January 2012

So we are now one month into the New Year, I wonder how it's been for you all? I hope you've all had a bright and happy start to 2012 and that you've managed to keep those sneaky January Blaaaaahs at bay. I've had a pretty fabulous start to the year, lots of creativity here as you know which has been a lovely way to launch into 2012. You can't beat a good dose of happy colour and creativity to keep the spirits up.

I'm going to be continuing my tradition of monthly Calendar Appreciation throughout this year, I can hardly believe this will be my fifth year of doing this funny little thing. Wow, how time flies.

I've got the ever wonderful Ideal Homes  calendar on the wall next to my desk here.....

....and a rather scrumptious new Planner type calendar in the hall to keep me on track with family life.

The Ideal Homes calendar does not disappoint, not ever. I love love love it. I stopped buying the magazine a while ago as it no longer appealed (some very iffy interiors with waaaaay too much funky wallpaper and horrendous colour choices for me to stomach). But the free calendar which appears with each December issue remains a true gem. Twelve incredibly beautiful, seasonal photographs which I truly look forward to gazing at every month.

My family planner calendar was  a last minute buy when I suddenly realised after Christmas that I needed one and didn't have one. I really love it actually, but it does make me feel peckish for cakes every time I look at it. I could just do with a cupcake or two right now, mmmmmm.

Isn't January always a super-long month? It seems to me that it contains maybe eight weeks instead of four. I can hardly believe that the beginning of January still contained the tail-end of Christmas, it seems soooo far behind us now.

We haven't had many crisp, bright winter mornings here as it's mostly been a very wet, grey sort of a month with low light levels. But there were a few times when we did get some beautiful skies in January. Oh and I did appreciate them!

And throughout the past month I've certainly noticed (with a glad heart-skip) that our days are slowly but steadily lengthening again. We are still eating our breakfast with the curtains closed, but the evening is arriving almost an hour later than it did in December. I live in a very housey neighbourhood with only small glimpses of the sky (excepting the attic view of course) but I do really  love to star and moon gaze up through the chimney pots and rooftops.

My usual healthyish diet went completely to pot over the Christmas period and continued to be rich, extravagant and naughty well into January. I kept trying to curb my sweet tooth, but my sugar cravings have been extraordinary. I'm looking now at those two mugs of deliciously topped hot chocolate (a New Years Day treat for Little Lady and myself) and I honestly feel like I want to eat my computer....ahhh fond memories.

I love baking in the winter months, and my January photo folder is full of the evidence. Scrummy pictures of jam laden victoria sponge, all-butter shortbread and moist banana bread have been sending me into a spin of craving. I'm pretty much back on track with myself now though, back to snacking on fresh fruit with just a weeny daily quota of sweet stuff.

That's altogether how January has felt really....an effort to get oneself Back On Track. Back to routine, back to the daily business of ticking over. I found it quite a struggle when the Little People went back to school after Christmas, they are especially excellent at keeping their Little Brother happy and we both felt a bit adrift when it was just down to the two of us again. But it didn't take long and we soon got back into enjoying the gentle rhythm of our days together.

I've been managing to maintain my enthusiasm for Keeping House so far this year, and am still diligently carrying out my daily swishing and swiping, laundry duties and hot-spot control. My weekly Home Blessing hour is still going strong too, and I've come to look forward to my Friday mornings, more than I ever thought possible. I carried out a little bit of extra decluttering and tidying around my desk area too in January (including the windowsill above, which is directly behind my desk), and I felt so great when I'd done it. I really MUST apply myself wholeheartedly to the Shelves of Doom next as they are beginning to cause arguments. Stuff keeps getting eaten by them, which makes J Very Cross Indeed, cos getting the shelves to spit stuff back out again is not easy. Near impossible actually.

Anywaaayyyyyyyyyyy.....lets not get bogged down with Bad Home Vibes. I want to show you some freezing cold January pictures now. Icy cold, brrrrrrrrrrrr. We've had low, low temperatures here of late. No snow yet this year, but quite a bit of frost and ice.

These pictures were taken a couple weeks ago in mid January, and it's the same scene at the moment too. The canal is frozen over and the poor ducks and swans are slip sliding across the ice.

There are still a fair few canal boats coming and going when the ice thaws and they can travel the waterways. It always looks so cozy when you see a boat with a steady plume of wood smoke rising from the chimney. That smell of icy air and woodsmoke will forever remind me of this town in wintertime, I've come to love it very much. It smells like Home.

And the Attic view in January? Some incredible golden-pink morning light.....

.....and some welcome low afternoon sunshine.

Oh, and lots of white frosty stuff too. Mind you, for many days in January there has been no view to speak of as the hill has been completely obscured. It really has mostly been a month of damp, wet and grey.

My January mosaic isn't damp and grey though, it seems I've been subconsciously combatting the weather with lots of colour, warmth and coziness inside.

Fresh flowers, green shoots, colourful yarn, delicious baking, snuggly socks, roaring flames, cozy blankets, sweet creativity. January goodness.

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Comments

[devinder]

hope you are feeling better Lucy. cant believe how different those three roof top pictures look, i like the low afternoon sun one. Those hot choclates look delicious, i could do with one of those now :)

[louise]

A gorgeous collection of photoa, looKs like a super start to new year! I love your ideal homes calendatr. I never buy that mag either but I must look out for the calendar for next year!

