful post. The grapes are slowly ripening on the vines and we've picked zucchini and beets and radishes. Lettuces have gone to seed and potatoes are growing fat and round under the soil. Summer is lovely, but busy. Today I made raspberry jam and vanilla rhubarb jam and froze packets of blueberries for the winter. It all seems to come in a rush.
    Enjoy the moments.

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  3. Thank you for this beautiful post!

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  4. Dear Helena,
    This is wonderful and most importantly very true...
    I keep thinking to myslef" where is my mint and raspberry water, where are my summer desserts, where are the big vases of flowers, where is my apricot jam".......
    Most importantly the summer days in the UK are here one minute and gone by another.....
    we should really enjoy it....I would say be more spontanious too!!!
    But is a complete different story when I go to work everyday.......
    I am not as priviledged too because I am in the heart of my loud and busy London.....
    When you have a moment , you are very welcome into my domwithlove@blogspot.co.uk
    And lets enjoy the summer days!!!!!
    as they never lasts.......

    Have a wonderful day!
    Ania
    x

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  5. And such a beautiful photographs as always, your garden is just perfect!!!

    x

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  6. Ljuvliga sommarbilder och dofter, inte minst - jag känner dem ända hit och jovisst - jag doftar på rosorna då och då, nu när pionernas tid är över!
    Hoppas att du också snart hinner dofta på dem och att du får din sköna sommarlunk!
    Kramar
    Lisa

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  7. It's just so beautiful over here, I was wondering in your last post on the home of Drummer from Pink Floyed if you could arrange a meeting in hopes he would marry me :) this way we could be neighbors :) lol ! Your village home charm and delight with grace and beauty.
    I have you on my sidebar of blogs that inspire, I don't want to miss out on one inspiring thing you create.

    Xx
    Doré

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  8. Enjoy the summer and have a wonderful time, dear Helena!!

    Hugs, Ingrid

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  9. Underbar blogg att finna! :) Vilket fantastiskt hus ni bor i, ser ut att vara hämtat ur en saga :) Önskar dig många härliga sommardagar! Kram /Carolin

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  10. Your son is so right. I must say I have never smelled a lemony rose but the ones with a good scent always make me think of raspberries.

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  11. I love this post. I have been smelling the roses in my garden and when I do bring some inside I can't believe how fragrant they are and fill the dining room with their lovely scent. I have been working next to them - although I am not out in the garden, they do make my work environment much more pleasant!
    Happy summer- I'm off to get the children's sheets out on the line to soak up the summer wonderfulness!
    Lise-Lotte from Canada
    partygreen.ca

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  12. Jag hoppas att ni njuter av riktigt sköna sommardagar i ert nya fina hem kära Helena. Den där första sommaren när allt är ett äventyrligt upptäckande. Njut och ta hand om varandra du fina.♥

    Kram i massor

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  13. Trevligt att hitta dej! Jag bor i Wales och bloggar om mitt liv här. Försökte hitta var du bor, men fann det inte. Ha en trevlig sommar!

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  14. Hi Helena, I have recently found your beautiful blog! Our vines, although only in their second year, have produced fruit this year. I don't think it will be a bumper harvest, but it is exciting anyway. I am looking forward to reading back through your archive x.

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  15. Life is beautiful and good ...!.....love from me x...!

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  16. This is a topic which is near to my heart... Thank you!
    Exactly where are your contact details though?


    Also visit my website :: como se maquiar sozinha

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  17. The sights and sounds of Summer are indeed wafting on the breeze.
    Cutting flowers with your Mum, it doesn't get any more special than that does it.
    The red item on the washing line is freaking me out a little though. One must never put reds in with your tighty whities. Unpeg it and fling it to the sheep immediately.
    Hercules has become unbearably fixated on his new 'Unstoppables' summer fresh scented wash pearls, thrusting his freshly folded towels in the face of all who cross the magical threshold, "smell it, smell it, isn't it wonderful", its getting a little embarrassing. I feel like I'm living in a commercial:)
    Does your chauffeur behave like this?

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  18. So where did you go away? I miss your beautiful entries and hope you will be back again soon. Life is much sometimes and has ups and downs but your blog always brings a smile to my face. All the best to you.

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  19. Hi There! My name is Krista Im from Finland but living in England now. I do love your blogs pictures and your way to write it. :)

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  20. Hej Helena!
    Tänker på dig och saknar dina inlägg och dina fantastiska, inspirerande bilder! Hoppas allt är bra och att du kommer tillbaka snart!
    Jag tog själv ett litet uppehåll över sommaren men är nu tillbaks på min egna blogg med inlägg endast på torsdagar och söndagar. Funkar bra med ett tufft jobbschema och familjeliv.
    Många varma kramar!
    Judita

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  21. Really miss your blogging, but everybody are not retired as I am with lots of time to browse. sure you are busy with children and activities. Just wanted to let you low that you are missed.
    Thanks
    Agneta in Arizona

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  22. danke für die bilder und inspirationen, liebe grüße und ein schönes wochenende von angie aus deutschland

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  23. J'aime beaucoup l'ambiance deco de votre blog! On s'y sent si bien! Je l'ai mis en lien sur mon blog
    http://fleurdaquarelle.canalblog.com/
    Yvonne

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