Keeping Warm

A beautiful start to the weekend with pale, clear sky and streaming sunlight. But cold. Oh so very cold. Well below freezing.

After a super quick (and freeezing) hop into town to buy a magazine and drink coffee, I came home and settled myself in for the day. My main priority was to Keep Warm.

Today the tightly closed buds of my narcissus "Bridal Crown" began to unfurl in the warmth of the room. So beautiful.

My attempt to Keep Warm this morning found me in the kitchen. I practically wrapped myself around the oven to absorb the heat into my body. In fact I loved being in the warm kitchen so much that I double-baked. Oaty apricot cookies followed by buns. Warmth and good smells.

I took time out from my heat seeking activities to help Little Lady with a craft/sewing project. Totally her idea, she just needed me to provide the supplies and assist a little with the design.

There was some colouring fun too. Little Lady plus two visiting friends (our house is never dull or quiet at weekends), then later on Little B joining in.

I love that this table gets used for so much daily activity. Cutting, stitching, gluing, colouring, eating, crocheting, designing, working, playing, climbing (oh that naughty Little B!), reading, drinking.

Late morning and I found myself unexpectedly alone for a weeny while. J and Little B were out together, Little Man was at a friend's house, Little Lady (with her two friends) were playing upstairs.

I made coffee and settled myself into the Big Chair to lose myself in the pages of Country Living magazine. It promised Fresh Spring Style, how delicious!

Three blankets and three cushions made up my Chair Nest. Got to be warm and cosy and comfy when I read my favourite magazine.

I lit the fire at lunch time. I made a second nest of blankets and cushions for myself on the floor right next to the hearth.

My lunch was yummy. I made a bowl of tomato cous cous and tossed in some oven roasted garlic and rosemary veggies left over from last nights dinner. Carrot and pepper strips, chunks of red onion and courgette, whole cherry tomatoes. Mmmmmmmmmm.

After lunch I iced the buns. I made my usual glacé icing (icing sugar mixed with water) and added in a teaspoon of cocoa powder. Sweet little chocolate shapes, chocolate crispie balls and mini candy coated chocolate drops to decorate. Finished off with a light sprinkling of edible glitter.

The snow started at lunch time and continued steadily all afternoon. I watched it fall, gazing out of the windows upstairs and down. It looked incredibly cold out there.

But I was warm and toasty-snug next to the fire working on my ripple blanket. The weight of the blanket across my legs combined with the incredible warmth of the cashmere felt heavenly.

Some time after lunch Little B came home with J. He's starting with a cold and is all snotty and out of sorts. He came to sit next to me by the fire. Actually, he tried to pull my crochet away and sit right on top of me, but I gently persuaded him to get his own cushion and a book and sit beside me instead. I rippled away and made all sorts of Big Vehicle noises to keep him happy as he page turned.

3pm and I decided that it was a good time to partake in a tea and cake break.

Little B was happy to oblige. A chocolate iced bun is just the thing when one's feeling just a smidge under the weather.

Outside it continued to be snowy. I kept looking out of the window at our street and thinking how glad I was to be indoors. How glad I was to feel warm. Yes, warmth was Good.

The Little People don't seem to feel the cold like we do, do they? They were out in the street playing in the snow, rolling and sliding around in it, digging in it, scraping it up, throwing it around. Brrrrrr.

Early evening, dark outside. Little B is tucked up asleep and I can hear the excited shouts of half a dozen children still larking about in the snow outside. I peek out the window. They are rolling a huuuuuge snowball down the street, the beginnings of a Street Snowman. I potter around upstairs, folding clean laundry, straightening the covers on my bed. Already looking forward to bedtime.

Back downstairs, making a cup of tea. Open the back door and a stream of light falls into the back yard. I'm surprised to see just how much snow has already fallen.

I think tomorrow's post is going to be predictably full of white. The sledges are already waiting by the door. No getting out of it. I'm going to be feeling the cold tomorrow.

Night night x

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[[email protected]]

Lucy, eu sou uma admiradora do seus lindos trabalhos, você é a minha fonte de inspiração, todos os dias eu acesso o seu site, vendo as novidades e percebendo o quanto você é criativa, parabéns, você me ajudou a sair da depressão, com tantas cores lindas, viva e radiante, que Deus te abençõe sempre.

[Rebekah]

Lucy,

I just adore this post. I think I must have read it three or four times now. Your words and images remind me of all of the wonderful things about winter: sleepy weekends, open fires, warm lunches, cosy chairs, and I find myself almost longing for it. We are currently enjoying a glorious Australian summer, but somehow I'd rather be there - amazing isn't it!

