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)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Sunnyb]

Your blanket is coming along quite nicely! I was soooo inspired that I bought yarns this week to start one of my own! A few less colors but hopefully it will be as beautiful as yours!

[josiekitten]

What a wonderful day you had on Saturday. I can't believe you packed so much in! The blankie is looking great. I love the firework photo lighting up the rooftops. And of course, Little B's eye - just wonderful. You lucky, lucky thing you. Treasure the moments! xxxxx

[Pati]

Hello Lucy!
lovely eyes and lovely blanket!!! Great, great work! I can't wait for the tutorial (but please, in your own time!!).
Wishing you many more beautiful Saturdays...
xxx Pati from gorgeous, sunny and flowery London

[Lynn]

What a gorgeous blankie!! Hopefully, there's a tutorial to come soon?

[Heather]

Just got in from a stint of reclaimation in the garden and found your new post.......Time for a rest and a cuppa while i "travel" with you on your lovely, lovely jaunts ! Like you, i love the early mornings and the open spaces, it really does restore the creative soul. Fireworks look great.....your attic must a fabulous place to be at times like that. Baby B's eyes are just soooo cute and that Granny stripe blanket just "sings" colour...well done. xx

[Dee Cox]

Love this post!!

[Gill]

I loved your photos on this post(not that I don't appreciate them all the other times!)From the bluest of eyes to the green of the hills to the bright golds and reds of the merry-go-round. Loved it! And the fireworks and the blankie! Great to hear the bairns are obviously recovered from any bugs and you all had a fantastic weekend. xx

[Patty]

Wonderful I would like to be a little mouse with you :)

[Barb]

Wow, Little B has beautiful blue eyes. My Dad and brother have the same shade! Love the blanket! Can't wait to start mine. Thanks for sharing

Have a great day. Barb

[Jayne Walton]

You are having an amazingly productive year, a beautiful, blue-eyed boy and a gorgeous multi-coloured blanket! I love the views of the Dales and look forward to visiting very much. I would love to know where the high point is? xx

[snaffles mummy]

Wow your getting through that fast. I have just discovered your blog and I am loving it. So bright and cheerful and some fantastic wool and creations.

"hookie time" souunds rude, i like it!

[Renata]

Lucy, your granny stripe is wonderfull some Little B!!! You inspired me. Thanks so much!
Lovely
Renata from Italy

[rachel on madeleinessofa]

4am is a good time to be up and about at this time of year I agree. Would we be awake if we didn't have little people though, who so craftily wake us up and then manage to go back to a lovely slumber whilst we are left wide awake! A good time to have some 'me time' though I think.
Love Rachel x

[Victoria]

Lucy, you certainly have inspired me...I have picked up the hook and downed the needles...for the time being anyway. Thanks so much.

[vanessa]

Hi Lucy! Oooohhh looks like you had the most fantastic of Saturdays! I ♥love♥ fireworks too, although, sadly they always seem to finish too soon! The scenery where you live is quite breathtaking, thankyou for sharing such lovely piccies with us all! Loving your blanket, the colour combos are gorgeous. Colour really is one of the most fantastic things in life don't you think?!!!!!!! Have a lovely day! xxxxxxx

[Cindy]

What a wonderful Saturday. LOVE the blanket. Your's (and Melissa's) is much longer than mine. Well, it was my first big crochet project, I didn't know how long to make it. I'll post a picture of it soon. Maybe Friday. Beautiful blue eyes, beautiful countryside, beautiful hooky blankey. What more could a person want?!?!!

[Fruitful Fusion]

Don't you just love days like that! Lovely crochet! Lovely blue eyes! Beautiful scenery! Great quality control check too!!!

[Gorgeous Things]

Oooh! -squeals of delight- your blankie is looking soooooo gorgeous! Little Thing 1 and I are only up to rows 5 and 6 respectively on each of ours, but WE IS LOVIN' those colours. Thanks for the inspiration!

[maggie]

The sort of day, at the end of which you count your blessings and see how lucky you are. I recall when we lived in East Yorkshire, it was great to get away from our gorgeous little village and up somewhere higher, where the air was so clean it was sharp when you breathed in, where there was silence. Perfect. And those fireworks? A perfect end to your day...

[Lucy]

I am so grateful to have stumbled across your blog on a clicking safari. I have struggled to crochet anything except a rectangle for years and could never understand written or video instructions despite being able to do other crafts. Thank you for helping me suddenly grasp how to make a granny square and how to crochet round things. I have an excited feeling that this will be my year of crochet!

[Pippa]

Thank you. A little burst of home for an ex-pat in Australia. I miss the all day days, sunset that goes on for ever and my summer birthday.

[Debbie]

Gorgeous photos as always Lucy and your Granny stripe blanket is looking wonderful!
I want some yarn the same colour as baby B's beautiful eyes!

[Sue S]

Absolute bliss!

[Sarah]

What a wonderful, brim full of lovely day and post - thank you for sharing and your blanket looks wonderful

[Nicoletta]

♥ that fantastic colors! ♥