Those hot chocolates look soooo good - perfect for a well below zero kind of day like today!

[Jo]

and BIG CONGRATS ON BEING VOTED NO 1 IN iNSIDE cROCHET MAGAZINE XXXXXXX
JO XXXXX

[Anna]

My oldest girl has started going to pre-school every day this term, and it's a bit of a shock having to leave the house on time every morning, after nearly four years of baby-time (and I worked from home for a couple of years before that). By the end of this January though we were starting to get into the swing of it. The lighter afternoons improve my mood immeasurably as well. Roll on spring!

[Jill S.]

Your blog has become part of my morning routine. Clicking on your site, seeing you've posted something new...it's like opening a beautifully wrapped gift. Great way to start my day! I discovered your blog exactly 1 year ago (and am in the process of reading all your posts prior to that). In the last year my house (I'm a crocheting machine now!) & my life have been infused with color; thanks to you. You've been promoted from stranger to friend in this past year....my friend, Lucy.

[beach bungalow]

Beautiful pictures, Lucy!

Sue

xo

[Amber]

I just LOVE your blog! It truly inspires me and makes me feel good about life. I am a Mom at home... my daughter is 10 months old and it has been nice to read of your quiete and soothing adventures as I find myself in the sam boat. I have also recently taken up crocheting so I couldn't' be more happy to see your love inspired projects. Thank you for creating this-it truly helps me.

[sarah]

Beautiful pictures Lucy.......I'm de-cluttering with a vengeance..... i'll bob over soon xx

[Mitzi]

Thank you for this lift of spirits. I share Jill S.
thoughts of you and your blog. I know this blog, especially the wonderful tutorials you make take a lot of time. I do so appreciate all of it and hope you continue for a long time. Thank you for all your colorful contributions to my days!

[Annie]

Beautiful cheering photos as ever Lucy. And I agree, getting back on track after Christmas has been harder than usual this year ... I blame the lack of a proper winter, too much damp grey gloom and not enough of those bright sunny days you always capture so well from the attic :D

[Dinahsoar]

I love seeing Little B's dimpled hand in the images. My babies are all grown up and I remember their dimpled chubby hands which were so sweet. They grown up so fast. You blink and they are gone from the nest.

The winter weather in my part of the world has been very similar to yours this year. But Spring is coming--and it will be grand.

[a cheerful living adventure]

Ooh, what a lovely cosy post! Thank you. Was just looking for a bit of cheeriness in the midst of an afternoon of work, and there it is! (I went looking for the Ideal Homes calendar - stupidly not until January though, and I'd missed it! Pah!)

[happy little cottage]

Hi Lucy! Thanks for the survival guide to January :) You make Attic24 such a cheerful place to visit!
xoxo Debbie

[Marleen]

thanks for the inspiring post and photos.
despite the dark month of january, it's the small things we live for. Thanks for sharing!
Greetings, Marleen
www.lapucedemarlene.blogspot.com

[angela-southern USA]

Love the pics.We've had a wet and warm start of the new year.Been out taking photos of the trees in the fog this morning,after all day rain yesterday.So nice out,going to warm up to 66 F here today.Plan on weed control in my flower beds today.Love how you've decorated your jade plant.:)SWEETS!!!lets not go there,shall we?!All my teeth are sweet tooth/teeth?!I started right after Christmas de-cluttering,and still at it.Hope your day is healthy and bright.

[Brianna]

Love the photos from this month. Thanks for sharing! I look forward to February adventures!

[Jackie]

Fabulous post as usual Lucy ~ your January photos are wonderful. I especially love the photos with Little B just getting in on the act with your yummy looking family planner and those beautifully decorated hot chocolates. My eye also keeps getting drawn to your fabby turquoise shoes too ~ do you think you could possibly share where you got them from? :O)xx

P.S I hope that you are feeling a little bit better today too.

[Maria]

In your night sky pic you have captured the moon with Jupiter and Venus, lovely pic.
Thanks for a lovely blog!

[Sarah]

What a gorgeous January you've had, dear Lucy! Thank you for sharing your colorful life with us. Silly me...one of my fave piccies is the one with the cute white ducks in the frosty field!

[Mary Lea Wolf]

Your pictures are bringing a lump to my throat...the ones of your barges on the canal...last summer my daughter and I spent a few weeks in the south of England...doing the gypsy caravan holiday...and we spent a few days where we saw those barges...and thought what a wonderful life that would be! Sigh!!

[diana]

Thanks for these lovely shots of colour to brighten my white wintry day here! ;-)

[bleudedelf]

Nice & colourful post!
my turn to say thank you!

[Carla]

So glad you feel better to blg this wonderful post.
Waiting for next!!!
Love
Carla from Spain

[Emily]

You are such a bright spot! Beautiful post, thanks for the inspiration!

[Trish]

The more I read, the more I like!!! Can't believe you do a bit of Flylady too. I started january off trying to reinforce my routines a bit too and decluttering a few places. Things have slid a bit this week - housework is very boring when I'd rather crocheting or sewing or blogging, plus there have been a couple of other things which have got in the way. But I shall jump back on that wagon tomorrow!!!