Hello my sweet people, so good to be here! I said to J this morning (in my best don't-mess-with-me voice) that I simply had to steal a patch of time away in the Attic to catch my breath and reconnect with my bloglett. I declared it to be Absolutely Essential, and he had the good grace to understand so here I am. I try not to let it get me down but my goodness I do MISS my bloggin time! I feel the days and weeks slip-sliding through my fingers and the precious memories fading and getting lost and forgotten in the hubbub of busy family life and I begin to feel a kind of mild panic creep in. There is always so much that I want/need to record and remember and preserve for the future, all the little itty-bits of life that make me happy/glad/inspired/thankful. So today I'm going to attempt a very quick catch-up through the past few weeks.....jeez it's been quite crazy around here, although I must stress that it's been an extremely good kind of crazy.
Back we go then, back into the tail end of last month......as most of you know, on Friday 29th April we celebrated a Royal Wedding in the UK. Here in Attic Town it was all looking very jolly indeed with many streets decked out with bunting and flags. Two weeks on and they are still in place, which has pleased me no end! It's been especially nice to hear the sound of a town in celebration :: due to very high winds the flags have been flapping with gusto and it's a sound I really adore. I think some long forgotten childhood memories are tied up with the sound of bunting flapping in the breeze, it makes me feel like skipping when I hear it (I restrained myself in the town centre last week, think a skipping forty two year old would have caused a stir).
Friday 29th April also happened to be a Birthday Day too, as Little Lady became a Seven year old. We celebrated by allowing her to choose the days activities (a family picnic at Bolton Abbey followed by an exhausting stint at a local soft play centre), and so in a way the events of the Royal Wedding kind of passed us by that day. Our Little Lady turning seven was more important, and I think she had a memorable day.
The day after the Royal Wedding and Little Lady's Birthday was the start of our UK "May Day" holiday weekend. This weekend is also the time for our towns annual Waterways festival, which I've come to really look forward to each year. It's a magical time, with lots of extra visitors flocking in to enjoy the festivities. You walk around and feel the party atmosphere in the air. Music plays, people dress up and dance, flags fly, flowers bloom, boats sail in and out and it's all very colourful and happy and upbeat.
I took a few snaps as I was out and about that day, the cheeriness of the dressed-up boats was so lovely!
All the pretty decorative details gave me a huge rush of inspiration actually. Made me determined to plan some prettifying of my own little back yard space which was sadly neglected last year due to a small baby-shaped somebody who took up all my time and energy.
Ahhhh the delights of coloured bunting flags, such wonderful feel-good eye candy!
So that was April, wwheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, it went so fast! It was a fabulous month, we had amazing weather, a wonderful holiday by the sea, lots of picnics and outdoor jaunts, and Little B took to his feet. Bliss. I also did a lot of hooky in April....I've not had the time to show you much of what I've been up to lately, but I've been having loooads of fun with my hook. Loads I tell ya! I've been working on various decorative bits and bobs, and ooo it's been making me so happy! I don't mean to tease you, I promise faithfully that all WILL be revealed very very soon. I am really looking forward to sharing it with you. But first things first...you'll be getting a dose of Dorset next week before the hooky comes along, if that's OK with you?
May is officially my Most Favouritist Month of the Year. I just squeeeee with excitement when I turn over the pages of my calendars and view May. For me, it's a month of pure happiness....the greening up of the countryside, bluebells, fresh English Asparagus and the first English Strawberries, a month of picnics and time spent outdoors, long light days and warm sunshine.
Hmmmm...not sure why exactly there is a simnel cake on the May calendar page?? I always thought simnel cakes were for Easter, but no matter.....I'm thinking it's an age since I baked a full cake, the kind that can sit proudly on a cake stand and be sliced into with some ceremony. So I think I shall make-it-so in May. I can see a carrot cake in my very near future, oohh I'm smacking my lips at the very thought of it!
We are now two weeks into May and the weather here in my patch has been extraordinary. We had some terrific sunshine early on in the month, the sky was the bluest blue and for a week or so it forgot how to make clouds. There were no clouds for days on end.
