Reasons to love Spring

And a back to basics revisit to an off grid camp

May is the most beautiful month of the year, a month alive with warm colour. The flowers and trees are in full bloom, and even the sun joins this rhapsody by emitting warmer rays. — Lillian Berliner

Hello my friend.

A warm sunny welcome to A Simple Living Journal where we chat about all things slow, simple and seasonal living. I love that you are here, please come in and make yourself comfortable.

As a firm Autumnal kind of person, I have to say that Spring this year has been one of the best ever. Can you believe we are in May already and hasn’t the weather been gorgeous?

Beltane, a pagan holiday, was celebrated this week, marking the height of Spring, and the midway point between Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.

Since learning to embrace the beauty of each season, leaning into the changes as they happen I have noticed a gentle change in me too. I’m no longer rushing from one week to the next, instead I am embracing each and every day for it’s natural energy and compelling beauty.

Instead of busying myself with housework as soon as I return home from my day job, I’m heading straight into the garden with a cup of tea to check on the plants and noticing if they’ve grown or not. I’m taking time to notice the smallest details of nature. Watching the trees green up and flowers bloom again. Noticing the birds that are coming back into our gardens. Just the other night whilst out in our garden dancing in the light drizzle after the heat of the day we saw two bats racing around the communal green space beyond the garden.

Our garden is flourishing again. Gorgeous white blooms of an orange blossom bush, aquilegia, daisies, apple blossom, blueberry blossom all in full bloom. A sight to behold, and the bees are loving it.

I’ve noticed a significant difference in the increased daylight. As I start work at 6am, my commute begins at 5.30 which means that for much of time between Autumn and Spring I am travelling in darkness. I am excited to see daylight back in the early morning now. My journey to work is across countryside which I am grateful for. It is a busy road but I get to witness the beautiful gold fields of the rapeseed oil plants, and the deep blue skies pre sunrise.

I’m thrilled to be able to get out and work in our garden again now the warmer temperatures have arrived. Our greenhouse is filling up with young plants. As we no longer have our allotment we are growing some of our favourite veggies at home in the garden.

We are growing tomatoes, sweetcorn, garlic, onions, cucumber and salad leaves this year. We also put in a rhubarb patch which we will be able to pick from in two or three years time I hope.

Do you grow your own veggies? If so, what are you growing? Let me know in the comments.

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Last weekend we took a trip out in our camper to revisit a favourite campsite we first stayed at back in January.

You can read about the winter visit here -

An Off-Grid Forest Camp 🌲🔥🚙

A slightly different experience on this visit as the weather was significantly warmer. We spent almost the entire time outside, immersed in the natural beauty of the woodland. The van was used only to store food in the fridge and to sleep in at night. Ant slept in his new hammock for the first time so just me in the camper.

Each pitch had its own designated fire pit which we made full use of. We didn’t use the camper cooker at all during our stay.

The firepit provided our hot drinks, our breakfasts and evening meals.

From our arrival to departure, we felt transported back to a time gone by, a time where convenient utilities didn’t exist. Everything happened in slow motion, from boiling a kettle for a cup of tea, to foraging and preparing wood for the fire and cooking a meal.

We found it to be the perfect retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of normal life. Soaking up the woodland sounds and smells. Meditating and forest bathing to the sound of birdsong. We both read a lot, cosied up next to the campfire.

I took the opportunity to catch up with some writing exercises and journaling too.

A woodland retreat observation from my nature journal - unedited.

A dawn chorus that lasted all day.

Slow campfire meals.

Bluebells dancing to the sound of birdsong.

Leaves whispering in the wind, trees conversing with one another.

Warmth of the sun caressing body, soul and mind.

A sense of aloneness, except for the whisper of voices deep within the woods.

Tranquillity, stillness. All is quiet as darkness falls. Apart from the embers of the crackling fire, no light.

Soaking up the scent of campfire smoke.

You might enjoy reading the following.

In case you missed it, I started my declutter series in March. A month by month gentle guide for clearing our homes and minds. I would love you to join us on this journey of discovery.

The first and second newsletters are out now - you can read them here.

Simple Living Decluttering

You might also enjoy -

Decluttering has changed my life

Until next time.

Debbie xx

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