This weekend has been low key and uneventful, a few days of nothing much and it has been wonderful. I've stayed close to home, only heading out for an hour this morning to go and get essential food supplies. I've slept rather a lot, falling asleep at odd times on the sofa with the Little People coming and going around me. It's as if my physical needs just took over and for once I allowed it to happen. I feel much better. My head is clearing (finally) and my finger....well, it is better but not better. I can crochet in short bursts, but only if I hold my yarn/work in a different way, so it's a bit slow going. But better than last week, yes, loads better.
I picked flowers just now you know. A most scrumptious little posy gathered from the front garden (a rose, alchemilla and geranium) and the back yard (honeysuckle, daisies and chives). Oh so good to have those stems in my hand!
I love that precise moment when a little jug is filled with water and the posy is popped into it just exactly as it was held in my hand. Pop! Then ta-dah!
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
I've had some renewed energy in my mind and body this afternoon so I decided to put it to good use and paint. Yeah, and why not? I bought this super-cute little pine shelf hand made by Les the Woodman last week and it was delivered on Saturday. I'm so pleased with it, it's exactly what I've been looking for as a photo-prop for the studio. I'm going to hang it on the wall near my window so I can use it for photographing my crochet items, either on the shelf or hanging from the shaker-style pegs underneath.
I blagged the half-tin of paint from Tracy, she's already used it to paint a couple pieces of furniture in the studio and I thought it would be lovely if my shelf was the same colour. It's an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous shade of blue called Blue Ground by Farrow & Ball. I have totally fallen in love with it and have had to stop myself going off around the house to paint random pieces of furniture in Blue Ground.
It has felt good to do this today, I am so glad to be feeling a bit better. A bit more on top, a bit more *me* again.
A funny thing happened earlier. As I was uploading these photographs to my laptop I had a sudden memory of repetition. Sure enough, when I looked back through my archives I discovered an almost identical jug of flowers on almost the exact same date in June last year. Not only that, but the whole post from last year contained pretty much the exact same feelings that I've been experiencing this past week. I can't make up my mind whether this weird repetitive annual rhythm is a good thing or a bad thing, but truthfully I don't suppose it matters. So long as life is on the up, then that has to be good.
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I really like that painted shelf/coat rack thing. My kids leave their coats in the entry way of our home and I am tired of it. If I can put up one that looks like this, maybe I can get them to hang up their coats. What kind of paint did you use?
http://www.paintersvictoria.ca/
Posted by: Bryan Flake | February 27, 2015 at 06:34 PM
this is my first time here at your blog, and I assure you it won't be my last. I love your style of writing. It looks like you live in a little corner of heaven with some very precious company. I look forward to getting to know you better and see some of your crochet! I love to crochet, when my health allows and when it doesn't I can take even more joy in others! thank you for sharing.
Posted by: tina pinzone | June 29, 2013 at 09:37 PM
Glad you are feeling better! I have been following your blog now for about a year and have loved it all. Thank you so much for the wonderful inspiration that happens to be your life. :) It is all the little things that you catch and then share with all of us. Cheers from across the pond.
Posted by: Serrianna | June 28, 2013 at 03:18 PM
So happy to hear you are feeling better now & that your finger is improving too. I too cannot crochet a lot at the moment as I have a sore wrist. I too miss my daily fix of hooky fun. Lovely flower posy.
xxx Kerryn
Posted by: Kerryn Corner | June 27, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Love little b's watercolour... It deserves a frame.
Glad you're feeling better - I have bunts to send when you are ready with an address.
www.blackberryandcrumble.blogspot.co.uk
Posted by: BlackberryCrumble | June 26, 2013 at 02:03 PM
The picture of the flowers with the heart bunting in the background is just lovely. Weekends of 'nothing much' are the best, and probably what weekends should be but very rarely are. x
Posted by: mrsbrownmakes | June 25, 2013 at 08:17 PM
So glad you are feeling more yourself .Even if the finger is taking a bit longer than the rest !Your sweet posy is delightful .
I've been trying to backtrack a few posts but can't find an update on the address you were going to use / organise for the triangles to be sent ?? Is there an update on this or have I overlooked ??!
Good luck with the open studio on Saturday , sadly a tad too far from me here in Devon .I'm sure it will be a fab , fun day of memory -making .:)
Posted by: Ali Dufty | June 25, 2013 at 06:31 PM
Did u work before u had kids? U have so much energy n u take such good pics :-) is why I ask HUGS Irene:-)
Posted by: Irene | June 25, 2013 at 11:24 AM
I don't crochet year round in the warmer months I do origami garden n stuff like u do :-) ur hands r fine u r feeling better already:-) I think u just need to enjoy the kids, and outdoors right now, its hard to stay home.
