Good morning my lovelies, and thanks for dropping by. You doin' OK? I wonder what the weather's like today where you are?
Here in my patch it is wet-wet-wet. Grey and wet. Rainy and wet. Puddly and wet. I made the school run wearing an old raincoat and (stubbornly) still wearing my crocs, and consequently returned home feeling a little damp and sodden. My raincoat leaked making my shoulders wet and soggy. My feet got wet (quite understandable really, as there are a lot of holes in Crocs), as did the bottom of my too-long jeans.
It's OK though, I do quite like summer rain providing I'm not expected to picnic/camp/party in it. But the lack of light levels and the heavy, misty greyness that has settled across the landscape is rather dismal. In fact, today I'm finding myself in real need of Comfort. I am not expecting to do a great deal today. I'm having a moochy stay-home day. I've taken my soggy outdoor clothes off and have put on some rather unattractive but supremely comfy baggy jersey bottoms and a soft (dry) cosy jumper. Pink fluffy slippers have been dragged out from under the bed.
Right-oh, I am Dressed for Comfort :: bring it on.
First up is a mug of frothy chocolate-dusted coffee.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
This morning my crochet is still in situ after last nights little hooky session, the blanket laid out on the floor like an elaborate rug. I need to lay it out like this so that I can check the colour choices as I complete and join each block. I'm part way through block number 31 (only 5 more to go after this one, yiipppeeeeeeeee!!) and although I very rarely crochet during the day (excepting on knit and natter cafe days) today I am allowing myself the pleasure.
I feel the need.
Don't try and stop me.
As I was waiting for my coffee machine to warm up this morning, and while I was still wearing wet, soggy school-run clothes, I grabbed some scissors and nipped outside to snip a few blooms to bring indoors.
Five to be precise.
Snip-snip-snip-snip-snip.
Such beautiful, vibrant flowers, laden with rain drops.
Cosmos, cape daisy, marigold, marguerite and verbena.
Pink, purple, orange, yellow red.
I popped them into my little old ink bottle and put them on the coffee table amongst all my crochet paraphernalia while I went to make coffee.
When I walked back into the room, it really struck me how beautifully these little summer flowers match the colours of my Summer Garden blanket. How I must have held the memory of just such a posy of flowers in my mind on that cold day in January when I drew up the design and purchased the yarn for this project.
Love that.
Ok, so :: comfy clothes, frothy coffee, fresh flowers, crochet....what else is missing from my Day of Comfort??
Ahh yes, of course.....reading material and edible material....
I wonder how many of you have had your hands on this months divine copy of Country Living magazine (the UK version)?? Its the August issue, and Oh, My. Goodness, WHAT an issue this is!!!!!! I finally found my Perfect CL Moment on Sunday morning and I practically hyperventilated my way through the whole thing. It's the most gorgeous, inspiring, colourful, mood-enhancing collection of pages I've had the pleasure of gazing at in quite a while. Total happiness from cover to cover. As you can see by my copy above, it has been very well thumbed through, I have looked at it over and over and over again.
And will be inside those pages again in a very short while I expect.
Finally, the edible element of today.....chocolate, sweeeeeeeeeet chocolate!
I was not intending to actually eat this chocolate you understand, rather I bought it as an essential ingredient in the Caramel Shortbread recipe I mentioned to you on Friday.
I was thinking that if I had time amongst my intended crocheting, flower-gazing, magazine strolling activities, I might do a spot of baking this afternoon.
For you.
Because I promised you the recipe and I cannot possibly give you the recipe without some accompanying photographs.
Which means I need to bake in order to photograph the baking.
And needing to bake, meant the necessary purchase of ingredients.
Silly thing is though, that I've just realised that the recipe calls for 140g of chocolate and I had a bit of a memory lapse in the supermarket this morning (must have been the sogginess in my trousers that did it) and bought a 230g bar by mistake.
Damn and blast.
That means I've got 90g of spare chocolate hanging around.
Ah well, guess I'll just have to deal with it, all part of a days work eh?
Enjoy the little Comforts of your own day my friends, whether rain or shine.
