Gently

Monday morning, 10:27am. J is at work, but I am home with the three Lil Peeps at the start of our Easter holidays. We are all still in our pyjamas and I'm pretty much hoping it'll stay that way all day long. Don't intend to get dressed today, nope, will stay pyjama-clad for the whole of it. Haven't got much food in, but shopping doesn't fit very well with wearing pyjamas so we shall make do with what's in. I'm thinking a creamy, comforting risotto (some ham and slightly shrivelled button mushrooms have been located in the fridge, and I always have arborio rice in the cupboard). In fact, I might just dish it up into bowls and we'll eat it picnic style around the fire. It's blimmin freeeezing here today, people keep telling me that snow is forecast for goodness sake. Blankets and woolly socks and pyjamas and bowls of hot comfort food around the fire sounds delightful, doesn't it? We'll just have to ignore the fact that it's April and pretend Spring hasn't supposed to've started yet.

We have nothing planned for this week. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. I'm hoping for happy children who entertain themselves and require very little attention from me (so far so good). I'm thinking if I just make sure to provide food at all the right times, then they might just be good enough to look after themselves. Maybe we won't get dressed all week.

Sounds a bit lack-lustre I know, but hey, I've been poorly. Like reeeeeally crappity-crap poorly in bed all day yesterday. Some sort of bug crept in and laid me low, the bug also crept into Little B as he spent the whole of yesterday throwing up. Sometimes we managed to get it into his little blue bucket, but a lot of it landed on bed, sofa, floor, and me. Today Little B is bright as a button and ravenously hungry. Me, not so much. I am loads better than yesterday, but not at all hungry (excepting for strawberries with sugar on) and still feeling wiped out. I think my legs are now made of stone, they are soooo heavy and tired.

So I am taking it gently, slowing the pace right down, not expecting too much. Sometimes when you're ill and spending lengthy times in bed drifting in and out of sleep, everything can seem a bit gloomy. I've been trying to think of some highlights of the past week to lighten my mood, remembering how good things essentially are and how rarely I am caught up in illness. For that I am truly thankful. I won something last week, it made me sooooo happy. I won, I won, I won! It arrived in double quick time, beautifully wrapped in pink paper with a stripy bow.

It's an apron that I won, a beautiful handmade spring-flower apron, made by the delightful Mrs Thomasina Tittlemouse. It's a joy to wear, and it inspired me to double-bake last week (a batch of iced buns and a tray of chewy fruity flapjack). I've also been wearing it Just Because. Just because I've been at home and pottering and apron-wearing makes me happy.

Something else came in the post last week, something I ordered on Etsy when I was going through a mad-crazy creative mental flurry with myself. I had been thinking of Connievan and how I would love to make her some cushions. Fabric patchworky ones, but not just fabric, no, something more, something kind of ribbony and braidy and ever so slightly over-the-topsy. I adore this type of woven ribbon/braid, it reminds me instantly of my childhood. I had fun searching through Etsy for the right thing and finally I found these all the way across the globe in Thailand. How exotic! I'm thinking strips of patchworked fabrics, with these braids and some ricrac running down the joins, can you picture it? Will keep you posted. Need to find a way to iron/cut/sew without a certain Little B meddling.

 

Something else that made me really unexpectedly happy last week was a comment from a Random Stranger. Not often that someone stops to tell me how great I look in what I'm wearing, in fact, I don't think it has ever happened to me before, not EvEr. But one morning last week when I was pushing Little B up through town, a man stopped me to tell me how much he liked all my bright colours. I had completely forgotten that I had slipped on my red crocs that morning, I looked down  to see what the man was pointing at and was honestly stunned to see them still on my feet. I guess I must've looked quite jolly with my red feet, lime green coat, turquoise bag and pink polka dot scarf. My turquoise bag (from Fat Face) is falling apart a little....I'm trying to come up with a crochet alternative, possibly using my "Spot Square" pattern (pictured in this post, scroll down through the yarn-addiction, it's the 11th picture)

Other little bits of gentle goodness this past week have been the appearance of shoots. I have shoots!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, yes, some of my seeds have begun to sprout, and I am extremely happy about it. Above is the cosmos, but also my colander-calendula has sprouted, as have my morning glory. Now singing sweetly to the nasturtiums as they are not yet showing any signs of sprouting. Cummon nasturtiums, where aaaarrrrrreeeee yooooooooooooooou?!

