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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I can't believe it's been a whole year since your little man was born. Belated Happy Birthday little B.
Posted by: Joy | January 07, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Happy belated birthday Little B! I have enjoyed every post you put on your blog! Keep it up!
Posted by: Jami | January 07, 2011 at 05:26 PM
That flower blanket is really sweet. I'm really looking forward to the ta-dah this time!
Posted by: Nilla | January 07, 2011 at 04:44 PM
I want to thank you for such lovely images and words that brighten all of our days; whether we happen to be on your island or across the Big Water like me. I have been working on some wonderful hooky things inspired by you; namely a Rainbow Ripple Blanket and a large Bag. So glad Baby B had a Happy Birthday! Happy New Year to you and your lovely family.
xoxoxo
aliceg
Posted by: alice gadel | January 07, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Happy New Year :) Can't wait to see the blanket ta-dah post! And speaking of blankets, thank you so much for inspiring me to make my own granny stripe blanket! It is amazing and loved by all: boyfriend, visiting friends, babies of visiting friends and cats. Oh, and by me, I absolutely adore my new crocheted blanket! You can see it here http://systersandra.blogspot.com/2011/01/den-fantastiska-filten.html (in Swedish) I was lazy and chose the same colours as you, you have excellent taste! My almost-sister-in-law wants to make one of her own, with the same colours :)
Posted by: Sandra | January 07, 2011 at 02:54 PM
Oh yes, I remember the first year of number three child being particularly difficult. She's two now and things are much easier - at least I get to sleep now anyway.
Happy Birthday to your little one! Please may I have some of that yummy caterpillar cake? It looks delicious.
Posted by: Julia | January 07, 2011 at 02:48 PM
Seems like a lovely start off the year to me!Enjoy!! greetings Petra
Posted by: petra | January 07, 2011 at 12:40 PM
that jug is fabulously bright!
A very happy first to your babe :)
Posted by: vicki | January 07, 2011 at 12:33 PM
It's me Lucy the woman who e-mailed you a little over a year ago about my baby story at age 41. Got misty eyed reading that your baby boy has turned one! Make sure to give him a good cuddle. My how time flies. My baby girl is now 6 years old! They do grow quickly. LOVE LOVE LOVE Attic24 You are an AMAZING inspiration to us all. May the New Year bring your family wonderful, colorful, cuddley times! XOXOXO From the Mom of 5 in Sunny Orlando
Posted by: Donna | January 07, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Happy Birthday little B!He got a beutifull cake!
I wish I cold order a calender from Laura Ashley but I live in Sweden....
Happy New Year ti yoy!
Posted by: helena | January 07, 2011 at 09:31 AM
Hi, I received a blog award and I'm passing it on to you. You can pick it up at this page on my blog: http://homeofalonelywoman.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-blog-won-award.html
Posted by: Sharon | January 07, 2011 at 05:51 AM
Beautiful post. I hope you're planning on sharing the pattern for that adorable cake!!
Posted by: Tara | January 07, 2011 at 05:06 AM
Definitely, a very good place to be.
Posted by: all8garden | January 07, 2011 at 03:36 AM
Hi Lucy,
I don't ussually comment to posts but I had to tell you that I follow your blogs every post and your patterns and creations are such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your life with us!!!!
Posted by: Katrina | January 07, 2011 at 02:27 AM
Beautiful post. And what a lot has happened in the first few days of this new year. Happy birthday to your littly, and may many happy hooky hours lie ahead.
Posted by: Lauren | January 07, 2011 at 02:05 AM
Congratulations to your boy. My Lucifer turns two years old today, I can't believe where this time went. I'm gonna stretch this whole thinking of him as a two year-old a bit, he was born late at night so I'm gonna let him stay one until there's just no return. It's funny how it can ache in your heart a bit, just feeling growing up is such a speedy business. But maybe you catch up, do you?
Posted by: vildkatten | January 07, 2011 at 01:56 AM
love the LA calendar! and of course all that wonderful, warm, color in your home and life! Had a rough day at work, reading this makes me happy! Lucy you are awesome!
Posted by: barb | January 06, 2011 at 11:36 PM
All I can say... is pop over. My song today says just how I feel about this posting and reaching one year.
No more, just go listen sweetie,
Kate
Posted by: The Garden Bell | January 06, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Happy Birthday Little B and Happy New Year :-) This post made me smile a lot, January can seem so dull when all the decorations come down but you're right, it's a good time to look forward to the year not be afraid of it! Looking forward to seeing the finished blanket :-)
Posted by: Nicole (and the bee) | January 06, 2011 at 10:11 PM
hi,just been reading your blog for a few months now and have started to crochet!
my hubby prints the caldner for laura ashley every year.its printed in york just of huntington road.he is the only one who prints it.its a fab caldner.
Posted by: nicola inns | January 06, 2011 at 09:22 PM
blimey Lucy I can't believe the little fella is one!! Glad he had a lovely day. Caterpiller cake is THE BEST!x
Posted by: Anna | January 06, 2011 at 09:14 PM
Happy New Year! And a Happy Birthday to Little B!!
What a lovely photo of him sleeping. Just love it!!
At my place, we still have SO MUCH snow. Today it came about 15 cm more... Really want it to be spring now, but I guess it wont be spring here until mid march or even april...
Can't wait to see your finished sweet flower granny blanket.
Love from Anna xxx
Posted by: Anna-Karin, Sweden | January 06, 2011 at 08:40 PM
Another Happy Birthday wish for Little B!
Posted by: gina c in al | January 06, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Dear Amiga, I’ve been thinking about my main resolution for this year. I have a lot of creative ideas and sometimes I see a lot of my ideas being done by others who have great success with them. I decided to stay positive by visualizing the final outcome of the project and not being afraid of the downside. I think Creativity is a fabulous quality! I just have to put foundations under all the dreams I’ve built in the air and continue enjoying myself and my life!
As Henry David Thoreau said in his Conclusion to "Walden",
"I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
Stay warm and cozy my friend! Hasta Pronto,
Gloria x
Posted by: Pattygloria | January 06, 2011 at 08:32 PM
My Dear Amiga Lucy, Happy New Year to you and your family from my Sweet home! Wishing all the best for you and your loved ones in this Nuevo año and Feliz cumpleaños to Dear Little B :o)
Take care. Hasta Pronto,
Gloria x
Posted by: Pattygloria | January 06, 2011 at 08:26 PM