Supermarket Retail Therapy

Yesterday, around 11.30am or thereabouts I felt a need, a longing.

A Longing Need for some Retail Therapy.

I consider options. Little local shops requiring on foot jaunting? Nope.

Ok, how about Little Shops further afield that would require a car journey? Nope, that was not it either.

Suddenly it comes to me :: what I want is a dose of Big Shop. Department store? Nah, need to go too far for that and there's not enough time left before the school run.

Ok, think, think...ahhhhhhh YES! That's it! Some Large Supermarket Retail Therapy. And better still, one that can be beautifully arrived at by train.

  

I check train times :: 12:02 is the next train, perfect. Ten minutes walk along the canal tow path and I am at my local train station. Ahh, feels good to be on the move and I have a perfect little twelve minute journey along the branch line to look forward to. Too short to crochet anything, so I content myself with the view :: twelve minutes of green, green fields whiz in front of my eyes, and suddenly I arrive at my stop.

 

I have journeyed to a nearby town, an unremarkable little town, a tad shabby it has to be said. But no matter, I am not there for a  picturesque stroll, I am there for one thing only :: The Supermarket :: and it happens to be just a few easy minutes walk from the train station. For those of you in the UK who wish to know, it was a Sainsbury's, which I happen to be quite partial to. In fact, I like all of our large English supermarkets, the ones that sell stuff other than food. I like that these days supermarkets always have a "Seasonal" aisle, and I like that you can plot the year by the contents of these shelves :: Christmas-Valentines-Mothers Day-Easter-Summer Activities-Fathers Day-Back to School-Halloween-Christmas. It's the Retail Calender.

So right now, Easter is finished with and we are in the Summer Activities season :: Barbecues, Gardening, Picnics, Outdoor games, all of which I adore.

I spend oooooh a very happy hour or so in the Supermarket, ignoring the food completely, just visiting the aisles that interest me, putting various items into my basket, making a little heap of frivolous, unnecessary things that delight me. And I confess that I find it an enormous amount of fun.

 

1:30pm and I am back at the station, sitting on the red painted bench waiting for my train home again. My shopping bag is bulging with my frivolous, unnecessary purchases.

 

2pm and I am back home again-home again, jiggety jig.

Cor, what a short but sweet little jaunt that was!

I put the kettle on to make a cup of tea and proceed to unpack my bag......

Want to see?

Can you guess?

Colourful stuff?

Why yes, of course!

Ok.

Go on.

Take a peek.........

 

There.....thats my haul, in all it's colourful, frivolous, unnecessary glory!

 

I fell head over heels in love with these fresias. Could not resist. It's a flower I don't often care a great deal for, but WOW the colour of these petals totally knocked my socks off.

 

There were only ten spindly stems in the bunch, but as has become my habit, I spread them around...a single stem on the bathroom windowsill....

 

....and the rest in a small jug beside my bed, plumped out with some greenery from the garden (most of which are actually weeds I think, but hey, who cares?)

 

I had a quick browse down the length of the magazine aisle and selected Period Living magazine :: not one I am used to but it looks lovely, with some gorgeous homes featured and plenty of inspirational pages to linger over (more of that another time).

 

Some new paper napkins from the Seasonal Summer aisle, these dotty lovelies were delightfully called "Caravan Spot Napkin". Makes me love them all the more knowing that!
 

Some new Sarah Smith cloths too, I have a real cute little stash of these growing in the kitchen. I do of course use them as they are intended, but am also cultivating a plan which involves cutting them into triangles and stitching them into outdoor summer bunting, inspired by Emma of Lavenderhouse. Incidentally, Sarah Smith has blog which is well worth checking out for inspiring ideas, and I was delighted to see Attic24 on their blogroll!

 

Ahhhhh just look at that windmill, doesn't the sight of that make your heart flutter just a little? I found it in amongst the Childrens Gardening paraphernalia, and thought it would look lovely in my bathroom....the Little People are most confused by this idea, they keep trying to take it outside, but in the bathroom it is staying.

