Comfort Seeking

It's been a difficult week on the home front, it always is when there are germs lurking. Poor Little Man (although not so little these days) was knocked off his feet by a virus and spent four days battling it. He is a good ill child mind you, spending the days 100% horizontal in a nest of cushions and blankets on the sofa, very still and quiet. And yet it is surprisingly draining being at home with him in this state, although I'm not quite sure why exactly. Could be the unsettled nights we have both been dealing with, the continuous underlying low grade stress that mothering a poorly child brings. On Friday, Little B was also knocked off his feet, so I had two ill boys jostling for recovery space on the sofa. It was a difficult end to a difficult week.



To deal with the low-grade stress, I found myself in full on comfort-seeking mode. First up fresh flowers. Got to have a jug of fresh flowers on the table when there are germs lurking.



They add comfort and colour, and a reminder that Spring is just around the corner.



The other thing (aside from crochet) that I always, always do when the Little People are ill is bake. It's an instinctive act, something that seems to happen so predictably when illness hits, that it makes me proper laugh at myself. I am a funny thing for sure.



I made the naughtiest, most indulgent, comforting thing I could think of :: Tiffin. I made it partly for J (it is his absolute favourite, and it was Valentines day), and partly cos I had this extra special need for a mouth full of chocolate. This is a no-bake recipe and utterly divine, the recipe is here.



I also baked a carrot cake which turned out very well indeed, the recipe is here.

This morning (Saturday) I am very happy to report that both my boys are very much better. Still not 100% but oh it is good to see Little Man actually able to use his legs again after a week of The Wobblies, and to see Little B playing and smiling again and not laid low by a rocketing temperature.



I spent some time this morning doing a little Home Blessing. Cleaning and tidying, folding blankets and plumping cushions, picking up a whole mountain of toys, books, clothes and miscellaneous crud from the floors and surfaces. What a job. You should have seen behind the sofa....on second thoughts, maybe not. We found lots of Long Lost Things though (a toy canon ball, a wind up torch, a tape measure, a steering wheel, a bouncy ball, several keyrings, lots of lego bits), so that was a bonus.

I took away my gone-over pots of bulbs from the mantel and replaced them with pots of bright new shoots. Such a pleasurable job! These little yellow pots of narcissi are from the local supermarket and only 50p each, I love having them in the house so much.

My comfort reading has been this delightful book, oh how I LOVE to be inside these pages! This was never a part of my childhood reading (they were written in 1980 when I was twelve) but I so wish it had been. I have a similar feeling about Sylvanian Families, I know I would have loved them so much as a child. This book is one of four seasonal "Brambly Hedge" stories by Jill Barklem, such sweet tales about a community of hedgerow mice, but it is the illustrations that really make the books. The one I've been reading this week is Spring Story and I also have Summer story, both bought second hand. I see on Amazon that you can buy a very lovely little box set which contains all four books, it's called " A Year in Brambly Hedge "..think I might have to invest.

I was sat in the Big Chair earlier with a mug of frothy coffee, having just re-read the Spring Story again. I turned round and looked at the room I was sitting in and was overwhelmed with a sense of relief and gratitude. Home. My boys are on the mend, the floors are clean, I've new green shoots on the mantel, Yellow daffodils on the table and Spring is round the corner. Thank goodness. Thank goodness for Home and all it's little comforts.

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Comments

[Mellie]

Oh my I have had a need to get my old childhood books out of the loft now seeing you reading bramley hedge has made me want to do this even more now!!

I am glad the boys are better!! My big boy has been poorly too and now he is better I have been refreshng my place too!!

xxx

[Kari]

I, too, was too old to grow up with Brambly Hedge, but my kids loved them! We have all eight books and, like you, I still like to look at them once in a while, as does my daughter who is now 17. I'll be saving them for the grandchildren.

[Jo]

Oh I LOVE Brambly Hedge. They were published the year I was born so I grew up with them. Still a very favourite. Must hunt them out... Thanks for another lovely post, your home looks like such a cosy happy place.

[lazydaisyjones]

Hurrah for tiffin and blankets and cushions and HOME....hip hip hooray
bestest to you Lucy!
Daisy J

[Lynne Gill]

Glad to hear your boys are on the mend - not easy to deal with more than one sickie at a time! And now you are on the up and up would you please pop round to mine and do a little House Blessing for me....I'm so tired catching up on sleep since our return to UK that I haven't done more than unpack, wash a few loads and do a bit of shopping - house in serious need of a good 'doing'!

[Ruostevilla]

Autsch! My husband just called while I was reading your recipe, did I need something from the supermarket?...Digestive biscuits, dried granberries, good chocolate...THANK YOU!

