Wintry Spring

On Friday/Saturday we had two nights and two days of falling snow. SNoW! It hadn't escaped me that we passed by the Spring Equinox on Wednesday, so it seems extra odd that we've been flung so deeply back into winter.

We had an official Snow Day on Friday when many schools in Yorkshire were closed. The downside was that we also had to cancel a planned weekend away at the West coast, boo-hoo! I was madly disappointed yesterday, and stupidly cross with the weather. I mean, it is really a bit pointless saying bad swear words to a pile of snow, but I did it anyway.

After my tantrum, I packed away my bad feelings and unearthed some gratitude for a warm, cosy stay-at-home day, pottering about with a free agenda. In the early morning I baked lemon drizzle cake and it was completely right for the occasion, lifting my spirits and making the house smell good.

While the cake was baking in the oven, I nipped downstairs to the cellar to finish off my latest Mod Podge extravaganza. I've upped my fabric choice for this project and have been smearing MP all over a load of delicious Liberty tana lawn. Such luxury! Ooooooo, there is going to be a terrific ta-dah share very soon when I show you the piece of furniture that I've been working on and tell you the great story behind it.

It's so very nearly Easter isn't it? It's kind of crept up on me a little bit (Silly snow, I blame you for this, I keep thinking it's February), but I am glad it's soon. I stocked up on Eastery essentials yesterday, much to the Little People's delight. We all adore these little sugar coated blobs of chocolate, and I couldn't contemplate an Easter time without them. I shall be making chocolate crispy nests this week too, and getting out the box of Easter decorations.

I think I've pretty much finished making all the components for my Easter Wreath now too, although I might still need a few more leaves.

I pinned everything in place a few days ago, and it's looking pretty spectacular. Looking forward to showing you :o)

Little B is fighting off a very snotty cold and has not wanted to go out at all these past few days. The Little People have been playing out for short periods, sledging and snowman building up and down the length of our back cobbled street. But even they seem tired of the snow now,and I think we all just want a bit of the warmth and freedom that Springtime brings. Still, there have been some lovely moments here, with lots of snuggling and blanketeering (my two boys in the above photo, snuggled in the big chair together this morning).

Some lovely playtime too. This rather messy mess was the aftermath of the Regents Café (named by Little Lady) which opened at number 24 this morning. J and I were force fed plastic ice creams, then given plastic beans on toast followed by cups of "cappycheeeeno's" (Little B knows his café lingo)

It was decided that Regents Café would benefit enormously from real food to supplement all the plastic, so I provided the requested items (minus the mini eggs which I am ridiculously protective about), and we all sat down for  a morning snack. Picture this :: all five of us sat around the table eating rather weird food combos (tomatoes and marshmallows?) from the above platter on little dinky plastic plates. Fun!

I've been in quite a bit of pain today actually, as I had a nasty, icy slip-slide down my neighbours steps last night. It was soooo treacherously icy underfoot and I crashed down very heavily, bruising my thigh quite badly. I swear it was nothing whatsoever to do with the volume of Chardonnay, it was the ice, Ok? Anyhow....in the late morning after the umpteenth time of shouting at Little B "MIND MY LEG!!", J took pity on me and persuaded the Little People to all go and hang out with him upstairs (they gamed), leaving me in peace and quiet downstairs. I was grateful. I made coffee and cosied myself up on the sofa to read Winter Story (Brambly Hedge) which was wonderful. Oh those illustrations are incredible!

In fact J has been rather fabby today (he is not big on sympathy usually) and got the dinner all sorted (recipe from this great book ). So throughout the day there has been the waft of delicious cooking around the place, flooding me with relief at not having to bother doing or thinking about that particular job with my leg screaming at me.

This afternoon, I lit the fire and resumed my position on the sofa. I exchanged Brambly Hedge for my crochet basket and indulged in a little bit of pleasurable hooky action.

I made a little Easter something, and I'll share more of that with you tomorrow. It was fun to be lead by the hand through someone else's tutorial for a change I have to say, and the pattern was beautifully written.

