I've had the most wonderful couple of days, just unbelievably wonderful. Nothing out of the ordinary, simply a deep, incredible feeling of appreciation for everything that is good in my life. I've been thinking about my role as a Mum and Wife, the love I feel for my family, the happiness which we all share within this lovely, messy, colourful home of ours.
J was away over the weekend, he went off on Saturday morning to go and enjoy a beer-filled weekend with a group of friends. I was more than happy to stay home with the Little People, chilling out and working on my re-balancing thing. Saturday morning eased along at a leisurely pace. The Little People chose to sit at the table and get creative, and it was wonderful to watch them. This scene was so common in our house a few years ago, but not so much any more so it was an especially lovely time for me. Little Lady was knitting and the boys were both making Fathers Day cards.
I helped Little B just a teeny bit with his card, but that child can be especially stubborn with accepting help and truly he did most of it by himself.
I baked on Saturday morning, just for the joy of it. Sweet little buns topped with butter cream icing, glitter strawberries and a dusting of sugar. Heavenly. You know what I said about the re-balancing thing, the part about cutting back on my sugar intake? Wellllll.....I confess that this beauty slipped under the radar with my afternoon cuppa. Every mouthful was utterly deeeeeeeeeeelicious.
Saturday evening now. Little Lady requested some sofa time with her Mummy, so we hopped into our pyjamas, popped on a film of my choice
One granny square later and we were both sky-high with wonderment and excitement at all the future hooky possibilities this has opened up. Yiippppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday morning and we are no longer granny squaring. She asked for help in learning to crochet rows as she wants to make a skinny scarf for herself. She already had this adorable variegated bamboo yarn (it's a Sirdar yarn called "Smiley Stripes" and this is shade 257 Hulabaloo). I tell you, she is so enjoying this new skill, but not half as much as I am enjoying watching her. My insides feel like they want to explode into a million sparkly stars when I watch her crochet. Such joy. I wonder if she realises? Probably not eh.
Her knitting is now on the back burner for a while I guess, but she has done really well with this too.
Monday now. J had booked the day off work and after all the rain we've had of late, yesterday was miraclously bright and dry here. So we made some plans and set off up into the Dales with Little B for a spot of picnicking and messing about by the river. This is the road that leads along the babbling River Wharfe above Hubberholme, it's one of our favourite picnic spots (I've written about it before I'm sure, yes in 2008 and 2010). I love this road cos it has no sides to it. No fences, no hedges, no walls, no curbs. Just open to the grass and sheep.
You can park a car directly on the grass in the many little lay bys created at the side of the road. Pick a good spot....we needed some flat grass to try out our newly acquired beach tent, and an area of flat rock and pebbly beach that would be relatively safe for Little B to play.
It was completely idyllic.
Little B's playtime was so much fun!
There was lots of rock-filled activity. Collecting rocks, pulling rocks from one spot to another, dumping rocks, throwing rocks with a big SPLaSh into the water, building rock towers and knocking them down.
There was food too, a hastily pulled together picnic lunch with a hot mug of tea to finish.
And there was riverside hooky. Of course. The ripples continue to provide me with a huge dollop of portable bliss, I love working this blanket so much. I think I could happily make this blanket a mile long, work on it for the next decade.
Inside the beach tent, all was cosy and deliciously warm. Little B absolutely loved it in here, he rolled around, wrapped himself in blankets, bounced about and generally had fun.
It was a beautiful day for sure, a lovely chance for J and I to break out of routine and enjoy some time together. To enjoy being parents too, it was obvious how happy Little B was being out and about with us doing something different. Lovely, it really was.
Sigh. So happy. Keep thinking about my little hooking buddy and my heart flips over.........makes me want to kind of laugh and burst into tears all at the same time.
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Edit to add :: thank you so much for your sweet words, I know you understand the Mummy Pride! In answer to questions, Little Lady is 8 years old. She took up knitting when just before she turned 7. She really, really wanted to do it, it was all her idea. She's been nagging me incessantly about the crochet for the past few months but somehow the time was never right to sit down quietly together and spend time on it before now. Actually I hadn't bargained for her being so quick off the mark, especially with how to hold the hook and yarn. Her tension is still a wee bit erratic, a bit loose, but oh my, she has so done me proud. She's been making crochet chain friendship bracelets for the girls in her class at school too ♥
Hi!
