Winter has arrived

Well I think it's safe to say that Winter has suddenly arrived here in Attic land. The temperatures have dropped to below zero during this past week and most mornings we've woken to a layer of frost and ice over everything.

One of the things I really appreciate about this time of year is the dramatic light and colour in the sky. The mornings are starting very late now (just coming light at 7.30am), but it makes for such a wonderful start to the day when the sky puts on this spectacular show.

I took the above photo this morning when the stars were still twinkling and the sun was just about to rise. It's been one of those perfect kind of early Winter days, very clear, bright and oh-so-cold. It's made me super glad for my hat, scarf and wrist warmers....hooray for warm, woolly, hooky, wearable things!

During these short Winter days, the daylight is already beginning to fade away by the time I walk to school at 3pm. This is the view from the end of my street where the tall pine trees rustle in the breeze. You can see the old textile mill (which is now converted into apartments) beside the frozen canal, and my hill looking very cold and wintry indeed.

Fifty minutes later on our walk home, the sun had almost set and the rosy glow across the frozen  water made everything look sooo beautiful....

....isn't it amazing?

I love being able to witness the close of day, when time seems so precious and everything looks glorious in the last light.

Wonderful.

Life indoors at this time of year is decidedly cosy, and it makes the whole business of simply Being Home a true pleasure. This morning I came back from town and felt so glad of this warm, comforting, welcoming home of mine. I felt grateful for the true warmth (radiators on all day), and for our familiar, worn-out furniture and for the bright and cheerful homemade blankets and cushions. There is so often a lot of mess and clutter in this house, yet truthfully I never feel overly bothered by it. I can always manage to clear a bit of space to cosy up and feel at peace.

This morning was a rare morning when I was at home alone...well I say morning but in reality it was just over an hour of pure, unadulterated me-time. I took advantage of it being a child-free zone and lit my candle (such a simple ritual, but such a lovely, happy thing to do). I made myself a most delicious frothy coffee with a dusting of chocolate powder on the top, and plated up a Danish pastry.

And I sat. And slurped. And munched. I listened to the soothing sound of my clock ticking, and I picked up my hook and yarn and worked up some colourful rows. It was a most blissful, content, peaceful, soothing hour. I wish it had been longer, but then maybe it wouldn't have felt so special?

During this cold snap, I am lighting the fire almost every night. This will be our fifth winter in this house with a real fire, and the joy and comfort it brings us is immense. I love, love, love it. It makes Winter feel so good!

Despite my complete love of the fire, I think my love of Bed is greater. This past week I've been snuggling down into bed at around 8.30pm with a hot water bottle at my feet and my brushed cotton jammies on, oh I have enjoyed my early bedtimes! I've really been loving my cosy, pre-sleep hooky and have found it to be a very sweet way to end these cold, icy, busy Winter days.

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Comments

[Ada Bea]

Bliss, a little bit of time to yourself! We love our children dearly, but a little bit of time alone is.....bliss! :)

[5ladybird lane]

The chill has definately arrived with snow on our forecast tonight. It's always lovely to capture the frost in a photo ( I never remember my camera or don't want to take off my mittens to take a photo!!! ) sarah

[RainStorm]

Like you, I am finding the colours in the sky simply amazing - I keep taking photos of the "layers" of colour, especially in the afternoons before the sun actually starts to set properly. It's so beautiful!

That fire looks so inviting :)

[Claire]

Indeed Winter has really arrived - it's been snowing on and off here today in Norfolk. I love it though as you can cosy on up at home with candles and blankets and while away evenings making things.
Claire

[Helen]

Oh your open fire looks so inviting! I would love one, one day.

[Gerda]

Ah, there is so much beauty in every season, as you kindly show us again. And your bed looks so inviting, thinks me starting a nightshift. Groetjes, Gerda

[Sara Jenkins]

You can't beat an early night, crocheting in bed. Heaven :)

[Jacquie]

Just wonderful Lucy, I love all your pictures and feel just the same about my very "lived in" cosy home :0)
Jacquie x

[Louise]

Lovely photos. Nothing better than a lit fire in a cosy well lived in home.

[maypole]

I love your appreciation of simple pleasures. Your photos are warm and cosy.
I love my coal fire, not only does it bring joy to me, but it's admired by everyone who visits.

[Alice]

Your photos are beautiful. They really make me miss winter in the north of England somehow!

[Helen]

Lovely pictures. I'm really feeling the lack of daylight at the moment but I am seeing some glorious sunrises and sunsets on my commute, not quite as pretty as yours though.
I don't have water near me but I went for a walk along the canal at Saltaire last friday and was surprised by how much of it was frozen, the cold seems to have come very suddenly!
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

[Cathy in Maryland]

Such beautiful sunrise and sunset photos!

[Louise]

What a lovely cozy post! Thank you!

[Anne Marie]

Lovely photos, particularly when the sky is blue. It would be nice to be able to have the radiators on all day, only have that luxury for a couple of hours at night.

Your project lying around looks interesting, I wonder what it is?

[Kate]

We had a light crust of icy snow on everything this morning,proper Winter here too! I bet you are noticing the difference your new windows make.

[Freda]

It looks like you have had the most colourful time, both inside and outside. Very cheering!

[tammy]

I absolutely love your blog!! How did you get so many followers? Do you have any tips for me? I just started my own blog and only have 4 followers! My blog is coffee with tams. Please check it out!!

[lee]

looks so peaceful, cozy and relaxing... we're still hoping for some snow here in the midwest united states... just so long as it arrives in time for Christmas...

[Carolyn]

Isn't the world an amazing place? While you were strolling by a frozen canal we were sitting through a day that hit a maximum of 38 degrees C. I am working on a (very small) hooky project for my great niece for Christmas- have had to put the unfinished granny stripe blanket away for a few months :)

[Tanya]

My cosy me-time is reading the new post on Attic24!!! I just love it - your photography is amazing - inspiring as well as creative and beautiful , just like your hooky work! It's been nearly 30 yrs since I last crocheted (as a child I should add!) and I found your blog after visiting a friend who had made your fabulous flower patch cushion - i haven't looked back since and I'm on my 6th ripple blanket already ( don't tell the husband - in this house stash really means stash and all those receipts for my glorious baby cash merino are well hidden!)

[Melissa]

How very beautiful your photos are. It is always so relaxing sitting down and reading your blog. I am finding it getting me to think about pulling out my hook and create a beautiful blanket. Thank you so much for your lovely posts.

[Jennifer]

I love love LOVe your homey posts! Warms my soul.

[Sue]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us. The scenery is so beautiful and so different to Sydney. It was so hot here on Saturday that crochet was not possible. I have a hundred or so ends to sew in to the granny stripe rug & it was way too hot. I've also just started a hexagon (join as you go) blanket & I'm loving that. It is a pleasure to be making a blanket, rather than a pile of squares that will be annoying to join up later. Best wishes, Sue

[J]

Your pictures as always are stunning! I love seeing the canal, it feels so familiar, even though I have never been anywhere near there!!! Unfortunately here in Alabama, USA, it is 76 degrees, so no fire, but they say we are going to get some cold weather soon, and I can't wait because there is nothing like piling up in the blankets on the sofa and looking at a warm, crackling fire. Can't wait to see your wreath TahDah!