Weekend delights

Helloooooo!! Ahh Monday again, hopping and skipping into a new week and all is well.

I like Mondays :: typical of me to go against the norm eh, as so many people commonly complain about this particular point in the week. I enjoy the calm that greets me at 9.30am on a Monday morning when I walk back through the front door after the school run/market/shops. I like the space and solitude after the weekends which are often chockerblock rammed full of, of...of? Well of kids and toys and mess and noise, music and television and shouting and singing, laundry, cooking, outings, demands. You know, all that stuff-of-family-life, the stuff that needs to be done when one is a Mum-of-two and a Wife-of-one.

We just had a great weekend as it happens, really top notch. One of the best things about it was that it started early (Friday night as opposed to the usual Saturday morning), and as a result the weekend felt enoooorrrrrrrmously lengthy. And slightly disorientating in a very pleasurable way. You know that feeling when you wake up with a start on Sunday morning convinced that it is in fact Monday, then chuckle to yourself heehee when you realise that it's still the weekend...Love that feeling.

Yeah we drove to the coast on Friday night. Packed a small bag of overnight essentials, and off we went to Blackpool. It was all very spontaneous and quite exciting really. J was going there anyways to attend a 40th birthday bash of an old school friend, it had all been arranged and booked weeks ago. But right at the last minute, we decided I could perhaps telephone the little hotel and alter his booking from a lonely single room to a fun-filled family room. And so it was that on Friday night we all found ourselves on Blackpool's North Shore, in a small, neat little hotel, feeling quite holidaysish. J went off to his party, leaving me and the highly excitable Little People in the hotel lounge drinking wine/lemonade respectively and having a jolly good time together in unfamiliar surroundings.

I love taking the Little People away for the weekend, there is something so joyful about sharing their excitement in new experiences. Watching them explore, seeing them delight in running up and down stairs, in and out of doors, bouncing on unfamiliar beds, climbing up onto deep windowsills behind curtains to make "dens". I was more than happy that night to let J go out and party with his old school buddies, while I stayed in the hotel watching a little tv, sipping my wine and letting the Little People do their thing.

We had an early start to Saturday morning (err, 5.05am, yes, thats quite early isn't it?)..but no matter, it was OK. We were out in the freeeeeeeezing cold shortly after 8am, being blown along the deserted promenade of the North Shore in a ferocious wind. Bracing is the word. The sky was blue, the sea was grey (it always is here abouts) and the air was sharp. And it was fun! J, feeling a little delicate, stood and watched as the Little People and I raced along the prom (no gentle strolling for us, we go with Pace), slowing down to skip and catch breath then more running....I am not athletic you understand, no, not accustomed to running normally, but oh I do love to dash about like a big kid when I am beside the sea.

Back to the hotel at 9am for a scrumptious breakfast, then straight back out again and into the depths of Blackpool we go. It's not a place I care for a great deal, it has to be said. Blackpool is  a typical old fashioned English seaside resort. Tacky, bad taste, shabby, garish. Huge amusement arcades, rundown tourist attractions, neglected shops. It lacks charm in my opinion, but hey, the sea is there (even if it is a dirty shade of grey) and I try not to let myself feel disappointed at the ugliness of the place.

The morning was spent at Blackpool Sealife Centre, which was great fun actually. Something wonderful about observing fish (some very big fish there were too), sharks, seahorses, coral reefs and our favourite rays....the Little People really did enjoy every minute of it. Afterwards we drove out of Blackpool, further down the coast to Lytham St Annes , which is altogether more genteel and picturesque than neighbouring Blackpool. Here we strolled along the prom and then settled ourselves in a cosy pub with a sea view for a late lunch.

Then finally towards the end of the afternoon when we were all tired out, we set off  homewards...oh such a fun day being beside the sea!

 

Sunday was altogether more run-of-the-mill, more leisurely, more homely, more predictable. And I was so happy with that. Love love spending time at home, pottering about, enjoying the pleasure of nothing-in-particular.....

: a cup of coffee and time to stroll in Magazine-wonderland, oh it was lush!! I adore the Easter issue magazines soooo much, need to chatter to you about that in a separate post I think ::

:: the pleasure of hanging laundry out to dry on the line for the first time this year, followed by  the hugely enjoyable experience of getting into bed on Sunday night and sniffing and snorting the pillowcases, breathing in that freshly-laundered-air-dried-cotton scent ::

:: noticing the first fresh green shoots of chives re-appearing after their winter sleep, followed by a hugely enjoyable time spent browsing gardening books and dreaming up all sorts of gardeney floral/herbal plans for my little back yard this year ::

:: late afternoon, having worn crocs all day with bare feet, I begin to feel chilly. I go and find a pair of the most beautiful hand-knitted socks to pull on, made for me by a lovely, generous visitor to Attic24 called Susan. These socks give me so much pleasure, there's something simply wonderful about snuggling cold toes into warm socks and settling down on the sofa for a spot of crochet ::

:: crochet, yes, of course. how could my weekend not contain any hooky goodness? Yesterdays hooking was a little experimentation after this new book arrived on my doormat a few days ago. I'll write more about this book at another time, surfice to say for now that it's beautifully photographed and oh-so-tempting, but the patterns are oh-so-damn complicated! I almost gave up with it, but jeez I refuse to be beaten by a bunch of goobledeegook words! So with some serious concentration, a little bad language and a bit of perseverance, I eventually got the hang of it. Had to get my head round working Triple-treble stitches, Double-treble stitches, carrying stitches across, working out of the base of stitches, working up and down the stems of stitches, making chain bars, taking the hook behind petals and working from the back etc etc etc. But then again, I was in the Advanced Design section. And I did indeed manage to create not one but two Advanced Flowers ::

Not quite sure what to do with my advanced flowers yet? At the moment I am enjoying just fondling them, but might try and dream up some sort of floral something-or-another to make use of them. Perhaps with a little insect life thrown in too (there are patterns for crochet butterflies and a bumblebee in this book, too cute for words really).

