I absolutely love Saturday mornings, and I especially absolutely love Bad Weather Saturday mornings. The weather here today is truly terrible, with gusting winds and driving rain, and it has meant no plans whatsoever to set foot outside the house. Well not for me anyhow. My beloved husband has discovered a weirdly wonderful affinity with our town's new Aldi supermarket. Meaning that so long as I am prepared to menu-plan and form a comprehensive grocery shopping list on Saturday mornings, he is more than happy to set forth and do the weekly food shop for me. It has been liberating to hand this job over to him, and has freed up rather a lot of to-ing and fro-ing (and extra spending) for me during the week. It has also re-focused my love of good, nutritious, tasty home cooking for my family, and made me excited to discover some new recipes.
I have spent this morning pottering about in my pyjamas, baking bread, drinking coffee, sorting laundry, flicking through recipes, making lists and generally feeling very content with my domesticated lot. My hyacinths are blooming, there was been some lovely creative activity at the table (which always makes me happy), and quite a bit of cuddle-time on our woolly-laden old sofa. It has felt cosy and relaxed here, happy kids, happy me.
Wishing you a happy, homely weekend!
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EDIT TO ADD :: for those of you who asked, my fave recipe book right now is called "Easy Slow Cooker :: Fuss-free family food from your slow cooker". I can highly recommend it, the recipes are straightforward and always produce very tasty results.
{find it on UK Amazon
My slow cooker is a cheap one that we've had for many years, but it does the job perfectly. It's this 3.5 litre one.
Like the cola bottle :-)
Posted by: Poulsen | February 10, 2014 at 03:25 PM
Love your bread recipe, fantastic!!
Posted by: ruthpappamihiel | February 06, 2014 at 12:31 PM
How fun! I need to find me a hyacinth! I love watching them bloom and their scent is truly sublime. Enjoy your lovely weekends! :)
Posted by: Fuego Azul | January 30, 2014 at 01:49 AM
My husband has the same weird and wonderful liking for Aldi!
Posted by: Karen | January 29, 2014 at 11:08 PM
Aldi is fab isn't it? I hate going to big supermarkets will all their fake 3 for 2 offers which make you buy more bread than you could possibly eat ;-) Aldi often has crafty things, the wool isn't that great but there are books and other things so don't let him go alone every week :D
Posted by: Nicole | January 29, 2014 at 09:10 PM
Hi, Lucy!
It is so wonderful to see your blog after long!
I was missing your posts and pictures... I even saw a dream about you :) Hehe
I am so glad you are doing great and having more and more bright and interesting things in your life :) Blessings and hugs!
Posted by: Anna | January 29, 2014 at 05:41 PM
Thank you Lucy, for all your time, commitment, enthusiasm and fabulous creativity shared with us all on Attic24. I am going to conquer Crochet this year, 2014 is THE year!! I look at your blog each day for inspiration, ideas, tips and patterns.
Are there any pointers that you can give to me as I begin my exciting journey? I can knit and sew already. I make jewellery, bake and have looked after my amazing family for 32 years. So, I can doooo! Just would love to Crochet toooo!
Hope to hear from you, when you have a spare moment,
Big love
Rachel x
Posted by: Rachel Heard | January 29, 2014 at 05:05 PM
Cute pictures!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH-G6sroQh0
Posted by: LexCrochet | January 29, 2014 at 04:22 PM
Hello, I'm clicking over from another blog and have enjoyed the little peak into your life. Saturday mornings really are wonderful; yours sounds very familiar. We have a tradition of making pancakes and tend to spend lots of time on the floor with books and pillows and Little Miss climbing all over us. Wonderful.
Your Bower Bird is lovely. I'll probably give it a try when you find time to post the pattern.
Posted by: Cristal @ Dapple Design | January 28, 2014 at 08:49 PM
Your flowers look lovely Lucy. I am very impressed with your weekly food schedule. When my kids were little I had a 'card system'. I would write down a week's list of meals we were intending to have for the week, then on the back of the card I would list all the ingredients needed for the week. Then it was just a simple matter of looking up the cards and taking one up to the grocer's to collect everything needed for the week. It was a great system. These days the kids don't live with us any more so it's rather a "freestyle" kind of eating pattern which can be rather irritating, fattening and boring if you have your mind on other more rewarding projects like crochet!
Posted by: Jenny | January 27, 2014 at 09:52 PM
Ahhhhh girl after my own heart! Love Saturdays and even more so now since I have been working. Now if only I could get husband to go do the shopping..... hmmm.....
