I really enjoy heading into a New Year, and love the contrast between the slow, lazy descent of the holiday period and the upbeat, buzzy feeling of new beginnings, fresh plans and a gazillion ideas all jostling for head space. I feel excited by it all! There is so-so-so much going on in my brain!
The weather has been pretty atrocious, but the upside is that we've all spent a huge amount of family time at home this week. Occasionally it's felt a little bit narky with a few minor squabbles here and there, but mostly it's been cosy and sweet being confined to home.
We are still firmly in holiday mode, going to bed late (for us) and rising late. Morning lie-ins with lots of snuggle time. Little B is our alarm clock, crawling his way up the middle of our bed to come in and cuddle any time from 6am. It is the best way to wake up and greet the day, fills me with gratitude for this sweet mothering time.
Good daylight is still in short supply here. The wet grey weather makes it feel as if we move from dawn to twilight with nothing much happening in between excepting for grey murkiness. I light lots of little candles and enjoy their cosy glow.
It's been a week of leisurely pursuits, lots of snuggling and lazing the hours away, all rather indulgent really but I have loved it. I am not an avid reader of fiction, preferring my magazines and homey creative books when I fancy a jaunt through some pages. But every so often I get the urge to immerse myself in a bit of light, fluffy story-telling, and this "charming romantic comedy"
I had to show you my bookmark, the one I always, always use when I read light, fluffy stories. Little Man made it for me many years ago (he must have only been about 5 years old), and it makes me smile soooo much. The green/red bobbly thing on the right hand side is a tomato plant, in case you were wondering. I used to grow huge, rambling cherry tomato plants in the rundown conservatory at our last house. Sweet memories.
I packed away Christmas today, the house and I were ready for it. It was all looking a little bit tired and I was suddenly craving more space and a return to normality.
What a monumental effort though, cripes, it really does take some doing, doesn't it? I had a huuuuuuge fight with the two sets of fairy lights, it really wasn't pretty. It took me ALL DAY to take down and pack away the tree, clean the floors, re-arrange the furniture (what a relief to get the middle of our room back again) and clear down, dust and rearrange my two mantels. Oh, and the wreaths and garlands to take down too. It was slow cos I kept needing to take breaks from the job in hand in order to cope with the work load. Monumental I tell you.
This is a snap of my morning coffee break (well, one of several). A bit of therapeutic hooky interspersed with some even more therapeutic bubblewrap poppage. Pop. Pop-pop-pop. So good.
Around about 11am there arrived a very huge distraction indeed when my copy of Simply Crochet magazine thumped onto the doormat. I spent maybe one hour? Two hours? looking at the cover, not daring to open the pages, but eventually I got over my nerves and dived in. I'm there in full colour, chatting away on page 34, and it feels a little unreal still. But in a good way.
So yes, Christmas eventually went back into it's two bags and six boxes and up into the Attic eaves for another year. And onwards I go, stepping with confidence and optimism into Twenty Fourteen.
I am really, really, really looking forward to this year's journey. Already such a lot planned, already so many ideas, dreams and wishes. Yes, I am ready for it, my heart feels light and all is good.
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Thank you for the recommendation of "A Winter's tale" by Trisha Ashley. I borrowed it from the library and thoroughly enjoyed it. Amazing to be enjoying the sunshine here in Australia while you are in the depths of winter!
Posted by: Margaret | January 31, 2014 at 05:15 AM
Hello plz would you help in a matriyoshka crochet pattern?? Plzz
Posted by: rahma | January 30, 2014 at 09:47 PM
Granny stripe blanket in the snow.....
There are no words to describe how much I love your blog, Your outlook, creativity and generous spirit provide me with a daily dose of inspiration. I've made several of your projects (and so proud of all of them-I have no shame). I even choreographed an "Oh my gosh I can't believe I made this incredible piece, it's SO beautiful!" dance.
Anyway, I live in Maryland, USA and Monday learned a big snowstorm would be coming our way and I would most likely be housebound. My first thought- "This is it ..... I'm going to make that granny striped blanket." I raced to my yarn shop and selected the brightest happiest mist springlike colors I could find. I started hooking with the flutter of the first snowflake and am hooking as I watch the deer in the snow. Pretty perfect day, right? Wish I knew how to attach a picture of my WIP.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the inspiration and for being a part of my day.
Posted by: Suzanne | January 22, 2014 at 01:37 PM
Just packed up my holiday decorations - it always makes me a little sad, but also happy to be turning a new leaf in the new year. Love your pictures!
