Winter/Spring

It is still unbelievably wintry here in my patch. It remains very cold, only just above freezing, and jeez there is still snow sitting on the hills. I keep looking out at the view and willing it to start greening up a little, to look at least a smidge as if Spring is round the corner.

On Sunday the air was all of a sudden very slightly warmer. Still grey and wintry looking, but just about possible to shed an outer layer and stride out without shivering. After some tremendous effort, all five of us made it out the door on Sunday morning, all at the same time, to go and do the same thing together. Increasingly hard to make this happen these days, as the Little People have their own social agenda and tend to dig their heels in re Family Outings. I was glad I dug my own heels in on Sunday and forced The Walk, for it was a good one. We walked up a steep grassy field to take in the view. Always a good thing to get up high and remember where you live. There's the Attic Window look....fourth one down! You see it? That's home!

After the steep, grassy up hill climb, there is a steep, grassy downhill run, then a stile, then a track into the woods.

It's a lovely, simple circular walk (well technically it is lollipop shaped), providing greenery, gentle exercise and fresh air. The greenery was a bit thin where the trees are concerned, but look.......

...the banks of wild garlic have started to sprout fresh, vibrant greenery! Yippeeee!! That surely must mean that we have entered early spring!

I think we walked for about two hours. It was slow going due to Little B only having Little Legs, but he walked the whole way round with enthusiasm and happiness radiating out of him. He is such a sweet outdoor boy.

The relative warmth of Sunday was short lived, and the past couple of days have seen us back to shivery cold. The heating is permanently on and we are wishing we hadn't run out of coal and logs. The blankets are still in full swing, hot water bottles still warming the beds at night. Hasn't this been the longest winter?

I am glad for my colourful, cosy home, as despite the current messiness it is a warm, happy place to be when the weather is cold. I'm still going with the Spring bulbs indoors, I love having them on the mantel. My lovely mother-in-law bought me this latest pot of hyacinths on Saturday and I'm looking forward to the pink flowers and heady scent.

I have been adopting my usual slapdash method of parenting this week with the Little People being home from school, particularly with foodie stuff. We tend to graze in the holidays, although after all the indulgence of Easter last week, I am making a conscious effort to provide healthy grazing fodder for us all. No more chocolate, crisps or sugar laden bakery products for a while....I've replaced them with a large selection of fruit, wholemeal bagels for toasting, and hummus with crudités and breadsticks.

I've been having a bit of en egg fest of the healthier variety this week too and treated myself to these pale blue beauties. They are an extravagance really (£1.99 for six eggs), but oh they are wonderful. They are made by very clever chickens called Old Cotswold Legbars, and I adore the soft colours of the shells.

Inside, the yolks are a magnificent orange colour and taste divine. The past few days I've been up early with Little B for tea and toast, then making myself a brunch around 11.30. Poached eggs on toasted wholemeal bagel. Deeeeelish. If this has picture has made you long for a poached egg, you can read more about my poaching exploits here.

I've had plenty of hooky time these past few days as the Little Peeps have been very good playing amongst themselves. As is usual for us in school holidays, we've had small hoards of visiting children in and out all day, and I just count the pairs of shoes in the hallway to see how many are in (total of 8 yesterday, although not all at the same time). I'm finishing up a new project which I started whilst on holiday, and it's giving me a huge amount of pleasure and satisfaction. I managed to work out the mathematics for the design yesterday by drawing it all out on paper, so there will be a new pattern to offer you very soon....I hope you're going to like it. Yellow tulips too this week, they look lovely in my button jug.

Haha....I had to include this picture, kind of a visual confession! I found half a bottle of sloe gin in the cupboard left over from Christmas, and for some obscure reason yesterday (around 4pm) I just fancied myself a wee tipple. It felt incredibly naughty.....drinking gin in the afternoon with a house full of children, what irresponsible behaviour?!!! But oh my, it was absolutely wonderful. I only had that one weeny glass and I sipped it slowly over the space of about 45mins while I did a bit of crochet before cooking dinner. I had this blissful warm glow afterwards, I felt like I was radiating warmth. Which was pretty good considering how cold it is at the moment. Never mind layering up with clothing, just crack open the gin bottle! Eh-hem. Well, it was just a one-off spontaneous thingy, so don't be worried.

Right then....on that naughty note I will love you and leave you for now, and go make a stack of buttery toast for my hungry children. Back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Pat F.]

Lucy, I love your blog! I also love your home, stories, pictures and your beautiful crochet; so happy I found you! Sorry your long winter will not go away - we are already in the 80's and our summers are brutal! Stay warm! One day I hope to visit your beautiful country, but for now I enjoy visiting it via your blog!

Pat F.
Las Vegas, NV
USA

[Wendy]

I always feel guilty in the school holidays, wondering whether I'm doing enough with my two boys. Your posts make me feel better about just letting them get on and play and bond and create their own entertainment. I'll be on hand for when boredom sets in, until then I have my knitting and the Great British Sewing Bee to watch!

