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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Happy Birthday Little B! Where has the time gone??
You know what would be lovely one day? A photo collage of your attic view over a year, so we can see the changing seasons/colours of the landscape, etc! Woo hoo!
Looking forward to a ta-da of your new blankie soon! :)
Posted by: Tina, the quiet homemaker | January 06, 2011 at 08:15 PM
Happy 1st Birthday Little B! I always seem to have so many great ideas for things to make but never seem to get round to actually doing them!! I have decided that this is the year when I make time for me to get creative and make the ideas happen (first item on list is to finish my granny stripe blanket, halfway there) Thank you for being so inspirational. xx
Posted by: Joanna | January 06, 2011 at 07:31 PM
Happy Birthday Little B!
Posted by: Ruth | January 06, 2011 at 07:02 PM
My past year has been very similar to yours. I've commented on that before, that your posts have picked me up and carried me along some days when life with a new baby was requiring way too much of me at the moment. Your year in review was so beautiful and familiar, both to my year and because I never miss a post! lol. I look forward to keeping up with the Attic goings-on in 2011 and making beautiful memories of my own along with you. And hopefully to have time to use my Lucy Pack of yarn I purchased and is still in my basket... Thanks Lucy!
Posted by: Christina | January 06, 2011 at 06:54 PM
Belated Happy 1st Birthday to your little man.....I know you won't and shouldn't show his face....we can only imagine that big beaming smile....it doesn't seem like a year at all...thanks for all the inspiration and keep it coming!
Posted by: Joyce Stewart | January 06, 2011 at 06:34 PM
Happy birthday to your little one for yesterday! Mine is today - having a birthday around Twelfth Night just finishes off the Christmas celebrations and makes up for the disappearance of the festive decorations.... Although I know you probably always have some lovely hooky decs around! Am sure you will have a wonderful year!
Posted by: Anne Holland | January 06, 2011 at 06:07 PM
Happy Birthday Little B, I love the photo of him having a nap after an exciting morning! I really love reading your blog posts Lucy, they always cheer me and turn me slightly green that I can't be at home with my wool, hooks and needles! Obviously, when I win the Lottery I will be retiring so I can do just that!!
Happy New Year to you and yours xxx
Posted by: Rosy Nancarrow | January 06, 2011 at 05:17 PM
Hello there and a big BIG Happy Brithday to your little chappy.
Just a quick but huge thank you for all your crochet yumminess!!! You have not only fed me with lovely inspiration but taught me how to do this fabby craft. Big thank yous are sent with this comment. xxx
Posted by: Claire Brown | January 06, 2011 at 04:44 PM
Wonderful things for your second year Little B!
Posted by: Andrea | January 06, 2011 at 02:46 PM
Happy Birthday to your little B!!!! Thanks for the inspiration - you ahve made my day - as always.
Posted by: lisa | January 06, 2011 at 02:21 PM
Belated Happy 1st Birthday to Little B - what a lucky boy he is with so many pressies and sooo much cake - Hurray!! I'm so glad you're Craftiness is up and running so early in the year and I can't wait for you to impart some creative wisdom!
Love and stuff xx
PS I'm loving my Laura Ashley calendar too!
Posted by: Gill | January 06, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Sounds like a lovely day, especially with a sleeping baby! Happy new year to you all. Enjoy your crochet time and I look forward to admiring all your makes!
Posted by: Louise | January 06, 2011 at 02:01 PM
Happy Birthday Little B! My sons is 3 on saturday - oh way too close to Christmas for my liking but hey ho. Lovely delightful littel post. Can't wait to see your finished blanket. It looks lovely. x
Posted by: Hazel | January 06, 2011 at 01:45 PM
Ohh, Many cyber kisses and belatedly happy Birthdays to Little B! It looks so lovely and colourful as always here and I am so excited about you being able to grab hookie time, because that equals some ta-dah postings and lots of squeels of delight in this end. Happy hooky New Year, Lucy!
Posted by: mama elf | January 06, 2011 at 01:26 PM
I really like your photos! They are bright, vibrant and positive! However, as your knitting!
Posted by: Oksana | January 06, 2011 at 01:18 PM
Awwww happy birthday Little B. And Lucy your outlook for this year and the way you adore your children and still manage a wee bit of time for yourself is marvelous. You always make me smile :))
Posted by: MeredithJean | January 06, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Happy Birthday Little B!!!! Me and my smallest littlie have our Birthday's this month too.
How exciting it is to be working on the edge!!! Can't wait for your Ta-dah. xxx
Posted by: Tickety-boo | January 06, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Happy Birthday to your Little Man! Isn't it a crazy time when you have all these new ideas popping up in the old brain and you are on the edge of finishing something and you can't go fast enough! Happy New Year to you! Gailxx
Posted by: Gail | January 06, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Hi, Lucy, I'm presenting you with 'The Versatile Blogger' award! I really like reading your blog and I'm curious to learn some new facts about you!
You can find the details about the award here:
http://angelsandblossoms.blogspot.com/2011/01/birthday-blog-award.html
Wishing you the loveliest of days,
Mojca XXXX.
Posted by: Mojca | January 06, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Hi, Lucy, it's me once again, I'm presenting you with 'The Versatile Blogger' award! I really like reading your blog and I'm curious to learn some new facts about you!
You can find the details here:
http://angelsandblossoms.blogspot.com/2011/01/birthday-blog-award.html
Wishing you the loveliest of days,
Mojca.
Posted by: Mojca | January 06, 2011 at 11:22 AM
thank you Lucy for your post which puts a lot of colour to my grey days
Dorothée
Posted by: Dorothée | January 06, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Happy Birthday Little B!It is amazing how short time ago it seemed when u were still having little B in your belly :)
I loove following you guys and am always glad when new posts are coming up!
Posted by: Veronika | January 06, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Best wishes for a Happy New Year ...and thanks for another peep at your view ...it is such a lovely view. I agree with Amy (above), you are very lucky. The snowy one last month was my favourite.
Posted by: delia | January 06, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Beautiful blanket and pictures...The colours are absolutely gorgeous....
Posted by: Fiona Duthie | January 06, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Happy New Year. Your posts are filled with such joy, so cheery. And I would do anything to have a view that you have from The Attic, lucky lucky you xx
Posted by: Amy | January 06, 2011 at 10:02 AM