But it's been windy, my goodness, even though the sun shone it's little heart out the wind was something else. We've eaten out a lot already this month (picnics-r-us) and our trusty windbreak has seen some hammer. The above photo was taken on the first day of May, we were up in the Dales picnicking beside the river at Hubberholme....
....lots of watery fun for the Little People and hunkering down beneath the windbreak for us Big People.
What else....oh yes, I enjoyed my annual visit to my favourite plant nursery and filled the boot of the car with lots of colourful floral goodness for my back yard. I managed to plant up most of my big pots before a very heavy storm rolled in and stopped play. It was quite spectacular with great flashes of lightening, rolling thunder and huge ploppy rain drops, and although I fretted over the safety of my newly planted little plantlets, at least I was saved the job of watering them all in.
I've not had chance to take many pics of outside yet, but I'll try and show you my progress on prettifying my back yard. I've got plans you see. For decorative things out there. It's coming on a treat.
Now before I go sink a mug of fresh coffee, let me show you the first-day-of-May view from the Attic window..........
.......it was a glorious, glorious late spring/early summer's day. Blue, blue sky (no clouds) and a magical kind of glowy happy brightness of light. Sigh. I adore this time of year. So much.
♥ see you again soon, I'll be bringing you sea breezes and coastal tales before they fade from my memory xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gorgeous piccies, as ever. All those days filled with picnics sound delightful. So glad we have had this long spell of good weather. Can't wait to catch up with all your hooky business.
Posted by: Caroline | May 15, 2011 at 09:45 AM
So glad All Is Well in Attic24 Land! Lovely photos of the canal boats and picnics, looking forward to seeing your new hooky projects - they are always such an inspiration xx
Posted by: One-oh-four | May 15, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Lovely, happy, colourful memory-making! Yippee! :) xxx
Posted by: Tina, the quiet homemaker | May 15, 2011 at 10:31 AM
Bunting and painted jugs - has to be good! And I think I take the view that cake is cake, and any day can be a cake day, whatever the season!
Pomona x
Posted by: Pomona | May 15, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Hello Lucy,
We visited the waterways festival and it was just lovely. Look forward to tales from dorset and hooky business soon.
Posted by: Susan Wright | May 15, 2011 at 10:53 AM
I wondered about the Simnel cake too! My calendar is hanging on my kitchen cupboard and I was looking at it and thought, ah yes, Simnel Cake. But, oh no, we've had Easter. But Easter was later than usual this year, perhaps that's why? BUT then sense kicked in and no matter how late Easter is, I'm SURE it's never been so late as to spill into May. Therefore, calendar is wrong. Bad calendar!
Hey Lucy guess what ... I am crocheting with GREY yarn. I know! Grey! It looks rather fab though, will show you tomorrow x
Posted by: Heather @ Littletinbird.co.uk | May 15, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Wonderful post--it is gloomy, grey and raining out my window- and this post just brought sunshine in!
Posted by: Joanne | May 15, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Lovely post Lucy.
Love bunting, love canal boats, love the patterns on the jugs and buckets of barges, love picnics and rivers and streams, Love jolly plants. Just LOVE it. You have really cheered my Sunday morning.
Love
Tickety-boo
xx
Posted by: Tickety-boo | May 15, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Gorgeous pictures. I'm looking forward to the hooky goodness.
My 7 year old has a bit of an obsession going on with canal boats so I must remember to look out for the waterways festival next year. The aire and Calder navigation is close to us so he gets his fix frequently.
