:: coming downstairs early on Saturday morning and loving that I still feel completely bowled over by the happy sight of my Shelves. Also loving that I can now photograph the flowers on my table without being overwhelmed by horrendous backdrop of visual doom ::
:: these are Fridays Fresh Flowers, the most beautiful, highly scented narcissi. The smell of them fills the room and is indescribably beautiful. Not every member of my family shares the same thought, but I care not ::
:: pottering. Happy happy. Watering the growing things on my mantel and loving them so very much. Lost count of how many successive yellow pots have filled these hooky tins this year, I will keep buying them week after week until they are no longer available ::
:: same goes for the hyacinths, think this is possibly the 4th or 5th batch. Pink this time, I'm really looking forward to them ::
:: pottering some more. Happy happy. Notice with a lurch of my heart that my new book is still sitting looking gorgeous in my newly acquired funky red wire In-Tray. Must make it top priority to find a Window of Opportunity for it ::
:: the urge to bake strikes, I immediately think Lemon Drizzle cake. Start to assemble ingredients but realise I've not enough sugar. Send Little Man running down to the little shop at the bottom of the road to purchase required sugar, then spend happy time making it happen. The resulting smell that fills the air is quite divine ::
:: suddenly remember that on Friday I bought the Little People new things from the discount bookshop in town and get them out. Am unsure as to whether sticker books involving animals, fairies, princesses, dinosaurs and lego people will still cut the mustard with 7 and 9 year olds, but I am pleasantly surprised by their enthusiasm ::
:: ahhh just like old times. I lovelovelove watching them become so engrossed with these simple books, just as I often did when they were much smaller. Sticker books are ace. Children busy with sticker books are ace ::
:: busy busy now, jobs to do. Dash upstairs to strip bedding off two beds and one cot. Big smile when I go into Little B's bedroom to see that he's managed to build the train track all-by-himself. My heart expands as I imagine his happy play ::
:: beds are stripped, washing machine sets to work, then a little spot of happy Pegging Out. It's not especially sunny, but there is a breeze and I am sure they will pretty much dry outside. I look up and down my back street and see there are many back yard washing lines full of laundry flapping in the breeze. It reminds me of a book illustration, so I go search it out and read it to Little B ::
:: this is a really delightful childrens book with the most heart warming illustrations. My Mum bought it for Little B's first birthday. It's called Peepo! by Janet & Allan Ahlberg. Little B is not yet at the stage where he'll sit still and be read to, but he does like doing the "peepo" bit of this book very much. And instead of reading the verse (which is wonderful but lengthy for a 2yr old), we do a sort of spotting game with the illustrations ::
:: 1 o'clock, and miraculously I am All Alone in the house. Children are out with friends, J has taken Little B to visit grandparents, and so it's just me by myself. I ponder over what to do with this precious window of time, and decide on something a little unusual for the time of day....a bath. A deep, hot, luxurious bubble bath. It is absurdly lovely to sink into the hot foamy, scented water in broad daylight, feels very decadent and naughty ::
:: post bath time now, and I am on a roll. I am continuing the naughty/decadent theme and feeling jolly happy with myself. I bring up to the bedroom a steaming hot cup of tea, a slice of still-warm lemon drizzle cake, and the Urgent Item from the top of my in-tray to deal with. I am in my pyjamas fresh from the bath, and into bed I creep ::
:: getting back into bed in the middle of the day feels kind of guiltily wrong but beautifully right all at the same time. As did the middle of the day bubble bath. And my friends, I can very, very, very highly recommend it. My pleasure-o-meter soared off the scale ::
:: this book, oh this book is fan-TAS-tic. I've read it all, cover to cover, devoured it, lapped it up. I'll be chatting more about it very soon, but for now, let me just say it's one of the bestest books I've ever bought ::
:: out of bed now, tea and cake in tummy, precious book on bedside table, back downstairs to real life. Bath and bed in the middle of the day!! HA!!!! yeah, I did that, and it was oh so GOOD! Pootling about and I spy my basket of ripple. Think to myself that it's been a while since I got it out and gave it an appraisal ::
:: it's looking very bright and joyful. I notice that the last six or seven colours have run through quite a rainbowy phase, so I decide that my next set of colour combos will shake it up a little. A few sparks need to fly I think. Still having a ball with this blanket, I don't think I really want it to end. Which is why I'm working on it oh-so-very-slowly. Eeeking out the pleasure of it ::
♥ What a gloriously simple, Happy Saturday for yours truly. So happy. So blessed. ♥
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My Saturday was hard going so it was lovely to remind myself of one I might have had in a fantasy world by stealing yours. I feel cheery, happy and also blessed. Thanks
Posted by: Jo Roberts | March 19, 2012 at 03:57 PM
Dear Lucy,
I have been following your blog for over a year now and adore it completely. During a difficult patch in my life involving anxiety and depression, I often sought out your blog for inspiration. You have such gratitude for the little things in life that make our lives so special and you inspire me to do the same.
Thank you,
Becky
Fan from the U.S.
Posted by: Becky | March 19, 2012 at 03:45 PM
Oh, what a wonderful day! I do agree, a bath in the middle of the day is such a lovely, decadent pleasure.
