Stay-home Day (again)

We're experiencing the most dreadful weather this week, it's very wet, cold and stormy. Gusty, icy rain showers, freezing hail storms, furious winds whipping through the streets. It's made the school run really horrid, even with jazzy wellies to wear. The house has taken a real battering today, the rain has lashed against the windows and doors, the wind has whistled relentlessly down the chimneys, and water has dripped mournfully through the bay window roof. Drip, drip, drip.

Little Man continues to do battle with the lurgy and spent another mostly horizontal day home from school.

Which has meant that we've had a second enforced Stay-home Day. But given the state of the weather, it's not been a bad thing by any means. We've had a wee bit of cabin fever, with Little B being a tad on the naughty side due to boredom I suspect, but well, it's been OK. There's been lots of time for me to hang out with my boys. Chatting, singing, snuggling, reading, watching recorded episodes of Postman Pat (Little B's favourite), and generally just hanging out.

We baked this morning Little B and I, yesterday too, it's what I do when one of my Littlies is poorly. Any whiff of a high temperature or achy limbs and I go straight to the kitchen to bake. It's my stress relief mechanism. I made buns yesterday, iced and decorated with glitter and sugar snowflakes. Today it was fruity flapjack. Little B stands on a chair to help, and he's surprisingly good for an under two. He wears a sweet little apron that belonged to Little Man when he was small.

The heat from the oven steams up the kitchen window, I just love it when this happens. Love to stand in a warm kitchen inhaling the scent of something sweet baking and see my little window all steamed up.

Right in front of the steamy window is my beloved coffee machine, which I absolutely cannot do without. I've had it for many years now and I've come to wholeheartedly look forward to my morning coffee at home each day. Always in the same stripy cup. Always with a dusting of chocolate powder on the top, and always with my sweet little melamine spoon for all important froth-scooping. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Mid morning and it's snack time, so I hand out warm-from-the-oven flapjacks and various bits of fruit. I smile to myself as I watch Little B making short work of his satsuma, that Little Boy really does love his fruit. The word Scoff springs to mind. Just as his chequered apron belonged to Little Man, so did his bowl. More smiles from Mummy, and more memories layering new upon old.

Late morning and I suddenly realise with a jolt that we are a whole week into Advent and my Advent Garland is missing. Holy-moly!!! What a slip-up!!! The box of Advent/pre Christmas bits and bobs came down from the Attic eaves weeks ago when I brought out the Christmas House tin, I just forgot to get out the garland. Ahhhhhhhh I'm SO happy to see it hanging once again, it made my heart squeeze a little with so many memories already attached to it. Do you remember me making it?? This'll be it's third advent.

After lunch (cheese and ham sandwiches for the boys, a bowl of left over chicken and barley casserole for me), Little Man retreats to his bedroom for a while and I take over the sofa with Little B. Little B loves sofa-snuggling. He loves to surround himself with cushions (the round one made from Kool Kotton is his fave, he's very sweetly possessive about it) and get his little legs tucked under a blankie. He often gets himself in place, shouts loudly to get my attention and then pats the spot of spare sofa directly to his left. In other words, Mummeeeeee-come-sit. Mummeeeee-come-snuggle. Ahhhh ok then, I'll be right there in a jiffy. Let me just bring my magazine (January issue of Country Homes and Interiors, my-my, it's pages are making my heart leap about!)

Later in the afternoon and Little B sleeps. I make tea and decide to sit at my desk in front of my laptop to work a little pattern through. Small, neat rounds of amigurumi involving some furious counting. I'll show you tomorrow when/if I manage to actually get out the house, get to the shops and find/purchase some suitable beady eyes.

Early evening and thank goodness, back home after a freezing cold and windy walk to school and back. Poor Little Man, with his weak and wibbly legs, I did feel sorry for him, it was awful weather to battle against when one's body is Not Well. I made a gently spiced, super tasty curry for dinner, a fanTAStic recipe passed to me by my mother-in-law. I love to make a sauce from scratch, to use whole, honest ingredients, fresh herbs and spices. I'll do one of my On-The-Menu posts soon and pass you the recipe, it's a good'n'.

It's gone 9pm here now, and I am feeling weary. It's been a funny old day. A mix of mild stress and cosy comfort. Of shut-in irritation and home-loving content. I'm off to the land of fluffed up feathers very soon, to snuggle down between crisp cotton sheets and my warm woolly blanket, a hot water bottle at my feet. I've got a date with page 37 of my magazine, where I am seriously lusting after this.

Sweet dreams one and all ♥

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Comments

[ann]

Me encanta la cadena de Adviento ,es original y encantadora,al igual que tu decoración de navidad, sin intención de ofender ,en realidad tu blog es para mi muy ameno me encanta leer sobre tus odisea me recuerda que las mías son pequeñas y me alegras los día,cuando ya los hijos están grandes como mi caso es también como viajar en el tiempo cuando el me parecía un caos porque en realidad no me alcanzaba,ahora me da risa,,espero que tus hijos estén bien de salud y el nuevo año te llene de bendiciones.....

[children cushions]

I love it Lucy. Some of those cushions are beautiful. And coupled with that food, I think I know where a good Christmas is this year. I bet you had a cracker, and the kids were properly treated well.

[Anne Marie]

You should be able to do that tree yourself, with your talent!

[Lynn Dee Butler]

I so enjoy your blog! Your descriptions are charming and make me feel as if I am listening to you instead of reading. I haven't had flapjacks since I last visited England in 2004 and off I went to get the ingredients for the sweet fruity flapjacks. I live in California and Golden syrup is more of a specialty store item, so I used real maple syrup instead. Ooooh Boy! They were fantastic! My husband and I couldn't wait until they were cooled to eat, so they fell apart some, but we did NOT care! Thank you so much for the receipes. I'm going to try your healthy version next.

