April 2012

April has been such a mixed bag weather wise, we've had pretty much every type of weather imaginable. Lots of scudding clouds, high winds, many varieties of rain (misty drizzle, squally showers, torrential downpours), sleet, hail, and even snow. We had many, many cold wet days where the rain never let up for a moment. Then we had very mixed days which started out quite promising but were full of unpredictable bursts of rain. Sun-rain-sun-rain, with an occasional token rainbow somewhere in between. Sigh. April has been very cold and un-Springlike much to my disappointment.

The calendar image which I gazed at from my desk throughout April was this Ideal Homes one. Almost every day I wished that it wasn't so brown. I wished for sweet, pretty Spring colours and wondered why on earth someone would choose brown ribbon when so many other gorgeous colours of ribbon exist?

My organising calendar was much more satisfactory, and even included my most favourite cake of all time (carrot cake, in case you didn't know). These colours are perfect for Spring, and I approve of the brown being limited to bun, cake and chocolate. Happy sugary thoughts are flooding my brain now, gosh I do soooo love cake. Such pleasure!

In amongst all the grim weather of April, there were little pockets of loveliness. The above photo was taken early one Sunday morning in the middle of the month. It was one of those glorious bright, clear mornings, the sort that makes it impossible to stay indoors. I recall that we were out in the exact same spot at almost the exact same time four years ago, and yet again I marvel at the repetitive rhythm of my life.

The morning jaunt was short and sweet, cos despite the sunshine it was really cold. We walked the familiar river path as far as our favourite little pebble beach and proceeded to spend the next half hour throwing stones into the water. Little B, oh Little B loves to plop-splash pebbles into water, he was so incredibly happy with it all. Me, I was freeeeeezing. Even a flask of hot coffee and some easter eggs did not hit the spot, but I was glad we ventured out, glad to see my Littlies have so much simple outdoor fun. Little Man gave me this lovely heart shaped stone that he found, it was a super sweet moment.

My brave little seedlings have thankfully survived the soggy conditions that April provided. They are a bit mud splattered, but not doing too bad all things considered. At least the resident slug/snail population hasn't discovered them (yet), hoping it stays that way.

I took some advice and made a cosy little bubble-wrap enclosure for my newly planted passion flower, protecting it's sweet tendrils from the chill. I keep having a little peek in to make sure all is well (it's looking beautifully healthy so far) and am really looking forward to seeing this plant make it's way up, up, up outside my kitchen door.

I thought April would see much more outdoor action after Spring arrived so warmly and sweetly in March. But no, it wasn't to be. April did not turn out to be a warm, sweet outdoor month at all. We kind of took a step backwards and fell into winter again, but it wasn't all bad. It made the business of draping super warm blankets-in-progress over one's knees rather appealing. I'm continuing my lovely pleasure ride with the ripples, coming into the home stretch now I guess. I'm a bit stuck now though as I've run out of yarn. Well that's to say I've got lots of small balls left but not enough of any one colour to make the four rows required, so am waiting for a chance to go yarn shopping. I'm savouring the gorgeous feeling of anticipation that builds prior to a yarn-buying mission, makes my heart go all fluttery just thinking about it.

The ripple may be on temporary hold but the circles have been a marvelous diversion throughout April. I've been really enjoying this yarn and these colours I have to say, and I'm already dreaming up more things to do with it (a new bag is in early sampling stages, something pretty and floral and easy to whip up). But.........must finish the ripple and this sweet round cushion first, must not get too ahead of myself. Cos I know that it does me no good to have too many fingers in too many creative pies all at once, I get all tangled if too much tries to happen at once.

April is always a sweet month for us here in the Attic cos it contains a birthday. Little Lady turned eight years old at the end of the month, and we celebrated with a shopping trip (a much longed for new desk for her bedroom, plus some much needed new clothes), a meal out and a girly sleepover with two of her school BFF's coming to spend the night here. The latter was lots of fun, despite the sleep deprivation. Eight year old girls, what can I say? It's such a tender age, the fashion, the hair styling, the tentative experiments with lip gloss and eye shadow, awww I find myself half fascinated and half horrified by it all. The speed at which they begin to hurtle out of childhood is quite scary. Cripes. It goes so fast. So fast.

