This beautiful rose is sitting right in front of me as I sit at my rather messy dining table tap-tapping on my laptop, it's really beautiful (the rose, not the messy table) and I am happy to be starting the year with a jug of fresh flowers in the house.
I love this time of year. Love the feeling of optimism and excitement that comes over me when I ponder on a whooooooooole fresh-new-exciting Big Fat Year stretching ahead. So much time! So many possibilities! So much fun to be had! Lots of potential hooky time to be found in three hundred and sixty five days you know.
I tossed out my old calendars a few days ago and with much joy and anticipation I replaced them with my new ones. I'm back to just two (five was a bit excessive last year), and they are both wonderful. I'm really looking forward to sharing them with you as the year unfolds, they bring me such a lot of pleasure. Yes, I'm easily pleased as you well know by now.
So the above image is January from this year's Laura Ashley calendar, this is one amazing calendar folks, I love it! Each of the twelve images is completely made up from intricately cut and collaged fabrics, they are so clever. Makes me want to do careful and clever things with fabric, I do quite miss my sewing from time to time.
And here is January as seen in the ever lovely calendar that comes free each year with Ideal Homes magazine. Gosh, this calendar has never, ever failed to lift my spirits and every month of the past three years has been beeeeeeeutiful in IH-calendar land. The photographs are stunning they really are.
And of course I can't talk seasonal and calendar-ish things without also bringing in the current state of the weather, that would never do. I took the above photo on New Years day, and it's pretty much been like that ever since. The bitter cold, bright icy weather of last month has gone and we've been left with much warmer air but also a lot of dull grey/brown. It is January after all, and we do need to expect a certain kind of wintry dullness at this time of year I guess. My Attic view is still beautiful though, isn't it? It looks peaceful and sleepy to me.
So....today is day five of the New Year and I've already managed to clock up many, many hours of hooky time this year, hooorah! I've had such a happy time this past week or so, sitting in various places (at the dining table, on the sofa, on the other sofa, in the Big Chair, and best of all in bed) hooking my little heart out. My hook has been h*o*t, I've been working like the clappers on my sweet flower granny blanket trying to get somewhere near to The End of it. I really want to finish it so that I can move on to new things, my creative mind is going crazy with new ideas and the stack of Future Projects is worryingly high for the 5th day of the year.
Ok, we need to have some jug appreciation now if you don't mind. Isn't this one an absolute beauty?? A surprise Christmas gift from a good friend, I am very much in love with it. Smitten actually. It's such a happy little thing! Such good looks, such a colourful personality, bags of charm too. And it looks so at home here on my messy, colourful table.
Oooo what have we here?? A rare photo in my dim kitchen, this is the small area to the left of the sink which is given over to the coffee machine, dishwasher tablets and empty milk bottles. It's not very pretty here in this corner of my kitchen, but it is light because of the little kitchen window and the back door. I've put my newly purchased amaryllis bulb here for the time being, and I'm really excited to have one of these in the house again. It's a whole two years since the last ones were here. Have you ever grown an amaryllis?? The rate at which they shoot skywards is astonishing, a true natural marvel. And then there's the flowers, my goodness, such beauty. Wonderful stuff to start the year with, I can't wait.
Ahh yes, something else we've started the year with, a certain cheeky Little Monkey celebrated his very first birthday today.
We spent the morning with lovely friends and neighbours, a chaotic mixture of Mums, babes, toddlers and Little People, but it was such good fun. Little B being such a sociable wee fella, spent the entire morning crawling about the place with a big beaming grin on his face. He loves a good social gathering. At eleven o'clock we lit his candle and sang him happy birthday, then allowed him to sit and smother his entire face with slices of chocolate caterpillar cake. He was very, very happy with that arrangement.
He is very well loved our Little B, and many friends remembered that today was His Day. He seemed to be genuinely thrilled with all of his gifts, lots of new and delightful things to play with.
