Friday Blurble

Ahhhh Friday again, how whizzy and wonderful this week has been!

I love my Friday morning potterings around town when I visit local shops and the market to stock up on produce for the weekend. I'll try and photograph the fruit/veg stall one day to show you, it's really quite visually lovely with all the beautiful, colourful fresh produce on display. Today I bought a couple punnets of English strawberries, I love how they come in a variety of shapes and sizes (unlike the supermarket ones) and are deliciously ripe and sweet. They really do need to be eaten pretty much straight away whilst still a little warm from the sun. Little B and I shared a whole punnet on our way home from playgroup today, sat in the shade of a weeping willow beside the canal. The strawberries hardly touched the sides, they tasted incredible.

Also in my bag today was a bundle of English Asparagus which I am really looking forward to smooshing up tomorrow. My love affair with this seasonal vegetable has not let up over the years (I laugh to myself when I recall this post), and I continue to think rather passionate thoughts about devouring these gorgeous spears.

When I came home from the market this morning, I unloaded my bags, put a fresh coffee on to brew, then ran up to the attic eaves to rootle around in my rather large box of Home Textiles. I was after a table cloth, a dash of summer colour to throw over the brown wooden outdoor table. A big improvement, but the table was missing a little floral something. I pondered over it a while, then decided on a sudden impulse to walk up to the park and gather some cow parsley. I remembered that a few of you suggested enjoying it outside instead of bringing it inside, so that's exactly what I did. The sight of it on my table has made me so happy today, I've loved being able to sit and gaze at it as I've sat eating, drinking and hooking.

I had a little play with hook and yarn this afternoon, trying out a few ideas from my new book.

The above sample is a variation of the "terraces" pattern on page 79, although I had to do it my own way. Sorry Jan Eaton but your pattern was really difficult to read and I just couldn't do it your way. My way worked out pretty good though, and I've got an idea for using it to make a small square cushion cover. It's a fabulous colour-play pattern, I'm quite excited by the idea of playing with it on a larger scale.

4.30pm now, and we are in that sweet lull that comes after the school run and before meal-making time. A friend called by to enjoy a little bit of Friday Afternoon Yummies. This tends to happen most Friday's, a spontaneous gathering of friends and neighbours, lots of children coming and going, a few nibbles and a glass of something delicious and chilled. My current Friday Afternoon tipple of choice is Demi Sec Cava. Oh it really does hit the spot rather nicely. Those bubbles! That fruitiness! Divine. So funny, I just had a look on the supermarket website for more information on this drink, and discovered the "tasting notes" for it.....Fruity nose due to the varietal blend and the short bottle ageing. Harmonious on the palate with apple and hints of toast. Very well balanced, good freshness and pleasant acidity level. Who knew all this could be applied to my drink????? Apples and TOAST??? Hahahaha, gosh I laughed out loud when I read that. I so wish my memory was good enough to recall those sentences, I would really love to be able to say all that just to hear the uppity words tumble out of my mouth.

Ahh, this is my back yard wall. Little B, bored with chasing woodlice, practicing a spot of photography. That kid, how very much I love his company. We've had a sweet, happy, toddling kind of a day together, he is quite wonderful to hang out with.

Now then.....before I toddle off and snuggle up with J on the sofa, I would like to mention three things.....

Thing Number 1 :: Janet Bell. Do you know of this lovely lady?? She is an artist with incredible talent, and moreover she is a super-nice lady you know. That's a print of hers up there on my bathroom wall, I absolutely love love love Janet's work, it makes my heart flip over and wibble with excitement. Janet's blog was the very first blog I ever encountered, so you can thank her for opening the door into Blogland for me. Did I say she was a super-lovely lady? I did? Go see for yourself, bob on over to her blog and say hello...she is peeking back through her own door after taking a baby-break and I'm sure she'd be thrilled to welcome you in.

Thing number 2 :: a wacky crochet tie, isn't it marvellous? Not my creation though, no, this was made by a good friend of mine. You may remember me chatting about this particular friend when I showed you her inspirational blanket?? Well this tie was made for her son to wear at school as part of a fund raising effort for the amazing charity Oxfam. Tomorrow some  of my lovely hooky friends will be taking part in an extraordinary walk to raise money for Oxfam. It'll be an incredible achievement and I am so in awe of them for taking up this challenge. They'll be walking a mind blowing 100km over 30 hours (yikes!), I can hardly get my head around it actually. I promised I would pass on their details in case any of you would like to donate to Oxfam via the Hooky Ladies of Yorkshire. The link to their team page is here.

And finally, Thing Number 3 :: the Sun Is Still Shining here and the sky is a most gorgeous shade of cloudless blue!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipppeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a fabulous weekend, enjoy every precious little minute of it ♥

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Comments

[fabi]

MMMnnnn ricoooo y hermosass fotosss Me encanta todoo todo lo que haces!!!! besos

[Cat]

Such lovelies!!! I love living in England through you.

Hugs!
Cat

[Jenny]

Cold early morning here in New Zealand, but I was instantly transported to those lovely first spring days with your lovely pics of strawberries and asparagus. Love your blog. I'm off to buy some white wool for the outside of my new project a large granny blanket to match the one in black my husbands grandmother made.