[Taylor]

I feel your wintry pain (the cold)! But our snow is nearly gone in Iowa. LOVE the owl nightlight!

[Julie]

A snuggly cuddly cosy post, full of love and warmth. I hope little B is not too poorly with his cold.

[Miss-A-Part]

Il y a vraiment de très belles choses sur votre blog. C'est avec grand plaisir que je reviendrai vous rendre visite.
A bientôt,
Amicalement.

[Angy Braine]

Oh...kay.... No lies, no exaggerations.... this is my all time favourite post ever!!!!!!
What a day! What a day! What a day! I love me some cold whilst living in SUNNNNNNYY Perth (I know - most think me insane) but truly I am a closet cosy - thank you for sending me a years worth of pure COSY. Sigh...

[angela-southern USA]

Lovely post!Where DID you get that owl?!!!!!

[The Happy Chance]

What a lovely pictorial journal of your day! You have a warm charming life. I love the pics, in particular the close up of that flower. It's beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Sue]

What a lovely cozy day Lucy. My soul is longing for this type of day on my weekends when I am not a work, but it seems lately too many things are getting in the way. I have to make it a priority for myself, to enjoy my crafts and home and kids. Thanks for sharing :)

[Amy Ray]

Do you have a pattern for the ripple blanket? What kind of yarn do you use? I see that you say it's cashmere, but which brand?

[J]

A lovely post and pictures. However it looks worrying that you don't use a guard for your open fire when you have a toddler in the house.
Stay warm, Hazel.

[sue]

Lovely posting Lucie. I love your Owly nightlight, where did you get that from or is it one of your crafty creations. Hope your Little B is feeling better, love from cold and snowy Sussex, UK!

[Bonnie]

Just delightful! loved reading this!

[Debbie h]

Ooh looks wonderfully cosy!

[Seaweedandraine]

Your day sounds pretty wonderful. :) I could so snuggle up on your couch - it just looks so inviting and warm!
You certainly were productive! Cupcakes & biscuits, couscous, craft, time out for you (reading), a spot of hookey. I feel completely lazy just thinking about what I have (haven't) achieved today! LOL
You go girl! :)

[Woodland watcher]

Gosh, what a beautiful post. I love the colours you have worked into your crafts and I'm slightly jealous of the much-used crafting table (and guilty because I don't do enough with my little boy).

[Maggie Moore]

Hope you enjoyed your sledging. We had snow last night but it was nearly all gone when I woke this morning. A bit disappointed but never mind. Maggie xx

[Megan]

It is just crazy Lucy- you and my family have way more snow than we do here in Canada! Hope you are keeping warm- fire looks lovely. And I agree about the Chocolate Iced Bun-it does make one feel better no matter what! Your Blanket seems to be growing nicely! Can't wait to see it finished- I suppose you will almost be sad- I guess it's all about the journey and how you got there- but a new project will be on the horizon I suppose! Thanks for sharing- as always!

[Ellie]

Oh lucky you, we're just dreaming of snow down here in Dorset!
Hope your little b is feeling better soon.
Ellie
x

[Julia Nunn]

I'm keeping warm in the kitchen too, take a look at my blog for a marmalade tutorial and some Lucy inspired makes too!
www.handicraftcrazy.blogspot.com
thanks for the continuing inspiration!

[Brianna Asaro]

That snow's not too bad! Last January in Connecticut, we got two FEET of snow. Actually, 32 inches, which is closer to two and a half feet. But it was perfect timing for crafting, because no one could go ANYWHERE! I love snowy days when we can just cozy up inside and relax. It's the best gift winter can give us!

[jamee levy]

your colors are soo beautiful! really enjoy your blog. cheers from the great northwest (usa).

[Alice Barton]

this post is sooo inspiring!!!!! glad to be your newest follower!! xx Alice Barton ♥ The Mow Way

[Unn]

Lovely pictures, your cosy home
is wonderful.

Unn :)

[yolanda hernandez]

Hola,soy Yoalnda,me encanta tu trabajo,hace tiempo que lo sigo y me encanta,
Hoy he terminado mi primera colcha de grannys,mañana haré las fotos con mas luz,pues hoy esta nevando en Barcelona,y apenas hay luz.
He visto tu colcha de hexágonos y es preciosa,te importaría decirme¿ que tipo de lana y numero de aguja has utilizado? Gracis por anticipado,aprendo mucho viendo tus cosas
Un abrazo Yolanda.