Well no mistaking, it is most definitely, completely and utterly mid Winter here. Last week we were hit with the the most horrendous weather with day after day of howling winds and lashing rain. It was just horrid, and going about our daily routine was pretty hard going. When the weather gets mean, I always try and adopt the same attitude that Little People are blessed with, as it constantly amazes me how unfazed they are by Bad Weather. Not sure that I managed to fully embrace the layers of soggy clothing, the shivery bone-deep cold, and the bedraggled wet-hat-induced hairstyling. But I tried, really I did.
Our first snow of the season landed on Wednesday too, in a whirl of freezing icy white winds. Here in town, it only amounted to slushy wet pavements but the surrounding hills looked beautiful. The Little People were high with excitement then low with disappointment all in the space of an hour, when it became apparent that this was not going to be sledging snow after all.
I've had a busy week out and about doing Yarndale stuff and Studio stuff, but I have really relished the little bits of time I've had at home. Coming in the door and stripping off layers of wet clothing, getting some warm fluffy socks onto my feet and making myself a hot cup of frothy coffee has felt wonderful. I just love the aroma of fresh coffee, it has become such a familiar and comforting smell both at home and out and about. So much of my life seems to revolve around cafés these days, not that I would ever complain about that!
I've been immersing myself in the comforting routines of domestic home life, which I am ThRiLlEd to tell you still includes making bread. Since the beginning of the year, I've been making three or four loaves of this wonderful no-knead bread each week, and I just love it so much. I use 300g white bread flour, mixed with 100g of a very seedy flour and the resulting bread is just the best stuff for making toast. Add a poached egg on top and oh-mmmmm, you have a very wonderful lunch indeed.
Mid February, and as you would expect for this time of year there is absolutely no whiff of Spring in the air yet. Not a whiff. It is still 100% winter out there, but indoors my sweet little narcissi are blooming their gorgeous sunny little hearts out and reminding me that it won't be long.
Pure sweetness, how I love these little flowers!
Today has been altogether different on the weather front, the calm after the storm. Still air and blue skies, with shafts of welcome sunshine streaming in and alighting on my dusty surfaces. I've been cleaning today actually, but not in a general dust-the-surfaces kind of way. No, today has been more the intense sort of extreme cleaning that I associate with my hormonal cycles, where I tend to scrub things with vigour. Like the side of the toaster. And the inside of the grocery cupboard. And the draining board. I think that possibly my very next purchase will be a new feather duster (my old one was broken by a naughty visiting child who used it much as you would a jousting pole). I noticed this morning that I have an alarming number of dusty cobwebs dangling about the place, and I think I would rather enjoy swooshing them away with some brightly coloured feathers. I can feel a deep Spring Clean coming on.
I know this post is probably a bit random, from feather dusters to crochet in the blink of an eye, but that's kind of how mid February is feeling. Sort of busy but slow, flitting here and there between projects and commitments. This week I had such a hugely strong urge to create, to make time in my days (and evenings) to sit with paper and pen and do crochet-maths, to work out a pattern for something that has been swimming around in my Creative Mind for a very long time. I began on Wednesday (possibly, but it could have been Tuesday) and this morning, done. Well that's to say, my first prototype is off the hook and making me veeeeery fidgety with happy excitement.
This is the first time I have ever used Chunky Yarn. Yeah, six years a hooker, and my first time with chunky. It's been a fun experiment! This yarn was pretty pants though (King Cole Big Value Chunky, a cheap acrylic) but it was there in my local shop when I just HAD to get started so I went with it. I've ordered a couple other brands of chunky yarns to try out, so looking forward to them arriving in the post this week. Then I can get started on my second sample (it needs to be bigger, with moderation's to the attachments and finishing). By the way, it's a bag, I'm working on a new bag design. More of that coming soon. I'm resisting the urge to squeeee at you, but the thought of a great new design coming out into the open is making my insides feel rather squiggly and I really do want to squeal!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps. I reached 150,000 "likes" on my Attic24 Facebook page yesterday, quite the milestone. Thank you so much to all of you who visit me there, truly appreciated ♥
Hi Lucy,just been reading your blog and found your writing absolutely fantabyoso, so enternaining I can't wait for more.
