This is a lovely time of year in England as we near the end of Winter and welcome the very gentle feel of Spring in the air. Today was bright and sunny, with a beautiful light that most definitely looked and felt like Spring rather than Winter. We are on the cusp of changing seasons, and it feels really pretty good.
It's still very chilly here in my my patch mind you. The clear skies have led to freezing cold nights, and despite the sunshine the canal was frozen when we walked to school this morning. It still feels good to be cosied up indoors, although this afternoon I did have a mild thought about spending time planting up my disgracefully dead hanging baskets. The thought was very mild and lasted about 4.5 seconds before I shivered and scurried back inside. Home feels so cosy and lovely, no need to play outside just yet.
My time spent at home with Little B is a pleasure actually. After the mornings activities out and about, we generally have three hours together at home in the afternoons. These hours consist of lunch, followed by some time where we each do our own thing (train track fun for him today and catching up on emails for me), followed by some time spent together (we baked today, a batch of buns, followed by a tray of flapjack). I am still lighting the fire in the late afternoons as like I say, it is still very chilly here.
Oh but the lengthening days are soooooo welcome! I love that we are eating all our meals by natural daylight again, it feels wonderful. Our evening meal is at 5.30 and is always one of the highlights of my day. I enjoy my solo time with my apron on cooking in the kitchen, singing along to the radio. I enjoy setting the table with cutlery and glasses and waiting for J to come home. And I very much enjoy the family time we have each evening with us all eating and chatting around the table together. I made satay noodles for dinner tonight, we ate them out of bowls and they were rather mmm-mmm.
I put my hand in my coat pocket earlier to find a tissue and out came a handful of beach treasure from last week. It made me smile and made me think about holidays. We've been pondering over our holiday plans for this year and so far are still undecided quite what to do and in which order to do what we're not sure about doing. We have a family wedding to go to in the late autumn which we are are thinking about turning into a weeks holiday (the venue is in Kent somewhere, so a long way for us to travel from here for just a few days). Currently we are undecided whether to return to Northumberland again in the summer or to try somewhere completely different. And then of course we have our Connievan trips to think about and plan...oh joy! I'm going to go and visit her at the weekend to see how she has come through the winter. Seems an age since our last Connie-jolly. Can't wait for the next one. Roll on Spring, we are ready ☼
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Sea Glass and crochet !!! That is my life's addiction :) I literally have rubbermaid totes of sea glass gathered as my mom and I walk the beaches together in the summer...and crochet is my therapy :)
Posted by: brenda | March 03, 2013 at 10:29 PM
That top picture actually made me feel a little bit homesick. England is so pretty!<3
Posted by: Rosie | March 03, 2013 at 01:52 PM
Your pocket full of beach treasures are so pretty - will you pop them in a dish?
Happy planting up of your hanging pots when you do venture out.
I have a question... how do you organise the kids when they get home from school so that you have time to yourself to cook without them in the kitchen? My eldest has just started school, and he and his younger brother are often found bouncing around in the kitchen while I make dinner.
Posted by: Seaweed & Raine | March 03, 2013 at 11:20 AM
What lovely pix of Whitby...oh my it brings back lovley memories of the town of Capt. Cook. We enjoyed the visit to the "church yarn shop". Love your blog and I'll continue to follow from Missouri in the center of the US, where we still have snow. Spring will be coming soon I hope, but until then warm fires and hot chocolate are a delight!
Posted by: Charlyn Hada | March 03, 2013 at 04:31 AM
Hi Lucy~
I love your blog! Thank you for sharing your wonderful home life in England with me. I really enjoy seeing your beautiful pictures and reading your refreshingly honest posts. I love all the bright colors you use in your sewing and in your home~ so cheerful! It is always so nice to read about other moms who are happy at home. I look forward to Spring and more of your lovely posts!
Karen :)
Posted by: Karen Chapuis | March 01, 2013 at 10:34 PM
If your heading to Kent, your not too far from Essex. The kids could visit Southend on Sea for the day and we would love to meet you at Beautiful Things HQ. We often follow your patterns at our crochet club and classes.
Posted by: Claire Mackaness | February 28, 2013 at 10:40 PM
The deep-toned heart stone seems the perfect sea treasure.
Posted by: Paula Hendrickson | February 28, 2013 at 09:32 PM
I just love love love to read your posts full of colourful crochetness and other happiness. :) instead of clicking your buy-me-coffee button, I'd love to send you a bamboo crochet hook with leather soft grip with your name on it, that I've made myself. Please let me know if you'd like that! You can find them here: http://nicollie.etsy.com :)
Love, Nicole
Posted by: Nicole | February 28, 2013 at 07:34 PM
Your holidays are exactly the same as ours, I could not believe it when you posted the row of houses in Craster, we stayed in one near the end and this year we are going to Lyme Regis - it is all a bit spooky! I love holiday planning and I am getting itchy alotment fever too.