Posted by: Irene | June 25, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Pleased to read that you are on the mend. It's interesting how similar those posts are! I can't believe that anyone who can just nip out and collect a posy like that from their garden can say it's neglected. I feel inspired to take a wander round my own garden to see if I have enough blooms to make a posy...
Posted by: Jen | June 25, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Will there be a loud shout when the P.O.Box-adress is out? I don't want to miss it. Lise.
Posted by: Lise | June 25, 2013 at 10:27 AM
So glad you are on the mend x
Posted by: Sue | June 25, 2013 at 10:26 AM
Hi Lucy, I know exactly what you are going through because I've been there myself. I LOOOOVE to crochet, self-learner fell in love with it some 3 years back and year ago my hand started to hurt. Same as you. It feels unfair. Different kind of movements help to recover (I play piano-seems to work)and you might want to try ergonomic hooks, though it'll b pricey to buy all hooks again. But consider this: Boye ergonomic crochet hook handle. Only at amazon.com though I think it's worth a try for someone like you. Wishing you best of luck!
Posted by: Dita | June 25, 2013 at 10:17 AM
What a happy little shelf! I look forward to pretty photos of your work hanging from those pegs. I too, have an annual low period that corresponds with the birth month of both my children. I suffered mild postpartum depression with both and I do believe it's a cyclical return to that state. It took me a few years to figure it out, but now I expect and knowing it's on the way helps me prepare to ride it out. This year I bought two new pair of shoes that lifted my spirits immensely!
Posted by: krista - Poppyprint | June 25, 2013 at 07:46 AM
So glad that you are feeling better, Lucy. Your flowers are beautiful, and I simply adore the blue shelf.
Posted by: Emily Clark | June 25, 2013 at 04:31 AM
So glad you are feeling better, but don't over do it. Get back into the swing of the crochet a bit at a time. As for feeling under parr and restless, may be down to the gloomy weather. It's June, and it's not sunny and warm, just like last year - and our body clocks don't yet understand.
S xx
Posted by: Jessie | June 24, 2013 at 10:31 PM
Glad to see you're feeling better, Lucy. You're on the right side of the track now, you'll be ok. Funny how your posts from this year and last are similar. I guess we all have those periods of ups and down. They get more noticed when we talk about them on a blog or in a journal. I call it the cycle of life! :) Continue to take good care of yourself there!
Posted by: Andrea Barskiy | June 24, 2013 at 06:54 PM
Ive sent you a cup of coffee donation as a thank you for a happy and inspirational read xxxx
Posted by: Clare Ryall | June 24, 2013 at 06:28 PM
What a fun little shelf! I'm glad it will find a place in your studio, once its dry of course! I'm also glad you are feeling better. But you will continue to be in my thoughts as you continue to heal. Thanks again for another great post.
Posted by: Taylor | June 24, 2013 at 04:27 PM
So glad you are feeling happier Lucy. The posy is sweet and pretty and I bet it smells wonderful. Blogging is a great way to document the rhythms of life. I don't know how much the seasons affect my moods but i do know that if I over-fill my diary with commitments I feel hemmed in, under pressure and cross with myself. Getting the balance right can be surprisingly hard. xx
Posted by: Gillian | June 24, 2013 at 04:13 PM
Dear Lucy,so glad your feeling better.
I think may be the weather doesn't help, some sunshine for a few weeks would pick everybody up.
All the best Sarah
Posted by: Happybristolian | June 24, 2013 at 03:35 PM
When my 3 kids were growing up, I was so tired all the time even though I love being a mom and now a Mimi to my grandkids! A day of babysitting the youngest ones and that fatigue overtakes me--it just takes a different kind of energy. Take advantage of opportunities to REST--I truly believe sleep is the key - it is restorative and gives our bodies a chance to rebound and heal. And while I am being Mother Hen here dispensing advice, if you are able to take pure aspirin, it is the best thing for inflammatory conditions--just might help your finger heal. So if you can take aspirin and rest that finger a few days, you might see more improvement. Of course there are people who are allergic to aspirin, but if you can take it, I have found it to be the best thing for soreness and inflammation.
Posted by: VB | June 24, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Glad the finger is at least slightly on the mend and glad you are feeling a little brighter too. Somehow it feels like it's been a tough May/June this year!
S x
Posted by: Sandra (Cherry Heart) | June 24, 2013 at 12:54 PM
nice article and pictures are looking so beautiful.
Posted by: Umer | June 24, 2013 at 12:08 PM
te sigo desde barcelona soy una granny de 91 años, te leo todos tus temas , con mis pocos conocimientos de ingles, gracias, montserrat
Posted by: Montserrat Bargues | June 24, 2013 at 11:54 AM