I planted a passion flower this morning. Went out to put rubbish in the bin and saw the little passion flower I bought last week from the supermarket still all trussed up in it's plastic wrapping. So I busily got to work with a little spade and transplanted it into my big blue glazed pot. I hope it won't mind the cold weather we're having, I have high hopes for this gorgeous, scrambling beauty. Grow little plant, grow.

11.38 now. My gentle pyjama morning was sullied about 38 minutes ago when the Window Man arrived on the doorstep. Jeez, why can I not remember these things??? Had totally forgot he was coming, so I had the hideous embarrassment of trying to talk about Replacement Windows and FENSA law whilst wearing bedwear and bed head. Oh well. At least I had brushed my teeth.

Well......feeling a bit wobbly and heavy behind my eyes again now, so I shall slope off and crawl under a blanket with my two Littlies who are sat watching High School Musical. Gently does it.

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Comments

[Window Man]

Windows Norfolk wishes you a get well too!

[Helen Maddock]

Hello Lucy

I should just like to say what a wonderful page. Amanda gave this web address and she teaches crochet on Woolly Wednesdays at Thelma Hubert Gallery in Honiton on the last wednesday of each month for any of those who like me would like to craft and chat.
It was lovely to come home and log on to sooooo much colour and simple joys of living.
My work basket has lots of oddments so im off to see if I can squeeze a "strip" cushion out of them.
Keep up the inspirational works

Brightest Bluebell Blessings

Helen x

[Charis G]

I did giggle at the thought of you entertaining the window man in PJs! I work permanent nights so am often to be found in my nightwear at odd times-I am sure the poor man who delivers my Avon catalogue thinks of me as that sloppy woman who lives in her scruffy blue dressing-gown and never gets dressed!I just try to give a big smile and act as if I am wearing designer clothes-but really not sure it works;)

[Pom Pom]

You DO look bright and colorful and what a blessing you must be to the world-worn tired people passing on the street! I love your spots since I am so into toadstools this year.
I hope you are well soon, feeling spry for Easter. It is such a good idea to stay in pajamas all day. I love to do that!
I bet all that throwing up made for extra laundry. Bless your heart.

[Taylor]

It is good to just relax once in a while. Your outfit sounded great!(The afternoon walk one, Looked great too).Love the ribbons...hope you feel better soon.

[Mary Adam]

Hello Lucy, this is my very first visit to your Attic and how enjoyable to meet you, your family and friends. Really hope you and Little B feeling more like yourselves today. I have only started to crochet and had googled for a snowflake and up you came so looking forward to making a coffee and getting started, will let you know how I get on. x

[Louise]

Why would you be surprised by a compliment by a Random Stranger ? You DO look great with all these colors ! Very "springy" (if the word exists)
I hope you'll get well soon and we're all impatient to see the bag.
Bises
Louise
http://les-petits-bonheurs.blogspot.com

[RaeJean]

Tell me detail on the lime green coat LOVE IT!!!!!

Who is it made by and where did you get it.. must have.:)

[Wendy Allan]

I've adored your blog for years and never commented, don't know why...but I just had to say, I LOVE that brooch. If you posted a tut on it I must have missed it :( but I have pinned it to my pineterest wall so I'll never lose it again. I'd also like to say thank you for sharing your life with the blogaspere, reading it is my special treat at the end of my day, and thankyou for sharing your knowledge too. Your tutorials have taught me so much. When friends admire my crochet I tell them my teacher is a lady I've never meet on the other side of the world.

[Catherine Smith]

Sorry you've been feeling poorly- take care of yourself and the little people. We've had so many bugs this half term, and I always feel depressed when I'm all out of my routine. I love reading your blog- I get withdrawal symptoms if I miss it for a bit. It's like a comfort blanket. You write with such honesty, and it feels very real if you get my meaning. Thank you.

