February 2012

Funny isn't it, that even though February is the shortest month of the year, it very much feels like the longest? I try not to struggle with this funny second month, try to remain immune to the sneaky, wintry blues that often descend like a damp cloud. But truthfully, it isn't always doable. Sometimes February days just suck, and that's all there is to it.

My February calendar pages were certainly not gloomy though, they told me to remember the good things about this time of year. The celebration of Love by way of disgraceful quantities of chocolate, and the celebration of Pancake, by way of errm, lots of pancake-eating. Both were good, sweet, edible events in our house this year, enjoyed by all five of us.

This is February Ideal-Home-style, beautiful and inspiring as ever. I love that the February image is content and creative and indoorsy, it does certainly make me want to go away and plan something stitchy. It's been an age since my old Bernina came out to play. Ooooooo, which reminds me, I do need to apply myself to finishing off Connievan's curtains which were started last year and not completed (re-making ten curtains was a far bigger job than I originally thought). Right then, that will be my March challenge, remind me in a week or two will you?

February here in the Attic was beautifully floral, oh I've had such a tremendous amount of pleasure and good value out of February's blooms. I mean, just look at them! True spirit lifters, that's for sure.

My Amaryllis burst into flower in February too, I watched day after day as the green shoots made their usual speedy ascent. This year, for the first time, I placed it on the windowsill behind my desk, so I really was very aware of it's daily progress. It's been lovely watching the first bud unfold......

.....the light shining through the petals has made them almost appear to be glowing. Such beauty and such intense, glorious colour. When I chose the amaryllis (I bought it when I was in Ilkley in January sometime), I really did deliberate over which colour to go for. In fact, at first I picked up one that was the palest pinky white with delicate pink stripes running through the petals. I thought perhaps it would be good to go with something a little different for a change. But I just couldn't bring myself to go through with it in the end. I put the pale pink variety back and predictably plumped for good ol' Amaryllis Red Lion, always guaranteed to pack a punch with the colour. Pale pink? Whatever was I thinking?!!

The focus of February has been very much on indoors, keeping warm and occupying our time with cosy, feel-good pursuits. Baking, crocheting and fireside pleasure. Early nights tucked up in bed, good, wholesome home cooked food. Keeping the Little People happy indoors whilst allowing time for my own creativity. When I look at these pictures I think cor! What a lovely, happy, homely, cosy, warm month February was! Yet I recall that there was often an underlying feeling of discontent. Bad weather. Restlessness. Gloom. Germs. I guess that if you jumble up all the good things with the not-so-good things, then overall the month evened itself out. It was just right. It was a slow, winter month spent doing indoorsy, winter things.

Some good things certainly came my way last month though, and the above is one of them. I was incredibly chuffed to pick up a copy of Inside Crochet magazine (the March issue) to see the results of the Blog Awards in print. Such lovely words were written, so complimentary and flattering. I slurped my latte as I read (I was in a cafe with Heather at the time) and felt like my cheeks had gone pink and my insides had gone all tickly. Thank you SO MUCH, all of you lovely people who took the trouble to vote for me back in November. You really made me feel super-duper, if a little flushed and tickled.

Do you recognise the photo above? Know where it is?

It's the little village of Craster in Northumberland where we've had numerous summer holidays staying in the white house at the very end of the row. We were last there in August 2009 when I was carrying Little B around inside my rather large, round bumpy tummy. Last week, I booked the same cottage for us to re-visit for a holiday this summer, and I am soooooooooooooooooo happy about that fact! As soon as I had made the booking and paid the deposit, I went straight into my photo archives and pulled out this image to make a print. It's sitting on my desk like a postcard from the past, reminding me that in less than six months time we will be back there again. I think planning and booking a summer holiday in February is ace, I can highly recommend it.

 

Weather wise, February here in Atticland has been pretty dire on the whole. It's mostly been a month of wet grey yuckiness. Of course, there have been some good weather bits here and there. The snow was good fun. And the odd bit of sun and blue sky that peeked through the gloom was incredible and very memorable.

My February attic views are mainly shades of grey..........

Oh! Not so grey! That last picture above was 24th February, a time when the sky finally cleared after the rain and for a wee while there was some colour back in the landscape. I'm hoping March is going to be very much more along these lines, I've SO had enough of the wet grey stuff. So over it. Need Spring to come now. Anytime as from tomorrow would be good.

So that sums up February 2012. Not really so bad after all. In fact, it looks pretty good I'd say.