You can be proud of your LL. She has skills!
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Posted by: tree cutting winnipeg | October 04, 2013 at 05:33 AM
Oh Lucy it's been a while since I've read your blog and I'm SO glad I came back. You are SUCH an inspiration. And I'm SO happy for you that your little lady has picked up a hook, must be magical watching her. I just felt your glee while you wrote and watched your little lady. :) Much love and hugs from Tasmania!
Posted by: MissFlux | July 18, 2012 at 03:03 AM
Hats off to your daughter, she puts me to shame, I am struggling with the basic granny square! after you tube tutes and a friend showing me, I have not yet grasped it, I will keep trying though. I'll get it in the end.
Posted by: maypole | July 11, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Love this post! My daughter has been knitting from age 9 and designing from age 11. It's so lovely having a yarny companion available all the time - not to mention someone who can get me out of all manner of knitting scrapes. :) Really glad you've got that companionship too. We also have a caravan, so love to cosy up with out knitting there too - makes for a very relaxing holiday!
Posted by: amanda | July 02, 2012 at 09:56 PM
Oh my! Your spot looks like something right out of "The Hobbit"! How lovely! I can just imagine sitting on a rock and dipping my toes in the water....
Posted by: Gail | June 29, 2012 at 07:50 PM
Congrats to little lady on her hooky masterpiece, it's amazing for a first attempt. The proud mum moments go on forever, my little lady is now 22 and a mummy herself and I get all tears eyed and filled with glee when she does things still.
Posted by: Julie | June 24, 2012 at 03:57 PM
Hi Lucy, Loving your blogs, check in everyday to take a 'look inside' you multi colour life! Cheers me up after a day at work! I love your new beach shelter. I would love one to put in the car to take on picnics. Can you tell me if it is tall enough for adults to sit inside it to shelter from the rain? Some I have looked at look to be only for 'little people'. If so do you know who it is made by or where I could get one from? Thanks, loving your daughter is 'hooking' with you. My Grandma taught me when I was a little girl - good memories... x
Posted by: bev | June 24, 2012 at 01:31 PM
Lucy, I just wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog.
I love all the color you surround yourself with. I love your enthusiasm for life and the passion with which you attack even the seemingly ordinary parts of life that so many of us forget to find the pleasure/beauty in...enjoying the view while doing your daily school run, choosing flowers at the market, and even attacking your "bookshelves run a-muck" chore. Your blogs never fails to bring a smile to my day and lighten my spirit...which is good since I live in the Pacific NW of the U.S. and, like you, our weather tends toward the grey.
I love, love the photo you took of your picnic spot above. It made me want to crawl thru the monitor and plant myself at the water's edge. I could hear the breeze blowing, the birds singing and the water trickling. Heaven!
I don't very often post on blogs I read but I just wanted to let you know how much your work is appreciated.
Thank you.
Traci
Posted by: Traci | June 23, 2012 at 07:05 PM
oh Lucy - my heart is aching! This is the exact spot we used to camp as a family with my dear Dad - washing in the river and enjoying camp fires - we even cooked a roast dinner once......sigh....I am going to pine all week for the rivers of Yorkshire - Southern rivers are not quite the same! It looks like you had an idyllic time. Thanks for sharing and giving me a little glimpse of heaven again. xxxx
Posted by: Naomi @ redeemcreations.co.uk | June 23, 2012 at 04:39 PM
what a wonderful weekend and monday. such a thrill to have a hooky mate in your daughter. my daughter and i share patchwork and crafts and even a business for a few years. it is a special joy. and what about that picnic spot, such splendor and beauty. id love to find it on my next visit to uk. maybe this time next year. thanks for sharing the joy. blessings, trills, :-)
Posted by: trillian | June 23, 2012 at 08:51 AM
What a joyful post Lucy, you always cheer me up. I like the idea of the picnic tent and you have inspited me to buy one from Halfords. Going to have a practice run in the garden before a day out with shelter, so thanks for a great idea.