[Louise from Australia]

I was recently enjoying the first episode of a bbc show called Last Tango in Halifax and was super excited when the characters met up for coffee in Skipton! I remembered that in your last post you mentioned being excited by David Tennant frolicking around Dorset, but equally exciting (although not quite as sexy for this 39yo) was seeing Derek Jacobi frolicking around your own little town of Skipton!
Looking forward to all your gorgeous posts and photos of Spring, as here in Melbourne we start to feel the cooler temps of Autumn (while i sip from a glass of Irish Cream ;) )

[Jay]

Hope your weather has started to warm up, we've been treated to a bit of sunshine the past couple of days. Sloe gin is one of my favourites, sadly we have none left!

[CJ]

I find once I actually drag the children out for a walk everyone has a fantastic time. For some reason they don't like the thought of it, but it is usually one of the best afternoons we have. You have inspired me to suggest one this weekend, although I hear there may be rain...

[Anita]

As always inspiring and beautiful. Love the slow gin bit. Made me smile.

[shelley]

Wow . . . those eggs are really unusual. I say, if you have to still be enduring the cold, there's nowhere like the Attic to keep you cozy!!

[Janet]

I agree that this has been an extremely long and gray winter! I am so ready for spring weather to arrive. I am just loving your blog and it brings a smile to my face and I enjoy all the colour you use. It definitely brings brightness to my day. Thank you!!!

[Sue.]

What lovely countryside you live in. I live in the desert of Arizona, USA. Those semi green hills look lovely. We call the family outings that the kids are forced to go on...A 3-F outing. Forced Family Fun. I have to do that with my 14 year old granddaughter...that way we get to see her!

[Anne Marie]

Those egg yolks look fantastic, lovely colour for yarn too! Another tip for poaching eggs - either small saucepan or shallow one like yours - but break off a (clean) end of a matchstick, drop it into the water and because it lowers the surface tension, the egg magically stays together, unless of course it is older.

I used to make Sloe gin until the council cut back all the hedges around the parks nearby and that was where I used to pick them. It will take YEARS and YEARS for them to grow again. I suppose I could use damsons but just not the same.

[Judith Solecki]

Love the pictures of your Sunday walk. If possible, could you please post a photo of a Real English Bluebell? We don't have them here in Canada.

[Fiona]

Your afternoon sloe gin drinking really made me giggle. Good for you. Nothing wrong with a one off naughty afternoon tipple. The walk looks lovely. We're still at the stage that longish family walks are a little tricky as little H is in pram which has it's limitations and Little F has very little legs so is super slow and gets tired. I'm looking forward to a time when they will both enjoy walks with us. Longing for Spring here too. It's been a little milder here today with weak sunshine but the rain is spattering against the window as I write this! Fiona x

[Gillian]

Poached eggs for brunch and gin at tea time...Lucy, if we met I suspect we'd get on rather well. :-)

It was a smidge warmer here today - we ate lunch (quickly!) in the garden. x

[penelope10]

Dorset sounds wonderful. We are experiencing the same cold up here in the North East of the US. Planning a drive to the beach this weekend,however, even though it is cold. I am craving the salt air!

[Giesta]

I love the cozyness of your post (and I know that we are in Spring, but the rain and cold make houses so cozy). I love your poached egg! :-)
giesta-giesta.blogspot.pt

[The Garden Bell - Kate]

Looks and sound like the perfect kind of day. Except sweetie, I'm enjoying the last at the beach. Sure hope not returning to any of the winter/spring stuff back home. I can't believe the orange color of that egg. Was it as good as it looks? I'm betting so. Great now I want an egg!!! But, yes, my friend that is on this gals diet....seriously....eggs and brocolli. Glad to see you are sneaking in some hooky time too.

[ramthuntm11]

ha ha ha...sounds good to me...I love you and your blog...I have to say it makes me smile every time I read it...I cannot wait for your new pattern...thanks for sharing with me...have a wonderful day...Tina in Michigan

[Carrie]

oh what mouth-watering poached egg! I wonder if you will start a run on Old Cotswold eggs, they are so beautiful. loved the little glimpse of the hooky peeking out from the tulips x

[Heartsdesire]

If I had some of those lovely pale blue eggs, I don't think I'd be able to eat them. The colour looks so beautiful, I'd just want to put them in a blow and look at them. Sorry it's so cold where you are, but you do know that spring will arrive, it always does. And your new bowl of hyacinths will keep reminding you. I've never had Sloe Gin, but a nice glass of red wine in the late afternoon also does the trick. I think a little naughtiness is good for the soul every once in a while.

[Jenny]

Such a fun post. A little nip from the bottle on a cold weekday is so fun and well-deserved when the house is overrun with children, I think. :)

Can't wait to see what new hooky projects you're working on.

x
Jenny

[Marbada]

I love your button jug!! Did you took some wild garlic at home with you?? Wished we had it around here......

[jan]

Sending warm spring wishes out to you and the Little People! Your home is colorful, cozy and inviting!! And I love the button jug!

[osefina]

Hi,

If you wish to have warm and sunny weather come to Spain Spring is here and you will be very welcome.
Josefina from Barcelona

[Elena Hunt]

Thanks for your sharing.. I love your blog! I live at the base of a 14000 ft mountain in California,,, USA... Our season is like yours... Snow on the mountain,,, a dust in our yard yesterday,,, cold!,, Better today,,, maybe 70degrees... Love to crochet and an occasional sip of wine too! No little ones in my home any more, but I remember those days... Bless you sister!

[sew]

Hands up if you've had a poached egg since reading this and seeing that lovely yolk :)
'Proper'eggs are a necessity, not a luxury.