Tales from Connievan :: York

Well here we are, half way through our six week summer holidays and for the most part I really am enjoying it. Sometimes it feels a bit too hectic, a bit too stressy, but mostly I feel like we're managing to successfully find the right balance between being lazy and being active, between staying home and going out and about. My favourite days this week have without doubt been the lazy ones, and we've become quite slobbish around here (like still in our pj's at lunch time, eh-hem). But it's been necessary to have these lazy days in order to recover from the days of rather frantic activity.

Last week as you know we were away in Connievan and if I'm honest with you here, the lazy/active balance was a bit skewed really. There just wasn't enough slow time or slobbishness for my liking. Not enough lounging around in our pj's. It was a busy, sociable, scheduled, active type of a holiday involving lots of friends, lots of get-togethers, lots of outings. The Little People had an absolute ball. I did too, but oh boy was I exhausted by the end of it!

Staying in Connievan for a whole week was absolutely, undeniably BRILLiAnT though. We were pitched in a busy campsite a few miles outside of York city, right beside the river Ouse. The above picture shows you the view through Connie's door, which was rather scenic it has to be said. It looks like the perfect backdrop for lazy, lounging, slobbish outdoor days doesn't it? Such a pity they didn't occur!!

No, there wasn't a lot of time spent lazing around the campsite but there were certainly Moments. Moments of peace and tranquility, of sitting beside the river in the early mornings before the rest of the campsite was awake, drinking that first delicious cup of tea. Kingfishers skimming, swans gliding.

Moments in the early evening after a long day's play when I would sit quietly by the water and watch the clouds scud overhead. These moments were short, but very very sweet.

Of course, Moments To Myself were extremely limited, no matter what the time of day. The Little People were my constant companions, but it was wonderful to watch them enjoying the outdoor life so much. I was totally in awe of their energy levels. They honestly did not stop. All day. Fourteen hours (minimum) of frenetic activity each and every day. Running, cycling, swinging, sliding. Den-building. Rocket-launching. Frisbee-throwing. Duck-feeding. And plenty of other children to do all those things with. Like I say, the Little People had an absolute ball.

York is the place that we used to live before we upped and moved across the hills to Attic-land, so of course we know it well and have lots of friends still living there. It's a beautiful city, bustling and vibrant.

Lovely shopping streets. 

Lined with lovely shops....

....ahhhhhh yes, I did make it into the divinely wonderful Cath Kidston shop. Squuuuueeeeezed it in between School Uniform buying and a bit of stressy parenting in this shop and this one. It's not all about The Kids you know :: us Mums need to be catered for too.

The Little People couldn't remember the centre of York very well (they were aged 3 and 5 when we moved away), but certain things did jog their little memories. A fountain. A toy shop. A clock. And this unusual cafe. Situated in an old church right in the heart of York, it's a gem of a place for harassed mothers with children/babies in tow. Exceptionally child friendly, and a bloomin good range of homemade cakes to sit beside a bloomin good cappuccino. I remembered it well, it hadn't changed one bit.

But it's not all about The Mums you know :: the Kiddos have to be catered for too. Cartons of juice and some rather huge iced cupcakes and everyone was happy.

We did a great deal of the above last week in York. The city has some wonderful parks with wonderful play areas for children. My Children did indeed think it was wonderful. They played and played and played. And I enjoyed sitting watching them do it.

One of the outings we made was to Beningbrough Hall, which is a National Trust property just to the north of york. The working gardens here are breathtakingly beautiful.

A mixture of flowers, fruit and vegetables, it was just wonderful. Beauty around every corner.

Scrumptious.

Delightful.

Vibrant.

Incredible.

And then we stopped for tea in the tea room. And that was pretty darned good too. Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes there was a very long time spent at the Wilderness Play Area. More swinging and sliding and climbing. And sitting/watching.

It was wonderful to spend time last week with good friends. Friends I met almost eight years ago when my Little Man was a babe and we were all first time Mums together. Our children grew up through babyhood and toddlerhood together. Special times and special friends.

