We've had some very changeable weather here this past week, a real mixed bag. I've really enjoyed the brief spells of clear sky when the sun has put in an appearance, but they have been short lived.
Mostly we've had a lot of rain, and if it hasn't actually been raining then it has been threatening to rain on us at any given minute. But it's not been too bad, and I continue to enjoy my daily walks to and fro delivering and collecting my two youngest Little Peeps.
I am so in love with the town where I live, it is just so right for me. I love the old cobbled streets we walk down every day and the old stone buildings, and I love that I feel a genuine sense of belonging here. It has become my home town, and I love it.
I've been thinking a lot about routines these past few weeks, about how the hours string together and how to make the most of my long, busy days. I am still fine tuning my Time Management Skills, and so far feeling pretty good about it in general. I am attempting to be a tad more organised, a smidge more in control of my ever increasing workload. One of the things that I am really enjoying this year is my newly acquired bread making routine...it is such a great thing that homemade bread found it's way into my life! Every other day at 6pm I make up the dough and sit it to rise over night. Then every other morning at 6am I set about transforming the dough into a warm fragrant loaf. Warm, buttered bread for breakfast is just sooooooo good!
Life at home is pleasantly busy. I am trying to be more diligent with Daily Mess, trying to at least keep our table reasonably clutter free. It never really is free of stuff of course, but I am ok with that, at least we don't have huuuuuuge piles of it at the moment. My hyacinths are growing beautifully and make me so happy, I absolutely love to watch their steady growth day by day.
The flower buds are there now just waiting to open, and I can't wait for that pretty blue colour and that heady scent.
My afternoons are usually spent completely entangled with Little B. He is very engaging these days, chatty and funny and very insistent that I give him my complete undivided attention. I am more than happy to do so, as it usually involves us cuddling on the sofa, sitting to write and draw, or often baking. This afternoon though, he chose to snuggle quietly by himself and before long had drifted off to sleep....oh such bliss!! Daily naps are a rare occurance these days, and it was such bliss to observe his sweet sleeping face, and to have an hour of unexpected quiet time.
Actually, although I would love to have nestled down and crocheted while he slept, I spent the time in the kitchen. I have re-established my Weekly Menu Plan, after a long while without it and this afternoon I pulled out my slow cooker and made a chicken and lentil curry. The recipe is a tried and tested one from my favourite Easy Slow Cooker book, which has the most wonderful selection of tasty, simple family meals. I just need to remember to use it more often.
My mornings are mostly spent out of the house, doing various yarny, chatty things. Working I suppose....hmm, yes I can say that word, but it hardly, ever, ever feels like work. This morning I was down at the studio working on my first Yarndale project of 2014. Yes yes yes, we are on again for another fantastic woolly weekend festival, 27th and 28th September! I have a tonne of creative ideas for this year which I'll be chatting about in the next couple of months, and I'll be starting work again next week on the social media side of Yarndale too. I'm very much looking forward to it.
Something else I've been doing this past week is creating a blog for the Studio, somewhere for Tracy and I to post news about forthcoming workshops and studio open dates.
I had in mind to create an image that could be used to advertise our workshop dates, something pretty but functional. And being the techno-eejit that I am, I decided to do it the old fashioned way by creating something Real to photograph. So much stuff is produced digitally these days, but I wanted to make something real. It was time consuming to do (harder than it looks to get right) but I'm pleased with the results.....
I just need to add some digital text now, to tell you about my first few workshops taking place in the next few months....when the studio blog is ready (hopefully early next week) I'll let you know. I'm kind of happy-excited and worried-nervous about it :o)
I'm continuing to LOVE the work I'm doing for Simply Crochet magazine, and thank you so much to those of you who wrote to tell me you enjoyed my first column. In next months mag (issue 15), I will also have a sweet project alongside my monthly blurble, I'm excited to see it appear on the page.
In between all my worky-yarny-writey stuff, I am also making time to hook my poncho rows...oh those rows are a bit swoony you know! I'm so very nearly there, I've got one more row (just one!) and then I'll be trying to decide on an edging. Not sure what to do yet, but I do know there won't be any tassels. No, no tassels. Something else, something pretty, something perfectly perfect. I am waiting for inspiration to strike, I hope it comes soonish.
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Hooray! So very, very happy to hear that Yarndale 2014 is going to be happening :-)
My sister Thea & I had the best weekend ever last September and can't wait to come back again!
Posted by: Jessica | February 18, 2014 at 09:38 PM
Well done for your brilliant article in Simply Crochet, I loved reading it. Always love perusing over your beautiful pictures in your blog posts :)
Posted by: Ashlie | January 30, 2014 at 11:36 AM
Your note pad idea is sooo much better than doing the whole thing digitally and is more true to you as well. It's just a simple but genius idea!
Posted by: Nicole | January 27, 2014 at 09:54 PM
As always Lucy a fabulous post thank you. Before my husband became ill we visited your part of the world so often as I have always loved it so much. I am determined to get over to Yarndale this year to revisit all the fabulous places I have loved over the years. Your blog brings them back home to me. Thanks for the bread recipe as it is fab. Have a great weekend Lucy, sending you hugs and cuddles
Dorothy
:-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Dorothy Griffiths | January 25, 2014 at 03:44 PM
My copy of Simon crochet has already arrivier in austria too. What shall i say? I Love it!! Oh and there will be yarndale 2014 - thats Great. I would Love Love Love to come!!! But unfortunately i Start to work on Sept. 25 After two years maternity leave. So the Chance is relatively low that i make it.... We ll see!! And thanks for the Bread recipe - i will definately Try it ! I ll let You Know than how my Attempt turned out!!
