A beautiful Island...

I forget sometimes how beautiful this Island is. For years as a young women growing up I chose to live abroad, I had a ball living throughout Europe. Paris in the Autumn, Spain in the winter, Greece in the summer etc... I moved around for a few years, always believing that the place I was in was so much more exciting that the United Kingdom. Maybe it is an age thing, you know that dreaded word...maturity! I do not know the the answer, just that I have come to love this land. I have lived in different parts of the UK too. Scotland, London, Oxford the Cotswold's, North South East and West. I adore the beautiful beaches of Cornwall the warmth of the sea and the special light in that part of the world. For many years Scotland was special, I felt that maybe this was my true home, then the excitement of living in the capital (London) also held my attention as a young career women, BUT nothing touches my soul like Yorkshire...
From the Romance of the Moors (Bronte Sisters) to the majestic and often spooky beaches of the coast line (Whitby and Dracula), there is so much history here especially in the wool and cotton trade, some of the mills remain with a working identity, some have been transformed to amazing conversions for homes and one is still a working Mill to teach the future generations of its amazing history that is now just taken for granted.
Yes, if you asked me the place that moves me, that brings out emotions in me that once I would have laughed at, it would have to be Yorkshire. So I return from my week in a cute little cottage by the Yorkshire Coast. The weather was good and the memories will warm me as we approach the turn of the season and head in to Autumn, already the day light is less and the shade covers the garden...the signs of the changes are near. Just for now though I will hold on to the memories, running in and out of the sea, the children as happy as, well 'sand boys' the need for ice cream, and laughter around the garden table as food is enjoyed outside and the smell of a fire on the beach just to be able to stay on the beach for a few hours longer...
The weather has not been kind this season and most of us have had to make the most of the little sun we have had, but as I reflect on the past seven weeks of the summer holiday, the vacations and the time shared with friends, I can say that this has been a special time, with lots of things made and learnt. I sat with my children last night as we prepared for the start of school, we chatted about our summer and our favourite things and we agreed that this has been a special summer. I know that both my babes are at an age when they will remember this time for many years. To be able to provide them with childhood memories is a job as a parent I do not take lightly.
Between us we have laughed, crafted, danced and had fun. We spent time with friends and we missed others, we might not have done some of the things we planned and we missed out on a lot of body boarding due to the rain, but as summers go it was pretty cool. I sit in silence now, the house is a shambles and much work is needed to done...the silence is weird...the house has been full of noise for weeks now, to sit on my own feels wrong...no one asking for juice or 'what can we make Mommy'... 'what are we doing today Mommy'... 'can I ride my bike Mommy'... ???
No it is silent and today I took my babes to school, both of them filled with a mixture of nervousness and excitment. I left my youngest sitting crossed legged on his new mat in his new class room in his new school in his new uniform...did I feel sad...did I cry...You bet!!!

Its time to befriend my sewing machine again...

Photos...The Yorkshire coastline