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

[Carol]

Glad recovery is underway for the boys, due in no small part to the happy, colourful, caring nest you create for your family. What a lovely post.
Carol xx

[Jill]

Glad the the boys are on the mend!
I adore the Brambly Hedge books! I bought them for my daughter but I think I liked them better than she did. I even bought patterns for making the mice but haven't yet. A friend's daughter is about to have her second daughter, so I got a copy of Poppy's Babies to give her older girl. I hope I'll be able to part with it when the time comes! On our drives around England, I always imagine the hedgerows we pass are full of little villages of mice.
Thank you for your fabulous blog, I look forward to each new post.
Jill

[Morgan]

Aren't you so lucky you're well off? Buy what you want when you want.

[Louise]

And what a beautiful, comfortable and sweet home you have, and how lucky your family is to have you! Tiffin is one of my favorites also! Have a wonderful weekend Lucy!

[AngelJem]

I had the Bramley Hedge pattern book to make the people: Wilfred was my favourite but I made a Poppy and ??? can't remember Dogwood as bride and groom for my brother! I loved them so much. I must get it out again for my daughter.

[maypole]

So glad the little ones are getting better. I agree, HOME the best pace to be.

[julie]

I LOVE THIS POST! (not the part about your boys being sick of course, but the whole, "HOME" theme!) You are great, Lucy! Thank you!

[diana]

Thanks for an uplifting post. Spring is still a few more months away here in Canada's capital. ;-)

[Denise]

went to look out the ingredients for the Tiffin but don't have digestives so ginger biscuits will have to do- I make rocky road with ginger biscuits too!

[Sara]

My two loved Brambley Hedge when they where little..yes very cosy stories. Poorly kids are very tiring even when they are good as gold..the worry is the energy depleting bit I think. Good for baking is all I can say , always lifts the spirits, as does your blog...which is why I visit...for a bit of cheer ( and spring!!)

[Claire]

My little 3 year old learnt to bake with your carrot cake recipe! It has become a firm favourite in our house now :-) hope the germs disappear soon. Loving the Brambley Hedge!

[Claire]

I bought my daughter the A year in Brambley Hedge box set last year and she loves them, I also added to it with 'The high hills'. For her birthday in January we got her the little grey rabbit treasury.

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy it was a beautiful morning here in my neck of the woods and for the first time in weeks I went out into the garden soon after 8am to look at a clear blue sky (a little hint of spring!). Going back into the house it was cosy and warm. Tulips on the Kitchen window sill, clean floors and the weekend! Having run out of bread what to have for breakfast? Inspiration;
some homemade fruity mini pancakes with a sprinkling of sugar and left over lemon from pancake day with a cup of tea.
A half term week to look forward to and three rounds of a granny square blanket to complete. Have a good weekend.
PS Loved your posts on the dolly blankets! xx

[Kate]

Right with you on all of the above, Lucy. Brambly Hedge was always a favourite with me and my daughter when she was small. Daffs and chocolate, works every time.

[Jenny Grant]

It is always a worry when nippers are poorly! Glad they're better now!

I did my Home Blessing this morning and it is comforting to see the whole house sparkle! Mind you, I only did the middles of the rooms, dread to think what I'd find under my settee!!

Now for some knitting, I have 7 rows left till I can start the armhole shaping. And I've been looking at yarn online, so naughty when I have so many projects unfinished!

Your baking has made me hungry, am going to try your muffin recipe later on!

[Karen]

Hi Lucy

After yesterday's post where you said you didn't have anything on your hook, i've just uploaded a new pattern on my blog :-) It may tempt you ........

Spring is in the air, I can feel it.

x

[Sharron]

Do you know what my overriding thought was after reading your post Lucy? Thank goodness for you! Thank goodness we can all come into your world for a moment for a colourful pick me up.

Hoping the rest of the family avoid the germs, and that you have a lovely half term!

[Heather]

Sorry to hear you've had such a grotty week. Spring flowers should be available on prescription, such are their therapeutic powers!!!

Heather x

PS. Went straight over to Felicity's shop and bought a similar tulip mosaic tile after completely falling in love with yours. What a lovely lady she is!

[Tina]

Ah, that's good to hear. (me too with Brambly Hedge...love it!) xxx

[Sarah]

Know the feeling! I'm sat eating lunch before a vase of daffodils and feeling that happy that Spring is coming...love your blog and your beautiful pics!

[Joy]

lovely thoughts and comments as always Lucy ... glad the boys are on the mend xx

[Katherine Sullvian]

Winter Story has always been our go to cosy story. We too have been re-visiting Brambley Hedge while recovering from winter coughs. Your entire post was like looking in a (heart) mirror.