March

March is here, hooray!! I love March, I love that this month officially contains the First Day of Spring, that in a few weeks we will be changing our clocks and moving into British Summer Time. I love the abundance of Spring flowers that this month contains, including these delightful purple crocuses nestling in my little patch of front garden. Its a joyous time of the year, isn't it, when the very first little inklings of Spring appear?

Although to be honest I did rather enjoy February, it surprised me this year. I often think of February as a rather grey and dreary and well moochy sort of a month, yet I found February this year to be uplifting in many ways. I enjoyed the Winteryness of last month, the winter picnics, the snow, the cosy baking and blanket-making, the valentines hearts and pancakes. I mean who can be moochy about a month that contains coloured paper hearts and syrup pancakes???

 

I stopped by the supermarket this morning on my way home and couldn't resist bringing this little beauty home to number 24.

Shall I tell you how many pennies this gorgeous little pink primula cost me?? Fifty nine.

Yes 59p!!! How could I possibly resist spending fifty nine pence on such beauty and colour.

I have about six of these very old hand made terracotta pots which I treasure. They were given to me by my Mum years ago, and they are perfect for holding little plants such as this. I love  to discard brown plastic and replace it with mellow terracotta. I also love to pop the mellow terracotta inside an old thrifted Cornishware bowl. Such delight for a Tuesday morning! I potter around my home, carrying the prettily potted primula (PPP) around with me, not wanting to put it down. I enjoy the pink of the flowers against the red of my jumper very much. I take an age deciding where to put the PPP, and eventually it comes to rest on the dining table where I'll be able to admire it close up whilst scoffing breakfast/lunch/dinner. A feast for the eyes.

 

I am a few days late with the calender again, I have had a busy few days as it happens. On the 1st day of March (Sunday) we went to the coast and Oh! I was beside myself with being beside the sea! I shall tell you more about that tomorrow I expect.

So I only just remembered to turn the calender pages this morning (Simone, thanks for the reminder!). Above is my organising calendar, telling me to eat cake and drink tea. Tempting me with pretty mugs, a spotty tea pot, a stripy milk jug and delightful cakes. Yes I can do that, I would be delighted to make a tea party happen. Consider it officially on March's To-do list.

 

March on the Ideal Home calender and it's laundry day with a rather charming vintage vibe. Tell me, what is it about images of Utility/Laundry paraphernalia that is so heart-skipping? I have many similar images to this one torn out of magazines in my "inspiration file" and I adore them so much. Piles of pretty linens, a pretty ironing board cover, pegs, linen water, an apron and a laundry basket and I am swooning. Why? I don't know, I honestly don't. It's not that it makes me want to go and deal with the (humungous) laundry pile, but maybe it's to do with the idea of prettifying the mundane, of having every part of ones home/life look and feel charming. Including the Laundry.

 

Ahhhh the Bossy Calender now, and how I love to be bossed about by these pages each month. Did you notice that last months page worked it's magic on me? Did you notice that in February I did manage not one, not two but three winter picnics complete with blankets as instructed?

So March is going to see me Brighten Up with cushions and lamps, which as it happens has already begun....
 
 

I am taking a weeny break from the Summer Garden Blanket (23 blocks now complete) and indulging in a little Ripple action.

 

I couldn't resist the lure of the ripple after seeing it on one or two blogs of late.

I wanted to immerse myself in the soothing rhythm of creating these ripply stripes again.

So I've started making a third cushion cover using the same Rowan DK wool as I'm using for the Summer Garden Blanket...only the colours are far more zingy when workd in this way for some reason. Its giving me a whole lot of thrills making these stripes, playing with these colours.

And you know how I like to get my daily thrills, right? Yeah, nothing complicated :: let me wear red, let me carry a bowl of primulas around the house a bit, let me chatter to the crocuses, let me swoon over pictures of ironing boards, let me sit and ripple-ripple and gaze at the view and I am thrilled. Easy.

March's view from the Attic is quite dull today I'm afraid, It remains very cold, sharp and wintery in my patch with no whiffs of Spring in the air just yet. But I can do Spring-in-waiting. I am patient, I can wait a while longer for Winter to be done.

Hey, fancy taking a trip to the seaside with me tomorrow? Fancy strolling the sands, searching for shells, horizon-gazing and coastal pottering? You do?? Oh good! I'll take you with me on a little trip to the coast then tomorrow :: wrap up warm, it's chilly up north!

Toodle-ooh,  see you tomorrow for sea breezes and sea shells....

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Lucy Ward]

Lucy you take such gorgeous photos. I have so enjoyed the arrival of spring this year. Love your photos, love your blog. Lucy xx

[celia]

If I could only find the Rowan cotton cheaper anywhere!!! lol... Love all the yarn colors through your blog! lol...

