Autumn Half Term

Last week we were at home for half term hols, and it was pretty much an entire week of indoor slobbery. Pyjamas till lunch time (sometimes all day), easy food eaten as and when the whim took us (lots of buttery toast at all times of the day). Screen time for the Little People if they chose it (lots of films, and some gaming time too), cripes, my parenting was ludicrously slapdash last week. I simply allowed the rhythm of the week to flow over and around me, letting the Little Peeps do exactly what they chose to do much of the time. No rules. No outings. No direction. It was rather liberating, if a little chaotic, and it certainly made for a pretty content household.

Do you know, I can't remember a single school holiday in the past five years when at some point or another a blanket den wasn't made. It is so very much a part of what the Little People do during holidays that I know I will feel very bereft when it suddenly doesn't happen any more. I chuckle to myself when I see them pegging up my blankets :: there is a small part of me that wants to rush over and grab them back, yelling the words Precious and Cashmere, but really it pleases me deeply that these blankets are so well loved and used.

They have no idea how much it makes me squeeee inside when I watch them play this way. The game that followed in and out of this den-build (Little Lady and Little B) was sweet beyond words.

Hey, you can see our new sash windows in the above picture, I remember that I haven't really shown them to you yet. We are really thrilled with them, they look beautiful and make the house feel very light and warm inside.

I took a picture of our bay window from outside for you to see, but it was devilishly difficult to photograph. The window is a long way off the ground, so I balanced on the wall and held the camera up above my head to show you, well, you get the idea. Wooden, double glazed, spring-loaded sash. Hand crafted by a Very Nice Man called Daryl. Painted by an Equally Nice Man called Tom.

This is the bathroom window which has a very simple type of stipply privacy glass in it. The upstairs windows have these nifty little safety catches fitted to make them child proof (the bottom window can only be lifted up a small way, with a small gap, smaller than a child's head), but occasionally when Little B is out of the equation, I glide'n'slide and open them up. I stick my head right out and breathe in the fresh damp air. Just for the hell of it. Cos I can, and cos it feels marvellous after so many years of inaccessible top opening windows.

Sometimes, like at the end of last week, it becomes entirely necessary to open the windows and air the place a bit, even though it was ridiculously cold at the time. At the end of last week I began with some Home Loving routine and went a bit bananas in the bathroom. I scrubbed and bleached and sprayed and wiped and rinsed and scrubbed some more. It was in dire need. Next week I'll be in the Master Bedroom (remember last year? I wonder how many items are on top of The Drawers this year?)

One of the highlights of my half term week was the arrival of a big box containing the above shiny new machine. It seems that I didn't have to wait for Father Christmas after all, cos my wonderful, generous husband took it upon himself to treat me to a Nespresso machine. I feel a little sheepish writing about this, cos I admit that I feel dreadfully spoilt. But well, there we have it, it's not my fault that J has a huge generosity streak. And I can promise you that I do appreciate how very lucky I am. I really, really do. The great thing is that J has been loving this new machine as much as I have, so I don't feel so bad about the expense of it.

These are the capsules that came with the machine, sixteen different varieties of coffee to play with. It's been a huge amount of fun "brewing up" with them, getting used to the subtle differences in each colour, sorry, I mean blend. Still need to get to grips with the coffee lingo.

I like to drink my coffee with a good measure of hot milk added, there is such a lot of pleasure and comfort to be found in a hot, milky coffee. It has provided me with some daily feel-good, especially as the temperature really plummeted during much of last week. Good, tasty hot coffee on a freezing cold morning....very mmmmmmm indeed!

It looks more like winter than Autumn doesn't it? We woke up to frost across the rooftops and hills on many mornings last week, but it has been lovely all the same. Lovely to stay cosied up inside, not really having to be anywhere or do anything that involved stepping foot outside. Home was definitely the place to be last week.

On Monday (the last day of the hols) we did venture out though, went off on a bit of a jaunt. We took the train with Heather and that cutesome little bundle of hers and went across to Saltaire. It was a lovely, lovely day, thoroughly enjoyed by all concerned.

We went to Salts Mill (of course) for a fabulous browse around the galleries and shops there. The Little People loved it, as much now as when they were even Littler. Being three years older than when we were last there, they absolutely delighted in the books and art materials. Sooooo many cool, brilliant, fun and fabulous books! They each got to choose one to bring home (they chose this and this which have been brilliant) and I bought a couple of greetings cards and a beautifully illustrated animal picture book for Little B. We had some refreshment in the wonderful Salts Diner (above) before heading back outside into the clear, crisp Autumn sunshine.

The light was so beautiful on that day, it made the colours of every single thing seem to glow.

I was mesmerised by the reflections in this part of the river Aire, the clouds-in-the-water pleased me so much! We were on our way down to the play park, and were delighted to find that it has had a complete overhaul since we were last there. It was ace! Heather and I sat on a bench in the sunshine whilst TTB slept in his pram and my three played.

Little B had such a great day, what with train rides, books, ice cream and a play park, he really did have fun. We returned home around 3pm and the little fella was completely exhausted, bless him. He snuggled himself down in his favourite place and went off to the Land of Nod for a while.....it was a good job cos we were to be out again later that day......

....Monday night here in the UK was Bonfire Night, and as has become our family tradition, we wrapped up warm and went off to Bolton Abbey to celebrate in style. This is a large, organised event with hundreds of people attending. There are refreshments, music, children's entertainments, small fairground rides etc and there is always a humongous bonfire (topped with sofas which the Guys sit upon).

The fireworks are spectacular and set to music.

It was Little B's first experience of Bonfire Night, and although he was excited, it was a little overwhelming for him.

I have to say, it was terrifically loud. But in a good way. Gosh, I do love a good, loud, flamboyant firework display.