Treat yourself kindly.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What a wonderful world of colours :)
Posted by: PengPeng | July 27, 2009 at 01:29 PM
Hello Lucy,
What an inspiring blog you have! I just recently discovered it and i so much enjoy reading it. Now i absolutely must make a big blanket of my own ;-) Just trying to order some wool here in the Netherlands. Thank you for the lovely blog and all the inspiration!
Eva
Posted by: Eva, Netherlands | July 17, 2009 at 09:45 AM
I just picked up my copy yesterday at walmart (USA Edition). The cover on mine is totally different, so I guess our issues are not the same as those you guys get across the pond. Lovely post Lucy!! and the blanket is stunning! I've never been a big fan of granny squares, but since reading your posts and seeing your pics, I started one this weekend. Toodles!
melissa in USA
Posted by: melissa | July 16, 2009 at 04:49 PM
What a beautiful, beautiful post! So cheery and relaxed and bright and, ooh! Crochet! Lots of crochet!
You're my kind of blog, I can tell you.
Posted by: Michelle | July 16, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Hai Lucy, i really love your blog. It's you that makes me croching.
Oke i was trying to croche before, but now with your idees, your patterns an your pictures how to, I can really make something now.
I bought some very cheap wol to try if i like to make granny squares, but now i.m addicted. So next week i go to Amsterdam to buy me some beautiful colors of rowen pure wol. I have saved some money, and i"m gonna buy a lot of colors. Even wenn i think of it it makes me already happy.
I'm gonna read your blog every day, so i can begin my day with a smile. thanks for sharing. With love Raffie
Posted by: Raffie | July 16, 2009 at 02:04 PM
I wish I could join you on that sofa. Not had too much rain here but I could do with the hours to crochet and knit. You take us to that comfort zone every time enjoy every minute and have a few trebbles for me!
Posted by: Jody | July 16, 2009 at 01:01 PM
I´ve just recently discovered your blog and have a lot of catching up to do. I find myself reading two or three times a day. Everything ist just so interesting, delightful and inspiring. Your creativity is amazing. I could go on and on - but you´ve heard it all before. Please never stop. Jo
Posted by: Jutta Egan-Small | July 16, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Hi Lucy,
The blanket's coming along nicely! Spare chocolate, did you say? Can you ever have "spare chocolate"??? :D Looking forward to that recipe!
Posted by: Fruitful Fusion | July 16, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Hi Lucy
Your blog is amazing, and I am extrememly envious of your wonderful blogging skills (as well as the crochet, cooking, etc, etc) But as I wallow in self-pity that my blogging is not up to your standards, I am also cheered immensely by the beautiful colours you present, and the images of my homeland which I miss so very much. We are lucky to live in the Hills of Perth in Western Australia which also has it's own beauty, but you know the land of my birth still calls to me. Your blog gives me that little piece of Ol' Blighty to keep me going. Thank you for being you, and for sharing your creativity with us. Very inspiring. xx Lara
Posted by: Lara Geach | July 16, 2009 at 07:54 AM
Sounds like your going to have yourself an addorable day, wish I could say the same for me...but the tax man is waiting on end of quater finacials and he wants them by the 28th of July. OR ELSE!! meannie
So think of me next time you pick up your copy of CL I still haven't got mine and cant wait (in Australia we're one issue behind). So post some pictures so I can drool lol
Have a great day
Posted by: Pina Refat | July 16, 2009 at 06:49 AM
Here it's 14 degrees at the moment, neither sun nor rain. These past weeks it's been going from 2 degrees to 30 degrees and now it's somewhere in between and these past couple of days we've finally been getting some small showers of rain, it's extremely dry right now.
I don't really know how fine or not I am, I have lot's of mixed feelings. My baby have turned 6 months and according to the "rules" here it's now time to introduce tasties of food. I'm so proud of him for handling it so well and trying so hard to eat what we give him but at the same time my mummy-heart doesn't want to let go... Maybe you as a mother can relate to what I feel. He's so adorable, I'm so in love with him. :-)
Posted by: vildkatten | July 16, 2009 at 06:40 AM
Dear Lucy
I can't wait for this recipe. I've tried the chocchip cookies and they really are devine. I have made my first granny Square blankie when I was 10 years old and your blog really inspired me to start another one. Actually I'm a quilter but there's always time for a little crochet, specially after I saw all the beautiful things you made. I live in South Africa and we are in mid winter so its really cold. Have a wonderful day.
