A collection of everyday pleasures and favourite finds. Here I share small moments and things that bring a smile, whether it’s something I’ve tried, enjoyed, or come across along the way. A gentle space to pause and enjoy the little joys in life.
If you missed last month’s Simple Joys & Inspirations, you can read it here.
When I think of summer, a few things instantly come to mind… Roses, lavender, strawberries and cream, raspberries, scones with jam and clotted cream, elderflower cordial, Anne of Green Gables, swifts, Steal My Sunshine by Len (please say it’s not just me!), the seaside, picnics, Legally Blonde (I have no idea why!), blue skies and giant white fluffy clouds, flying a kite, ice lollies, evenings spent in the garden, the hum of bees, and the smell of BBQ’s drifting through the air.
Isn’t it fascinating what a particular season makes us think of! I wonder what summer makes you think of?
Here’s some of the little moments that have brought lots of joy and inspiration recently…
Two of my small (but HUGE) joys! For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved lavender and its beautiful scent. One of my little treasures that I still have is a small bear filled with lavender… also called Lavender, of course!… who I got many, many years ago when visiting the Lavender Farm in Norfolk.
A little fun fact… David Barton and I had a lavender theme for our wedding!
I had so much fun the other day taking my camera outside with me, crouching down, and taking (a lot!) photos of some of the bees on our lavender.
I was back in Lincolnshire last week, and my mum and I headed to Woodhall Spa for their Festival of Storytelling (it was their first year doing this and I really look forward to watching it grow), and on the way round I spotted a couple of books that had been left by a Book Fairy. I chose Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout.
It’s not a book I’ve heard of, and is perhaps one I wouldn’t have normally chosen, I also haven’t read anything by this author before, but perhaps that’s the beauty of finding a book, especially one that’s been left by a Book Fairy… It’s a lovely way to enjoy something new and different!
Have you read this book? Also if you’re curious in finding out more about The Book Fairies (like I was), I discovered their website, here.
Sadly I have no photos of this surprise visitor… mainly because they were so quick! The other day I spotted someone gathering nectar in the garden that was too big to be a bee, and I instantly had an inkling as to who this visitor was… It was a hummingbird hawk-moth! This is the first one I’ve seen this year, and I’ve been so eager to see one again.
My first time seeing this moth, was last year in our garden. I had seen people sharing videos of them, and I kept wishing that our little garden would attract one. And on a morning last summer in August, one visited! I’ve now seen (perhaps the same one?) this beautiful moth twice now. And I’m just so happy that it has chosen our garden to visit.
Have you seen a hummingbird hawk-moth?
If it’s bringing a little calm, happiness, or inspiration to your day, you can support my creative work by gifting a virtual coffee from just £3. It helps to support all that I do so much!
I’m really enjoying learning lots about swifts. I’m currently reading Nature Needs You: The Fight to Save Our Swifts by Hannah Bourne-Taylor (I shared a little about it in last month’s From the Book Corner). It’s so wonderful reading it in the garden while watching the swifts playfully fly, dart and dive above me.
Sadly these beautiful and important birds are on the red list. Did you know that they spend a lot of their lives in the air. They also eat, drink and sleep in the air too! How incredible is that! They fly all the way to Africa for the winter and return back to Britain during April/May, travelling (what can be a dangerous journey) about two million miles in their lifetime.
David recently ordered some lovely cards by Monica Mesters, one of which he chose especially for me… a ‘Starry Swift’. I’ve placed it on our bookshelf in my little cosy reading nook amongst my favourite things that I love to keep close.
You can learn more about swifts, here.
We recently enjoyed a delicious strawberries and cream Victoria sponge (highly recommend by the way!) that David made (here’s some pictures), along with some rose cupcakes, a lemon and poppy seed cake, and for David’s latest bake, he made some lavender cupcakes… He makes the most amazing cakes!
Quite literally summer in cake form!
We did a little photoshoot next to lavender in the garden…
…Another little sweet treat that I really love (but haven’t had in soooo long) is Lavender ice cream. Perhaps we’ll have to try and make some next! Do you like lavender flavoured sweet treats?
What little things have been bringing you joy and inspiration recently? I’d love to hear all about them.
If you’ve enjoyed this journal entry, you can support my creative work with a virtual coffee from just £3, over on my Ko-fi page. Your support honestly means so much, and it really helps me A LOT!
Just in case you missed it…
From the Book Corner | June 2026
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Jun 28
From collective nouns for flowers to living more intentionally, saving swifts, and reflections on life on a farm, here are the books I’ve loved, am reading now, and look forward to reading next.
If you’d love to learn more about me and my work, you can visit my website here. I’d also love to connect with you over on Instagram - you’ll find lots of beautiful blooms and nature-inspired posts, alongside gentle business musings, reflections, and more.
Until next time…
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