Droopy

I am so over the wet. So over it. I feel constantly disappointed that my favourite month of the year is simply not doing what it's supposed to do and keeps letting me down. Wahh, it's May and it's supposed to be all warm and and sunny and outdoorsy and it's not being that AT ALL! We get the odd promising day when it all looks and feels glorious (like Wednesday), then back we go to the cold temperatures, the heavy grey skies and the continuous rain. Winter coat and boots back on and a  rather droopy mood sets in.

This week I confess I've been feeling a little down. Everything has felt a bit flat somehow, I suspect very much influenced by the weather. Take Thursday for example. I had planned to keep Thursday free so that I could take Little B on an adventure. I had it all worked out. I was going to pack a picnic lunch and take him on a bus journey to Ilkley, play and have lunch in the park, then go yarn shopping so that I can get back to finishing my ripple. It was going to be such fun, we were going to ride on a bus! But alas I had to cancel it cos I refuse to adventure/picnic in the drizzle. Nope. It just isn't happening.

So an Adventure Day became a Home Day, and I tried hard not to let the droopy wet mood linger.

Even my sweet orange roses have had enough and have gone all droopy look. They've completely, magically echoed my mood these past few days, it's most odd.

When faced with enforced stay-home days and dire weather, I instinctively turn my oven on and prepare to bake. Yesterday I had a go at adapting a Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall recipe, with rather good results. I'm on a quest to gather together a handful of wholesome baking recipes which'll provide good snack material for my Littlies, and these are rather brilliant. The original recipe is for "Honey and Peanut Butter Booster Bars", but I did as Hugh suggested and substituted mashed banana for the peanut butter. After trying this out a little while ago and finding them overly sweet, I made a couple of other alterations by eliminating the sugar and honey and replacing with golden syrup and orange juice.

My variation is as follows ::

Put 125g butter, 75g golden syrup and 2 tbs orange juice in a bowl and microwave for 1 min. Stir until butter has melted and everything is combined thoroughly.

Mix in 200g oats, 2 tbs mixed seeds (I used a sunflower and sesame mix) and 150g mixed dried fruit (I used sultanas and chopped apricots). Then mix in 1 mashed up ripe banana.

Spoon into a lined tin so that mixture is about 1/2 inch deep, and sprinkle a few more seeds on top. Bake at 160/gas 3 for about 30mins until just golden. Mark into bars and leave to cool in tin.

I've named the resulting product "Banana Boost Bars" and they are really scrummy, sort of a cross between a chewy flapjack/cereal bar and a slice of moist banana bread. The Little People have given them the thumbs up, but sadly Little B has refused to even try them. He obviously has an idea that they look like flapjack which he doesn't much care for. Never mind eh.

Well it hasn't been a complete wash-out on the home front as we had two rather well timed Amazon deliveries this week. Gosh, I do so adore Internet shopping and home delivery on occasion, what a gift from heaven it can be. The first parcel to arrive was a treat I had ordered for Little B, and honestly it couldn't have come at a better time. I felt like hugging the delivery man, I was so happy when this arrived on my doorstep!

It's a small pop up play tent, and as you can see he immediately made himself very at home in it. We decked it out with cushions and blankets making it all snugly-cosy inside, and it has already been very well used. He is taking his afternoon snooze in the above picture, I love it when little ones stretch themselves out so completely when they are in deep sleep. I spent a good while just sat on the floor beside him, listening to his sweet breathing and  admiring his ultra-long dark eye lashes. Nothing sweeter that a soundly sleeping child.

These three books were in the second parcel that came this week. I think I've mentioned before that I don't own very many crochet books, and the ones that are on my shelf tend to be project based ones. So I thought it was high time I treated myself to some broad ranging reference type books, and these three look to be real  beauties. I've not had chance to give them a thorough going over, but a quick look through them has given me a huge rush of hooky-happiness. I'll be writing a proper review when I've actually had chance to work a few patterns from them, but for now here are the links ::

200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws and Afghans, by Jan Eaton

Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs, by Edie Eckman

Around the Corner Crochet Borders, by Edie Eckman

If you follow the links through to Amazon you can take a look inside the pages (love that you can do that!). The tremendous amount of hooky knowledge and skill that sits inside these book covers is mind boggling, truly incredible. Makes me realise that what I do with my own hook and yarn is so very basic. Yes, I think you could call me a very Basic Hooker. Elementary. I admit I have no real lofty crochet ambitions, I actually love plodding along in my own simple little colourful world, working on my easy low-brainpower creations. Which reminds me........