[Nicky]

Very curious - what did you buy at the yarn shop?

[Angelika]

I love to read your blog. You are a very positive person. Thanks for your lovely posts.
Regards,
Angelika

[Noofs]

Enjoy the weekend! Lovely pics. :-))

[Lermer]

I recently created a tapestry using an image on a Janet Bell card I was given. Your post reminded me to send her some pictures. Thanks for your lovely, sunny, inspirational blog.

[Bonnie]

Looks all so lovely! I love the cow parsley in the jug, what a lovely idea!!

[Julie]

Hi Lucy

I just wanted to say Hi - and thank you for all the inspiration you have given me. I am half way through a one piece granny afghan, a summer garden afghan, have done a few rows of bunting using corcheted triangles and also a few using washi tape and am also producing crocheted jar covers for all and sundry who dare come near me. Today I have also ventured into making garlands using felt - will let you know how that turns out. However - -do you have any suggestions what I can do with some 4 ply sock wool i bought on impulse today? It was on sale, absolutley beautiful colours - : http://www.laughinghens.com/knitting-wool-yarn.asp?yarnid=2279 . however i have been using chunky or worsted weight wools and smallest size hook ive used is a 4.25 and now teh fineness of this Regia yarn scares me - so I need to break myself in gently : ) any suggestions? hope youre having a great weekend x

[Naomi]

I did exactly the same as some other commenters and read this sentence,
"I had a little play with hook and yarn this afternoon, trying out a few ideas from my new book." as FOR my new book! I won't lie my heart skipped a beat at the thought of an attic 24 book :) xxx

[Sandra Licher]

So glad you enjoyed your day! It's very hot here and we have heat warnings and fire warnings but I have Ac to turn on when I can't take it anymore so that's good! I too bought some strawberries as the ones I'm growing don't make enough for strawberry shortcake which is on the menu! YUM!
I love the tie and the artwork! And your crochet is so pretty! I finished my ripple! I love it! thanks for your pattern! I love looking at it but already the mind is whirling as to what's next!?!? I love picking out a new project. Oxfam is a wonderful organization!
I too thought you were writing your own book which you should you know...you ARE that good and your tutorials are the best!

[Lisa G.]

It's comical to this American the way you say "English asparagus" and "English strawberries" - you're a patriot!

I love your little whatever-it-is with the houses on it - a pincushion, a change purse?

[Diana]

My daughter coats the asparagus with a little oil, salt and pepper, lays them on a baking tray and roasts them for a few minutes. No mess. They taste so sweet that way.
Love your idea of the blue cloth and cow parsley outside. You certainly are a creative person.
Can't wait to see the new terrace cushion cover.
Sitting here admiring cut flowers from my garden. Love the spring stuff.

[khanh]

Hi Lucy, You're an AWESOME lady. Thanks to Janet Bell who introduced you to the Blog world. I think you should start your own book, I'm sure you will have a lot of customers as you have a lot of followers. Your works are beautiful and luscious colors. We all need colors in our lives and thanks for sharing your gifted talents.

[David]

Excellent blog. Love the header and the lovely colours in your photos.

Out of interest, what camera do you use for these photos?

Thanks

David

[jeannette]

i love this kind of post, a day in the life, with color notes. thsnk you.

[Joyce Stewart]

What? Not Connie-vanning this glorious weekend? Can't believe you are not heading off!! Ours is outside the front door but I am not heading off either....relax and enjoy the heat...great post!

[LizT]

So glad to see I'm not the only one who finds Jan Eaton's patterns hard to read, although I think the US version would suit me as although I'm English, US terms make more sense to me since that's what I started with. Strawberries and asparagus, not to mention something chilled - yum.

[Twolittleflowers]

Sigh...warm weather, yummy fresh food, pretty pictures...what more could a girl ask for... Keri

[Federica Maria]

I love the way you talk about crochet and lifestyle at the same time plus I love asparagus!

[grannytaughtmetocrochet]

Hi Lucy,

Lovely blog. I really enjoyed reading it.

I also have the Jan Eaton Book, I love looking at it, but always have something else on the go to try it.

When you said "your new book" I thought you were bringing out a book. I got very excitied. And now realise what you meant.

But you should bring out a book!

x

[Deco Cat]

Life is so much better in the sunshine!

[davina]

HI Lucy lovely pictures. Can't wait to see what you come up with when you have finished your colourful blocks. I have run a patchwork, crochet and other crafts group now for nearly five years, and a dear friend and I always talk about attic 24. We love following you and your work. Thank you for all the fun you bring.
take care vina x

[Adri Louw]

Dearest Lucy - you have a very devoted following in a little town called Paarl - 50km from Cape Town, South Africa. We started a ya-ya group - as my daughter calls it! - and you and your tutorials are like old friends! Thank you for sharing your life and designs with us. And enjoy your summer! Our winter - and the rain - has started, but I love it - with summers of constant 35 degrees and up, rainy winters are blissfull-and the wool doesn't stick to sweaty hands!

[Laura Miller]

So loved Little B's photographic debut!!! My two have produced many similar ones, mostly of people's feet!! Have a super weekend.... x