[Taryn Dismang]

I love Little B's chubby little hands! So adorable!

[Esther]

I love the stained glass panel you have at your kitchen window... and wonder where you found that? Thanks

[catherine maudsley]

Hi hope your little ones a better. Where did you get that glass in your window! I LOVE IT SO MUCH

Catherine

[Julie]

Thank you for recommending the Christmas Crafting in no Time book. It sort of slipped into my basket while I was ordering Christmas presents. I squealed with delight when I opened it up. There are so many beautiful things in there and some would work for other times of the year too which is good as it is a little late for this Christmas.

[Jennifer W]

Lucy- I have to tell you a funny/lovely story. I'm out shopping on Saturday & my car detoured (on it's own) to the fantastic yarn shop "TWIST". I'm in the store salivating over all the wonderful new fibers & trying to scrape together an idea for a project that would justify buying something. (anything!) I end up by the superwash merino wool which is the softest thing next to cotton & has a lovely sheen to it. I look up & there on display is a fabulous granny stripe blanket. It was YOUR granny stripe blanket to a tee...including your trim. At the counter, I'm paying for my yarn-goodness & ask them about it. "Is that Attic24's granny stripe?" YEP - A friend had made it for them. So while out shopping in Wichita, Kansas USA on Saturday... there you were Lucy...front & center in all your colorful glory.

thank you for hosting your blog & giving so much inspiration around the world. You are appreciated!

In Hooky Love,
Jennifer
(Anthony, Kansas, USA)

[Louise]

I've been following your blog for a year or so now and am completely in love with your choices of colours. When I first stumbled across you blog, amoungst others I tried teaching myself to crochet from You Tube but I've never been very good with wooly things and it didn't work. However recently I went to my WI meeting to find a lovely lady who tried to teach us to crochet and being able to do in the flesh with real life people to ask questions and rearrange my hands really helped. So now I have the bug again! I'm in the process of collecting together crochet resources online so I can give it a bash in the new year but my biggest stumbling block is yarn. As I said I'm not a very wooly person so I don't know what I'm looking for and what I should get. I know I definately like natural yarns especially cotton rather than fluffy mohairy yarns but I'm no idea what to look for. Should it be a particular weight/composition especially for beginners practise or does it not really matter. What yarns do you normally use as I like the look of your work and I get the feeling it will feel pleasant to the touch. I guess I just need to know the right terms to use as wooly stuff is all foreign to me! Sorry for such a wordy comment with loads of questions but your work has always inspired me and now I feel I can try it out, I just need that little push to get going....

[Molly Severtson]

What a great post! It was lovely to move through your day with you. Thanks for sharing.

[Issy Gardiner]

Im LOVING your stay at home day!!!!
Also how good that your lil' man likes his fruit-mine does too♥
I adore the sound of lashing rain on windows-sounds like your making the most of it.
Hoping your all well xx
http://hookytime.blogspot.com/

[Sarah west mids uk]

PS. Dear Lucy
Just to let you know that I have made a HOLLY LEAF!!!! Off to make some more during some spare moments.xx

[Kathy Dignum]

I just love his little chubby hand on yours! takes me back to my little chubby handed boy of that age - a great big gangly 14 year old now - but still likes to hold his mum's hand as he goes to sleep - ahhh - don't ever let that memory fade!!!!

[Kathy Heaton-Brown]

Your comment about Little B loving fruit reminded me of my son (now 14yrs)when he was a toddler. We called him a "fruitarian" because of the amount of fruit he would eat (he ate precious little else for a while but he has grown into a handsome tall young man who is super fit and healthy)!
Kathy

[sue]

Love the look of that curry, just right for this sort of weather!
Hope your little man gets better soon. There is nothing worse than having to take a poorly child on the school run is there! I was so glad I kept my very large coachbuilt pram for such a long time, very handy as a makeshift ambulance LOL!!!

[Karen]

Love your decorations (and I seriously wish I had an owl spoon like yours). Hope Little Man is feeling better soon. I've finally finally finished my ripple blanket which I started in May. So happy! I love it, and thanks for inspiring me, though I doubt I'll be crocheting a new blanket any time soon. My eldest son (3 years this December) also loves Postman Pat and your flapjacks. :-)

[Yael]

Wishing all health...
Just wanted to say how I enjoy looking at the pics of your home. They so inspire me.. Thank you...

[Aurea Marina]

Hello Lucy! I´m from Portugal and I like very much your blog. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Kissssssss (in portugues beijinhos) Marina

[Brianna Asaro]

Your home always looks so colorful & inviting. When I head back to Northern England I envision stopping by your place (in a non-stalkerish sort of way) sometime and talking over a cuppa.

[Jenny]

I so hope that Little Man is all better by now...I have to be honest...I love days/weeks like the one you just experienced. Rainy, damp and dark...it's an opportunity to slow down, relax and get cozy in my home. I break out the knitting, a good book and curl up one or...three or four of my cats. :-) Plus, it's days like this that help you appreciate the sunshine!

[Delila]

i tried to find a pattern for a snowflake and found it in your blog! thank you. now you will be on my blog list... i love surprise findings like this.

Delila

[Leah]

What a lovely post hon! I hope your wee one is feeling better now. Leah x

[Ema]

Your house always looks soooo cozy! Hope Little Man getts well soon. We're in the alps so our school run is alway pretty chilly also, well for me! my boys never seem to notice it.

[tammy]

you make everything so vivid!! are you on facebook at all?