....my May Rose Wreath should be finished this weekend. Yay for colourful simplicity!

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Comments

[VALÉRIA GOMES]

OLÁ,QUERO COMPRAR LIVROS DE CROCHÊS IGUAIS A ESSES EM SUA MESA,MAS EU ESTAR NO BRASIL.PODE ME AJUDAR A COMPRAR PELO CORREIO?AGUARDO RESPOSTA POR FAVOR EM MEU EMAIL,ANOTE.
[email protected]

MEU NOME É VALÉRIA.AGRADEÇO.UM FORTE ABRAÇO.

[Pam Wilson]

I was having a rather miserable day until I happened to chance on your pages. Having stopped to look at them I can only say THANK YOU for making me feel so much better. Your lovely Connievan and photo's really made a smashing change to all the doom and gloom you see around. You should be proud of the difference you make to peoples time and cheer things up so much. Again THANK YOU!!!!

[MARIA DO CARMO]

IM BRAZILIAN WOMAN AND I EVERYDAY VISIT YOUR BLOG...IT HELP ME WITH MY DAYS CAUSE HERE I FIND ALL I LOVE...YOUR TRIPS...GARDEN..FOOD ...CRAFTS...AALL SO LOVELY...THANKS FOR YOU SHARE WITH US SO LOVELY DAYS...HUGS

[fairy nuff]

I have 2 of the books and love love love them! You will too. I'm slowly trying them out and am delighted with them. I'll be intrigued to see what you make with them.
Big hugs

[Karen]

'Crochet Motifs' was my first crochet book- which I love! I purchased it- and a crochet hook- a few years ago with a gift certificate. My goal was to make one of every shape as I learned to crochet. I lost steam around #98 as I learned more and more and thought up, and worked on, various other projects- some inspired by YOU! I love your blog- have been following it for years now- Thank You! I too have been eye-ing the 'Borders' book also by Eckman- do let us know what you think!

[Esther]

I have those exact same books too and they are brilliant, I'm sure you will find lots of colourful inspiration :) I'm so with you on the weather front, how glorious it is to have some sunshine at last, fingers crossed it's still here for the Jubilee and half term!

[Mónica Grattarola]

Hi Lucy
think about this you are finishing the winter we are in middle of autumn is another point of view isn't it ?
Last Sunday I tried to made a lemon drizzle cake (according your recipe), but something wrong the cake was so floppy impossible to cut wiht the knife, I was thinking that I committed a mistake with the sugar because I used icingr sugar by caster sugar, here we have granulated or icing the caster sugar is something in between, bu this next Friday after work I will try with white granulated sugar. But I felt my self so connected with you during my baked Sunday thanks for that.

xxx
Mónica

[angela-southern USA]

Can't wait to see your wreath finished!That Crochet Borders,is now on my want list.Love the shot of L.B. in the tent,so sweet,mine l-o-v-e-d theirs,til they were too big for it :)The Banana boost bars look delish!Love your heart wreath,hope the weather turns around for you soon.Have a good one!

[Pamela]

Hi Lucy - I have those three books, they're all lovely. A recent [incredibly fun, inspiring] publication you might want to add is the new Jessica Polka book called 75 Seashells, Fish, Coral and Colorful Marine Life. Amazing patterns.Keep Calm and Crochet On :-)

[Fleur Cotton]

I'm reading this a few days after you posted and I hope your prayers have been answered as here in Cheshire the sun is shining and looks like the sun is here to stay for a few days, hope the same is true over the pennines with you.

Really looking forward to seeing your May Garland - it is looking good!

Hope you get out for a picnic this week instead.
Sunny Smiles!
Fleur xx

[Sarah]

Same weather here - sooo depressing ..BUT, I, too have just bought Around the Corner Crochet Borders (already got her other one - Beyond the Square - brilliant)and a lovely friend recently bought me some Rowan handknit to try from England (just can't find it here), so I'll be snuggling up on the sofa to start a project today. Nice mug of tea, maybe I'll try your yummy sounding recipe, and look out at the POURING rain here and be happy I'm inside! i definitely won't be feeling guilty for sitting around! Fingers crossed June's a better month! x

[Linda]

I directed my Yorkshire friend to your blog as the day after you wrote about Bolton Abbey she sent me an email about visiting it too! On the strength of reading your post about your lovely orange roses she sent her husband out to track down a similar bunch which arrived on my doorstep as a birthday gift for me! They are looking beautiful in the bay window.

