I've had the most wonderful couple of days, just unbelievably wonderful. Nothing out of the ordinary, simply a deep, incredible feeling of appreciation for everything that is good in my life. I've been thinking about my role as a Mum and Wife, the love I feel for my family, the happiness which we all share within this lovely, messy, colourful home of ours.
J was away over the weekend, he went off on Saturday morning to go and enjoy a beer-filled weekend with a group of friends. I was more than happy to stay home with the Little People, chilling out and working on my re-balancing thing. Saturday morning eased along at a leisurely pace. The Little People chose to sit at the table and get creative, and it was wonderful to watch them. This scene was so common in our house a few years ago, but not so much any more so it was an especially lovely time for me. Little Lady was knitting and the boys were both making Fathers Day cards.
I helped Little B just a teeny bit with his card, but that child can be especially stubborn with accepting help and truly he did most of it by himself.
I baked on Saturday morning, just for the joy of it. Sweet little buns topped with butter cream icing, glitter strawberries and a dusting of sugar. Heavenly. You know what I said about the re-balancing thing, the part about cutting back on my sugar intake? Wellllll.....I confess that this beauty slipped under the radar with my afternoon cuppa. Every mouthful was utterly deeeeeeeeeeelicious.
Saturday evening now. Little Lady requested some sofa time with her Mummy, so we hopped into our pyjamas, popped on a film of my choice
One granny square later and we were both sky-high with wonderment and excitement at all the future hooky possibilities this has opened up. Yiippppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday morning and we are no longer granny squaring. She asked for help in learning to crochet rows as she wants to make a skinny scarf for herself. She already had this adorable variegated bamboo yarn (it's a Sirdar yarn called "Smiley Stripes" and this is shade 257 Hulabaloo). I tell you, she is so enjoying this new skill, but not half as much as I am enjoying watching her. My insides feel like they want to explode into a million sparkly stars when I watch her crochet. Such joy. I wonder if she realises? Probably not eh.
Her knitting is now on the back burner for a while I guess, but she has done really well with this too.
Monday now. J had booked the day off work and after all the rain we've had of late, yesterday was miraclously bright and dry here. So we made some plans and set off up into the Dales with Little B for a spot of picnicking and messing about by the river. This is the road that leads along the babbling River Wharfe above Hubberholme, it's one of our favourite picnic spots (I've written about it before I'm sure, yes in 2008 and 2010). I love this road cos it has no sides to it. No fences, no hedges, no walls, no curbs. Just open to the grass and sheep.
You can park a car directly on the grass in the many little lay bys created at the side of the road. Pick a good spot....we needed some flat grass to try out our newly acquired beach tent, and an area of flat rock and pebbly beach that would be relatively safe for Little B to play.
It was completely idyllic.
Little B's playtime was so much fun!
There was lots of rock-filled activity. Collecting rocks, pulling rocks from one spot to another, dumping rocks, throwing rocks with a big SPLaSh into the water, building rock towers and knocking them down.
There was food too, a hastily pulled together picnic lunch with a hot mug of tea to finish.
And there was riverside hooky. Of course. The ripples continue to provide me with a huge dollop of portable bliss, I love working this blanket so much. I think I could happily make this blanket a mile long, work on it for the next decade.
Inside the beach tent, all was cosy and deliciously warm. Little B absolutely loved it in here, he rolled around, wrapped himself in blankets, bounced about and generally had fun.
It was a beautiful day for sure, a lovely chance for J and I to break out of routine and enjoy some time together. To enjoy being parents too, it was obvious how happy Little B was being out and about with us doing something different. Lovely, it really was.
Sigh. So happy. Keep thinking about my little hooking buddy and my heart flips over.........makes me want to kind of laugh and burst into tears all at the same time.
