Day 1 of 2013, and all is well. We enjoyed a really lovely end to the Old Year last night, celebrating with friends and neighbours a little further up the street. Delicious food, mulled wine, happy children, lots of chat and laughter. Our Little People amazed us with their stamina, most especially Little B who took centre stage right through to the midnight hour.
We were all feeling a little tired and sleep deprived this morning, but we decided on the spur of the moment to head out into the countryside. We drove a few miles out of town to one of our most favourite go-to places when fresh air and sweeping vistas are required.
Just as we arrived, a beautiful rainbow appeared as if by magic, oh such joy! I took it as a supremely good omen that 2013 is indeed set to be bright and cheerful with a little dusting of good fortune.
I love walking in winter, even if it is just a swift, cold, wild and windy stroll. I love being immersed in the landscape, and I love nature's little details that spring out and grab attention.
It was actually bitterly cold up on the moor, too cold for the Little
People really, so after a short and bracing walk, we drove down into the
valley to one of our favourite picturesque villages for a stroll along
the riverside.
A short way along there is a small river beach that the Little People
love. It's sandy but has lovely pebbles to throw into the water.
There is much fun to be had from plopping large, smooth round stones into the river. Such a satisfying noise! Such childish pleasure that never fails to make me laugh out loud.
Little Man found an amazing river fossil, he was sooo pleased with his discovered treasure I wish you could have seen his sweet face.
The Winter countryside can sometimes appear very grey and bleak, and I find I really, really miss the leaves.
But there are still some small, colourful details to be found if you look for them.
I think the little itty-bits of living winter green are even more vibrant when surrounded by so much grey and brown.
Back home and all is cosy and peaceful here at number 24. Little B, exhausted by all the fresh air and pebble throwing, is snuggled up in blankets and sound asleep on the sofa. Little Lady is snuggled in the big chair watching pop videos on tv. J and Little Man are up in the Attic doing boy-things together (not exactly sure what that entails, but they've been up there for quite some time).
And me....well I have created a colourful snuggle nest for myself and am about to settle down for a spell of happy hooky.
This is my first crochet task of 2013 - to finish the Granny Patchwork Blanket I started in September. I've got four more rows (48 squares) to make, then a nice wide border to finish. I'm enjoying this blanket very much and it's a warm and comforting way to begin the New Year.
In the next few days I'm going to be continuing with my Year End Reviews. I've been having lots of fun trawling through twelve months of photo archives, putting together some visual collections to celebrate 2012. First up we'll be immersing ourselves in some Floral Loveliness, it's going to be a complete overload of colour and natural beauty.
See you tomorrow xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I wish you and your family a most happy and healthy new year! Thank you for your wonderful blog. It is my happy place!!!
Posted by: Jill Rud | January 01, 2013 at 03:31 PM
Joyeuse année 2013 Lucy! Thanks for all you share, it's always such a pleasure to come here at your attic!
Posted by: laurence | January 01, 2013 at 03:34 PM
Happy New year to all at Attic 24! I, too have resolved to Finish Projects: a ripple afghan, a Woolly Thoughts afghan, an applique pillow, and a sweater that just needs piecing together. No new ones until I complete them! You are a continuing inspiration, Lucy.
Posted by: Libby | January 01, 2013 at 03:59 PM
Happy New Year to all at Attic 24! I love reading your blog as it's such a celebration of life. Looking forward to travelling through another year with you - may it be crammed full of happiness and joy.
Posted by: Liz | January 01, 2013 at 04:02 PM
Lots of happy wishes for you and your lovely family for 2013. Thank you for your wonderful blogs, patterns and the lovely lovely photos. Thanks to you I have discovered the joy of crochet hooks and colourful wool. I have taut myself to crochet and have made the granny stripe blanket for a friends baby, and because we loved it so much I am now making one for our sitting room. It really makes me feel so cheerful to read your blogs and see all the lovely things you have made. I'm in my 70s now and care for my husband who is 80 in two weeks time and learning to crochet has been a boon to me so thank you so very much.
Posted by: Maureen Fullerton | January 01, 2013 at 04:05 PM
Happy New Year to you. I love reading your blog and so enjoy your lovely photos. You are an inspiration to all of us crafty folk. I'm also looking forward to following along again this year.
Posted by: Ann | January 01, 2013 at 04:09 PM
Happy new year to you, too! Day 1 of 2013 is starting well. Can't wait to see more of your crocheted projects and daily photos of your life. Hope you have a blessed and wonderful year!
Posted by: Brianna Asaro Photography | January 01, 2013 at 04:16 PM
Happy New Year to your lovely family, Lucy. DH and I went out for a short walk this morning too during a burst of sunshine.