 

A packet of seeds popped into my basket too, Morning Glory Grandpa Otts. I grew this variety some years ago and the flowers are absolutely stunning, a very intense bluey purple. It says on the packet that the seeds should be planted March/April, but I'm hoping that early May will be OK.

As well as a magazine, a windmill, flowers and cloths, seeds and napkins, I also bought some hair bands for Little Lady, a pair of sparkly earings, a birthday card and a glass lemon squeezer. And after all that spending, I did sit and have a little think about my Retail Therapy experience. I wondered whether to feel guilty or not for indulging myself in this frivolous, unnecessary way? And I decided that No, there is no need for guilt. That as much as you can find free happiness in a view, a sunset, a comfy chair, some snuggly socks, every so often it's OK to go out and buy oneself some happiness. That's my theory anyways. And after all, I spent less than twenty pounds, so hardly a fortune.

By the way, did you notice the crochet hiding behind the windmill and the seeds?

Well when I got back from my outing yesterday I walked into the living room and saw all my squares laid out on the floor like a big rug. I'd forgotten that I'd been playing with them that morning and had left them there after I'd been taking photos.

What do you think????

I'm 2/3 done with this big blanket now, only another 12 more to make (well actually 8, cos four more have been made already and are awaiting the final white round).

I think I am liking it.

I think.

But I am not sure.

I intend to make quite a wide "granny" border around the whole thing once all 36 squares are joined, and I think that'll be the thing that makes an OK blanket look great.

What do you think?

Let me know?

Thanks ((xx))

Comments

[Gerry Hook]

Lucy, since you are unsure if you like your Granny Square Blanket today - just know any of us would take it off your hands in a minute ! :D
Have finished my Crocheted Bag and just waiting for the sun to shine so that I can get a good photo to blog and am already starting a Granny Square Project - - using your wonderful instructions, of course.
Thanks for taking us along on your shopping outing.
Gerry

[Leilani Bennett]

It's been my experience that whenever I post anything that isn't 101% positive, all manner of people post comments castigating me. But you did ask, didn't you. I love love love all the squares but really don't like the white border. I think that whenever white is thrown into something wildly colorful, the white becomes the predominant color.

[angela]

I love your blanket....it's very nice with the white colour at the end. I started a hexagone blanket. It will take me ages, but it's so much fun. Thanks so much for your tutorial.
Love Angela

[Penny L]

Lovely lovely lovely ! A little retail therapy does you the world of good.
I like the blanket too. I'm in the midst of making lots of lovely flowers courtesy of your patterns and inspiration ( even though I shouldn't be as we're having a French girl to stay next week and I haven't made any preparations yet i.e. I can't remember what my daughters bedroom carpet looks like!!!)because an old blanket knitted by my mum's friend's mum when I was a little girl got left in the summer house at the end of last summer and a little mouse has nibbled lots of little holes in it. I was VERY sad until I was suddenly inspired by you now I'm feeling very enthusiastic about mending it. So Thank you. Pity I'm not feeling so enthusiastic about the housework !! Penny L XXXXXX

[natalie]

I love it, your crochet is beautiful. Love your blog....from Natalie(in Australia)

[Jen Gough]

I just love your blanket! So colorful and happy!

Thanks for the inspiration!

[Mrs Bun]

Each of your journeys from your home sound so magical and wonderful. We have fields one way and a duck pond the other, nothing quite so glorious as canals, blossom strewn paths and a train journey.

Your afternoon adventure sounds simply perfect - exactly how I would love to spend an afternoon. SImple pleasures.

Lisa x

[valerie]

blanket looks fab and what a stunning train journey would make doing the shoping loveley.
the blanket looks fab too and those cleaning cloths haven't spotted those in my sainsburys but the cleaning isn't soemthing I do as often as I should so perhaps i will have a better look next time:)
Val

[loveaphid]

Hooray retail Therapy, did a little of my own today. After being cooped up in my house for 2 weeks with the most severe case of Poison Ivy ever, I needed to go out. I set a $10.00 limit on myself and browsed the sale bins at Target. It was fun and killed my craving.

