A Summer Saturday

I was up early on Saturday morning, and when I say early, I really do mean very early. Like four thirty type of early. Little B has developed a habit of waking around about this time each and every morning, and although he is fairly easily settled back to sleep again for another hour or two, I'm often left wide awake. I'm trying to see it is a Good Thing cos 4.30am at this time of year is actually rather light and beautiful and full of birdsong.

So on Saturday at 5am or thereabouts I come downstairs, make myself a big mug of steaming hot tea, pick up my crochet bag and head back to bed for some peaceful very early morning tea-and-hooky time. It's absolutely blissful. I can't resist taking a photo of my granny stripe blankie laid out on the bed after I'd worked a few rows, the early morning light is really beautiful and makes the colours look amazing. Oh gosh, I am unbelievably in L:O:V:E with this stripy creation, it makes me go all giddy just thinking about it.

A little later on in the morning (around nine ish) we decide on the spur of the moment to take a quick jaunt out as the weather is especially lovely. We drive a few miles out of town to one of our favourite High Places, a place with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. 

This is wide, expansive, open moorland, part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There are many little verges at the side of the road for parking up your car, but nothing whatsoever in the way of amenities. Totally unspoilt.

We didn't have much of a plan for this rather spontaneous Summer Saturday trip, it wasn't a full on Outing as such. Before we left the house I had hurriedly made up a flask of freshly brewed coffee which I stuffed into my crochet basket along with a couple of mugs and some biscuits. The general idea was to get ourselves up, up, up to this beautiful High Place, breeeeeeathe in the fresh summer breezes, drink in the views, sit a while and ponder.

We have the Little People with us though, and they don't really do Sitting or Pondering in High Places. No, of course not, how insane to even think that they might! They bound out of the car like two overexcited dogs and proceed to run, jump, climb, build, throw. It's all very hyperactive for them (and J, who joins them for much of the time), whereas Little B and I opt for the under active approach to appreciating High Places.

I drink my coffee, admire the views, breathe in the air and partake in some High Up Hooky. Bloomin marvelous way to spend an hour!

I sit in the back seat of the car with my hooky on my lap and Little B to my right. We chatter together, I sing to him a little, and I marvel at how blue-blue his eyes are. Aren't they just?

Late morning now and we are back down from on high and home again, feeling refreshed and revitalised after all that fresh air. I ask Little Man if he wouldn't mind performing some Quality Control checks on my Granny Stripe blanket to see how it's shaping up. Little Man is my best/most honest critic, his judgment is usually spot on. He tells me it's not a good blankie for having near his face (not soft enough) but he likes the weight and warmth of it on his legs. He pronounces it "good". He doesn't leap about, clap his hands, exclaim over it's gorgeousness, but then he is not as bonkers as me.

 

We have a date on this Summer Saturday, a date to meet for coffee with the lovely Heather and her hubby who are visiting my home town for the day. So into town I stroll with Little B and Little Lady and we go to one of my favourite watering holes for some refreshment. Little Lady loves cafes almost as much as I do and she is well acquainted with this particular one. When we are here, she always, always drinks her drink ever so ever so fast then asks for paper and pen to do some drawing or writing. It's always the same routine. I've forgotten to bring my notebook with me though, so Heather kindly offers a page of hers.

I just love how the Little Peeps write out their thoughts, it's incredibly sweet. Can you understand what she wrote?? She's talking about two of her favourite indoor play centres (Lickle Monkey's and Fun Planet), and then about our house.....

Soft Plays

fun at licl Moncys. Fun Planit too. Kids like gowing there for FUN! It's good at both playsis.

Our House

Our house is nise and fun. BUT my bedroom is a mess. Its like a toy shop it's true.

Actually we had a good go at tidying up her bedroom on Sunday, pheww, so good to be able to see her floor again. It was getting quite hazzardous walking a narrow path through all the toys everywhere.

On Saturday is was our towns annual Gala Day. A parade with marching bands and decorated floats winding it's way through the streets to the local park where a surprisingly large and rowdy funfair had taken over.

 

It was very full on. The Little People were beside themselves with Fairground Fever, the excitement was huge.

It cost lots. So many rides and activities capturing Little Eyes, so many pleads for this and that and just-one-more. But oh it was fun!

Amongst all the noise and chaos, it was still possible to find a moment's calm...the familiar fields and hills that surround our town and park are looking radiant at this time of year, the fields golden with buttercups, the trees so lush and green. Heather and I sit a while on a picnic blanket and crochet together, such a lovely Summer Saturday-ish thing to do eh?

Later still and J has stayed at the park with the LP who refuse to come home, but I am home again and putting a sleepy Little B to bed. The light at this time of day (7pm ish) is amazingly beautiful, I sigh with pleasure at my beloved Attic view looking so gorgeous and summery in the early evening light. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, beeeeeeautiful.

Much later now, ten o'clock and J takes the (very hyper) Little Peeps back to the park to wait for dusk and the Gala Fireworks to begin. Oh my, those children are waaaaaaay beyond excited by this point in the day. I am up in the Attic when they set off, they go up in a big gang with many other neighbourhood families from our street and I can hear them all shrieking and chattering.

I sit and look out of the window and wait. Wait some more. The sky turns darker and darker and finally the first fireworks begin. I get to see them from the Attic window, and although it's not the same as being there in person, I still enjoy them a lot. Gawd, I sooooooo love fireworks, really I do. Love 'em.