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Edit to add :: thank you so much for your sweet words, I know you understand the Mummy Pride! In answer to questions, Little Lady is 8 years old. She took up knitting when just before she turned 7. She really, really wanted to do it, it was all her idea. She's been nagging me incessantly about the crochet for the past few months but somehow the time was never right to sit down quietly together and spend time on it before now. Actually I hadn't bargained for her being so quick off the mark, especially with how to hold the hook and yarn. Her tension is still a wee bit erratic, a bit loose, but oh my, she has so done me proud. She's been making crochet chain friendship bracelets for the girls in her class at school too ♥
How fantastic that your little miss is following in your crocheting footsteps! Well done.
Posted by: Louise | June 19, 2012 at 03:05 PM
Over joyed for you to have a "hooky buddy." Neither of my 2 girls were interested in my crafts until the left home and had families of their own. Love your blog.
Posted by: Cheryl | June 19, 2012 at 03:10 PM
Just enjoyed my lunch and reading your blog! You've made me happy too! I'm just picking up the crochet again after many years, your little girl did fantastically well, how exciting, you must be a good teacher! :)
Posted by: Julie Clay | June 19, 2012 at 03:10 PM
What a great blog!!! Looks likes a fantastic weekend....on a side note, LOVE your nailpolish. Your toes look very happy!! =)
Posted by: Dee Gill | June 19, 2012 at 03:14 PM
I am so excited to see your Little Lady crocheting! You make me so hopeful for the future. I only have one little girl myself (as well as one boy) and I really hope she grows to love crafts and yarn and fabric arts as much as I do. She's only three years old now, so it will be awhile before she's ready but I can't wait! How nice to feel so happy about parenting too...that happens to me a lot, where I stop and realize how fortunate and blessed I am and I feel re-energized about motherhood all over again. Glad to see you having such a wonderful time. :)
Posted by: Thistle | June 19, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Lovely post. Was sitting here on the other side of the world making up some of your summer garden granny squares when a 5.2 earthquake hit. Now I am too nervous to go to bed so think I will be crocheting all night! Thanks again for your lovely blog.
Maria Kirchner
Australia
Posted by: Maria Kirchner | June 19, 2012 at 03:28 PM
Beautiful post!
I have had similar sorts of feelings this weekend. I only hope my little girl want to me to teach her when she's older, the way my mum taught me :) I know my mum is still delighted by my crochet even now!
xxx
Posted by: Naomi | June 19, 2012 at 03:55 PM
Hasn't she done well? i do think crochet is more immediate, by that you get faster results which is so encouraging for children. Its really lovely that you have tought her and she has picked it up so well. xxxxx
Posted by: Susan Wright | June 19, 2012 at 04:06 PM
Congratulations, your daughter loves crocheting, here is to many, many hours of fun together.
Hugs Audra
6craftyacres
Posted by: audra | June 19, 2012 at 04:10 PM
Oh my, I immediately spotted the colourful knit in the first pic, thinking you'd picked up the knitting sticks, and then I read "Little lady was knitting" - and if that wasn't enough, I scroll down and see she's actually crocheting!! Oh wow, you must be bursting with pride and joy! ♥ :-)
Oh, I meant to ask - are you really hosting a Provence Crochet Tour? An ad popped up today on Ravelry leading to this page: http://www.provencetemptations.com/craft-tours.html
(Oh I so hope I haven't spoiled a surprise here or something, I was just curious!)
Have a lovely day! xxxx
Posted by: Nanita | June 19, 2012 at 04:13 PM
Oh my God Lucy, that beautiful place... here in Brazil don't exist place like this, the water are polluted, for every place, it's a shame, but I have to live here, srrsrs. I think wonderfull your child to learn crochet, I would try with my niece, but she doesn't patience, rsrsrs, who knows any day??? This place that you walks with your family is next to your house? Congratulations, your vitality is enviable. Thanks lucy, I love You.
From Brazil...*Ana*
Posted by: Ana | June 19, 2012 at 04:16 PM
I feel bad I didn't teach my daughter these skills. Hopefully one day to teach her to sew though. What a beautiful, unusual, river you were at. What fun, some one on one with the little one and hubby.
Posted by: Rebecca | June 19, 2012 at 04:21 PM
Oh such a beautiful post Lucy! Sometimes just pottering about with the ones you love is the most perfect time.