Hope you have a lovely weekend. xx
Posted by: Phyl. | June 23, 2012 at 12:28 AM
Your little Lady is very talented!
It's something in the genes... I presume....
Posted by: Karin | June 22, 2012 at 04:20 PM
Hi Lucy! I have been reading all your posts now from when you first started and up until now, and I am so totally in love with this blog! It's been great following your life through your posts and your lovely Little Ones. I have no children yet, but when the time comes I hope I can be as good a Mum as you are, Lucy. And hey, you have also inspired me to start my own blog. And I'll be continuing to follow your blog :)
Congrats on L.L's new skill!
Posted by: Beate | June 22, 2012 at 01:17 PM
What a clever girl she is. I so wish My daughter was interested in crafting. Her friend however is,and It is feels great to pass on my skills to her.
Posted by: louise | June 22, 2012 at 01:15 PM
Little Lady is a gem - really talented - if I think about my first granny which was awquard. Her is definitely so neat that it will be centerpiece of some future granny blanket for Conievan maybe???!!!
I love all your posts, they are so full of love and joy.
Posted by: jacekica | June 21, 2012 at 05:26 PM
I'm not surprised that you are so proud of your little lady! She did an excellent job for her first time. I remember when my girls were younger and wanted to learn how to crochet..... what funny shapes we got. I sewed them all together to make a very strange shaped blanket and they loved it. In fact they still talk about it many years later. :D Enjoy this time with your daughter.
Posted by: Sue | June 21, 2012 at 04:12 PM
As a professional seamstress, and a knitter and crochet-er, I'm very aware that these skills are no longer taught to the younger generation. I learnt to sew from my mother and grandmother and it has given me a career and a life long love of these crafts, and it gives my heart a warm glow to see your daughter taking to these skills.
you have given her something that will last a lifetime, happy memories of childhood and the sheer joy of being able to say" I made That" .
She's done so well, very impressive . do tell her how impressed we all are, and I'm sure she will be an as inspirational, as you are. I've been inspired to make many of the things you feature on your blog and look forward to your daughter inspiring us too!!
Posted by: JANE ELLIOT | June 21, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Lucy, this is a lovely post. I could really feel how much love you have in your house towards each other. God bless your family and you are surely a great Mom!:)))
Posted by: Anna | June 21, 2012 at 10:54 AM
How many times did i said that YOU ARE THE MOST FANTASTIC MUM EVER!!? How many times? MANY! I read You, I crochet with Your tips, I love Your style and life approach- Can You move to my street please?
Monika
Posted by: [email protected] | June 21, 2012 at 09:31 AM
How blessed this little Poppit is to have such a talented AND patient AND enthusiastic mummy :-) I can remember my Grandmother teaching me to crochet ... but I was silly and did not pay enough attention... now I'm having to relearn and as a grown up it's not that easy! Perhaps I can join the two of you on the couch? :-) xx
Posted by: Angy Braine | June 21, 2012 at 07:03 AM
What a wonderful weekend filled with so many warm and fuzzy moments. I don't want to wish the time away but I am so looking forward to sharing my love of all things yarn related with my daughter. She is only three but loves making things already. We had our own warm, fuzzy moment at the weekend making a bead necklace. I was amazed by her concentration and dexterity.
Loving the blog, it has changed my life!
Posted by: Anne | June 21, 2012 at 04:18 AM
looks like an amazing place to enjoy the day....or week!
Posted by: val | June 21, 2012 at 03:43 AM
What sweet happy times with your children! I read an article today that said more parents are unhappy than people who aren't parents - that children make people unhappy!!!! I certainly don't feel that way at all. How could we be unhappy with all the joy that children give. Granted, they aren't any more perfect than we are & there are hard days but a day like you shared here fills me with heart-bursting soaring joy & happiness.
I'm very happy for you that you had such a great weekend.
Posted by: Jen Y | June 20, 2012 at 10:25 PM
Awesome! Hope you are always as happy and proud, enjoying your wonderful family and home!
Loved the knitting yarn!! What is it - please? :D
Posted by: Sike | June 20, 2012 at 08:43 PM