:: enjoying our first picnic of the year, we ate our evening meal on Saturday with this beautiful watery view ::
:: putting jugs of narcissi and daffies around the house, I'm currently enjoying them in four rooms and the scent is beeeeutiful ::
:: enjoying blue skies and some relaxing pegging out, with the promise of top notch laundry sniffing to follow ::
:: taking a lemon cake out of the oven on Sunday morning, Little Man made it and it was delish ::
:: completing the edging on my bunting triangles and enjoying a bit of colourful playing and stacking ::
♥ We've had a gorgeous start to our Easter holidays here, the weather has been glorious. We're enjoying our first real taste of Spring warmth and oh it does feel good! On Saturday afternoon we packed up a picnic tea and headed a couple miles out of town to throw down a blanket and set up camp beside the water. It was lovely, truly lovely. Good food (hard boiled eggs, creamy goats cheese, vine ripened tomatoes, prosciutto ham, crusty bread, crisp apples, a punnet of sweet strawberries and some chocolate eggs), a stunning view (the reservoir was oh-so-blue), happy children (building dens, throwing rocks in the water, discovering toads, toddling in the grass), and general all round Spring enjoyment.
♥ I managed to squeeze in a decent bit of hooky time over the weekend too and finished off the edgings to my granny bunting (remember it from this post?). I've made twenty triangles which now need to be coaxed into Good Shape and blocked out before I can join them together. It's looking good! I've been very industrious with the hooky lately, it's been very liberating working on lots of different smaller projects after the long haul of completing the Sweet Flower granny blanket early in the year. I've got the Spring flower to show you, plus another decorative Little Something I managed to finish off this morning...for once I'm making stuff faster than I can blog about it!! I'll try to bring it all up to date very soon I promise.
♥ I'm at home this week with my three Little Peeps, it feels good to be free of routine but it's also quite a challenge being home with the LP these days. The amount of energy needed for this job is not to be underestimated :: right now it's 9pm and I am completely shattered. Next week we are all looking forward to a change of pace and a change of scene as we head down to Dorset for a spell of sea breezes and delicious days, I really cannot wait.
♥ Thank you as always for bobbing by to see me, your comments and enthusiastic words really do buoy me up when days are long and demanding. Thankyouthankyouthankyou, I'm sending each and every one of you a warm, squishy hug of appreciation!
See you soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Lucy, I hope your enjoying the holidays. I saw this on Pinterest this morning and instantly thought of you :-) http://pinterest.com/pin/13760061/
Posted by: Katie | April 14, 2011 at 10:51 PM
What a gorgeous post. Lovely photos, colours, tales as usual. I love stopping by.
I also wanted to tell you that thanks to your excellent pattern I have just finished the main body of my very own granny stripe blanket! I am chuffed to bits with it. Just wondering what edge would do it justice... You can see the colours I've used over on my blog - I'll let you know when I reveal the final thing!
Have a great time with the little peeps and a lovely time in Dorset,
Jones x
Posted by: The House of Jones | April 14, 2011 at 09:16 PM
I just want to say thank you for introducing me to the fabulous craft of crochet. I've been dabbling for a while but it wasn't til I read your instructions and saw your amazing pictures that I actually 'got' it!! Now I'm hooking in every spare minute and loving it.
Posted by: Siobhan | April 14, 2011 at 07:05 PM
Small persons are knackering-had my Great Nephews up from Dorset this week.Am now a wreck.
But the sunshine!The warm breezes!Gorgeous. And as for the joy of warm garden dry laundry....have a lovely time in Bridders and thereabouts.
Posted by: Kate | April 14, 2011 at 03:01 PM
A picnic! How lovely!
I can't wait to see your bunting all strung.
You would like Jannelle at Heartfelt (http://teatodtoad.typepad.com)
Her children sound like your children. She lives in Australia.
It's snowing here in Denver. I shall dream of picnics.
Oh, it's Poem in My Pocket Day in the USA. Do you have a poem for your pocket?
Posted by: Pom Pom | April 14, 2011 at 01:29 PM
Dear Lucy my two sons are good cooks but baking cakes is not something
they have attempted (only puddings). so I was surprised to find my cake book in amongst the magazines and papers. Eldest son is going to make
a chocolate rum cake! The past weekend was heavenly but it is cold and dull down here although outside the bedroom window the lilac is just about to bloom and makes a heavenly archway outside the kitchen leading to my my garden. And it isn't even growing in my garden but overhangs the fencing. I have just let it grow right across.
Your pile of bunting looks great.
Things are looking up down here as we had a craft fair with items made by local people and they meet once a month. Think I might go along.
And someone posted about trying out your ripple pattern on the group blog.
Hope you enjoy the holidays.In the meantime I'm hoping for some more
sunshine.xxx
Posted by: Sarah west mids uk | April 14, 2011 at 01:22 PM
I woke at 5am today, cup of tea and laptop in bed, girlfriend had emailed me your site. Have spent the last 2 hours reading all about you with such pleasure. Thank you for the joy you spread and for the wonderful photos and inspiration. Girlfriend and I spent last Friday sitting in the sun in her garden, I was teaching her how to crochet your bag pattern, we are doing it in dishcloth cotton, yours is much brighter, but 'twas all we had on that spur-of-the-moment got to do it now type of thing. Pattern works perfectly, well done !