My oh my oh my, your ripple is absolutely incredible. Love. Love. LOVE! :)
Posted by: Kristen | March 19, 2012 at 03:32 PM
What a lovely Saturday! Love the daffs and the hyacinths - my house is full of them both at this time of year :-)
Posted by: Caroline@puppydogstails | March 19, 2012 at 03:29 PM
So glad you had some'Lucy time'sounds marvelous!Mine was a bit hectic,with moving cabinets upstairs, to then rushing off to a baby shower and discovered two more friends are expecting,so started on a baby sweater Sunday.Your lemon cake looks yummy,Looove lemon anything:)Notice Your pinwheel in the bath,I'm making some pinwheels to go in a vase for my craft room.So glad to get an up-date on Your ripple,looking BEAUTIFUL!Well better get back to my mess upstairs,have a great week!
Posted by: angela-southern USA | March 19, 2012 at 03:03 PM
Love your pics!! But the first thing I was thinking reading this post was....
"Did you get caught?!" How mad is that? Caught in your own house having a bath in your own bath, in the middle of the day!! In a quiet house. Your own quiet house. Envy. Green. Lol.
Posted by: Paula Hope | March 19, 2012 at 02:42 PM
I was feeling gloomy this afternoon and thought I would check your blog to see if that would help - it did! What a gloriously positive post, aaaah, I feel better now! Thanks so much x
Posted by: Ali | March 19, 2012 at 02:38 PM
I just dream of Saturdays like that!!!
Fleur xx
Posted by: Fleur Cotton | March 19, 2012 at 02:29 PM
Great blogpost today! I love the recipe so easy to make tonight!Thanks!AriadnefromGreece!
Posted by: Ariadne | March 19, 2012 at 01:59 PM
Lucy I just wanted to say that I absolutely love your blog! Every time I pop back I spend ages reading it and looking at your pictures. What a lovely day you must have had. You have inspired me to firstly master crochet and then to make my own ripple blanket! Thank you
Posted by: Claire Jackson | March 19, 2012 at 01:52 PM
Lovely post - I love mid day baths - it feels ever so naughty lol
Posted by: ali.b. | March 19, 2012 at 01:36 PM
Brilliant Post Lcy, such a happy Saturday and a well deserved rest miday for you, well done.
Posted by: Jody | March 19, 2012 at 01:20 PM
Jealous!
Posted by: Jill S. | March 19, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Sounds like a great day - and I hope your Mother's Day equalled it. Re. sticker books, my daughter is 14 and has unfortunately been ill since last summer (with ME - so not life-threatening) still loves to do sticker books! So your older two may have a few years of sticker joy left yet!
Posted by: Christine | March 19, 2012 at 12:45 PM
And I am happy, happy, happy for you my friend. Your joy and happiness are contagious--they flow out of you all down on all the rest of us. It is total joy to look at your colorful world and hear of a day filled with simple, honest, wonderful, small, delightful pleasures. May you have many more of them. I am in the process of collecting my yarn to start my own ripple blanket of pleasure. The shop was sold out of part of my colors and I have to wait for them to be reordered before I can begin..your friend..Opal
Posted by: Opal | March 19, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Hi Lucy
I loved your pictures even when the shelves were a mess! The blanket is looking lovely. Because you always share everything with us I would like to share this with you. I find if I do my base chain with a bigger hook i.e I crochet with a #4 hook the base chain is then done in a #5 hook, I found the first row would curl under but this has stopped it.
Thanks again for your sharing nature!!
Love
NikkiM
Posted by: Nikki | March 19, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Hi Lucy,
What a lovely colourful blog post. The ripple blanket is fab.
You know the crochet rose pattern you were tinkering with? Will it be posted soon as i would love to do it for a friend, and i`ve never found a good pattern in books. Yours is just what i`m looking for. I know you are a busy Mum, but i do love your crochet patterns.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxx
Posted by: Carole | March 19, 2012 at 10:24 AM
What a wonderful post!!
Your days are filled will so much delight and pleasure. Fill your house with the scent of flowers if that is what pleases you. The other noses there can smell the aroma of the cake baking. You have made a home filled with color and love.
Posted by: Donna | March 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Oh what a beautiful day you have had!! Love to read about it. I would like to do that myself, the bath/bed-thing, but I would feel so guilty. Why I don't know, so may be I will give it a try some day. :D I love your shelves.
Posted by: Edith van der Bol | March 19, 2012 at 09:59 AM
Glad you had a lovely time!
I too am on my umpteenth bowl of hyacinths and jug of daffs and more will find their way into my home until the season is over. Irresistible!
It's very sunny here today & the laundry is drying outside - my baby granddaughters cot stuff (grandma looks after her while her mummy is at work) will smell nearly as sweet as she does!!
I shall soon finish my granny squares blanket and then plan to tackle your flower!
Posted by: sew | March 19, 2012 at 09:56 AM
Bath and bed in the middle of the day. How lovely! I'm so jealous!
And I love your ripple blanket!
Posted by: Ali | March 19, 2012 at 09:50 AM
Perfect Saturday, love your new ripple,
Posted by: jennie | March 19, 2012 at 09:39 AM
LOL is it awful that I have day envy? Love it!
Posted by: Emma | March 19, 2012 at 09:37 AM
What a gorgeous colourful post Lucy,I can almost smell those wonderful spring flowers from here! Peepo and Each Peach Pear Plum were always the most popular books in our house and I make a point of buying them as "new baby" presents to keep the magic for new families. If I could only crochet quicker the new babes would all get a blanket too!
Have a happy week. Love Kate, (in the sunny Cotswolds yay!)
Posted by: Kate | March 19, 2012 at 09:27 AM
Oh! I loved Peepo when my children were small! My other Ahlberg favourite is 'Each Peach Pear Plum' less reading in that one! I think I could recite it off by heart but won't bore you with it especially without the illustrations!
Posted by: vicky | March 19, 2012 at 08:45 AM