Awwwwwwwwwwwww, how wonderful it is to observe a sleeping baby, I never get over the huge lurch of my heart when I gaze at my Littlies as they sleep. This is a very tired Little Birthday Boy taking his afternoon nap, snuggled under his very own granny blanket, do you remember it?
Gosh, it's been an emotional day. I've been reminiscing a lot about the day Little B came into the world, it was not plain sailing I can tell you, and I still remember it as if it were yesterday. This first year has been long and difficult in many ways, but oh my, there has been such incredible joy and happiness along the way too. I'm looking forward to this next year enormously.
Right then, I think I've rambled on quite enough for one evening, there suddenly seemed a lot to say about the start of January didn't there?! I'm off to sit a while on the sofa now and get a little giddy over yarn and hook. I'm working on The Edge you know, and it's a very exciting place to be.
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WOW! Little baby is one year old! Amazing how time flies, I used to come here often when you were still pregnant.
My little boy Liam will be 11 years old next month! I am not sure you remember me so let me refresh your memory: I am a Brazilian woman living in Amsterdam with a half English son (my ex-husband is English).
Posted by: Beth | March 05, 2011 at 01:18 PM
I am the design manager for a US yarn company. We are very interested in having you design with our yarns. Please let me know if you are interested.
Posted by: Bobbie Matela | February 10, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Hi Lucy, love your blog and your sense of colour - wow! I've turned into a total crochet addict because of you. Just thought you would like to know that you can use Google Translate to translate those pages from French to English. You just copy and paste the url and Ta - da!
Posted by: Elaine | February 09, 2011 at 03:27 PM
My absolutely first time here - I sooo enjoyed all the pictures with all colurs - that makes me happy - and you wrte so very funny about stuff, I sitting here grinning coz I found your place online! I will sure visit your Attic online more times! Thank you!
Posted by: Ann | January 26, 2011 at 03:57 AM
I have been looking for AGES to find brightly colored dinnerware, WHERE EVER did she get that jug! I love your plates too! I need to steal them!
Posted by: Sarakenobi | January 24, 2011 at 04:45 AM
Lucy I'd like to make some hearts as a garland like in the photo of your fireplace but my hearts need surgery!!! Help please, how do you do it? Karen xxx
Posted by: Karen | January 18, 2011 at 03:16 PM
love, love love your wonderful pictures and life stories. your blogs are sooooo cheery and full of happy color. I am from Indiana (usa) and love reading about the British way of life. I happened upon your blog and loved it from the start and have passed it on to my friends. We look foreward to all your patterns, receipies, and little people stories.. Thank You soooo much and have a beautiful new year Lucy & Family
Posted by: nancy | January 17, 2011 at 01:30 PM
I love the image seen Grenier, think of all the pictures he took of the landscape that really shows the hills of Yorkshire, that I remember. Nice to see amaryllis, the mines are now gone to a floppy disk, but you still have to look forward
Posted by: Pond Filters | January 12, 2011 at 11:02 PM
Happy New Year and Happy 1st Birthday dear Little B. Love the picture of him under his own crochet blanket. I have my own little F asleep next to me in his moses basket right now. Heart lurching indeed. Looking forward to another year of tales from the attic. Fiona x
Posted by: Fiona | January 11, 2011 at 03:02 PM
Happy Birthday to Little B. I feel like if it is my own nephew's birthday! Thanks Lucy for your beautiful and warm blog!
Posted by: Maria Julia | January 10, 2011 at 12:38 AM
What a great way to start the new year, with color, color, and more colors!
Posted by: Mom Wald | January 09, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Hello, I am catching up with your posts after a long rest from blogland - lovely pics as always. I made your cranberry tiffin which I blogged about before - this time I swapped the digestives for leftover Christmas shortbread, added pistachios and used one and a half tall foiled Santas as my chocolate!!
