10 WONDERFUL THINGS TO MAKE, DO AND CELEBRATE IN MAY
Hello, and welcome to the May Sunday Supplement! After a break last month (I was launching the Spring chapter of my e-course and something had to give!) my monthly newsletter is back with 10 wonderful things to make, do and celebrate this utterly wonderful month of May. Spring is entering her maturity as the trees fill up with leaves and the first flowering bulbs and flowers finish for the year, making way for the May and June flowering shrubs and trees. It’s a joy- an actual cheesy joy-to take a moment and just take it all in; the blossom and bluebells and bird song.
I feel like I have woken up from a long winter hibernation and am lustily welcoming the sun, flowers and new life bursting forth everywhere around me.
Auden is 2 and a bit, and I stopped breastfeeding a few months ago. I realised, during the long car journey to my dads house, that I have left the early baby days behind me. The change happened slowly but the epiphany was sudden and filmic. A shift. I have also entered into a happier, healthier mental state too. A change in season, therapy, a bit of distance and some pharmaceuticals (#gratitude) have helped me to feel more functional and happy and I am so GRATEFUL! Full of the joys of Spring, in fact. Suffice to say i’ve been re-thinking, journalling and life-booking as I take stock of this version of me that’s grown and changed, and figure out a way forward. Shifts, growth, movement and realisations: Spring.
10 wonderful things to make, do and celebrate in May:
Take your morning brew outside. I like doing this all year round on fine days, but in Spring there is so much going on! I either just stand in the garden for a few minutes with my eyes closed, or sit on the back step. No phone, just listening and watching to the world waking up around me. It’s a lovely, mindful simple way to start the day.
Get up early to hear the dawn chorus. In case you haven't already clocked the rising sound of the bird song, the dawn chorus is majestic at this time of year. Set the alarm for dawn and throw open your windows, even in busy areas, as long as there are shrubs or trees nearby you should hear it.Or go on a special dawn chorus walk- they're happening all over the country.
Visit a Rapeseed field or bluebell woods. The bright yellow fields of rapeseed are in full flower and are one of those spectacles of nature that make my heart soar. Similarly the carpets of bluebells in the woods are still just about there if you make it quick! Agnes from We Are Stardust has designed a gorgeous Bluebell guide to take into the woods with you.
Sow Flowers. We have been really busy in the garden this year, and after our tulip success are hoping to grow lots more flowers!Lots of seeds can be sown direct in May-see Sarah Raven for a list of May sown flowers and veg. (not sponsored!)
Spring Clean. Have a big clean and declutter. Spring light illuminates our spaces in a way they haven’t been for months, and I don’t know about you but my house is in needs of a bit of a deep clean! Spring is also a good time for a seasonal declutter too. See my DIY Natural Cleaning Recipes here.
Look out for Elderberry Bushes which will start flowering in May. Make elderflower cordial/gin/champagne/ice lollies/cake- there is so much to do with this beautiful flavour!
Book Summer Holiday clubs. Kids summer holiday camps and clubs get booked up early, so start looking now if you want some childcare or activities for kids in the holidays.
Sort through your wardrobe. I am building up courage (!) to switch over my wardrobe from Winter to Summer. I say courage because I know I’ll need to get rid of a fair bit as it won’t fit my bigger body, and I still find it hard to let things I love go! But I know it will feel so much better afterwards. Donate/recycle/chuck anything out that’s past it’s best or doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn.
Set or review some goals. Springs is a really lovely time to make or review goals. How are you doing on the things you wanted to do in January? My Life Book e-course is all about planning and dreaming and is in full swing. It’s closed now but I have a free guide to checking in on your goals in a kind and effective way, here.
Start a planning process. Because my head is in e-course mode, I have been thinking a lot about practical goal planning, and the importance of flexibility and kindness in this process. The key to a good planning system is that it has space for the everyday appointments and also wider goal stuff too. I created a series of planning sheets for my e-course and I have decided to make them available separately. The planning sheet bundle helps you to break down goals and gives you an idea of the wider process, and and they’ll be available soon.
The Nature Sessions
The 3 day retreat I helped to found is happening at the end of this month and there is just one tent left now. It’s held at my favourite places- Elmley Nature Reserve and i’m running a seasonal styling session and a journalling session too. There are both one and two night stay options and it's going to be beautiful and peaceful. Let me know if you're coming! Read more information here.
I hope you are all well,
Hannah
