Monday morning and I am sat here smiling stupidly to myself. You would probably laugh if you could see me actually. I am sat at my desk, slurping hot coffee, grinning away at my laptop. The house is still and quiet, and for the first time in ages I am also feeling miraculously still and quiet. But more importantly, I feel content to be still and quiet and it feels like the most humongous relief. All of last week I felt like I was permanently on edge, wondering why I couldn't settle, wishing I could relax and unwind, feeling like I might burst into tears at any unexpected moment. I was sleeping like the dead, yet I was waking up each morning feeling exhausted. Not so today......hooray!!! Today I have finally bounced back, full of energy, happiness, zest for life.
I. Am. Back.
Ahhhhhh, thank goodness for that!!!
I have a new mug for my morning cup(s) of coffee and it is making me absurdly happy. I absolutely love these generously sized Cath Kidston mugs (this one is called the Kentish Rose stanley mug), they are a pleasure to use. I treated myself to this one on Friday, during a rare shopping trip to The City. I went by myself on the spur of the moment, hopped on the train and went to enjoy a few hours mooching around the Big Shops. It turned out to be great therapy. I soaked it all in, enjoyed being somewhere very different to my own cosy little home town and came home feeling happy.
I only bought a couple of things. The above mug, plus new oven gloves, and a much needed new duvet cover. We had literally worn out our previous white cotton duvet cover which we bought a good five years ago. The fibres had worn away to nothing and it was ripped beyond repair. We have still been sleeping in it (it's all we had), but kept getting all caught up in the ripped bits!
I adore pure cotton, plain white bedding, but it is surprisingly hard to come by. After doing the rounds of all the big department stores with no luck, I suddenly remembered about The White Company. Of course! I was in and out of there in about five minutes flat as they had exactly what I was looking for. This is the bottom of their bedding range...I think it's called their Basic Range. Plain white (no embroidery, ruching, pin tucks, pulled thread work, satin borders etc) 200 thread count Egyptian cotton. WOW. It really is the most beautiful bedding to sleep in and I can highly recommend it. I have slept a LOT this weekend (a twelve hour stretch on Saturday night!) and feel great for it.
My weekend was so nice. Nothing much on the agenda other than just being home and enjoying simple family time. It was mild and I wore short sleeves, propping the kitchen door open to let the fresh air into the house. Everything was still damp from the days of rain we had last week, and it smelt completely Autumnal. Damp wood and stone and earth, mixed with the smell of wood smoke in the air.
I went into town early on Saturday morning, leaving the rest of the family still in their pyjamas. I wanted to visit the butcher to buy meat, the market to buy veggies and flowers, and the baker to buy a crusty granary loaf. You probably wouldn't want to see the chicken, bread, spuds and parsnips in my bag, but thought you might appreciate some floral goodness.......
....oh yes, deep joy, it's dahlia season!
Aren't they amazing? They are locally grown and never fail to make me hugely happy each year when they arrive at the market. Love love love their exuberant and showy-offy nature.
I bought orange ones this time, which is unusual as I am usually suckered in by the hot pinks and reds. They are completely smile-inducing.
On my way home I found my feet heading towards my studio, almost of their own accord. I hadn't intended to call in there, but somehow I found myself stood in a daze outside the café door. I had been so busy smooching with my dahlias that I had sort of walked on auto-pilot and arrived there a bit by accident. So I took it as a sign that I was meant to be there and duly went in and sat myself down for a stunningly good coffee and a chat. It was lovely to be there as a customer, I feel as if I belong there.
Oh, orange dahlia.....stop it! Stop shouting for attention, you know I love you!
Love love love (and then some) having a jug of fresh, vibrant flowers on the table.
And in the bathroom. Dahlias joined here by a single, hardy pot marigold, self seeded and discovered in amongst the weeds in my neglected back yard. What a joy it was to find.
Talking of joy, I picked up a little bit of colourful hooky at the weekend. No bunting. No yarn bombing. Just sweet, delicious, personal, indulgent all-for-me hooky. I came across a few of my experimental bits n bobs last week (in the fruit bowl). Some samples and half-worked ideas, projects that are sitting patiently in my Creative Mind waiting to be released. There are StAcKs of ideas up there you know, I am currently full to bursting with ideas. First to be let out is a little flowery project, and I'm really, really excited to get it off the starting blocks. More of that coming soon.
It's soooo good to be back, did I say that already?
Thanks as always for stopping by, I appreciate your visits more than I can say.
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ps Part 1 of my Yarndale story coming tomorrow x
good to see you back! love your colourful posts x
Posted by: Carrie | October 07, 2013 at 09:38 PM
Ah yes, you are back indeed. Your long absence amongst the bunting had me worried, but I am happy you have found an even keel again. So good to read this lovely post Lucy.
Posted by: CJ | October 07, 2013 at 09:34 PM
Hi Lucy, Thank you for your generous giving of your time at Yarndale, I spoke to you twice the second time as it was all drawing to a close and you were a s pleasant as if I was the first you'd spoken to!!! I had a wonderful time and met so many likeminded folk!!! Cannot wait for next year!!! Relax now and recharge yourself - doctors orders!!!!!
Posted by: Pamela Tomkins | October 07, 2013 at 09:26 PM
What did you do with all the bunting afterwards?
Posted by: Rosalie Wright | October 07, 2013 at 09:17 PM
Lovely, lovely post. Thank you. Makes me very envious of your solitary moments though ;) Yes, my boys are driving me bonkers...very much so. thanks for the virtual breathing space though Lucy :)
Posted by: Debbie | October 07, 2013 at 08:36 PM
WELCOME BACK GORGEOUS LUCY with all your loveliness xxx lots of love Joy xxx
Posted by: Joy | October 07, 2013 at 07:55 PM
So glad to hear you are back in full form! Sometimes you just need a few days to get yourself righted after a lot of excitement.