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Comments

[Pamela Tomkins]

What a super way to spend a week!!! Really jealous but in a nice way. I love Saltaire too and I would have loved to have been at Bolton Abbey!!! Your crochet doesn't seem to suffer for being used!!!

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy I have enjoyed visiting Saltaire too with a friends from student days and then with the lovely Mr A and our sons.
A really lovely place.xx

[Fiona]

Sounds like a really perfect half term. I would so love a trip to Salts Mill. Haven't been for a very long time. Probably since I lived in Leeds actually which was 1994/5! Eeek. I love the place so much. Would love to take Simon there. The firework display looks great. I look forward to taking F and no.2 to such events in future. This year S took F to our local event which is just a bonfire on the common which starts with a lovely torch-lit procession. It's really lovely and I was gutted I couldn't go but it involves walking down a very steep and slippery slope then up an equally steep and flinty slope to the fire. Not to be risked at my stage of pregnancy. But F loved it and told me importantly when he returned that Fireman Sam was going to put it out! Bless. Fiona x

[Val]

Lovely :0)

[Naomi]

Sounds like my ideal autumn half term! I love your new windows, we have double glazed, wooden sash windows too and the are definitely one of my favourite things about our house :)
The Bolton Abbey fireworks sound wonderful, we didn't really celebrate bonfire night this year as my little one is still a bit young and had a cold, I can't wait for next year though!
xxx

[One-oh-four]

My two at 12 and 13, still build blanket dens and beg for pyjama days. Long may it continue! Loved the fireworks photos, mine never come out.

[Melissa]

sounds like a perfect week! Thank you for posting, I was in dire need of some Lucy colour :-)

[lilly]

Hi I love your beautiful blog and wanted to ask if you would crochet a blanket for me? I am in the uk, hope to hear very soon.

[Lisa G.]

Darn good pictures of the fireworks, Lucy! Quite impressive.

I was also thinking of how such cheery brightness in your home must have a very positive effect on your children - good for you!

[Teresa Kasner]

It looks like you had a wonderful holiday time.. topped off with a very exciting bonfire and party! What lucky bunch you are to live in such a fun place! I posted some photos this morning of salmon spawning in the creek at Multnomah Falls.. perhaps you could show the kids?
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Debbs]

Hi Lucy - I've sent you an email (sadly it's about someone using your images) Let me know if you don't get my email. I put the site through Google translate after emailing you and I'm sure now they don't credit you but themselves and another woman. On a brighter note my just about to be 16 yr old son still loves a blanket den! Also I'd been thinking about putting a coffee machine on my Santa list, but I like weak one shot coffee so wasn't sure what the capsule coffee is like - can you choose to make it weaker?

[carmen attie]

Dear Lucy: You are going to looooove that machine! I´ve been in love with mine since it arrived home. Greetings from the other side of the world, or... mexico city

[Carolyn]

Love the cubby Lucy.What are beautiful blankets for if not to be used by our loved ones? Their childhood memories will be all the sweeter for having such a luxury as part of their play. My 3 boys are now 13,17 and 19 so the days of cubby houses are long gone but I have lovely memories of whole rooms made inaccessible by a collection of sheets, doonah covers,soft furniture and pegs! Priceless

[Chinagirl]

ooooh the UK organized firework displays!!!..Been in NZ 36 years and you brought a childhood memory to the fore! :)

[Alessandra]

happy weekend Lucy!!!
xxx Alessandra

[Line]

You make it sound all fun, warmth and happiness. Make me feel good all over.

[Bonnie]

I loved this post-so interesting! I must tell you that a friend of ours bought us that exact same nespresson macine(except mine is cream colored)for our anniversary. I LOVE it. Being a complete coffee junkie-it brings me great joy to have such a creamy cup of coffee each morning. We also found that the generics (slighly cheaper) work just as well. Did you know you can the little pod casings from somewhere in the Netherlands-4 at a time and they are completely reusable,refillable and dishwasher safe with a usage life of the say "forever"so I guess a pretty long time. Worth it I reckon,then you can add your own coffee.
It's such a little luxury and I love it too! Enjoy it!

[Maria]

Lucy always very happy to read your stories!

[RainStorm]

Your post left me craving buttery crumpets! (even though you didn't mention crumpets!)

Fireworks are THE best thing about Nov (I would say that - I work on firework shows!).

[Sue]

I posted some pictures of my new Christmas baubles (tiny ones, all colours from Paperchase -you'd love them)a few days ago and someone said they looked like Nespresso pods. I had no idea what she meant. Now I do. Very tempting machine.

[Nanita]

Blanket den making is the best! And Little B must have the best siesta's in the world surrounded by all that colourful hooky goodness! :-) xxxx

[Chel]

It sounds like a perfect half term week. We always find the October half term less pressurized than other school holidays, and, funnily enough, time to start doing a clear out and decoration of the house. The fireworks looked fantastic and so jealous of your fabulous coffee machine! Enjoy!! XX

[Rachell]

My sis in law bought me a Salts Mill bag from her visit there earlier this year, it looks fantastic -just on the bag!- I must go thanks for such a great description of the place.xx

[Tabby P.]

Looks like you had a fabulous time with all your holidaying around! Glad to hear it! Isn't it wonderful to enjoy your littles enjoying a good time? To me there's nothing better than to listen to them laughing and playing with simple things that we may have forgotten were so simply and pleasurable in our adult age. Such as a blanket fort or big cardboard box. Thanks for having your lovely photos!
Hugs and love!

[Ada Bea]

Sometimes these are the best weeks, where you bunker down and let the children decide......have a great weekend Lucy, enjoy your coffee, sipping and sitting, looking out of those fabulous windows! :)