But you know, as lovely as it was being so sociable, going to this park and that park, here for playtime, there for lunch, to the pub for dinner, barbecues and drinks and playdates at this house and that house, it was blissful to come Home to Connievan each evening. It really was. She was so cosy! So welcoming! And already so familiar and so very much Ours if you get what I mean.

About half way through the week I suddenly really missed having fresh flowers about me. I very rarely live without fresh flowers at home, as you know. So early one evening I took the Little Lady on a short walk around the campsite and began gathering a few wild blooms from the verges and hedgerows. Buttercups, clover, balsam, ragwort, yarrow and honeysuckle.

So beautiful! Oh I just adored this little posy soooooo much!! Popped it into a jam jar and it made my little heart go skip-skippety-skip with delight.

Being all domesticated with Connievan is such fun. At home I love and adore my Dishwasher. Hate washing dirty dishes at home. But not so in Connievan. I can happily stand at the little pink enamel sink, hands in hot soap sudsy water washing up the pretty plastic stuff. Gazing out the window to the view of field/hedgerow/river feeling totally blissed out. Amazing. Washing up and feeling Blissed Out. Who would have thought it?

In fact, Connievan life in general feels quite Blissed Out. Last week the Little People didn't spend a whole lot of time inside cos they were generally busy being hugely busy outside. Frenetic remember. But sometimes they did choose to settle themselves down at the table and occupy themselves with books and pens. Truthfully, quite a lot of bickering banter accompanied the above scene, and there was some nasty falling out over The Black Pen but hey-ho, it was mostly good.

My time inside, when I wasn't being all Blissed Out at the sink or tidying up or looking after Little B was mostly spent gazing at my stripes. I didn't have one single moment to actually crochet last week (my crochet never even made it out of the car, that's how hectic the week was) but oh I did manage some serious gazing. I can't tell you how fabulous it was to install the Granny Stripe. I unfolded it and draped it and arranged it, then stood back and kind of felt like I could jump up through the roof with happiness. It was heart-bangingly exciting, yes it was!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it was maaarrrrvelous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Need to address that cushion and those curtains, but ohmygoodness, the blanket is so great.

Perfectly Connievan-ish.

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Ps...There is now a Flickr group dedicated to the Granny Stripe, so please please do add in your own pictures if you're working on a stripe. And if you're not hooking, please please do feel free to pop over and gaze upon all the stripy gorgeousness anyways, cos it'll make you feel good I promise.

Comments

[Annualito]

Hey, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful blog with us. This is really awesome. Your caravan is so cool and seems so comfy inside during the trip. Love to have just like that.

[dame]

Your photos look terrific! Thank you, it's very interestingly.

[The Garden Bell]

I swear I'm lossing my mind, but do I remember this trip or did I just dream about it...Either way, it's awesome to have another peek at York and your Connie Trip. You know the Grannie is the next on my list. But, must wait until we get back from Vermont and seeing all the Fall colors. Nothing better than having this as one of my last internet connection before a week away from a computer.

Hope things are settling down now with the Big Ones back in school. Can't wait to see what you are up to next.

Big Hugs, as always and a Toodle or Two,

Kate - The Garden Bell

[joan]

well well i also love york in our caravan I have fallen in love with your blog

[Lisa]

Just wanted to tell you that my photos of York are now up on my blog too:
http://lisa-handmadeinisrael.blogspot.com/
They're nowhere near your standard, but a good reminder of a beautiful place all the same.
Lisa

[Ann]

I am just grinning from ear-to-ear! A Flicr group devoted to the granny stripe - I can't believe it! All the photos just make me smile. All those yummy colours. Thanks for the link Lucy.
I read your blog often as I love your style - oh, and your crochet of course ;)

[Donna Connolly]

I saw that wonderful "TEAPOT" over on "Rose Colored Glasses" and "Here I am for a visit on your delightful blog"... "Hello, I'm Donna from "New England, in the USA", It's SO nice to meet you! LOVE you little trailer, it is TOO CUTE! and of course I always love those granny square afghans, they surly mean COMFORT... Would LOVE you to peek at my world if you get a chance...
Donna@Conghaile Cottage

[Lisa]

Can't believe this post. I have just returned from a trip to the UK and we spent a few glorious few days in York - I think around the same time as you! I'll be posting photos when I'm a little more organised. We also visited Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay. Wonderful days out!

