Summer so far…

“It was dry, and yet warm with the head of the summer day. I looked at the sky; it was pure: a kindly star twinkled just above the chasm ridge. The dew fell, but with propitious softness; no breeze whispered.* Nature seemed to me benign and good: I thought she loved me.”

—Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre 

Summer is abundant wild flowers, long days that barely fade into night, warming sunshine, family together at last, laughter, slower days; sometimes. A dishwasher that doesn’t stop, celebrations of all sorts, the clack, clack, clack from the chopping board, outdoor napping, interrupted reading and daily swims in nature. 

It’s trying to make a cup of tea silently at 05:30, remote work through the day, early nights. A birthday present of an invitation to wrestle on the trampoline, cloudberry picking, the search for signs of life of the coming mushroom season. Heart-bursting with gratitude. Heart-breaking being so far away from our Australian family, not even knowing when we can travel next.

It’s occasional harsh words, stunning scenery, beautiful cousin love, tired children, short trips to the city to pepper the countryside rhythm, and homemade rhubarb syrup and icy gin sipped slowly in the garden, in shade of the afternoon.

Tomorrow, we leave. But this place, is always with us.

*Image being able to write a sentence like that.