[Chel]

I am so pleased your boys are recovering, make sure you look after you so you don't also get this awful virus. My girl is currently recovering, albeit very slowly. Love the photos of your tiffin, will have a go at the recipe tomorrow. Take care. Chel

[Sara]

So many horrid bugs about, such shame when kids are poorly especially when it is school holidays.

Thanks for link to Tiffin cake, me and son going to make some tommorw can't wait.

[One-oh-four]

Can't concentrate on anything now...I W A N T that Tiffin!!!!!!!!

[Clare]

Glad the boys are feeling better. Brambly Hedge is one my favourite childhood reads I remember the illustrations are just amazing, such a beautiful world to get lost in. I'm trying really hard to resist a trip to amazon right now to buy the complete set.

[Bev]

What a charming, comforting nest you've made! This is my first visit to your blog and I'll definately keep checking back in!

[Marilyn]

Amen Lucy! There is no place like home, ever, ever. I am so thankful and grateful for my home and all the people that have passed through it (children all grown and gone). Such wonderful memories and warm feelings. Thanks for sharing that with me this morning. Your Alabama friend, Marilyn

[Elena]

I saw this book recently in one of the blogs and was drawn to it immediately because of the illustrations. I am planning to buy it on Amazon. :-)
Your house looks wonderful. So bright, so welcoming.
Have a nice weekend!

[Hil Clayton]

Oh Lucy you made me smile!! I just went and found all my Jill Barklem books to read again, I remembered how much I love them. Glad the Little People are feeling better, I had three boys and went through The Wobblies many times. Love to you all. Hilxx

[Cassandra]

Aw I am glad your boys are feeling better. I have had one boy with a runny nose since October pretty much and The older boy was sick this week too, but once he realized the enxt day was Valentines day he was suddenly all better. Funny how that works?

[Jo Allen]

Sounds like you and I had an identical week Lucy. My big boy now better and back to school for the last day. I had very restful half term. Lots of hooking alongside my poorly boy. His Dad hs it now!

[MARIA]

Your cookies are lovely, very lovely! And the mice... Do you want visiting my blog and take a comment (ex.: "Beautiful blog")? You know, tell me if you like, please!:)
I wait on my blog!
Kisses and hugs!
Love, your friend,
MARIA
I'm 11 years old!!!:D

[Val]

I'm never sure why looking after ill children is so very wearing.. a mix of worry, juggling the ordinary demands of life with their care..or even the likely possibility that you are doing all this on not much sleep and a mild (or not so mild)version of whatever they have..and then when they are on the mend ...you are by this time relieved and shattered at the same time and they can be so fractious...they could drive a Saint round the bend...
Tiffin and Brambly hedge sound like inspired choices :0)
We went for Milly Molly Mandy and Icecream...but now I shall add Brambly hedge to the comfort shelf...and Tiffin to the recipe book :0)

[Kayleigh Gerrard]

Thought I recognised Brambly Hedge.. I had them on cassette tape as well as the books when I was growing up and would listen to them to help me fall asleep! :) Glad your boys are up and feeling better now :)

[Helen]

Hope your boys are feeling much better now
I love the Brambly Hedge books, so many amazing little details, I really like the cross section of the tree house, I definitely had the winter one, it was lovely.
We've had a lovely blue sky today in Manchester, hope you have had it too
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

[Gill]

Lovely post and pics as usual. I'm the same age so I missed the Brambly Hedge books but luckily for me by the time I had had my son the series had started on the telly. Oh, what joy I used to get watching that programme! And even though he's much older now I still use any excuse to see the programmes (in fact, I got a framed print of the above picture from a charity shop years ago for myself). I too will have to keep an eye out for the books...purely for when grandchildren appear on the scene (hopefully not just yet!)

Love and stuff xx

[google]

Apparently I went to school with Jill Barklem but I can't say that I remember her and was obviously too old for her books (we are all in our early 60's) but that one page you showed is so sweet I think I will have to find a copy and catch up with what I missed! I like the idea of the 'dresser of Doom' from 'Sew' -I did think of your shelves of doom.

As for the tiffin - I made some for Christmas and all the blokes who pretend not to have a sweet tooth, well, there was none left one they descended!

[Sherry in MT]

I adore how you de-stress! Glad the boys are on the mend.

[Paula]

I'm sorry you had a hard week with the little ones (and the not so littles) but happy they are on the mend. It is very draining... I know exactly what you mean! But you've made it thru, baking and hooking along the way. AND you've ended on a very high note ~ that is a wonderful place to be! We are excited to try your cake recipe today...if we can figure out this metric thing ;) have a good weekend! ~ Paula

[sew]

Do you think that's the Brambly Hedge's Dresser of Doom?!
Glad your chaps are on the mend - worrying about them is so wearing all round. Your room looks irresistably comfy!
♥