Gently

Monday morning, 10:27am. J is at work, but I am home with the three Lil Peeps at the start of our Easter holidays. We are all still in our pyjamas and I'm pretty much hoping it'll stay that way all day long. Don't intend to get dressed today, nope, will stay pyjama-clad for the whole of it. Haven't got much food in, but shopping doesn't fit very well with wearing pyjamas so we shall make do with what's in. I'm thinking a creamy, comforting risotto (some ham and slightly shrivelled button mushrooms have been located in the fridge, and I always have arborio rice in the cupboard). In fact, I might just dish it up into bowls and we'll eat it picnic style around the fire. It's blimmin freeeezing here today, people keep telling me that snow is forecast for goodness sake. Blankets and woolly socks and pyjamas and bowls of hot comfort food around the fire sounds delightful, doesn't it? We'll just have to ignore the fact that it's April and pretend Spring hasn't supposed to've started yet.

We have nothing planned for this week. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. I'm hoping for happy children who entertain themselves and require very little attention from me (so far so good). I'm thinking if I just make sure to provide food at all the right times, then they might just be good enough to look after themselves. Maybe we won't get dressed all week.

Sounds a bit lack-lustre I know, but hey, I've been poorly. Like reeeeeally crappity-crap poorly in bed all day yesterday. Some sort of bug crept in and laid me low, the bug also crept into Little B as he spent the whole of yesterday throwing up. Sometimes we managed to get it into his little blue bucket, but a lot of it landed on bed, sofa, floor, and me. Today Little B is bright as a button and ravenously hungry. Me, not so much. I am loads better than yesterday, but not at all hungry (excepting for strawberries with sugar on) and still feeling wiped out. I think my legs are now made of stone, they are soooo heavy and tired.

So I am taking it gently, slowing the pace right down, not expecting too much. Sometimes when you're ill and spending lengthy times in bed drifting in and out of sleep, everything can seem a bit gloomy. I've been trying to think of some highlights of the past week to lighten my mood, remembering how good things essentially are and how rarely I am caught up in illness. For that I am truly thankful. I won something last week, it made me sooooo happy. I won, I won, I won! It arrived in double quick time, beautifully wrapped in pink paper with a stripy bow.

It's an apron that I won, a beautiful handmade spring-flower apron, made by the delightful Mrs Thomasina Tittlemouse. It's a joy to wear, and it inspired me to double-bake last week (a batch of iced buns and a tray of chewy fruity flapjack). I've also been wearing it Just Because. Just because I've been at home and pottering and apron-wearing makes me happy.

Something else came in the post last week, something I ordered on Etsy when I was going through a mad-crazy creative mental flurry with myself. I had been thinking of Connievan and how I would love to make her some cushions. Fabric patchworky ones, but not just fabric, no, something more, something kind of ribbony and braidy and ever so slightly over-the-topsy. I adore this type of woven ribbon/braid, it reminds me instantly of my childhood. I had fun searching through Etsy for the right thing and finally I found these all the way across the globe in Thailand. How exotic! I'm thinking strips of patchworked fabrics, with these braids and some ricrac running down the joins, can you picture it? Will keep you posted. Need to find a way to iron/cut/sew without a certain Little B meddling.

 

Something else that made me really unexpectedly happy last week was a comment from a Random Stranger. Not often that someone stops to tell me how great I look in what I'm wearing, in fact, I don't think it has ever happened to me before, not EvEr. But one morning last week when I was pushing Little B up through town, a man stopped me to tell me how much he liked all my bright colours. I had completely forgotten that I had slipped on my red crocs that morning, I looked down  to see what the man was pointing at and was honestly stunned to see them still on my feet. I guess I must've looked quite jolly with my red feet, lime green coat, turquoise bag and pink polka dot scarf. My turquoise bag (from Fat Face) is falling apart a little....I'm trying to come up with a crochet alternative, possibly using my "Spot Square" pattern (pictured in this post, scroll down through the yarn-addiction, it's the 11th picture)

Other little bits of gentle goodness this past week have been the appearance of shoots. I have shoots!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, yes, some of my seeds have begun to sprout, and I am extremely happy about it. Above is the cosmos, but also my colander-calendula has sprouted, as have my morning glory. Now singing sweetly to the nasturtiums as they are not yet showing any signs of sprouting. Cummon nasturtiums, where aaaarrrrrreeeee yooooooooooooooou?!

I planted a passion flower this morning. Went out to put rubbish in the bin and saw the little passion flower I bought last week from the supermarket still all trussed up in it's plastic wrapping. So I busily got to work with a little spade and transplanted it into my big blue glazed pot. I hope it won't mind the cold weather we're having, I have high hopes for this gorgeous, scrambling beauty. Grow little plant, grow.

11.38 now. My gentle pyjama morning was sullied about 38 minutes ago when the Window Man arrived on the doorstep. Jeez, why can I not remember these things??? Had totally forgot he was coming, so I had the hideous embarrassment of trying to talk about Replacement Windows and FENSA law whilst wearing bedwear and bed head. Oh well. At least I had brushed my teeth.

Well......feeling a bit wobbly and heavy behind my eyes again now, so I shall slope off and crawl under a blanket with my two Littlies who are sat watching High School Musical. Gently does it.

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Comments

[Jen]

I wish I could've talked myself into thinking of positive things this weekend but I was sick in bed the whole time too--and it was my birthday!! I wish I had a do-over!

Hope you're feeling better and get your wish of a pajama-clad week!

[Carol Battell - Tickety Boo Cards]

I'm sure following your posts on a daily basis means I'm now 'in tune' with you ! I had the same flatty flat flat February, and a buggy bug bug at the weekend myself which has meant its hard for me to get going today workwise. School holidays means I go into slo-mo mode too. And believe it or not, I have a Door Man booked for new door installation!