Posted by: anne | January 09, 2011 at 10:21 PM
Good morning Lucy, from cold and snowy Ohio! I am sure somewhere in your archives you have mentioned what kind of camera you take your lovely pics with. I have a Sony Cyber-shot 5.1 mega pixels(presently in need of batteries) but using my husband's smaller Sony Cyber-shot 7.2 mega pixels. I would love to know what kind you use.I took my one girlfriend her Christmas present yesterday and showed her your lovely blog. We both admitted that your snaps are pretty enough to be made into a calendar. As we scrolled through the many lovelies I showed her the pic of your son's cookie. We both got a good laugh :) :) I am having fun blogging, but still needing to get all the bugs out and I guess that will come with time. Any help you or anyone else can give me is appreciated, and maybe in time I can be of help to others. Have a good day and keep warm!
Posted by: Susanne Tyree | January 09, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Hello Lucy, thanks so much for popping over to Apples and Pears and leaving a lovely comment. It is thanks to you and your gorgeous creations that I picked up my crochet hook again after many years! xxx
Posted by: Andrea | January 09, 2011 at 11:17 AM
A very happy Birthday to little B. And thank you for another lovely posting, Happy new year to you all.
Posted by: Dot | January 09, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Happy New Year, Lucy, and Happy Birthday to Little B! I stop by quite often, but hardly ever comment, so I wanted to be sure to thank you for the past year's worth of creative, inspiring, cosy and cheerful posts. Reading your words always feels like sitting with a good friend over a cup of tea :-) Very best wishes for 2011.
Posted by: Kate @ UpsideBackwards | January 09, 2011 at 07:21 AM
What a lovely post. Thank you so much for so many lovely pictures - they really gladden the heart. Have you thought of printing your own calendars for sale? I love the jug. Isn't it nice when friends give such thoughtful presents.
Best wishes for the New Year. I'm looking forward to seeing your new projects over the year.
Posted by: ScoobyDoo | January 08, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Your colorful, enthusiastic blog always brings a smile to my face. It encourages me, as a new crocheter, to keep on trying. And I've wanted to see the English countryside forever; THANK YOU for the spectacular views and pics.
Lovin' you from a village in Maine, USA.
Mary :-)
Posted by: Mary | January 08, 2011 at 01:57 PM
Lucy, You've got to go to Bee In My Bonnet blog and see the cushions with the crocheted edges. They are just too cute! http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Caro | January 08, 2011 at 01:25 PM
I love your blog. I stumbled across it one night while browsing the web. I am always returning to see how your brightly colored world is going and if you have shared anymore patterns especially your sweet flower granny square pattern. I have went all the back to 2008 and followed you. Happy first birthday B! I know how proud you are of him, and you other children. Happy New Year, Lucy and family. Hope this year is filled with lots of joy and happiness.
Posted by: fellow crocheter | January 08, 2011 at 11:41 AM
I like to c all those patterns ,they are simply adorable... http://www.edgonline.com/ I really appreciate ur wonderfull work..Keep it up...
Posted by: Home theater designer | January 08, 2011 at 05:27 AM
SO SWEET! I still watch my bear sleep, i think the baby comes out long after they are finished being babies...
I've never tried growing an amaryllis before, they are so pretty though... maybe I'll have to try!
Posted by: Linnie Joy | January 08, 2011 at 03:04 AM
Lucy, thank you for the smile you bring. Happy New Year, Happy Birthday Little B. BeBe in Florida
Posted by: BeBe | January 08, 2011 at 02:23 AM
Dearest Lucy,
I knew there was something else! Little B was born only a day after me. He is a Capricorn, WOW!!!! I am always grateful for your Blogs as they disperse such a wide smile across my face. Some people are just so inspiring and you are one of them. Always looking at the good and appreciating Mother Nature. I wish you all the time you need to get everything you want done :) for 2011. As a mother of 4 ( who are all grown) I know how busy life can get. Cherish those young moments they are precious.
Happy 2011!
Posted by: Donna :) | January 07, 2011 at 11:58 PM
do you think you will still share the pattern for that teeny tiny flower granny square? i love that so much and keep coming back and looking at it! i hope i didnt miss that post!
Posted by: Kimberly Roberts | January 07, 2011 at 10:05 PM