I love, love, love, the blanket. I think you should too. Also I have noticed that sometimes when you crochet you actually build the next Granny Square on to one you have already made, rather than sewing it on after the fact. How do you do that? I can't seem to figure it out. Looks really great though.

[alisonb2]

I'm having some retail therapy on Saturday when I take my Mum to Springfields. She loves the scent of freesias, so I buy her some at Morrisons as I pass. Don't know what I will buy, but we will have a wander around. Love the Granny squares. I think it will look different when you put your border on. Happy hooking1

[Shelley in SC]

I really love the blanket, but I think the white might be really jumping out at you. It's definitely different than anything else you've shown us. I think the wide granny border will pull it all together. I do like your other blankets without the white better, but this will add a fresh change into the mix.

[Marta]

Hi there!

I've been really following your blog for a while (i'm one of those who check's it out everyday) and I really like it. Now I have my child at the hospital and I'm stucked 24 h a day in there but I use the wifi to keep following your posts and it really cheers me up. Thanks for sharing your good moments, I'll keep on following you and one day i'll share with you my creations, I'm a real craft addict.
thanks again,

Marta

[Tania Hrziwnatzki]

I love love love the blanket, can't wait to see it finished
love Tania x

[Penny Peberdy]

Yes, I love it too! I made some for my boys' beds in the 1970s but they were fairly restrained with 2 or 3 colours only. I much prefer a riot of colour.

[Gillian]

Love the windmill - the colours are so inspiring! Its a lovely idea to get some retail therepy at the supermarket - and all for under £20. Your new blanket looks amazing so far - cannot wait to see the finished product!

[Annabella]

Dear Lucy,
this is the first time in my life, that i post a comment to someones blog. But I think that you should know, that you kind of changed my life. After i have ssen your grannys i wanted one of my own so much, that i learned how to crotchet a few month ago and are nearly finished with my first grannysquare blanket by now. I love your blog. And I love your summergarden blanket. Would like to know what do you think of my blanket, please let me know, if you are interested in seeing it, then i will post a few pictures via flickr.
Thank you so much for all the joy you are givin me every day (with crotchet my own blanket and with reading your blog.
Love, Anna

[louise]

Love it!
love it!
After following your blog for some time i finally found someone to help me master the basics of crocheting during the Easter hols. Since then i have been trying out your tutorials which are fab.
You could say i'm totally HOOKED
i would love to think that one day i could make a blanket as beautiful as yours,
at the moment i think it would take me a good few years.
I have only managed enough squares to make a blanket for my daughters dollys cot, but she loves it! Oh then eldest daughter asked for phone sock with flower on and i managed the flower and taught her how to make hdc square and she has the coolest phone sock! you are inspirational and i thank you!

[Rebecca]

I love your blog and ur blanket. U really are an inspiration. Thankyou

[Lisa]

Oh wow! I love the sound of your retail therapy! I would do just the same. I am originally from the UK and pine for the British supermarkets in all their glory! I once headed out to Brent Cross on a visit back 'home' and ended up spending all of my time in the nearby Tesco (also avoiding all the food and buying the other stuff!). I am feeling very envious of your trip out now...

[Maureen]

I love it....really I love all your work!

X Maureen

[Tam]

I love the blanket. However, I can't tear myself away from looking at the beautiful landscape of your retain therapy jaunt! I long to live in a place with that much beauty!

[Traci]

Love Them.... It is going to make a beautiful Blanket.... Thank you for the beautiful pictures... You always brighten my day....Thank you Lucy...

[Sumea]

I so want a rainbow windmill
Very much enjoyed this little escapist escapade today :o)
Great idea for the bunting!
The crochet middles remind me of colourful windmills, or is that just my eyes? Anyway it's very, very gorgeous!
xx
Sumea

[Alison]

Mmmmmm freesias, I can just imagine the scent - I must look out for some on our market tomorrow.

Loving the look of the blanket, I rather like the borders in white.

[Judith]

What a lovely afternoon shop. Even a train ride to the supermarket. How wonderful. I am jealous. You made some lovely purchases and your crocheting is smashing.