[Melissa]

Hi there Lucy!!

This is Melissa here (all the way) from Singapore!! Just wanna say Hi to you!!
I chanced upon your blog last year, by looking for a crochet bag pattern, and I saw this: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-bag.html

It was absolutely wonderful I must say, and I also made one variation for myself over here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=344897065535038&set=a.344897032201708.87366.100000442410426&type=3&theater

Your blog is indeed a wonderful inspiration to me!! I introduced your blog to my mum as well, she said it was wonderful too!! My mum also wanted to send her regards to you as well, she said you have such an enthusiastic and positive attitude towards life, it was so infectious, that she was influenced by you as well!!

Ok from this post that I've just made, I hope to get to know you better, and I hope we can be friends too!! Take care, and please do send my regards to your family as well!! Thanks and Goodbye!!

Kind Regards,
Melissa

[Emma]

That recipe sounds amazing! I am always on the look out for home-make snack alternatives that I can take to work. I will give it a try on the weekend and let you know how I go!

We're coming into winter here so any excuse to use the oven to warm up the house!

Emma xx

[Tery]

I recently bought Crochet Motifs also! Loved it so much i bought several others! They were all here waiting for me when i came in from work! Looking forward to pouring through them tonight with a nice cup of tea! It's raining here in the states today also. Made your Flower Patch cushion for my mom for her 81st birthday! Came out beautiful! She loved it! Thanks for sharing it!

[Simone]

Oh Lucy, you poor thing, you sound so fed up with the weather and believe me it was like that here in Sydney. I felt robbed of my warm days, I honestly felt like I had never thawed out from the winter and my bones were cold. The sun just never did what it was meant too and the rain never stopped! Keep your chin up I'm sure the sun will be with you soon. Simone xx

[Taylor]

I want to try those delicious looking (healthy!) bars. I am also excited to hear those reviews. You've had some lovely pictures these last posts!Thanks again.

[Ellen]

I'm a sort of new reader. Not sure how I got here, but I very much enjoy your colorful photos and the lovely stories of your days. Thank you for sharing your life with the world. I hope you get some warmer sunnier weather soon! I live at the tip of the lower peninsula of Michigan, USA. Bless you!

[Ellie]

Hi - how do you manage to photograph such rich colours? I am a baker/quilter, and, inspired by your photographs/blog - have bought some lovely wool/bamboo needles to knit simple squares into blanket. Haven't knitted for ages! Thank you for sharing those precious moments!

[Claudia]

Lucy - I just found a phantastic page and thought it might interest you. So many patterns, more than we could manage in a life time!
http://make-handmade.blogspot.de/2011/06/beautiful-and-more-crochet-pattern.html#more
Greetings from Germany

[Diana]

I just got the book Around the Corner Crochet Borders from the library the other day. What a great book! I always have trouble knowing how many stitches to do on the sides, especially vertically. It was helpful. Hope you get some better weather soon.

[Elizabeth Hansen]

Chin up, Lucy! Hope today is sunny there in the north of England, as it's drizzling/cool here in Pennsylvania. Your recipe is smashing wonderful! Congrats! Looks yummy! My antedote to continually crummy weather is cheerful, snaptoe music: radio, stereo, cable, playing the piano...doesn't matter...lifts my heart! But, I adore Little B's tent...and cute little foot sticking out! Playtents are wonderful, and so is Amazon, and crochet books! Sunshiney hugs!

[Joanne Munro]

God, how do you even get around to reading these comments? I hardly ever comment as I can't believe you have the time!

May has been uncharacteristically gloomy this year and I live in Brighton where it's usually much sunnier than 'up norf'. It will perk up though I'm sure.

I have all 3 of those books myself (I'm a bit of a sucker for crochet books) they're all really good especially the one with 200 blocks. I recently made a gorgeous soft (Baby rico) white blanket for a friend's baby using mixed blocks from the book. It's great for inspiration. It's on my blog is you fancy a look.

[Lucy]

I am going to make those bars! SO healthy too.... thanks for sharing hope the weather is better soon
hugs & love

[Angie]

I have the Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs book, LOVE IT!! =) I'm sure you will too...what am I saying-I am sure you have already been hard at work on testing it! ;)