Posted by: Hazel | January 27, 2014 at 08:00 PM
Your lovely pictures with all the beautiful colors, always bring me such joy! Thanks for sharing with us Lucy! Blessings..
Posted by: Brenda B. | January 27, 2014 at 01:52 PM
Hi Lucy,
I found your blog a few weeks ago and I am so chuffed I did! I only started crocheting before Christmas and I needed lots of tutorials, which, I am glad to say I found on your blog.
I love seeing all of your gorgeous creations they are a real inspiration to me.
Whilst looking at your photos I realised you are not far from me as I visit quite regularly to your town!
Best wishes and happy hooking!
Lynn B
Posted by: Lynn B | January 27, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Seeing the crochet wreath in your post inspired me to tell you about my daughters wedding to be held in Nov. She is having crochet wreaths as part of her décor, crochet posies and crochet button holes for the children. Exciting times...
Posted by: mamasmercantile | January 27, 2014 at 09:42 AM
The weather has been bad here today. I love staying in and watching a film on days like this!
http://thisdaytodaylife.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted by: Gemma | January 26, 2014 at 10:54 PM
Hi Lucy, had to giggle at your reference to your husband taking a liking to Aldi! We have had a local Aldi here (Queensland Australia) for a while and my husband usually insists on coming with me to do the groceries. Once we get inside he usually whisks off to 'check out the specials', may be found texting a mate about the tools on sale for the week and we (neighbours included) have a stash of hand tools, power tools and gardening gear from Aldi. Good fun!
Loving the peek into your colourful and cosy world-as always. Making 'your' bread again this morning! Yum!
Posted by: Jenny Redman | January 26, 2014 at 10:19 PM
I share J's affinity with Aldi. It's been a revelation to me, since a local store opened. I cook a piece of ham and it feeds 3 of us for 3 days (all for under a fiver). The 3rd day is always a favourite with homemade pasties! Slow cooked beef brisket is also brilliant and makes hundreds of pasties for freezing (almost hundreds)! Their fruit & veg are amazing value. We're saving so much. Lemony chicken looks yummy - must try it!
Posted by: Adaliza | January 26, 2014 at 10:11 PM
We have Aldi here, in Illinois, USA, too, and love it! Great prices, and some fun foods, too. With the bitter cold weather we've been having, staying in a cozy house sounds wonderful!
Posted by: Teri | January 26, 2014 at 09:41 PM
What wonderful pictures of a lovely Saturday morning staying in, out of the yucky weather. Love those Saturdays.
Posted by: Lizy Tish | January 26, 2014 at 09:14 PM
Aldi is good. My hubs loves it , too. Sorry they closed it down in Greece. Anyhoo, love your posts and photos! Have a lovely week.
Posted by: Irene | January 26, 2014 at 07:40 PM
That's one good thing about the cold wet weather.....forces you indoors doing cosy things, now that's cant be bad can it! I've spent the morning crocheting away and the afternoon reading and a little snoozing too! :) x
Posted by: Ada Bea | January 26, 2014 at 06:22 PM
It's snowing for the first time this year hear in North Greece and the wind is freezing all over the place. It's the ideal weather for staying home with a hot cup of cocoa, knitting or crocheting... By the way I love your blog and your creations!
Posted by: Mary | January 26, 2014 at 03:25 PM
Awful here too. My boys (both big ones!!!) have gone off to Wolverhampton to Tough Guys race. Not that my son is competing, he's taking photos, won awards last time. Husband has taken him. It ought to have been me but husband offered to go as the weather was dire.
I also love our local Aldi, 2 miles away. I cycle there when weather fine. Love the deli and love that the staff know you. Such good value.
Can you tell your readers that Aldi are selling (hopefully some still left), cast iron pots (a la le Creuset) with cream interior, in a lovely purple, at £21. so much cheaper than the real thing. There is a big flat one, no good for bread but a smaller, taller one.)
Love your comfortable sofa with all its blankets.
Posted by: Anne Marie | January 26, 2014 at 03:19 PM
I visit your site at least twice a week for the cheery colors and reminders of the joys of simple pleasures - and for crochet inspiration. I love your colors as well as your outdoor photos. It is 12 degrees F where I sit and type, with a much more imposing windchill. Your pictures remind that our Spring season of daffodils and tulips(late April!) is not too far away!
Posted by: Liz | January 26, 2014 at 02:35 PM
Oh how I wish that my beloved would do the weekly shop for me - we shop in Aldi too but for me the novelty has definately worn off!! Your home looks warm and inviting.
Posted by: Lorna | January 26, 2014 at 01:50 PM