Absolutely love dahlias, a little inspired to go out and grab some for myself, they are my favourite flower!
- J
Posted by: J | October 07, 2013 at 07:39 PM
Orange flowers are an immediate mood booster...and what is it about a brand new perfect cup that makes one just strut with contentment?
I'd say I should go cup shopping, but that's not when you find your soul mate. It's those random, corner of the eye spotting treasures.
I'm thirsty!
Posted by: blair | October 07, 2013 at 07:21 PM
Very glad you have recovered from the WONDERFUL YARNDALE - I'm still reliving with my friends - I've just started using some of the yarn I bought and I have my first "friend round for a crochet lesson"(!) tomorrow - and it's all down to Attic 24...........I do have one quick question which I completely forgot to ask on the Sunday - Where did you and your friends get their lovely burgundy tabard/top - it's just what I need?
Posted by: Sarah | October 07, 2013 at 07:00 PM
I'm so pleased to hear you're feeling better, Lucy xx
Indulgent just for you crafting is great, isn't it? I'm enjoying a bit of that right now, too.
Posted by: [email protected] | October 07, 2013 at 06:57 PM
Calm and relaxed again must be a wonderful feeling, ,knowing that Yarndale is behind you and new ideas can be fullfilled .
Every time I'm amazed about the colourfull pictures , funny my house is "quiet "in colours
and that suits me.
Fot the first time I've one Dahlia in my garden and it is flowering already a long time. Put just one in my livingroom. Small things are wonderful.
Posted by: Astrid Jansen | October 07, 2013 at 06:54 PM
That is a fabulous dahlia. I love the way dahlias glow in the soft Autumn light.Just about the only annuals that got through the odd Spring and grew for me are marigolds and they are only just getting into their stride, lovely, my annual bed might not have much in it, but what there is is really cheery and bright! Enjoy the calm.
Posted by: Kate | October 07, 2013 at 06:27 PM
Still loving your blog, thanks for keeping at it!
Posted by: Mandy Setterfield | October 07, 2013 at 06:07 PM
Welcome back! I've missed you!!!
Posted by: Arline | October 07, 2013 at 05:57 PM
I just love that you went to the butcher, baker, and market - I was waiting for the candlestick maker too - straight out of the nursery rhyme! It would probably be more convenient to buy everything at one chain grocery store, but it sounds like you had a great relaxing morning enjoying yourself. Thanks for sharing it.
Posted by: Katie | October 07, 2013 at 05:48 PM
So glad you are feeling relaxed and back to normal Lucy.
I love your mug, it reminds me a bit of the canal boat roses, and your Dahlias are wonderful.
Looking forward to your Yarndale posts and your next project
Jacquie x
Posted by: Jacquie | October 07, 2013 at 05:25 PM
Orange is so 70's Lucy lol!! If you ever get to visit Kent make sure you visit Chartwell House ( Sir Winston Churchill's old home at Westerham )and make sure you go in time just to see the Dahlias. We were there three weeks ago and they were absolutely fantastic..in fact the whole place was very interesting but I enjoyed the gardens best and it was drizzle wet rain and chilly all the time... so we just had to have a cappuccino and a scone before we left!! A Great blog so uplifting.
Posted by: Rae | October 07, 2013 at 05:25 PM
Long time reader here, first time poster. :)
You are such an inspiration. I've only been crocheting for about a year, but with the help of your blog, I've finished several projects, with several more in the works.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful, hooky world with the rest of us!
Much love from California, USA.
Posted by: Molly Canfield | October 07, 2013 at 05:25 PM
Lucy - your moods/feelings following your big weekend with Yarndale are the same I used to feel after appearing in a play or opera: heady excitement,lots of left over nervous energy, feelings of wonderful accomplishment and pride, etc. So glad for you that you have touched down on earth again and all is right with your world!:-)
Posted by: Libby from the U.S. Midwest | October 07, 2013 at 05:15 PM
I so enjoy your blog...and I wish I could hooky...maybe somtime, but I love my patchwork and knitting (-: keeps me happy and my hands busy. I adore how you choose colour and I love colour a lot jx
Posted by: JEAN ARDIS | October 07, 2013 at 04:53 PM
So glad you are feeling up to par again, and glad you took the time for a nice rest and recovery. I have been reading nothing but good things about Yarndale and what a fabulous job you all did in pulling it all together. What an adventure it must have been. Meanwhile - the flowers are lovely and it's nice to see you back again!
Posted by: Liz in Missouri, USA | October 07, 2013 at 04:46 PM
Feeling soooooo bright and cheerful now after reading your blog. It made me smile throughout - thank you!! :)
Posted by: Sandra | October 07, 2013 at 04:45 PM
It's nice to see you so rested and relaxed. It sounds like you had lots of lovely time to yourself to shop and think, which must have been heavenly. Looking forward to seeing your new idea. Take care. :)
Posted by: Thistle | October 07, 2013 at 04:44 PM
Welcome back, Lucy! Glad to hear you're recovered from Yarndale and getting back into your groove. Happy autumn to you! :) Have a blissful week...
Posted by: Devika | October 07, 2013 at 03:38 PM
Welcome back to your normal happy days. Who's to say what normal is. Love it when you put a new blog up. I to sit here my morning coffee and read your happy thoughts. They do make me smile. Wishing I could be with you on your shopping trips. Dark and grey here in BC Canada. Love to see all your colors in your afghans and pillows. Makes me smile and laugh to hear about your adventures.
Posted by: Sharon(Grandma) | October 07, 2013 at 03:35 PM