I am off to bed very soon, my hot water bottle is already under the covers warming it all up for me and I suddenly feel more than ready to be right there with my head on those roses. But before I go, I just want to say a little something about my precious blog, Attic24. I just want to thank you all so, so much for your wonderful enthusiasm on my last post (the studio story). Thank you for being so happy for me! However, I have to say it did surprise me that there were a few comments asking whether my blog would be changing as a result of the studio, or if it would become second best now that the studio has appeared. I promise you faithfully that the answer is no to those things. I am mega excited about having a new workspace to play in and all that it promises for the future, but I am still a full time stay-at-home Mum remember. So Attic24 will remain pretty much the same as it always has been :: a homey, cosy sort of place to visit, a place for me to chitter chatter to you all about life on the home front.

Right, I hope that's sorted now. I'll see you tomorrow to show you more of today's hooky action. It's pretty damn cute I can tell you.

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Comments

[Bernadette Edens]

Oh, Lucy, take care about your leg! My Dad fell on some ice once and broke his leg (down here in Birmingham, Alabama of all places! :) If it doesn't feel better soon, you might need to have your leg x-rayed.

I hope you and Little B will feel better soon and that you all get some spring weather before too long!

Best wishes!

Bernadette

[Melissa@Dyno-mom]

I am a new reader from the States. I adore the Brambley Hedge books! My aunt lived in England when I was a child and she sent them back for birthdays. Now my own children read them. Next, a question: where I live we get a great deal of snow, a big storm can drop 46 inches and a modest one 4-6. How much Yorkshire snow before they close school?

[Tabby P.]

So sorry to hear about your leg. That's bad luck. I hope you heal quickly! We're over the snow too, we're all ready to throw open the windows and play in the yard. Hopefully spring remembers its late for work. I'll be making some of those same Easter surprises for 4 littles that I know.
Hugs and love!

[Mary D]

Hi Lucy
We have had a couple of days of snow here,but it ll clear now.i hope your pain eases off soon! Glad that your blog will continue,it's so happy and colourful .
Will also be interesting to hear how thing go at the studio,with lots of photos as well
I wish it was near here, as I would have loved to visit . But I will have to make do with reading all about it it will be exiting,with lots of crafting classes, and all in the one place.i wish you both lots of luck,bye for now.

[Geraldine]

Had a busy knitty weekend myself finishing off my bunnies in time for Easter. Hope your leg feels better soon. I'm also hoping for better weather surley the sun has got to come out soon !!! Best wishes from G

[Libby]

Soooo sorry about your fall and your leg! We, too, have had additional snow these last couple of days here in the USA in Illinois. I love to look at it falling, but wish we had had it in December instead of March, for Pete's sake. I could taste the lemony cake and feel the warmth of your cappycheeeeno!

[Angela-Southern U.S.A.]

First,let me say...ouch!!! Hope it's better soonest.Spring seems to be holding out on all of us,snow flurries here today,brr!Yes..the memories,of all those forced feedings,lol,enjoy.Can't wait for all the Ta-Da reveals! I brought out my wreath for spring(in hopes of warm weather).http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftygal/8574098455/in/photostream Rest that leg!(a good opportunity for more hooky time.) ;D Glad to here Attic24 will still be around!

[JenniH]

Such nice and warm feelings during your cozy stay-at-home weekend, despite of all that snow. Your writing style is so lovely. :) Hopefully your leg gets better soon! Today was the first morning here in Finland that I could leave my long johns home. Yey! Hopefully that means the breaking point for winter this time!

[Suzan]

Be much better soon. Such falls hurt so much.

I love the bright and cheerful colour you inject into life and I wish I had been a fly on the wall during the edible portion of your feast.

Meanwhile in my portion of Australia I am desperate for autumn and an end to humidity and some crispness in the air.

[Kim W]

Lucy I do hope you feel better, a bruise is no fun and no joke. I dearly love Attic 24 ns I am glad you will be keeping it up. It is snowing here in the USA too, and I feel you on the cranky.
KimW

[Jill]

Thanks for another lovely colourful post on a grey 'Spring' day! Your Easter wreath is going to look fabulous.