[Catherine Smith]

Sorry you've been poorly- take care of yourself and the little people. We've had so many bugs this half term, and it always makes me feel gloomy. I hate being out of my usual routine. I absolutely love reading your blog. I get withdrawal symptoms if I miss it for a while!!! It feels like a big comfort blanket which always cheers me up. You are just so wonderfully honest and your blog feels very real, if that makes sense. Thank you. x

[Cecilia]

Lucy, have you seen this gal's blog? She has a different color esthetic than you, but her creativity made me think of you and your need for a bag made me think of this one she made, that I am definitely going to make, except with longer handles: http://clothogancho.canalblog.com/archives/2011/04/04/20814092.html. There is a free pattern on the web (went and found it): http://www.gosyo.co.jp/img/acrobat/29210/44.pdf

Sad you are feeling ill, because you always make me feel better! :o)

[Lindsey Toms]

It says you have 100 comments on this post...wow. Maybe you wont get to mine, but if you do I hope you are feeling better. My daughter and her family have all been ill and I live too far away to have helped but now the hols are upon us I will be going to stay for a bit. So to spend your days in your PJ's is just fine :)

[all8garden]

Hope you and yours feel better. Enjoy your nice, slow vacation. Wish I could send you the warm weather we're having here. A little too warm considering how early it is.

Anyway, your bright little space here is lovely and I'm glad that someone IRL saw and commented on how bright and cheering you are. Get better soon.

[Carine_07]

You should cover up your passion fruit plant (with, for example, a water bottle or a transparent bag) when there is frost as your plant is young.
You could also plant a honeysuckle for the scent.

[Georgie]

Blogging when you're poorly is true dedication :0) I wanted to let you know that I was so inspired by your post about Caroline's mixed media art and your lovely caravan, that I hot footed it over to her shop and purchased a print - Tangled - which arrived on Saturday morning. I absolutely LOVE it. Thanks for sharing. I hope you feel better soon. Georgie xx

[Emma]

Wishing you better very soon x

[Maria Teresa]

Que você se restabeleça rapidamente, e que as férias de Páscoa sejam grandes com ou sem pijama não importa, passo por aqui todos os dias. Fica bem. Saudações do Brasil

[Sam]

Lucy, sorry to hear you're not well. Hope you and Little B get better soon. Totally understand the pyjamas and don't worry it's still cold down South, my heating and socks are still on - having curry for tea tonight to heat us up. Must have been a picture sitting there chatting with the window man :) Pictures gorgeous as usual. Sam xx

[Andrea at Apples and Pears]

Oooo midday and the boy and I are still in our pyjamas! I was feeling quite ashamed until I read your post and am so glad that this is a school hols phenomenon that is not exclusively mine. I hope you are feeling better soon...Spring is here really, it is just having a pyjama day too!!! PS Love the apron! xxxxxxxx

[Unn]

I love your blog, your colors and I nearly was crying when I was reading that you really love to be a mum, and to be a housewife. I think that kind of things are what we miss most in our stressful world. Really beautiful your pictures of the small hands...and your chrochet works. Hope you understand my bad english...

[Carole]

Hope you feel better soon Lucy xxxx

[Kath]

Oh dear Poor Lucy! My toddler and I had the bug too last week, it has totally discombobulated me for days. Hope you wake up tomorrow feel very 'lucyish' and back to your normal healthy self. xxx

[Anna Maria]

Hello! Whenever I decide to do nothing with my girls (5 and 2 yrs) it is a disaster. I don't know how you succeed to be relaxed and happy and stay at home for 15 hours with 3 children. May be I do something wrong, but when my children have certain activities (also relaxing ones) they behave much better.

[sue]

Those bugs are horrible, just make you feel so blargh. Stay indoors in your jim jams and apron (my favoured indoor wear!)it's not going to be worth going out if we listen to the weathermen! Can't wait to see what you do with that fabulous ribbon, gorgeous.