[liset]

Seems like a lovely week!! I yummed at the pictures of the little streets. So lovely!

[Maria Julia]

Hi Lucy! I enjoyed so much your post. Beautiful pictures!

[The Muse of The Day]

The pink ring & the pink cupcake did it for me. Life is short, we must make sure we take notice - as you did in this post. Lovely. Carolina

[Carol Juniper]

Lucy - shame on you how could you talk about York and not mention Betty's - tsk tsk - or The National Railway Museum. We spent glorious days out from London by rail there when the kids were younger and have endless pictures of them fooling around in the grounds of the minster where we invariably stopped for a picnic. It,s a long way from our home in Cornwall these days and haven't been for years - last time we looked the rail fare was astronomical!

[vanessa]

Heya Lucy

Your picture looking out of Connievan is beautiful...very tranquil. I'm glad you had a fab (if not a little exhausting!) time away. We just went to St Ives and everything was geared towards the children. It's lovely to spend time with the little ones and make their holiday great, but it's also nice if the adults get to soak it all up and have a bit of a relax too! It's also nice to slob at home in the holidays in pj's....a real treat before the regimented hustle and bustle of term time starts right up again!

Enjoy the rest of the hols!
Love Vanessa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
P.s The blankey looks fab in Connievan!

[Kiwigirl]

Hey Lucy, Stumbled across your blog a couple of months ago and was inspired to sort out a crochet hook and bright yarn..LOVING IT!!!..Have made a ripple and a granny stripe blanket so far and have the hexagon on the 'To Do' list! I can see a heap more crocheting in the immediate future as I satisfy the need to play with bright wool! Thanks heaps :)

[barb]

Lucy, so good to hear from you! Looks like you had a great vacation, love the pictures. The granny stripe it to die for...great job! Barb

[Debbie]

Lovely pictures of your trip. I do understand the need for a balance in the going and the lazing on a vacation or even just the summer. One of us likes to go, go, go and the other (me) wants to sit, read, crochet.....
Thanks for sharing more of your adventures with the Connievan.
Blessings,
Debbie

[Kat]

I want to visit England so bad! You make everything look amazing with your fantastic photos! The Connievan is coming right along, and I can't wait to see what you will do with cushions and curtains.

[Terrie]

Oh doesn't the granny stipe just sit perfectly on that chair. Your caravan is going to be the best looking caravan in town!

[michelle]

thank you so much for taking me on that little summer holiday with you. it is lovely. love your little connievan. your stripy rug is way gorgeous. i was pretty excited at the glimpses of the van as we are currently planning our own caravan adventure around australia for three months next year. so thanks for the lovely post and hooray for caravan adventures

[Gill]

I'm so glad you had a wonderful break. I also used to visit York regularly when I lived in Yorkshire years and years and years ago. Though it does sound like you need a holiday to get over it now!

Welcome back.
Love and stuff xx

[Pati from London]

Hi Lucy,
What lovely pics. Would love to visit York one day. It´s in our to do list, perhaps next year! I love the blankie, it does suit Connievan so much. Enjoy the rest of your holiday! xx Pati from London (writing from sunny Spain)

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

Lovely to see York and other quaint englishness!!!
Glad you had a great time and thank you for sharing XXX

[Helena]

Hi Lucy !
Your new blanket is wonderful . I am making a blanket too , inspired by you . I choose to do it in cotton and its going very slowly because its so heavy and my hand hurts .. But anyway , I see this work like a celebration to doing thing slower .. I need to practice that !!
Lots of love to you from me in Sweden

[Rhondi]

What fabulous photos. I especially love the teapot. Is it okay if I use the photo in my blog sometime? I'll be sure to mention that it came from you.

[Jackie Pacitti]

Nice to have u back! Glad u had a great time. Thanks for sharing! Love your blog and all your projects..I am making my very own stipe bag to put my yarn in. Then I shall try to make the hexi blanket. Then the granny stripe..take care..Jackie