Summer at Arthur Cottage

Well hello again from Arthur Cottage!

What a Summer to have had for my first here.

There has been a heatwave, then torrential rain and even spectacular thunderstorms! Sometimes all in the same day!

Is it any wonder we here in Northern Ireland are obsessed with the weather?

As I read back over the Spring blog (if you haven’t read it yet please do, as it may help my ramblings here make more sense - you can find it here.), and I look at the photos taken since then to try to put words to the Summer we have had, I can say that there have been some wonderful times, (mostly made wonderful by people from near and sometimes far), and some things which have not gone exactly to plan (mostly due to the weather!).... but what is it they say?....“Into every garden, a little rain must fall”..... I think we have had our share this year.

But, first things first, before I tell you all about the Summer, I need to retrace my steps all the way back to where I left you all in Spring, with my plans for the Cottage garden just starting to take shape, and some lovely events to look forward to.

In May, we hosted a Celebration with Bann Maine West Community Cluster, and I think it is safe to say that the good music and company made up for the bad weather, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

The Scouts managed to miss the worst of the weather (you'll notice that the weather, good and bad, is a recurring theme in this blog!) and make a success of their camp-out, as only youth and enthusiasm can in these situations.

At the very end of May our Spring/Summer wreath making workshops seemed to be the formal invitation that Summer needed to stay for a while, and why not - when everyone turned out such beautiful wreaths?

As June arrived there was no doubt that Summer was here, and everyone was feeling it!

As the heat built up we at the Cottage needed something to help quench our thirst. So I took to my old books and found a very old recipe for a Summer drink called Switchel or Hay Maker’s Punch. Turns out it is full of electrolytes and lots of other great things to keep people hydrated in the hot weather. I often think to myself that maybe people years ago didn’t know why things worked, but they certainly knew what worked.

Here's my Switchel recipe...

With the good weather and suitable refreshments it was time for me to start making some of those Winter dreams I had talked about back in Spring happen.

Of course in between all the lovely visitors and hosting groups, like these ladies from Dunseverick, who ended their tour with a fabulous picnic on the lawn.

I got busy any time I could, making new beds and planting both veg and flowers. I was also discovering more plants from days gone by that were still alive and well, and still making the place beautiful, just as the people who planted them had intended.

You are never far from the past here at Arthur Cottage,  and I feel blessed every day that I am reminded of it in so many ways!

Every season seems to bring both delights and difficulties,  especially in a farming community. As the sun continued to shine day after day the evidence of this became clear. I watched as the grass around the Cottage became yellowed and crispy and try as I might to help I could see the crops in my own little garden suffering. Once again I was reminded of the struggle and stress for people past and present for whom life and livelihood depended on the next rain coming soon!

But, come it did!!

July arrived cold and wet.

Unfortunately, as glad as I was to see it for the garden and crops, it put a bit of a dampener on the outdoor part of our 4^th July Picnic and Quilting Bee. Thankfully, no amount of rotten weather could spoil our afternoon of Quilting,  and everyone was keen to have a go!

It really was a very enjoyable day, but I must acknowledge the weeks of preparation for this quilting bee and send a BIG thank you to the 3 main groups (as well as other individuals), who helped immensely to make it possible,  The Bannside Stitchers, The Ahoghil Quilters, and the Tullygarley Sewing Group.

August, brought us 2 events and an extra bit of excitement.

First off, we had our Teddy Bear’s Picnic, where I spent the day administering medical help to bears in need, while their owners were entertained by the fabulous Jump Jiggle and Jive!

Secondly, we hosted our Crafternoon Tea, an afternoon of great company, fabulous food (from Mia at the Ticket Bakery), and lots of extremely enjoyable crafts (we had a bit of everything!)

Our bit of extra excitement for August came right at the end of the month, when the program "Mahon’s Way" aired on UTV and the village of Cullybackey was featured.

I know that I am a “blow in” as they would say around here, so I was incredibly honoured to do my part alongside all the other people who spoke so well, to show just how beautiful and interesting, their (and my adopted) home village is!!

I am realising with a little pang of regret, that as I sit here at the table to finish writing this, many children are going back to school, and with the rain pattering against the window on what can only be described as an “oul dreich day”, that it definitely feels (for today at least) that Summer is over!

It is a very fleeting pang however, because I still have hopes of an Indian Summer in early Autumn and with the fire crackling behind me, I already have plans, ideas, and events, buzzing through my head, which are making me look forward excitedly to Autumn!

Keep an eye on the Shaped By Sea & Stone social media accounts and website for upcoming events at Arthur Cottage during the Autumn and Winter.