Posted by: Kerry | May 15, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Mmmm What fun you guys have been having! :) You have some very lovely photos there of some wonderful memory moments. Can't wait to see more of your garden, and all your little plants :)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
S x
Posted by: Seaweedandraine | May 15, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing them. Glad u popped back to blogland
Posted by: Grateful4Crochet | May 15, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Oooh, I have missed your posts! And I am glad that it was because you and your family were too busy having fun. Well done to your little man starting to walk! My 9 month old daughter is crawling quite determinedly everywhere she can and is just starting to step her way along the furniture. A most interesting time. She thinks she should be walking NOW! Glad to have you back. xXx Helen
Posted by: Helen | May 15, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Ahhh, glorious blue sky, we have had so much grey and rain and freezing weather here (Aust) in the last week or two, so was a delight to see blue sky. Lovely, lovely post Lucy and little B walking, how quickly they grow and your little daughter's 7th birthday, gosh a lot has been happening in your world.
x Sandi
Posted by: Sandi Lee | May 15, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Oh Lucy I am so glad you are back I have missed your posts so very much. So glad to hear you and your family are well. My little six month old daughter is wriggling with all her might and main. She wants to walk NOW!!:) The pictures are just lovely. Thank you!
Kim
Posted by: Kim W | May 15, 2011 at 12:18 PM
You really make the most amazing pictures!!
Marian
Posted by: Marian | May 15, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Happy Birthday Little Lady; seven is the Best Age of All for us girls. May your year be blessed with wonder, laughter and a growing love for your siblings. (two brothers, i think ?:) )
Lucy, I look forward to seeing your newest creations and want to tell you that Spring in northern California is the prettiest place for wisteria and roses and apple blossoms and irises.
Posted by: Lynda M O | May 15, 2011 at 12:43 PM
How funny, carrot cake cooling in my kitchen as I read your blog! Must be something about May! Your photos make me yearn for a spot of narrow boating again. We have done 3 lovely holidays over the last 5 years on various canals. So lovely to see them all decorated with bunting.
I agree, May is a demanding month, but very gratifying.
Looking forward to seeing your Dorset holiday pics.
Becky x
Posted by: Becky J | May 15, 2011 at 12:56 PM
I'm so glad you're back again! I've missed your colorful inspirational posts.
Great photos! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait for Dorset story and your crochet creations!
~Julia
Posted by: Julia | May 15, 2011 at 01:11 PM
I love bunting! I made some out of scrapbook stacks and I have it festooning my classroom. That owl card is darling. Remember paper bag owls? I might make one today and share it with someone I like.
Oh, I think next time the mood strikes you should go ahead and skip!
Posted by: Pom Pom | May 15, 2011 at 01:12 PM
Phew!! lovely to catch-up,what a jam packed post,lovely lovely pictures as usual,cant wait for the hooky makes!!xx
Posted by: jbasiletti1967@hotmail.com | May 15, 2011 at 01:15 PM
lucy you have been missed and it is gr8 to have u back in blogland. cant wait to hear about dorset and the hooking wonderfulness. love the barges and the colours they have, ur so lucky to live near the,
jo xxx
Posted by: jo sowerby | May 15, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Oh, it's so good, refreshing and comforting to have a lovely new post from you, Lucy! I'm working on slowly beautifying my yard as well. Little people do make progress slower, but they are such a joy to see exploring the new outdoors, too. Can't wait to see your progress - I look forward to your inspiration!
Well wishes to you all!
Posted by: Christina | May 15, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Such gorgeous pictures!!! So lovely to see your name on my list....I am forever grateful to you because finding you was the beginning for me ! Attic 24 opened the window to the lovely world of blog land and it's wonderful people! Thank you thank you thank you !!!
Posted by: Miss Holly | May 15, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Lovely to hear you have been having a fab time Lucy, if not all go though! That's life isn't it! Sometimes it is so fast paced, you have to run to keep up, but at the same time you want to step away from it, just to breathe it all in and remember it! April has been a great month for me too but also a whirlwind! I can't wait to see your hooky goodness! Should be a treat for the eyes! Have a super duper day! Love Vanessa x
Posted by: Vanessa | May 15, 2011 at 02:17 PM
Thanks for your update. You seem to have been so busy doing so many lovely sunny things. I love the picture of the little shoe - how sweet! Can't wait to hear about Dorset. I love the place! x
Posted by: PinkCatJo | May 15, 2011 at 02:56 PM