April seemed like a long month to me, it didn't go fast at all. The days dragged by, long and wet and cold. It now seems like an incredible long age since Easter, yet that was less than three weeks ago? Doesn't seem possible, does it?

Less than three weeks ago we were in Dorset enjoying sunshine and sea breezes. Sigh. I miss it. That particular bit of April was such a lovely, enjoyable, fun, happy, relaxing bit for sure. And the pictures prove it.

I didn't take all that many snaps of the Attic view in April cos for much of the time it really didn't exist. The hills were blanked out by low rain clouds, and what we could see of the landscape looked bleak, washed out and grey.

This was during the first week of April when we had some freakish winter weather land on the hills...

....this was a mediocre cloud filled day....

...and this was an afternoon of after-rain brightness.

But this was what we mostly became accustomed to.... rain, rain and more rain. April, you will be remembered as being the month of Wet. April showers on a grand scale.

Which is one of the reasons I love to make my monthly mosaics. Cos it reminds me that despite the grim weather there was still creative colour, fun and happiness, that indoors remained cosy and bright, and that we made the very most of the few sunny days we had. The weather can only dampen our spirits if we let it.

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Comments

[Hazel]

PS can't wait to see the bag. x

[Hazel]

You said "carrot cake"!!!! DOH!! My 9 yr dd has just spent the evening smearing on eyeshadow and lipgloss on me! I much preferred the massage part haha. x

[debby from the coast of Maine]

I just love your blog. It is the happiest, most colorful of all! It seems you have a very content life, your family is lucky!

[angela-southern USA]

April was un-spring like here as well..except it was hot,like summer!Wish I could send half this heat your way.Love the heart rock,my youngest and I have a tradition of looking for them where-ever we go :)They say..April showers,brings May flowers,sounds like you should have a flood of flowers!A late HAPPY BIRTHDAY to L.L.:)I miss those before teen years.Hooky cushion, lookin'good.Can't wait to see the ripple TA-DAH.Have a good one.

[Fleur Cotton]

I have just enjoyed seeing April again through your eyes...colourful and so homely!

Isn't it amazing the fluctuations in the weather..it's never boring is it?

Hope you enjoy a happy sunny May.
Fleur xx

[Nikki Relffe-Arnold]

Great post Lucy...I love the way that you are building the memories for your children with this blog..they will have a wonderful resource there forever to refer back to regarding their childhood :) how many kids can say that:-) your little seedlings do indeed seem to be doing well...fingers crossed we get a bit of warmer weather now to help them grow their little legs :-) Nikki

[Truly Myrtle]

I agree - it has been a funny April and I'm left feeling like I need cake..... carrot cake with thick cream cheese icing sounds perfect and happens to be my all time favourite too :)
I looking forward to hearing about the new bag.... your round cushion looks, as always, fantastic!

[Lara]

Such a great reminder of all the months and years you'll have thanks to this blog! Your children will love this when they're older. Little ones grow so fast! Does your little lady still love knitting? :)

[Sonja Mizen]

My little girl is also eight and had a sleepover to celebrate it. Chaos!! O but so much fun!Can know the scary feeling seeing them growing up so fast.

[Lynne Gill]

Gosh I can just imagine Little Lady's delight at her new desk - it may have been .....erm........several decades ago (note heavy understatement!) but I can STILL remember getting a brand new WHITEWOOD -remember that? desk for my bedroom, must have been about10. I asked for it to be painted lemon and lilac - can't imaging why, now, but I loved it!

One of those attic-views shows such a beautiful water-colour sky, it's as if someone has just painted it; amazing how many different feelings you evoke with each shot, year after year, no two the same.

And despite the awful month,weatherwise, you've given us a heap of colour yest again!

[Sarah]

Hi lucy! I've been reading your blog for a while now and never leave a comment but now's the time! I love everything about it! Please keep posting your lovely pictures and homely creative stories. You have inspired me to start making things again, it's great! xx

[J]

You have this innate ability to make even the most dreary days bright!!! Thanks for letting us in on your world. Can't wait to see your ripple blanket when you are done, makes me realize that I better get back to work on mine!!!