February 2012

Funny isn't it, that even though February is the shortest month of the year, it very much feels like the longest? I try not to struggle with this funny second month, try to remain immune to the sneaky, wintry blues that often descend like a damp cloud. But truthfully, it isn't always doable. Sometimes February days just suck, and that's all there is to it.

My February calendar pages were certainly not gloomy though, they told me to remember the good things about this time of year. The celebration of Love by way of disgraceful quantities of chocolate, and the celebration of Pancake, by way of errm, lots of pancake-eating. Both were good, sweet, edible events in our house this year, enjoyed by all five of us.

This is February Ideal-Home-style, beautiful and inspiring as ever. I love that the February image is content and creative and indoorsy, it does certainly make me want to go away and plan something stitchy. It's been an age since my old Bernina came out to play. Ooooooo, which reminds me, I do need to apply myself to finishing off Connievan's curtains which were started last year and not completed (re-making ten curtains was a far bigger job than I originally thought). Right then, that will be my March challenge, remind me in a week or two will you?

February here in the Attic was beautifully floral, oh I've had such a tremendous amount of pleasure and good value out of February's blooms. I mean, just look at them! True spirit lifters, that's for sure.

My Amaryllis burst into flower in February too, I watched day after day as the green shoots made their usual speedy ascent. This year, for the first time, I placed it on the windowsill behind my desk, so I really was very aware of it's daily progress. It's been lovely watching the first bud unfold......

.....the light shining through the petals has made them almost appear to be glowing. Such beauty and such intense, glorious colour. When I chose the amaryllis (I bought it when I was in Ilkley in January sometime), I really did deliberate over which colour to go for. In fact, at first I picked up one that was the palest pinky white with delicate pink stripes running through the petals. I thought perhaps it would be good to go with something a little different for a change. But I just couldn't bring myself to go through with it in the end. I put the pale pink variety back and predictably plumped for good ol' Amaryllis Red Lion, always guaranteed to pack a punch with the colour. Pale pink? Whatever was I thinking?!!

The focus of February has been very much on indoors, keeping warm and occupying our time with cosy, feel-good pursuits. Baking, crocheting and fireside pleasure. Early nights tucked up in bed, good, wholesome home cooked food. Keeping the Little People happy indoors whilst allowing time for my own creativity. When I look at these pictures I think cor! What a lovely, happy, homely, cosy, warm month February was! Yet I recall that there was often an underlying feeling of discontent. Bad weather. Restlessness. Gloom. Germs. I guess that if you jumble up all the good things with the not-so-good things, then overall the month evened itself out. It was just right. It was a slow, winter month spent doing indoorsy, winter things.

Some good things certainly came my way last month though, and the above is one of them. I was incredibly chuffed to pick up a copy of Inside Crochet magazine (the March issue) to see the results of the Blog Awards in print. Such lovely words were written, so complimentary and flattering. I slurped my latte as I read (I was in a cafe with Heather at the time) and felt like my cheeks had gone pink and my insides had gone all tickly. Thank you SO MUCH, all of you lovely people who took the trouble to vote for me back in November. You really made me feel super-duper, if a little flushed and tickled.

Do you recognise the photo above? Know where it is?

It's the little village of Craster in Northumberland where we've had numerous summer holidays staying in the white house at the very end of the row. We were last there in August 2009 when I was carrying Little B around inside my rather large, round bumpy tummy. Last week, I booked the same cottage for us to re-visit for a holiday this summer, and I am soooooooooooooooooo happy about that fact! As soon as I had made the booking and paid the deposit, I went straight into my photo archives and pulled out this image to make a print. It's sitting on my desk like a postcard from the past, reminding me that in less than six months time we will be back there again. I think planning and booking a summer holiday in February is ace, I can highly recommend it.

 

Weather wise, February here in Atticland has been pretty dire on the whole. It's mostly been a month of wet grey yuckiness. Of course, there have been some good weather bits here and there. The snow was good fun. And the odd bit of sun and blue sky that peeked through the gloom was incredible and very memorable.

My February attic views are mainly shades of grey..........

Oh! Not so grey! That last picture above was 24th February, a time when the sky finally cleared after the rain and for a wee while there was some colour back in the landscape. I'm hoping March is going to be very much more along these lines, I've SO had enough of the wet grey stuff. So over it. Need Spring to come now. Anytime as from tomorrow would be good.

So that sums up February 2012. Not really so bad after all. In fact, it looks pretty good I'd say.