Posted by: Erika | January 25, 2014 at 01:04 PM
Another truly inspiring post - thank you. The bread looks delicious. I will be trying some bread making myself after looking at that.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 25, 2014 at 12:31 PM
Very nice!
Posted by: Elena | January 25, 2014 at 12:28 PM
Such a full and exciting life you have going on Lucy. I can't wait to see the new blog and I'm dying for that poncho reveal!! It's going to be soo gorgeous I know it!
S x
Posted by: Sandra (Cherry Heart) | January 25, 2014 at 09:27 AM
I just want to say how much I enjoy your blog. I am a single mum of 4 dc one of which has special needs and I am just learning to crochet which I enjoy immensely. Your writing and stunning photos have the ability to cheer me up and make me realise there is a way forward in life
and to keep going. Thank you so much for this and also your chocolate chip recipe is gorgeous, we all loved them :)
Posted by: Jan Marie | January 25, 2014 at 12:32 AM
Hello Lucy! Love your colors and the view of your city, looks lovely! We could use some of your rain if you want to send it to the US :) Happy stitchery from Utah.
Posted by: Vikki Barnett | January 24, 2014 at 06:53 PM
The bread looks amazing. I will have to give it a go
Posted by: Jason Eden | January 24, 2014 at 05:52 PM
What a lovely column in Simply Crochet!
And your poncho/blanket to wear, is so simple but so effective!
Thank you for all the inspiration you give.
Posted by: Miriam van Wieringen | January 24, 2014 at 04:45 PM
oh! I love your blog! You always inspire me.. thank you!
Posted by: Antonia | January 24, 2014 at 02:32 PM
Made the artisan bread using your recipe but I did it wrong! I didn't have enough white flour so used rye and forgot to activate my yeast before mixing. It's a more dense loaf but still delicious, I'm really pleased! X
Posted by: Fiona Scott | January 24, 2014 at 10:25 AM
Love your blog and your colorful work! I posted your blog address on https://www.facebook.com/MundeleinKnitnCrochet for our knit & crochet group to see and get some inspiration!
Posted by: Heidi Cardenas | January 24, 2014 at 01:42 AM
How about hanging little pompoms all around the hem of the poncho?
Posted by: Eva | January 24, 2014 at 12:10 AM
Lucy: what do u think about this ones for the edge?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TR6EjixxzKE/UoUWCLUCxUI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Wy1FTpgOfX0/s1600/19d.jpg
or this one?
http://mirincondecrochet.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/15cd1ae25fa6.jpg
with love from Argentina
Monica
Posted by: monica | January 23, 2014 at 09:55 PM
Oh my goodness this iPhone has busily changed my words like homemade and hearty into nonsense. I'll leave you to guess at the sense behind the gabble and hang my head at lack of proof reading!!!
Posted by: Rachell | January 23, 2014 at 09:36 PM
Funnily in also cooked chicken and lentils today, but with butternut and a homage chicken stock. It's a heart soup/stew.
Whenever we gave roast chicken I save the carcass with a little but if scraps of meat, pop it into my slow cooker (same as yours) cover with hot water, a quartered onion, skin on, several unpeeled chopped carrots, a bay leaf and 4-5 whole black peppercorns. Leave all on low for hours overnight. 14 this time. Then you can throw all away except your delicious stock, perfect for reducing down for soup, using in risotto and casseroles etc.
I'm not really sure how this snap! comment has turned into a recipe but we go!
Xx
Posted by: Rachell | January 23, 2014 at 09:34 PM
I just can't wait to see that poncho all finished. It is utterly beautiful already. :)
Posted by: Kristen | January 23, 2014 at 07:51 PM
I am putting Yarndale into my calendar!! I should be living in the UK permanently by then, so we might visit :) I's better start saving money for the yarns already :DDDD
I like the lentil in your curry picture, I have started eating so many more vegetarian meals since I discovered red lentil... it's wonderful!
Posted by: Silly Little Sheep | January 23, 2014 at 07:12 PM
Via Santuario d'Oropa 553 bis
Posted by: Laura Vaglienti | January 23, 2014 at 06:19 PM
Hi Lucy, I was just looking at the Mrs Moon website (yummy yarns!) they have a gorgeous scarf pattern (in the crochet projects section) and the edging is so pretty, it's similar to the one that Angela suggested but with longer chains to make it a bit more "dangley" (?!?) The pattern is called Richmond and I thought you might like it :-) Your poncho is gorgeous, can't wait to see the Ta-dah and to make one for myself. Xx
Posted by: Jo Navin | January 23, 2014 at 04:52 PM
Truely gorgeous pictures. I too have been making pompoms - my youngest son loves to play with them.
Posted by: Lorna | January 23, 2014 at 04:41 PM
I have read your post twice and repeatedly at you pictures. What a beautiful town, I love mine to pieces even though it is not nearly as picturesque as yours, so I understand the devotion. You have also encouraged me to pick my hooks back up as i have been behind my machine for 2 years. thanks for the post!
Posted by: Holly | January 23, 2014 at 02:26 PM