Hope you all had a great weekend, whether you were home or away...I wonder what Weekend Delights you enjoyed?

xxxxxxxx

Comments

[Carol]

This book is lovely, I really like it.
Once again, sneaking at you attic, hihi.

[melissa]

blackpool looks completely lovely to me. would love to feast my eyes upon it myself. lucky duck you.

melissa

[Jean]

Such a beautiful walk home, lucky you. So appreciate you sharing your wonderful pix.
Thanks so much too for sharing your patterns--I've just finished making a bag from your pattern--just love it, the bright colors just a breath of spring! Have gotten lots of comments on it, so I have given out your blog address to several people who also want to make one!!
We live in the US, in Maryland, by the ocean, and I totally understand your need to visit the sea. Actually I have been making some sea angel dolls in between crocheting(knitting,spinning, dyeing, felting,sigh), and am so enjoying incorporating the shells, driftwood, etc. from beachwalks along with vintage fabrics.
What a wonderful life!!
Thanks for brightening up all of our lives with such lovely glimpses of yours.

[Amy]

i'm a winter crocheter...but after meeting your blog i am going to become a spring crocheter!!!!! thanx for the color and inspiration:)

[susan]

I can just see you making a veritable field of those flowers then managing to do something quite marvelous with them all. Whatever you decide to do I know it will be pretty and I can hardly wait to see it :)

[Lori French]

Indeed I have started to look out for more colour in my life too. Do you realise, Lucy, what an inspiration you are for ladies like me? If you look at my blog, you will see an idea for granny square crochet, and I think because of your tutorial I might be able to do it one of these days. Love the pansy you crocheted, looks so delightful. Have a very good week, L xxx

[val]

love your flowers wish I was as clever.

[Julie]

We went to Blackpool many years ago - about 1990 I think, we explored the Tower and the beach and had a ride on the tram. I know exactly what you mean about Blackpool though.
My husband has just bought me a copy of the flower book for my birthday! He said I could have it now even though my birthday isn't until just after Easter so I'm Happy Happy Happy!

[Louise]

I love weekends away we dont get many but I really enjoy them when we do. The Crocheted Orchid looks lovely.
I like Mondays too!! I will like them even more when the Mr starts nursery in September. I hope you enjoyed your day.
xxx

[Julie]

I have just been looking at your great pictures, and wondered what sort of camera you use. The photos look so much more professional than the ones I take.

Great blog too!

[Karische]

Waouhhh! Those are really nice flowers! I love "crochetting" ( I'm afraid this word is not english...) flowers myself, and I thank you for this lovely idea!

[Julie]

A little bit of everything to make a lovely weekend - fun times out, family, and then homely things and hooky goodness. How lovely. Sounds like a wonderful weekend. x

[Sal]

Hi Lucy! Happy happy lady that you even manage to make Blackpool feel exciting! How do you dooo that! Anyway, I love you for it and the lovely shots of washing, socks and crocheted flowers, especially the pansy, Love Salx

[louise]

Love the crochet flowers, the sense of achievement when you work out those gobbledegook instructions is overwhelming, and so worth it!

[Emma]

What a great weekend you had - the sea! The simple pleasures of laundry too - magical. On a recent weekend I tracked wildlife near my mum's house - I saw a badger's footprint and a heron's anvil, where he had been breaking open native crayfish to eat - wonderful! Come and peep at the pictures if you like.

That crochet pansy is so so lovely xx

[sara nixon]

I am glad that you find the flower book a little confusing. I thought it was just me being a little dense. I will try again.

[aneela]

Oh the influence of the attic. Since your Heysham post there has been a fair few seasidey posts in blog land. Is this some kind of blogging zeitgeist!

[Natalie]

What a lovely weekend Lucy and you managed to fit some crochet in too! - I love the pansy, although if you struggled with the pattern, there's no hope for the rest of us! I am having a new crochet book delivered from amazon today - Cant wait! Love Nat x x x P.s - and Yes you must join in the circle crochet cushion club (that was a mouthful!) - going round and round in circles is quite addictive!

[AnnaPaula]

Ohh what a joyfull week-end...
I bought that book too,really beautifull!!
Kisses
AnnaPaula

[Ravenhill]

It all sounds wonderful! And your flower making book looks like boundless fun!

[Michaela]

I love Mondays, too! Though I hadn't given much thought to it til you pointed it out...

[debbie procek]

I just found your great blog today. I am already planning on making the flower pins for Easter gifts. I also love the flower scarf, do you have a pattern for that? The colors you choose are just fab.

[Mandy]

Oh I saw that book in a book shop last week. I think I might have to go back and get it, that pansy is truly adorable. I can just see it on a crocheted headband.
Love your posts Lucy, they always put a smile on my face.

[donna]

I'm counting on you to decipher the flower patterns into a language we can understand Lucy! I LOVE the pansy :-)

Gorgeous pictures of a perfect weekend, thanks for sharing x

[Kristen]

There's nothing quite like clean bedding! Especially if you add clean PJs, just after you've had a hot bath. In fact my bed smells so good that making it the following day always tempts me to get back in it!