[Jane]

Brambly Hedge! Oh I know I've got those books somewhere - I remember being completely absorbed in the pictures - must dig them out. Looking forward to seeing your finished items - I'm guessing an Easter bunny and a mod podge chair! Keep warm x Jane

[Sandra (Cherry Heart)]

Yes, I was most grumpy at the weather too. Stoopid snow at almost Easter time! Anyway, I'm glad you got so lovely cozy time by yourself to enjoy, even if you did have to pay quite a high price to get it! I love the wonderful decadence of Tana Lawn shelf lining - ohh Lucy the luxury!!

S x

[Kate]

Lucy- ARNICA.Lots and lots of arnica rubbed in at regular intervals.That will sort the leg out, works like magic on bruises. Mothers often forget it works on grown-ups just as well as it does on children! Take care now- we have no snow, just ice and a strong,cold wind.BRRRRRRRRRR

[Mellie]

Oh my ... I had forgotten about my Easter decorations!!! I'm making my own easter wreath too ... inspired by you of course!!! x

[Rae]

Hi Lucy, I too love to read your blogs and hope your leg is better soon. The weather here in Norfolk is very cold but not much snow and I too have been feeling angry with it grrr..I so want to tend and love my garden it look's so sad after such a long winter and my daffodils need some sun to pop open their heads. I love to crochet and you help inspire me when I have an unproductive spell...

[Cathy]

Oh dear I am sorry the snow spoiled things for you. Can't understand it, but we've not yet had snow in my part of North Yorkshire! In the meantime to cheer you up I have nominated you for a Liebster award here http://nanacathydotcom.wordpress.com

[Kai]

I need to tell you that you are ALWAYS the first blog I visit each day! Currently I am on the reservation with my people for a Treasuring (our word for baby shower) and NO ONE here has internet except for the Tribal Council building so I actually walked all the way here JUST to catch up with your comings & goings! I, too crochet like CRAZY and I enjoy (a VERY lame and inadequate word, I'm afraid, but I've been up all night, so ...) the beautiful things you make, reading about your family outings, your WONDERFUL new crafting space, and ALL of your day-to-day news! Everything about your blog just makes me smile! Have a very happy week! Kai

[delphine 44]

hello Lucy,
I hope you're feeling better and I 'm so happy that your blog 'll be still like it is ... It makes me fell happy each morning when I open your blog !!
thanks for no changing and your cosy and colored blog !
xxxxx
Delphine 44 from France

[Inge]

I hope you feeling much better today!
Very much looking forward to seeing your Easter wreath!

[SOL]

The contrast between the outside of your home (grey and snow) and the inside (all vibrant spring/summer colours) is quite marked!

[Seaside_Sarah]

Hi Lucy, this is the first time I have wrote a comment. I have to admit you are inspirational and in the last couple of days I have picked up a hook for the first time and hopefully I can master crotchet. I admit I am finding it hard but I will not be defeated.
Love your blog it is so colourful in every way. I hope your leg gets better soon but in the meantime milk it all you can. Bye for now.

[Jessie]

Ooh, I know what this is! I'm making four for each of my little people this weekend.... They're SO cute!

[Jane]

I soooo love your blog Lucy. You've kept me company right through 6 months of a new baby and I'm just getting back to my own crochet now after that tiring but delightful journey into baby land (number 3!) I've often thought of posting a comment but never got around to it. Your studio has made me need to say something though. How very wonderful it looks and how fabulous that something like that has grown out of your 'stay at home' activities. I feel genuinely very happy for you to be trundling so successfully down such a wonderful path. I'm sure it will only lead to more and more colourful adventures! With very best wishes from (sunny - sorry!) Australia :-)

[Maria Hugoson Sjögren]

Hello from Sweden! I´m also one of those many who find lots of inspiration and comfort in your wonderful blog - thank you! I´m an illustrator and do most of my work on paper and computer, but as a change I love crotchet and knitting too!
Love,
Maria
https://www.facebook.com/#!/MariahsImages