Linda O
Posted by: Linda Oerlemans | July 16, 2009 at 06:07 AM
Ooh, that blanket! And the August issue of Country Living-- here in Canada I've managed to track down a grocery store that sells the British version, which is *so* much nicer than the American one, which seems to be all about recipes for the barbeque (why??)... but we're a bit behind and I've only got my hands on June.
Posted by: Leanna | July 16, 2009 at 03:49 AM
Sounds like a bit of short-term math amnesia, Lucy.
We've had a share of rain and overcast days this past week. However, we'll take them over the normal hot, humid summer days of mid-Missouri
Posted by: Gerry Hook | July 16, 2009 at 03:25 AM
That sounds like a lovely way to spend a day. It is Winter here in Australia, so I have been curled up under a blanket on my couch for most of the day :o)
Posted by: Jessica | July 16, 2009 at 12:01 AM
It's cold and grey here in Melbourne, but sadly not raining! I could do with a perfect excuse for a day of staying in comfort! Oh well, maybe I can have a day of using the available moments to play with yarn instead of doing the washing ;-)
I'm loving watching your progress with BB.
Anna
Posted by: Anna | July 15, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Lucy your blanket looks amazing and your chocolate delicious! :-) Hope you had a lovely day.
Posted by: Louise | July 15, 2009 at 09:58 PM
WOW Lucy your blanket is looking fantastic, can't wait to see it finished. Love your wee flowers as well, and the partly eaten choccie, classic. Have a great day xx
Posted by: Jo | July 15, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Your blanket is wonderful! I've been waiting and hoping for a glimpse of it all laid out and, wow, it is marvellous. LOVE IT.
xxxxx Heather
ps cloudy blue skies with intermittent downpours over here :-)
Posted by: Heather | July 15, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Lucy - your day is sounding divine to me! I love those soggy rainy days when I can jump into my comfort clothes and do whatever I want. Happy crocheting today - your blanket is looking beautiful.
Posted by: susan@tickledpaisley | July 15, 2009 at 06:02 PM
Your blog is so cheerful, thank you!
Posted by: eileenaway | July 15, 2009 at 05:43 PM
You asked what the weather is like where I am. . . 100+ degrees. Too d____d hot! The air conditioner will run all afternoon and on and off into the early evening. Not very green, I'm afraid.
Oh yes, "here" is San Jose California-in a valley about 45 miles south of San Francisco where it's much cooler!
I wouldn't trade my heat for your rain though. Wouldn't a happy medium be nice for both of us?
Posted by: Leilani Bennett | July 15, 2009 at 05:39 PM
I love your colourful cup's blankets etc. etc. ! It looks sooo good! Tinki
Posted by: Tinki | July 15, 2009 at 04:34 PM
Lucy, how did you know I was spending my day the same way? It's been horribly windy down South but a little sunshine breaking out now. Decided to spend the day chilling and hooking... and my first order of Rowan wool arrived today (you inspired me to try some), what perfect timing! My hubby bought me a new crochet book for our anniversary on sunday (200 crochet blocks) and it's great, I am trying out a few!
Posted by: CindyCB | July 15, 2009 at 04:27 PM
oh lucy, i seriously need your help. your color choices are so wonderful. i keep trying to do the crochet bag you have and every time i try to put colors together i fail miserably. can i get your input? i'm wanting to use sugar and cream cotton (they do have lots of colors AND they're cheap!) could you help out a clueless color crocheter? say that 3 times real fast ;)
to make it even easier - here is the url with the color choices:
http://www.herrschners.com/product/Lily+Sugarn+Cream+Yarn+Original.aspx?page=1
if you could do this i will be your devoted interweb slave!
Posted by: susan | July 15, 2009 at 04:04 PM