Posted by: Lynda Kelly | April 14, 2011 at 07:13 AM
I wandered by your blog a few months ago and want to tell you how much I've enjoyed it. I'm in north Texas, U.S.A. and love seeing your corner of the world. I spend my days with little people - I'm a first grade teacher - so your busy weeks with small ones at home are my weeks to relax! Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Andrea | April 14, 2011 at 04:05 AM
A lovely happy entry Lucy. Spring does make you feel happy doesn't it. Here down under we are into Autumn and having glorious weather.An Indian Summer. Guess it won't last too long though. Still picking some lovely roses and putting them in a vase. Your cake looked delicious, well done.I am currently crocheting your multi coloured bag with my left over wool. Amazing how much one collects!! Love reading your blog, best wishes to you all Shirley
Posted by: Shirley Flavell | April 13, 2011 at 11:41 PM
What a beautiful place for a picnic! Would love to see the bunting! I'm not remembering that post..will have to go back and re-read it! The skies look beautiful..I had to go 600 miles to find the sun - back now to the clouds but love to see your pictures of blue sky!
Posted by: keri | April 13, 2011 at 11:28 PM
Oh sigh! Spring is finally here. I can see it all over your Attic!
Thanks for all the beautiful pictures.
Posted by: claudia w | April 13, 2011 at 10:40 PM
We're suffering from long winter here in middle Russia, there is still snow outside. But your posts bring a great deal of sunshine into my life, thank you so much! You help me stay positive and hope for spring!!!
Posted by: Valeria | April 13, 2011 at 09:54 PM
Hello Lucy. It is a real pleasure to read a new post of you, your way of life. When i was young, i spent several holidays in north of england, and i really enjoyed my holidays in your country. I love so much england, english people, the life, decorating, country side...everything. I like crocheting so much, your blog is so full of colours, it is very enthousiastic.
So I would like to tell you thank you so much, to make me remember me what england is. It is beautiful.
Posted by: Sophie | April 13, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Already started your easter-holiday?! Sounds fantastic! I had an exam today, and friday is deliveryday for my writings this year... SO looking foreward to the weekend. Then a new era starts... My two oldest (3,5 y.o. and 5 y.o.) is going away for 10 days!!! Sooo boooooring, but still... -Very relaxing! I totaly get how it is beeing home with three turbo-machines... :p
Can't wait to se your finished projects!
Posted by: Victoria | April 13, 2011 at 07:02 PM
I see You've had a wonderful time! We had some lovely warm spring weather here this weekend. 18 degrees, and me and my kids went to the sea :-)
Oh, it was so funny! The kids played in the sand, with clothes... The water was freezing!!! Not 10 degrees I guess. But, a picnic by the sea is soooo wonderful :-)
Can't wait to see what you've created! Have a nice vacation in Dorset!!!
Love from Anna xxx <3
Posted by: Anna-Karin, Sweden | April 13, 2011 at 04:10 PM
What a fab start to the Easter holidays you've had. Your sons cake looks amazing, he's seems quite a dab hand at baking. His gingerbread men are still at the top for me though! :) Hope you all have a lovely holiday! I'm really looking forward to seeing all your little projects when you get back.
Posted by: RachelM | April 13, 2011 at 04:07 PM
The vibrant colors from your posts always perk me up and give me hope in the middle of a long, dreary week that my own lemon cake Sunday is just right around the corner! Wishing you a happy week!
Posted by: Catherine | April 13, 2011 at 03:23 PM
I had a picnic on Saturday too, it really was the perfect day for it.
Have a great time in Dorset.
Posted by: Laura | April 13, 2011 at 03:16 PM
That bunting looks fabulous, beautiful colours
Posted by: Sheilasembroidery | April 13, 2011 at 03:05 PM
We had our first picnic this weekend too. Gorgeous weather. I even got burned. Lovely post. Love your bunting. I think I need an edging on mine....
Posted by: Hazel | April 13, 2011 at 02:30 PM
Love your blog -- especially trying to figure out what some of your words mean (the difference between English and, well, English!) Your pix are great -- enjoy your upcoming vaca in Dorset.
Posted by: pbach1 | April 13, 2011 at 01:59 PM
Your picnic outing sounds idyllic, and all your pictures are gorgeous. I hope you have a wonderful break in Dorset - such a beautiful place, look forward to hearing all about it.
Helen x
Posted by: Helen | April 13, 2011 at 12:37 PM
That picnic sounded so good I had to go and have a little snack!
You really cheer me because of your wonderful, positive attitude to life and wish I could have half as much confidence.
I continue to struggle with Mr Hook but will persevere.
Posted by: greedy nan | April 13, 2011 at 10:53 AM
hELLO lUCY, i DO SO love your lovely happy skippy blog! I have a question, it is bulb planting time here in Ozland. do your plant your hyacinth and daffodil bulbs etc directly into your lovely basins etc? do they rot etc if you do? love pippi xoxo
Posted by: Pippa Frost | April 13, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Your weekend sounds perfect and my mouth is watering from your description of the picnic. Little ones are exhausting aren't they. I now have grandchildren and it is good to see them, play with them etc but you know that although exhausted they will go home and we can have a rest.
As always a joy to read your blog and see your wonderful photos- i take a lot more photos now though not as good as yours I am tryin. Take care Anne x
Posted by: Anne Williams | April 13, 2011 at 10:12 AM