Posted by: Catriona | January 01, 2013 at 04:19 PM
The sight of an English river always fascinates me! Happy New Year to you, Lucy.
Posted by: Lisa G. | January 01, 2013 at 04:25 PM
Happy New Year to you,where were your lovely pictures taken?
Posted by: Claire Chamberlin | January 01, 2013 at 04:26 PM
Happy New Year Lucy and all your family.
Thank you for your wonderful blog and the tutorials, with pictures, that encourage us to try and make your lovely crochet items for ourselves.
Think you should tell Little Man about Mary Anning who came from your birth county??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Anning
Have you been to the Dinosaur Museum in Lyme??
Hope you have a wonderful 2013 and please keep us entertained with your "Words, pictures, wit and wisdom"
Many thanks
Jan
Posted by: Janet May | January 01, 2013 at 04:35 PM
Happy new year, dear Lucy! May your dreams come true each day of this year, may it be a year full of joy, love and happiness!
Buon anno!
A big hug, Claudia from Italy
Posted by: Claudia | January 01, 2013 at 04:35 PM
Lovely photos. Have a wonderful NEW YEAR 2013!!!
♥ Ana BC
Posted by: Ana BC | January 01, 2013 at 04:38 PM
Hello Lucy,
I wonder if you'd have any objection to me selling blankets based on your ripple pattern (I doubled the rows) for charity: water. I'm not working at the moment and looking for something to occupy my time. Wanted to do it for charity until I can sell enough to do it for myself. Whereupon, I will be creating my own designs! Thankyou so much for all your fabulous instructions. Your blog is amazing. Happy New Year.
Posted by: Emily Eden | January 01, 2013 at 04:43 PM
Happy New Years, to you yours, way across the pond!!! Lovely photos!!!
xo Kris
Posted by: Kris | January 01, 2013 at 04:48 PM
Hi Lucy.
I love reading your blog. You are such a wonderful, positive person, I look forward to your great crochet patterns and beautiful outlook on life and your photography - wow. What a beautiful place you live. More people should have your positive outlook on life. It is very refreshing. Your family is very lucky to have you. Happy New Years from Arizona.
Posted by: Shannon Eno | January 01, 2013 at 04:49 PM
très très bonne année lucy merci de colorer mon quotidien.
Posted by: cathie | January 01, 2013 at 04:55 PM
No rain here this afternoon so I dragged my family out for a walk, not such a grand walk as yours just down by the river, those poor ducks looked frozen! I'm so glad I'm not a duck, then back for hot chocolate!
I have just finished another row of my blanket, I love the colours, but oh dear, this blanket addiction is going to prove a tad expensive!
Happy New Year Lucy, I hope it is one full of creativity and good things! :) x
Posted by: Ada Bea | January 01, 2013 at 04:59 PM
Happy new Year Lucy to you and your family, love your blog, it brings such happiness and inspiratiom x
Posted by: Carrie | January 01, 2013 at 05:04 PM
Best wishes for the New Year!
In your blog I always find some beautiful pictures and every time I remain fascinated by the stories of your daily life, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Maria | January 01, 2013 at 05:26 PM
I love your photos, with that beautiful louring sky.
And how exciting for Little Man to find those crinoid fossils!
Posted by: liz | January 01, 2013 at 05:28 PM
Love Love Love your blog. It makes me smile even when I don't feel like it. Happy New Year to you and family. Are we going to see the pattern for your bird that you did while in France.
Posted by: Sharon(Grandma) | January 01, 2013 at 05:34 PM
What a perfect way to start the new year. Winter is actually my favorite season. I do love to garden though & love ALL seasons very much but I love the peaceful restfulness of winter. I love staying inside with a good book, some hot tea & a fire while watching the birds swarm my feeder. They come in droves this time of year.
I always look forward to your posts!
Posted by: Jen Y | January 01, 2013 at 06:00 PM
HaPpY HaPpY NeW YeAr to you and yours!!!
It all looks lovely,thanks for taking us along,too wet here for a new year stroll,planning on some hooky time today here too,in my 'yarn nest'(also working on finishing up a throw started a couple months back).Watching the rose bowl parade with the family.(all those lovely flowers..)Happy hooky time!
Posted by: Angela-Southern U.S.A. | January 01, 2013 at 06:03 PM
We also went for a blustery cold walk and are now snuggled up at home, S is watching The Wizard of Oz and I'm catching up on blogs - after doing a few rows of crochet.
Posted by: Rachell | January 01, 2013 at 06:16 PM