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Comments

[Debbie nicholds]

Congratulations on your latest award Lucy, so well deserved. I have used your patterns so much, always with success. Happy March to you and your family! Xx

[Eloise Fitzgerald]

Love your blog Lucy.......you put in so much work, I am so pleased that you have been recognised in the magazine !! Thank you for entertaining us and broadening our minds with your colourful eye........x

[Veronica Dunne - Tipperary - Ireland]

Do you also know that you get a mention in "Craft & Click" - a magazine book - page 64 - Blog Crafters - "our pick of the best craft blogs for you to follow" - thought you might like to know!

[idiosyncratic eye]

Congratulations on your award. February has definitely been a manky month this year. :)

[Ela]

Lucy! Gratulations! You are the number one!!!! Thank you for your Ideas, projects and feelings. Your blog is an inspiration in my life and for my handicrafts. I complete the flower-pillow in black-grey-colors today evening. Best wishes to you and your family.

[Ali]

Hello,lovely lady! Love your blog, it really lifts my spirits!( Just a wee safety thing- watch that blind cord with your Little B - I'd tie it up out of his way asap now he's probably at a climbing stage) xxx

[Cath]

Hi Lucy, I was naming my favourite 15 blogs for A Versatile Blogger award and I just had to include yours as your bubbly creativity and colour really does brighten my days.

I don't expect a response, but had to let you know that I really appreciate your blog.

Catherine

[jean]

I just love to read your blog, it's so inspiring.

[Archie the wonder dog]

February's a funny month, isn't it?! Congratulations on the blog award!!

[tricia]

Hi Lucy,Just discovered your blog, breath of home for me,live in South Africa now but born and bred a Geordy, Craster has fond memories, just loved the snowdrops,rooftops,and all thing Northumbrian.
Love Tricia

[Cathy]

I love Craster - we are heading there at Easter for a week. Be warned though, the word on the street is you need a second mortgage to eat and drink in the Jolly Fisherman since it changed hands :-(
Congratulations on the award - you certainly deserve it! X

[Kelli Woodall]

Hello Lucy! Congratulations on first place pick! Never really doubted it, so many people love your blog! Have a good one!

[Melanie @ M&M]

I so look forward to your posts popping up in my reader! Your site is so lovely, happy, colorful, and inspirational! Some day I hope to have a cuppa with you : )

[keri from twolittleflowers]

Lucy, I thought that you might like to know that your blog award can be read online for anyone without access to the Inside Crochet mag: http://insidecrochet.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/inside-crochet-blog-awards-the-results/

[lindsey]

February was long and odd here, normally we have chilly windy winters but this winter was all together too warm, we had bits of springy weather and then quite a few gloomy muggyish grey days... not to mention instead of lovely shades of white Georgia is brown in the winter(ikk) thankfully march is looking up here, and i cant wait to get some springy flowers for my home!

Cheers for March!

[steph]

Lucy, only you can make February look like an impressionist painting!!!

[Kate]

I am not sure why people spend so much time griping about our lovely weather? We have a lovely temperate climate in the UK and we are very lucky. We experience everything with very little ill effect. Not so hot we get drought but lovely and warm with blue skies and not so cold we freeeze but we get to experience snow and freshness. We get enough rain so honestly what's to moan about!

How can the rain out side affect your life? If everything is happy and you are blessed in life then why does the snow or wind take away from that? Some people are just ungrateful and unable to appreciate all they have, forever wanting more more more. We have it all here. We are most fortunate. January and February are lovely slow and welcome months. In fact they have gone by very quickly this year. We have so much yet we moan about it!

[Ulla's Quilt World]

Thank you for your lovely and interesting blog! I love your crafts/quilts!
www.quiltworld2.blogspot.com
Hugs, Ulla (from Finland)

[gelesan]

Congratulations, for your next holidays,I always get happy with all the colours of your blog, lots of love from Tenerife.

[Christina]

You have so much that's bright and good in your life - and you generously share it with us to brighten our days. I hope you feel loads of thankful bloggy hugs coming your way!

[Sarah Sunshine]

I'll try to beam some sunshine to you from here on the South Coast - we've had quite a bit of it the last few days and it's even been too warm for a coat. Growing up in London, I didn't realise quite how different it was south of the Downs!

[Fleur Cotton]

Congratulations on your blog award Lucy.

Truly deserved.

Love your photo mosaics, your flower one especially cheered me up.

Fleur xx

[Carol Wolf]

I'm a late-comer to your wonderful blog. I've already made your Blooming Flower Cushion and want to thank you for the comprehensive tutorial. Thank you also for putting a bit of sunshine in MY February!

[domesticlou]

SUCH a well deserved award. Enjoy feeling pink and tickly :-D Lovely pics for such a bleak month. It was glorious here at Rotten Towers yesterday but today is grey as anything.

[Dee]

Congratulations on the award, you seriously deserve it. I adore your blog. It makes me smile and feel happy; it inspires me to pick up my hook and play too!

Hope March brings you lots of colour and fun.