Posted by: Liz | January 13, 2014 at 12:19 AM
So many pretty things Christmas has been packed away for nearly a week here but i am already making plans to make more decorations for when Christmas returns. I hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas and new year may 2014 bring you much wooly goodness :-) couldn't help but notice the beautiful pen in the last picture could i be a bother and ask you where you got it from please :-) xx
Posted by: kelly dunigan | January 08, 2014 at 09:48 PM
I am just going to attempt your beautiful Autumn Wreath and wondered if you were able to send me the wool colours for the flowers and other items as I can only see details for the stripy cover. I am including my email if you were able to send it to there...many thanks
Carole
Posted by: Carole Honour | January 08, 2014 at 08:21 PM
I have to wait for your Simply Crochet debut. My bookshop only has issue 11. We always get British things a little late here in the US.
Posted by: Star Kulp | January 08, 2014 at 05:44 PM
Will have to try and find simply crochet! Love your Christmas decorations and calender, they're all so colourful! xx
Posted by: Lisa | January 08, 2014 at 09:01 AM
Lucy. I laughed out loud. I just had a conversation with my friend down the street in Chicago about how she "fought" with her tree lights as she was trying to remove them. She said the tree won. A Mothers work is never done. Love your blog. Interesting how so much is not so different across the world. Leslie
Posted by: Leslie | January 08, 2014 at 04:44 AM
So glad to see you are still active in the blogging world. I have been very inactive in blogging and following the blogs I love. Like I said, I'm so glad to see that amongst the blogs I loved following, you are still there. Love your blogs & inspiration.
Posted by: Janine | January 07, 2014 at 01:21 PM
Happy New Year! Congrats on your new Simply Crochet column! I'll look forward to picking up my copy :) x
Posted by: Ashlie | January 07, 2014 at 11:42 AM
congrats on the article
Posted by: mandy | January 07, 2014 at 12:20 AM
This is my first time to drop by. I totally enjoyed reading your thoughts today, mainly because they mirror some of mine.
I have a time set to work on getting our Christmas put away and it sounds like such an adventure when reading about yours.
Blessings to you!
Posted by: Living Waters by LeAnn | January 06, 2014 at 09:09 PM
Happy New Year to you, Lucy. I look forward to being part of it via your blog and lovely colourful, hooky inspiration!
xxx
Posted by: Jo S | January 06, 2014 at 07:46 PM
Adoro sua página! É bom ver e ler., me tranquiliza e anima a fazer também, as manualidades.
parabéns por sua página!
Anna Lúcia Silveira Figueiredo
Posted by: Anna Lúcia | January 06, 2014 at 05:17 PM
My copy of crochet hasn't arrived yet...but I am looking forward to reading your article. Your blog is an inspiration.
Posted by: Lorraine Brierley | January 06, 2014 at 03:24 PM
My head is bursting too- it is a good feeling.Happy New Year Lucy .x
Posted by: Kate | January 06, 2014 at 03:11 PM
Happy New Year! These winter evenings make me want to snuggle down with a good book and a mug of tea. I can recommend Trisha Ashley her books are wonderful, love the characters as well as the stories. Now all that is needed is a character that crochets.
Posted by: Su Bishop | January 06, 2014 at 02:38 PM
Wishing you much peace and contentment and a continuously happy hooky journey for 2014 :) warm wishes, Ali
Posted by: Ali Dufty | January 06, 2014 at 12:01 PM
I'm always amazed by both how bare the house is once the tree has gone and by how much space we seem to have gained! Tricia Ashley's good (I've also read that book and enjoyed it) - but I absolutely couldn't put down "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce - a beautifully written book which actually spoiled my reading for last year because I couldn't find another book that came close! Definitely worth a look if you find it lurking anywhere! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | January 06, 2014 at 10:02 AM
Wishing you a fabulous 2014 Lucy! I am looking forward to following your blog once again, always cheerful and inspirational. xx Pat
Posted by: Pat | January 06, 2014 at 07:56 AM
Huge congratulations on your article in Simply Crochet. I subscribed specially to read you as I enjoy your blog so much. So looking forward to learning more about hooking in technicolour.
Christine
Posted by: Christine | January 05, 2014 at 09:44 PM
Dear Lucy, I hope that all your dreams and wishes will be forfilled! Happy New Year from Antwerp, Belgium. Chris
Posted by: Chris | January 05, 2014 at 07:42 PM
Lovely post as always. Here too Christmas is being packed away and all is looking bare and sad, that is one of the many reasons why I love December twinkly lihgt and all things bright. Need to hook lots to add more sparkle to the house. My Christmas wreath, inspired by you in all greens and reds, needs more 'Lucy' bling to it, but I was so keen to hang it on the door, but now that it is down, I will work away 'Lucyfiying' it over the coming weeks, pop over and see...
http://eclectichomelife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/christmas-crafting-part-2.html
Posted by: selma | January 05, 2014 at 07:28 PM
Just got my copy of Simply crochet! Love your article. My new year resolution is to improve my technique and master colour! Thank you so much for your inspiration (I've just bought the Attic 24 pack ready for my next blanket!)
You are my crochet hero! (I've bought you a coffee to say thanks!)
Lucy (beacatcrochet) x
Posted by: Lucy Horne | January 05, 2014 at 07:25 PM