[Miriam]

March officially contains the first day of spring and, this year, we need it...very much!!! But it also is the mounth of my husband's and daughter's birthdays. My name is Miriam and I "follow" your blog from Italy.I can say it relaxes me, with all that colors and nice thoughts. I love all that is British so, I enjoy a lot, your works, pictures, magazines,...How could I receive Country Home in my little village in the south of Italy?
Hugs & kisses,
Miriam

[thevintagemagpie]

Hi Lucy,

I thought I recognised one of the pictures... my favourite calendar page so far... March in the Country Homes & Interiors calendar.. I am just in love with that sofa!

x

[lulu]

you always have such pretty flowers..
Love the colors on the ripple, beautiful..
take care,

[Lucy Ward]

Ohhhh Lucy, you have no idea what a lift your gorgeous blog gives me. When I see there's a new blog entry I give an excited little "yipee!" - a bit like when your latest magazine plops onto the mat. You have a true gift - your photos, your art, your love of all things yummy, your outlook on life, your obsession with colour. Your blog is truly inspirational. Please don't ever stop writing Attic 24, it would be a national tragedy. From one Lucy to another. Thank you. Hugs. xxxxxxx

[Gill]

lucy,
thanks for the colourful start to the day.
very uplifting.
i found your blog last week when 'googling' "Nanny McPhee" childrens bedroom images.
funny how you find things.
i love those bedrooms!
your crochet work is really beautiful. one day i will try crocheting but for now, as far as textiles go, it's mostly knitting and a bit of sewing.
thanks for the colour!
gill
www.littlehillbigsea.typepad.com

[Josie-Mary]

I've been waiting for the bossy calendar!!! Love the PPP, I brought some Anemones on saturday after to seeing yours but I've noticed today they have died!!! How sad only lasting 3 days & costing me £2.50!!! :)

[Sarah Allen]

I stumbled upon your site by accident recently and was thrilled with the ADDED BONUS of you being across the pond... I am in the Southern part of the USA... Georgia to be exact.. I enjoy the break in the day to see what you have been up to...I have been learning the wonderful art of crochet and sooo enjoy your projects.. You are in England?? My mother was from England.. Thank you for a great escape!!

[Kristen]

I love the poppies! And the wavy crochet makes me want to go and knit a 'wave and shell' something in candy stripes. I totally understand how you can find one colour against another so uplifting. One of my favourite song lyrics is by Crowded House; 'Colour is its own reward...'

[BeBe]

Lucy, I read your blog at work(nightime in a police dispatch center)and it totally brightens up the space. I love that you can potter and be creative most of your time and you inspire me. I wish for that life back again someday, but in the meantime I will make do with hearing about yours and living my pottery wobbley life on the weekends..thanks for the brightness BeBe

[Mandy]

What a lovely post, such gorgeous, cheering colours. I must get crocheting again, I've been immersed in fabric for quite some time. But seeing your beautiful ripple has reminded me how satisfying sitting twining the wool can be. Perfect timing too, as we're almost touching Autumn in Australia.
I look forward to your seaside post tomorrow, I do so miss the Devon coast I grew up next to. As a family we loved walking along the beach when it was wet, windy and empty!

[Elspeth Thompson]

Lucy - I've just caught up with recent developments - well done!! It must take you all morning reading your comments now! I'm sure a book will be next - if you want it. If you need a good agent and don't have a recommendation from friends then Jane Turnbull, whose link is on my website, is great. But perhaps the immediacy of Blogland suits you better. I must say, even though I don't post half as frequently as you, I do find it intoxicating.
All good wishes - and warmth and spring sunshine - to you,
x Elspeth

[Tamara Erbacher]

Hi Lucy, Thanks for stopping by my blog and a big thank-you also for the inspiration once again. Happy Hooking. Tam xo

[mandy]

love the ripple blanket, and all the cheery colourfulness, look forward to the seaside trip tomorrow.

[sumea]

Hello Lucy
Thankyou for the invitation to join in the fun with you at the seaside, I can't wait. I used to do a lot of seaside picnics when my children were younger. Sadly am agoraphobic now which is a bit of a bummer (am I allowed to use that naughty word?. I Love your little PPP and yes it's set off very well with the lovely red jumper. I also wish I had more terracotta pots, they are quite expensive these days :o(. Your Bright March post is wonder to behold.
Warm Blessings
Sumea

[Maddy]

Ohhh that ripple made my fingers itch to get out the wool, but I musn't, not untill all the projects on the go at the moment are done. Love the covers though.

[Jo A]

Luce - I have potted up four cheeky primulas in a hanging basket. They are so scrumptious togther. Love your Skipton picture, love all the layers of dreary colour

[suzanne b.]

Your blog is delightful. I'm looking forward to the seaside. :)

[Luci]

Oh what a jolly cheery blog today! Thank you ever so!! I gotta have a go at the Ripple next, have 21 hexies in total and they are all wonderfully gorgeous.
Will be here tomorrow for the trip to the seaside....

[Leisa]

Very, very lovely Lucy! You brighten my day with your lovely posts! I will look forward to visiting the seaside with you tomorrow.

[Stacy]

Your blog is so charming and beautiful! I love the photos of the flowers and the vintage laundry paraphernalia. I like how you take pleasure in the little things, like colors and flowers and ripples. It inspires me to do the same.

Yes, please, I want to go to the beach!

[Bairbre Aine]

Happy March to you my friend!
Inspirational post.
Sending you more grateful cyberspace
hugs...((((Lucy))))
:)
Bairbre Aine

[Cat]

You must check out the photos on this post - http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2009/03/parisian-flowers.html

They are just divine! I shall be spending tonight plotting my 'let's move to France' plan. How I wish we had markets like they do!! Cat xx

[Regina]

Hi Lucy
What a wonderful post! Loveley pictures.
March is also a favourite month for me.In the garden begins anything to grow and to bloom
Snowdrops and Crocus in different colours it's wonderful.And the clothes flutters in the wind,Oh,that smells.
Your ripple cushion looks fantastic with the
wonderful colors.My ripple blanket is finish.
I have started a new granny.
Have a nice evening in your wonderful home!!
Hugs,Regina