Posted by: Jo Roberts | February 28, 2013 at 07:26 PM
Hello Lucy! It's still quite chilly here in Indiana, USA too. Your fireplace looks very warm and cosy. I'm still making heart hangers. I gave my daughter & mom one for Valentines, one for me & 2 more for BD gifts. Thanks for sharing the patterns. I didn't understand increases, but I wanted to make it so bad I frogged til I figured it out! Now I don't even need the pattern to make one. :) have a lovely warm day. Leah D
Posted by: Leah | February 28, 2013 at 07:23 PM
Sun been shinning here to for the last few days in county down but still very cold. It's got me thinking of spring cleaning and gardening but I can't leave my knitting down. Thanks for your lovely pics. Best wishes x
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Posted by: Sajid Khan | February 28, 2013 at 06:19 PM
hiya - I'm sure you'll have lots of advice, but for your trip to kent, why not go down in connievan? I can heartily recommend Broadhembury Caravan Park as a place to stay (near Ashford). It was really well maintained, staff very friendly, nice little park / play area for the children, and the toilet block / kitchen sink area was beautifully clean. We stayed there last September and my eldest boy (3 yrs and 9 months old) still remembers it and wants to go back!
Two years ago we made a trip from Kent (where we live) up north to visit family in our new 'van. It was our first trip and we did a bit of a trek - stayed near Lincoln (for sherwood forest - Lincoln is like a mini York by the way - lovely), then stayed near York, then up to a village near Hartlepool to stay with family, then across to a park just outside national trust Lower Sizergh Park (near Kendal, edge of Lake district). It was next to the most gorgeous, most fabulous, bestest-ever farm shop I've ever been to. EVER. You HAVE to go there!) and then back down via Oxford. Long and Short of my waffle is if you do come down with the 'van, I suggest stopping somewhere near Lincoln as its a good midway distance!
Anyhoo, if you've not fallen asleep already, I just would like you to know that I thoroughly enjoy your blog, it never fails to cheer me up and I so wish I had the patience for beautiful crafting and good eye for colour that you have! Thank you!
Posted by: Heather | February 28, 2013 at 05:53 PM
Hi Lucy, As always a pleasure to read your posts. In contrast, I am, for the first time in my life, looking forward to winter. We have had an exceptionally hot summer here with day time temps averaging at around 45 deg Cel and night time temps about 15 deg cel cooler. You literally never stay dry and I've really had enough.Come on winter!!!!!!!!!!!
Love
AMarie
Posted by: Anna-Marie Field | February 28, 2013 at 02:19 PM
Glad you're feeling a bit better now Sarah - we all have bad days - it's the guilt as much as anything that gets to you (especially women!) - don't feel guilty for giving yourself a bit of "me" time i.e. crochet - it'll make you a better mum in the long run - much better equipped to deal with the little ones after an hours crochet than an hours ironing!!
Posted by: Kathy, FRANCE | February 28, 2013 at 01:31 PM
sorry I meant 'Kathy' (baby on my lap here!)
Posted by: Sarah | February 28, 2013 at 01:15 PM
Thanks Cathy! Bad day yesterday, and the day before, felt a bit grumpy with myself in my messy house with my kids giving out to me all evening and no time to crochet a coaster lately! I do love this blog though :) Thank you x
Posted by: Sarah | February 28, 2013 at 01:14 PM
I have recently discovered you and your blog, in a very roundabout way, from the Yarndale website. I am already hooked and loving your creativity. I am a knitter and make tonnes of things already but have always snubbed crochet as both my Mum and my sister do it and I didn't feel like I needed to. However, having read some of your posts and especially seen the photos, you have inspired me and last night I enrolled on a crochet workshop for complete beginners. So, thank you! x
Posted by: Susan | February 28, 2013 at 12:49 PM
I love it when you find forgotten treasures in a coat pocket or a bag that are filled with happy memories that make you smile remembering!
Posted by: Erin | February 28, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Hi Lucy, Just a note to let you know how much I enjoy your "touristy" updates (as well as all the other bits and pieces you post!) The pictures and stories from Whitby brought back so many memories-we visited there in 2007 (seems a lifetime ago now) - I was immediately transported there again - keep the photos and info. coming about the places you visit - you should be on a commission from the "Visit Britain" Tourism Dept.
Regards Sam (Adelaide,Sth. Aust.)
Posted by: Sam | February 28, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Ich weiß gar nicht mehr, wie die Sonne aussieht! Seit Wochen gab es bei uns in Merseburg (Germany) keine Sonne.
Liebe Grüße, Conni
Posted by: Conni | February 28, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Thanks for the sea glass picture! I was in Kent years ago for three weeks! I can't forget the scones and jam I had at Whitstable at a remote hotel overlooking the sea and the wind was menacing outside!The Canterbury Cathedral of course and Dover Castle and Hever Castle and Dickens' House and .....Oh I love those memories!AriadnefromGreece!
Posted by: Ariadne | February 28, 2013 at 10:58 AM
Your photo reminded me of the old Brio railway track that was forever set up in front of the fire when my children were young - and then again for my granddaughter! Those were the days.... actually I was always tripping up on it and complaining!
Angie x
Posted by: Angie | February 28, 2013 at 09:50 AM
So good to see your cozy fireplace and a house full of colorful things :) We are also planning a trip, hopefully will make it in March :) Trips are great!
We have about +20 here now.
Have a nice day, Lucy!
Anna
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