Hope you feel perkier soon .. come back sunshine.

Carol x

[Colleen]

I have a bug at the moment too, just horrid aren't they!! I hope you are feeling much better soon and you have wonderful days full of relaxation and crafting with your little people!!

[Kezia]

Hope you get better soon! Random comments and even smiles from strangers really can make ones day, can't they?

[Trish]

Was wondering where you were and that explains it. Hope you are back to perkiness soon. Sometimes a bit of chilling and going slow is exactly what's required and it will be happening here too as my boys are a bit worn out and full of cold. Am LOVING your beautiful braid. I have to pop into my local fabric mill shop to add bits of ribbon and braid to my collection on a regular basis. Enjoy your pyjama day!

[Anny]

Sending you some warmth and well wishes from down under! I also had a pyjama day today being the first day of our school hols too....love it until the doorbell rings ha ha Anny :)

[julia]

Hello Lucy,

Lots of nasty bugs bobbing about ~ we've got one here, it involves having a hideous head cold and seeing how many boxes of tissues we can get through in a week!! Huzzah! At least it means lots of down time too, relaxing with nice books, cosying up on the sofa and watching tv, sneaking in a spot of crochet, a bit of sketching...I hope you're better soon, sending love and thanks for the shot of colour today.

Julia x x x

[Truly Myrtle]

Other than the feeling poorly part :( it sounds like a heavenly holiday. It is a little warmer here although the bright sky is a little deceiving. I am taking my little peeps to a kids farm place today because I realised the baby (2) hasn't really seen any animals. Bad mummy!
It is a massive effort for me to get out of the house - I am a homebody through and through.
Hope you feel better soon. Risotto sounds just the ticket!

[caroline]

Feel better my love..... I do like your coat, vibrant on a chilly day

[Lily]

Hi Lucy - hope you and Little B feel better soon. I love your apron; I have been trying to find a pattern of the 'kind of apron my Nanny wore'. Its become a bit of a quest based on a fuzzy memory but certainly the fabric in your lovely new one looks the right kind. Its really pretty. Enjoy your gentle day. We call it a 'cuddles day' here. Lily. xxx

[maypole]

Hope you are feeling better soon. What the heck if you are still in your pyjamas!
Random compliments from strangers can have a really good affect.

My sister recently "followed" an elderly lady around a shop, she looked so smart, she wanted to tell her so. She did eventually pluck up the courage to stop her. Turns out that the lady had recently lost her husband and had to force herself to come out that day, she told my sister that she'd made her day saying what she did. So I hope that man made your day.

[anne@andamento]

Loved the window man story, it made me laugh, I'd probably have pretended I was out so well done for entertaining him, you probably made his day.
Hope you're feeling better soon.

[shelley]

So very sorry to hear you've been sick. The laying in bed, heavy legs, drifting in and out of sleep . . . so nasty. I hope your pajama-clad week and some docile and cheerful children will find you bouncing back soon. Thank you for the time you put into this blog. It always brings joy and a smile.

[Caroline@puppydogstails]

Aww get well soon :-)

[lynne at Textile Treasury]

A gentle week is what we all need now and again - and I'm sure the littlies won't object to a 'self-entertainment' week. Let's face it, you normally have a very busy time of it with them. Perhaps the imminent cold spell heading our way (WHAT????After 20-23 degrees even here in Norfolk????) will make everyone just want to snuggle down indoors.

And then you'll all get cabin fever.....oh dear!

[Louise]

Love the idea of a pyjama day! Don't you hate it when that doorbell rings though! Hope you're feeling much better very soon. x

[Thriftwood]

Hope you're feeling better soon, I wasn't well all last week and window men were actually here, seemed like in every room of house nowhere for me to loll about and wallow in self pity! Will be worth it in end xx

[Sonia]

Hope you feel better soon and that the gentleness continues. Our easter hols have started gently too but about to take 2 of the littlies on a swimming course (and the 3yr old has never done any swimming!) so I think my calmness is about to disappear!!! Loving all the green shoots - and the passion flower. I used to have one but it grew like billio and shot little shoots up everywhere so I had to take it out in the end. I think having it in a pot is a good idea! Happy easter to you & yours x

[alexa]

This is my first visit to your blog and it was such a pleasant morning read. Thanks for your colourful writing. The world needs more colour. Hope to visit again soon!

[domesticlou]

Really sorry to hear you are poorly. If it helps, i forgot the scaffolding man was coming last week. I had just come off nights and literally fell out of the back door straight into him. I hadn't brushed me teeth. Nuff said :-D

[carla]

I'm so sorry for you and LittleB. Hope you'll feel better soon.
Lovely way to explain us how you feel and what you do. I try to understand all the comments people leaves, but some things are too difficult to me. Anyway, I think I'm improving my English, at least, reading one! Gorgeous way to learn, so pleasant and full of colours, and because of you, I'm crocheting!!!
Happy Easter to the Attic people! Here in Spain holidays will start next thursday, at least where I live. And can't wait for them!
Your shoots look fantastic!
Carla. From Spain

[Clair]

I can't believe you are posting at all! Sending you lots of healing thoughts from across the ocean.

Love your pics as always...so lovely.

[delphine]

It's great to read you again, though I feel sorry to hear bug is bugging you!
Weather, here in France is absolutely fantastic, so, let me send some warm sunshine to your house!!!
Hope you feel better soon

[devinder]

sending you and little B lots of get well wishes

[Karen Hillier]

Love the ribbons! Can't wait to see the cusions you make with them.
Hope you are feeling better soon,
love Karen x x
P.S. I am spending the day in my PJs too :)