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Comments

[Emma/The Log Cabin]

Hello Lucy, I just logged on and up you popped! I love your blog, it's such an inspiration xxx

[jopsy]

Congrats! How very exciting! I LOVE reading your blog :)

[louise]

Lovely photos, lots of brightness and colour in a drab month!

It's been very grey all month here too - the first of Feb was lovely but apart from that - and a couple of sunny (but windy) afternoons - it has been grey, gloomy, foggy, drizzly.

[hawthorn]

February has been a bit grey here too, but its done now and March has started with brilliant sunshine, long may it last!
We love Northumberland too and hope to return there this summer - need that to look forward to in this rather dank northern late winter stuff.
Hang in there L, summer is on its way and until then crochet will keep us sane!!

[Rachael Iddon]

Hello again, I really should be making packed lunches and starting some ironing but I'd much rather be reading Attic 24! So much escapism into bright flowers and yummy crochet. Much more fun. Oh well, I've had my fix, back to the chores now and I might even squeeze in some hooky myself. Thanks for perking up my evening.

[Jenni]

What a cheerful and inspiring post! Feels like spring here today, hope it will soon be with you too.

[fee@chippernelly]

lovely round up lucy. and congratulations on the award - loving how it made your cheeks glow!
We love that coast too - especially Dunstanburgh Castle and lunch at the lovely pub at Lower Newton (ship inn?). Happy memories.
Hope March shakes the blues off for good and you are back to your chipper self!
fee x

[Heather]

Can I come to Craster too? Yes? Awesome! I will bring the jaffa cakes and the bucket and spade xxx

[Jenelle]

I love your monthly recaps! There is so much goodness packed into this post. :)

P.S. I am glad to be waving February goodbye too. It is a funny little month!

[Sasha]

What a lovely homey month of photos, thanks for the re-cap :-) February here in Brisbane, Australia has been hot hot hot with the occasional thunderstorm. But mostly hot brassy blue skies - I love the snuggly feeling of your cosy photos :-)

[Jennifer]

I absolutely love how colourful your life is. It is inspiring!!

[Pennyblossoms (Zoe)]

What an enjoyable post, full of colour and loveliness!
Here's to the coming of Spring! Soon!
Z xx

[Fiona]

Someone should be turning your blog into a BOOK!! I would buy a book full of your lovely homemade creations...your blog is a joy to read x

[ktmade]

February is sort of a dull month, isn't it? The excitement of the holidays long gone, and summer so far away. Glad you made some plans that gave you something to look forward to!

And congratulations on the blog awards. Not surprising to me in the least!

[Rose]

"Funny isn't it, that even though February is the shortest month of the year, it very much feels like the longest?"

No no no, that's July!

[Raymonde]

How wonderful! Outside your attic window, the grass is green!!!!!! Wow!
Where I live (north of Quebec city), there's so much snow on the ground, that it will take a while before we see anything green... Last year it snowed until the end of April...
Please post more springtime pictures to help me get through this time of year! :-)

[Ellie]

Looking good Lucy. Can't believe it's March today. Why did no one warn me? I'm not complaining though. Spring is definitely on the way here in Dorset.
ellie
x

[Melissa P]

Congratulations on your Blog Award from Inside Crochet! You deserve it.

[diana]

What a lovely recap for February! One needs some grey in order to appreciate bright colours, don't you think? Just not too much or for too long, if Mother Nature cooperates. ;-)

[Louise]

Lovely photos and such cheerful words. Congrats on your blog award. Very well deserved.

[Gracie]

Lucy, I would have voted for you had I known about your blog in November. I am so glad you were presented with a well earned award! Thanks for sharing your life and many lovely designs with us. <3

[Alice]

Wow, such a colourful post! I love your montages, they really do shout out FEBRUARY! We had an amaryllis at home that didn't grow tall at all and then burst into flower. It had huge petals, but was only a few centimetres from the soil - very odd, but still pretty. I hope March brings you as much colour and a little more happiness than February. Alice xx

[Jillian_R]

Lucy, congratulations!!! That is so cool you won that award. I buy that magazine here in the States as it is one of my favorites. As I won;t get it unitl April, I am already on pins and needles to read the article!

Best wishes and I am glad things are looking up for you!!

[Lika G.]

Congrats Lucy!!! Very happy and proud of you my friend! :)

[OhAbigail]

Great post, congratulations on the award. You truly have an amazing view!