Quite a day we had on Saturday.

Such a lovely, lovely day. So full of Good Things. Full to bursting.

 

And speaking of Good Things, a quick gratuitous Stripy Crochet picture to end my ramblings. Ohhhhhhhh smoochy smoochy, I do so L:O:V:E my blankie (haha did I tell you that already??)!!! Thirty seven gorgeously gorgeous stripes so far, mmmmmmm, looking good if I say so myself :o)

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Comments

[word unscrambler]

The content you share is wonderful and really rewarding

[john alexandar]

Thanks for sharing such an informative article!

[Savannah Scott]

I was a little bit surprised when I saw this blog where crochet outputs are being posted. I can no longer do other things but instead to have easy tasks like drinking coffee. I have planned to do something that will make my talent be cultivated. Your post is in fact a very nice idea for me to do just to kill the boredom that I am experiencing everyday.

[heidi]

can anyone get enough of these endless flashs of beautiful color combinations???
...so VERY inspiring!!!
i had inherited a big box of at least 40 year old yarns including some cottons, just perfect to give it a first try... after 3 evenings in front of the tube i am already up to 50 little square centers and still going strong.
i confess... i am totally (crochet) hooked!
my next step is hitting the next shop for some other colors to add as well!
LOVE those pics and all your work... will be following you from now on... step by step! thanks SO MUCH for sharing!

[Ann Kelsey]

Hi Lucy, I was thrilled to bits meeting you and the children at the K.N. last Thursday. It was so lively and buzzing with lovely chatty people....I LOVED it and will definately come again. My mum who is staying with me for awhile enjoyed it too but afterwards said she had a headache haha.Love to you and the little people. Ann xx

[Summer accessories]

Lovely arrangements and i like it.....
https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=817789614&email=7cff47bb7cdcb76fbfa15e66c81a1961

[Irasema]

I found you on flickr and I absolutely love your afghans! I love them so much I actually linked you on my granny square blog post, i hope you don't mind :D

[Danielle]

I can see how you would go all giddy over your stripy granny, it is gorgeous.

[Krishana]

A breathtakingly beautiful day. Thank you for sharing its richness and joy with us. I adore the vibrant color choices you make when crocheting. Makes my heart smile and my hands eager for another crochet project!

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

Loved your picnic spot in the Dales....looks so peaceful! That blanket is looking adorable and I have just seen that Heather is about to start one too :-) This hooky stuff is catching!!

[Terrie]

Oh Oh Oh the blanket is just scrummy! I want one! x

[Steph]

I have an identical photo to your first one of your high place but mine has added sheep!
Steph - different one!

[Erika Sews-it-all]

What a fabulous way to spend a Saturday! And I do also love your blankie!

[kelly]

Hello..I do hope you are feeling better...i'm going to pick your bairn...to do your wonderful blanket...do you just start with a chain of slip stitches?

[Nedra- Cactus Needle]

Lucy,
I am new at crocheting, and want to make the Granny Stripe Blanket. I've read your tutorial. What size crochet hook do you use? I noticed it said a "4". Is that a UK number or a US number? (I'm from Utah)

[Becci]

Lucy your blanket is coming along so nicely.
So nice to be able to sit and relax out somewhere and hook away.
I thought of you the other day when I came across a book I had bought a few years ago that is full of different squares (not all granny) to make. It's just gorgeous. Someitmes I just sit and read it. I'll get the name etc for you and maybe even take a pic to show you. I'm sure it's very you.
My blankets coming along nicely. Must take some pics and blog it.

[Marianne]

Oh my gosh, the granny stripe is looking stunning!!!

[LizzieAnn]

Loving the blog, and the beautiful countryside. I am attempting to Hook along with the granny stripes but not quite keeping up with your speed at the moment, but then I am not doing 5.30am. My littlest man sleeps through at the moment thank goodness. 12 stripes and loving it ;-) x

[Nathalie abi aad]

hi, LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE your blanket , the colours just make me dream. I WOULD get up and CLAMP my hands and BOW for it. its LOVELY and i admire your enthousiam, every time i read ur blog i feel like i a got a splash of VITAMINS running through my veins, Im from Beirut, LEBANON. and my dream is to visit your part of the country, the country side just makes you feel serene. Hope some day to visit. keep up the LOVELY work. Will try to follow ur steps, AM LEARNING TO CROCHET FROM THE BEST.

[Frualbertssons]

Fantastic nice blanket in great colors as usual. But I do not see how you like so many crochet blankets, I have no patience for something that is larger than half a square meter
:-)
but I am excited to try a blanket again.
hug
Susanne

[Julia]

What a gorgeous story - I mean, it really was like reading one of those nice stories from childhood when the sun shines all the time, there's a funfair and treats, and all is just perfectly well with the world.
Thank you, I enjoyed your post immensley!

Love Julia x x x

[Judith (Crete)]

Wow! what a super fun packed day you all had. Bet the LP where very tired when they went to bed. The stripey blanket is looking good, Connie will be pleased.

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Lovely pictures as always!! Especially Little B's blue eye!!! Gorgeous!!
Love from Anna xxx

[Anne Bebbington]

Oh those photos of the road over the tops into Wharfedale bring back so many memories and make me so homesick - but thank you for sharing

[Emily curnow]

Ps are those a string of breastfeeding beads??? I love those x