....and whatever people say about the weather, when the sun shines all is good. It makes you smile, puts a bounce in your step and lightens your load however heavy it is. A sunny winter day is so much easier than a dull grey day, but sun in the late Spring/Summer is the icing on the cake. Getting out of the house is so much easier when you don't need loads of layers to stay warm, although there is a pile of other bits you just need to take with you isn't there!
We British are good at weather, talking about it is one our nation's pastimes we are never short of topics as it is so very unpredictable (climate change notwithstanding). Last summer was cool, very cool. I wore tights, the thick winter kind, most of the season. The cool summer was followed by a beautiful autumn a welcome change and then followed by an extremely wet winter. I do live in a part of the country that experiences cooler temperatures as the norm but seeing the sky and the sun occasionally makes the grey days more bearable.
These past few weeks have been wonderful, surpassing all my expectations, most of May and all of June has been wall to wall sunshine. we have had temperatures higher than parts of of the UK south of us which is exceptional! We are loving it and making the most of it. Our village pool has reopened and we have finally managed to make use of it a couple of weeks after it opened. We have had some wonderful walks, nature days and I discovered that the UK Wildlife Trusts were doing a fun initiative 30 Days Wild for the month of June which I thought it would be fun to sign up for. It doesn't require you to go on long walks everyday but to find your own way to connect with the 'wild' that is all around you.
I thought it would be fun to try a see what happens approach, so far we have watched the Blue Tits going in and out our nest box, seen House Sparrows mating, done a hedge transect, paddled in a stream, swum in a lake, had lunch outside everyday and watched a spider descending down a line.
The weather is forecast to be hot and sunny for the rest of the month, so I am told, I for one am not complaining......
What about June where you are?
June on the north east coast has been somewhat duller, colder and wetter but as I'm definitely a deepest, darkest winter girl I'm not complaining. The challenge sounds such a good idea. Enjoy the rest of your wild June days.
ReplyDeleteI think the east has had much cooler weather than the west so far this spring. I love all the seasons but I do need a bit of sunshine every now and then!
DeleteAh...the sun. It's been lovely over here for the last 2 and a half weeks.
ReplyDeleteBut being 'a farmer' now, I should say we could do with a bit of rain (but I won't). We'll just have to keep watering the veggies with the watering can for now.
That Wildlife Trust initiative sounds like a fun and educational idea. I like to believe I'm reasonably aware of the wildlife surrounding me, but sometimes it serves to open up your senses better. xxx...x
It most definitely does! Taking the time to pause you notice so much that you have missed before.
DeleteThose 30 Days Wild activities sound brilliant. One of the easiest ways to learn something new is to watch the world around us, and it's fascinating too. We've had some lovely sunshine over the last few days but it's rather dull today and we're forecast rain at the end of the week which looks to be hanging around in to next week too. I hope the sunshine comes back, we're going on holiday during June.
ReplyDeleteI hope that sun returned for your holiday!
DeleteI do love sunshine, but in moderation like anything else. I really dislike humidity and we had lots for more than a week along with the heat. But now a cold front is blowing through and even though it's raining, the humidity is less and I like that.
ReplyDeleteNo I don't like humidity either, we are lucky even tho our humidity is often high we always have a breeze which in reality means it stays low ;)
DeleteWhat a good shot of that little red squirrel. Ours do not stay in one spot long enough for a photo. I never noticed them in our area before this past Winter, but we now have a resident red squirrel that uses the trees in our backyard as his little squirrel highway. He terrorizes the gray squirrels, which is the common squirrel in these parts. Glad that you have good sunny warm weather for your outdoor adventuring - sounds like lots of fun and learning!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure if the photo would come out. It is not the best I have taken but it is passable! It was sunning itself in this little patch of sunshine amongst the canopy. We were standing very still watching it for ages. I don't think it noticed us!
Deletewe've had some very welcome rain and now a bizarre cold front has settled in and we're all bundled back up, having been melting only a week ago. i somehow think the hat/mitten basket is never going to be put away for the season!
ReplyDeletestill, i'd rather that than the obscene humidity.
the 30 Days Wild thing sounds like a marvelous venture...and the seeing what happens approach is one of my favourites. xo
You sound like you are having the weather we had last year! We always need our hats and mittens for camping in this country the nights are so cold!
DeleteWe have had some really warm days, sitting out in the garden for cuppas and meals - bliss!!
ReplyDeleteI love that bit too!
DeleteYay for sunshine...everything is better with sunshine :) We have dipped in temperature this week, and are enjoying some cooler temps and rain...much needed by the garden. Back to sunshine and heat tomorrow :)
ReplyDeleteWe needed rain too and have had some now, thankfully. It doesn't matter how much you water the garden is not quite the same as rain is it?
DeleteSimilar weather here though I'm told we have some rain due. I'm glad you're enjoying your 30 Day Wild adventure. I really does sound fun xx
ReplyDeleteIt is turning out to be fun. I would like to try doing it each season!
DeleteWe have been loving the sunshine here in Devon too. Oh how I am longing for a long, hot summer this year! :)
ReplyDeleteIt would be great wouldn't it!
DeleteIt's been gorgeous hasn't it? I think we've already had more good weather than in all of last year. I've enjoyed every minute of spending so much time outside, although the novelty of putting on sunscreen has now worn off. X
ReplyDeleteWe most definitely have!
DeleteOh, what splendid photos! The hills are so beautiful!! "Whatever people say about the weather, when the sun shines all is good" - couldn't agree more! My June is very rainy - we have thunderstorms almost every night, but days are mostly sunny which always makes me happy :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. Rain and night and sunny days that sounds perfect!
DeleteIt's pouring down at the moment! But gosh, we did need the rain. The warm sunny weather is lovely, but makes for hard work in the garden.
ReplyDeleteWe are never satisfied us gardeners are we!
DeleteWe had sunshine last week on the East coast here and I was ecstatic. But now we've had the grey and wet back for several days my spirits plummet like the mercury! Wish I could bottle the sunshine!
ReplyDeleteHope it has come back now!
DeleteWe're doing the #30DaysWild challenge too. Like you, we are outside exploring at this time of year anyway, but it has given us a bit more of an incentive to discover more.
ReplyDeleteI think that is what I love about it. There is always more to discover and it doesn't have to involve anything other than simply being outside. I am thinking that I would like to do it more often, maybe once a season..........will see how it goes.
DeleteWhat beautiful pictures, they made me long for sun! A very rainy June week here, hoping it perks up for a weekend camping in the peaks! Hope it's still sunny with you :)
ReplyDeleteYeah camping in the rain doesn't crack it does it. It just makes everything incredibly hard work!
DeleteI'm in Normandy, France and our June is being a touch temperamental - we are yet to see her flame. But the wild flowers are loving the plentiful water, the elderflowers are the best I think I have ever seen and flowers do look just as pretty covered in raindrops as petals wide open in full sunshine ;)
ReplyDeleteWelcome! The sun has gone a bit temperamental here too now although it is still warm. I am hoping it will be dry at the beginning of next week as we are camping!
DeleteMay and early June were gorgeous with us, then it got rather cold and rainy,but I am optimistic aboutnthe rest of the summer. I think it's going to be a good one X
ReplyDelete