Victoria xx
Posted by: Tangled Sweetpea | June 19, 2012 at 04:21 PM
Congrats to L.L.!YAY!Such a plearsure for you, I know how I felt when I taught my Girls,but sadly they don't do much anymore(teenagers. Mine have been canning with me lately,so that's a treat. Such a lovely spot by the river!Looks like a place I could spend ALL day at,and with some hooky time...heaven!The buns look yummy :)The ripple too.Have a good day!
Posted by: angela-southern USA | June 19, 2012 at 04:29 PM
Lovely. Just utterly Lovely.
Lx
Posted by: lydia @ Twelve | June 19, 2012 at 04:33 PM
Glorious! (All of it!!)
S x
Posted by: Sandra | June 19, 2012 at 04:37 PM
Yes it's a great feeling when you look at your daughter and she's just a mini crafter too .... I just love to watch my daughter sewing and knitting...it's the loveliest feeling!
Well done to the Little Lady!
Have a happy week.
Fleur xx
Posted by: Fleur Cotton | June 19, 2012 at 04:40 PM
Perfect. We have a secret spot in the middle of Wales that we came upon by accident - looks a little like your picnic spot - again, perfect! And the crocheting - I have sons, grown up now, and the younger one - at 26 - decided he wanted to learn to knit (to melt a lady's heart - it worked). I felt just as proud and weepy/happy as you! (Of course he's not done any more after the success of the scarf!)
Posted by: Corinne Inglis | June 19, 2012 at 04:40 PM
So pleased to see your daughter has learned to crochet, getting the tension is no easy matter. You are right to be so delighted when she is so young. I love to read your blog and thank you for all your tutorials. I can't wait to try your rose pattern, but am being very disciplined and have to finish a jacket I'm knitting first. I saw the crochet tour mentioned by Nanita in the comments. Any chance of something like that in England?
Posted by: Irene Porter | June 19, 2012 at 04:41 PM
This post made me want to laugh and cry at the same time!! I love people who realize just how blessed they are! xoxo Debbie
Posted by: debbie @ happy little cottage | June 19, 2012 at 04:47 PM
Well done to Little Lady! It is lovely to share your passion with your children.
Your ripple is looking great, I don't think it would matter if it was a mile long!
Posted by: Wendy House | June 19, 2012 at 04:58 PM
Such a joy to read of your contentment with your family and how you are enjoying this stage. I remember feeling exactly the same way. So many women only find discontent and that is so very sad. It is so wonderful to see your children taking an interest in creating and so nice that you always have such wonderful supplies for them. Such a delight that L.L. is enjoying knitting and crocheting AND doing such beautiful work. I'm trying to get my granddaughter interested in knitting but so far at age 5 she doesn't have the attention span needed. Time will tell. Thanks for sharing your little corner of the world. I so appreciate your entries and pictures. A total joy. Oh, I'm repeating myself.
Posted by: Sally | June 19, 2012 at 05:09 PM
Lucy, you.are.a.dear.
Posted by: Lisa G. | June 19, 2012 at 05:11 PM
Little Lady's knitting is amazingly neat and as for the joy teaching her to crochet must bring. I have tried to teach Jose but she isn't one of lives patient learners. I am hoping that I get to teach her one day.
I have assembled my WIP's together and after I have got them under control I plan to embark on my first ripple.
So lovely to read about your love of being a Mum. Only now do I look back with independent 18 and nearly 17 year olds and wish every day that I could have that time back to enjoy, rather then the memories of wishing time away. But then again, my two sat at a table together would have ended up with on probably stabbing the other with the knitting needles!!!! Everyone tells me that one day they will be best friends, I'd like to see that!!!!
Enjoy the sunshine.
Cx
Posted by: Colette Mowatt | June 19, 2012 at 05:20 PM
I haven't even got a daughter but this is making me feel so warm inside!
how lovely.
that granny square will be one of your most cherished items - i can tell!
xxx
Posted by: GrannyTaughtMeToCrochet | June 19, 2012 at 05:28 PM