Kevin 😃
Posted by: Kevin Featherstone | April 19, 2014 at 07:30 PM
Hi Lucy, your blog is so inspiringly delightful with all that colour and craft, made my day to discover you!
Posted by: Jenny Bostock | February 21, 2014 at 12:09 PM
That poached egg looks delicious - it's one of my ultimate comfort foods, and I expect it's even more tasty on your home-made bread. Definitely still winter, as you say, but hopefully spring won't be too far away!
Posted by: OkeCrafter | February 20, 2014 at 05:58 PM
The winter here in New York seems endless at this point - snow and COLD all the time! Looking forward to spring -- your pretty,colorful pictures are always a breath of fresh air to see. Can't wait to see the new bag!
Posted by: Lizy Tish | February 19, 2014 at 12:10 AM
You inspired me with the bread and I am hooked on making it too now. I share it with everyone I can. Please tell me, what is the seedy flour you use?
Posted by: Brenda | February 18, 2014 at 06:00 PM
Your daily thoughts are so inspirational!
I've crocheted all January, then did some quilting and today off to a rug hooking class. My friend spent last year in Newfoundland and learned the art there!
Now I'm making a small rug!
Hope your weather improves very soon.
We are up to our knees in SNOW!
Posted by: Dianne | February 18, 2014 at 01:48 PM
You can't beat a feather duster. They're just the thing for encouraging small people to do some dusting for you as well - although don't let them loose with polish and a feather duster as the result isn't good! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | February 18, 2014 at 09:25 AM
We have Spring beginning, in between the 80mph winds and horizontal rain flowers are appearing,very slowly...it will be with you in a couple of weeks time, it travels at under 30mpday,two weeks and the first signs should there.
Posted by: Kate | February 18, 2014 at 08:59 AM
Also here in Buenos Aires February appeared unusually rainy, even in the midst of an unbearable heat wave. My house was wet and sticky for days! Believe me I understand, I have also fallen in extreme cleanliness as the clouds are gone! Good luck with your new project. If you join several strands of thick yarn, you could knit a basket. Probably gonna do something super-Lucy! Oh, and the poached egg looks DELICIOUS! VERA
Posted by: vera | February 18, 2014 at 03:00 AM
That little bunny is adorable! Is that your pattern?
Gorgeous post, as always. Love your blog.
Posted by: millie | February 18, 2014 at 12:25 AM
Lucy please send Annie Epps an email back if you can. Send her hugs and colour, anything to let her know her message has brought tears to my eyes. There are so many people plodding on selflessly like her. I don't think we realise how lucky we are. X
Posted by: Rachell | February 17, 2014 at 11:20 PM
Can't wait to see your new bag take shape while we wait for Spring over here buried under snow!
- J
Posted by: J | February 17, 2014 at 09:14 PM
Still winter here too, only we have lots of snow on the ground and more falling today. All I want to do is crochet, but I have to work. Sigh. At least your daffs are cheerful. I have some wishing-for-spring tulips in the dining room, which make things a little brighter here.
Posted by: Sweet Posy Dreams | February 17, 2014 at 08:24 PM
Gosh, snow! It has been nothing but rain, rain, rain here. Rain and wind, and more rain and a bit more wind. We have leaks springing up all over the house resulting in ugly damp patches. I don't know if there's been a change in the direction of the weather or just more of it than before but this bout of weather does not seem to be doing The House of Jones much good at all.
My Lucy wreath inspired project is coming along a treat though. I'm trying my hardest to finish it so that I can share it with you. I'm terribly excited about it! Looking forward to seeing what you're making too. Getting creative feels good sometimes, doesn't it :)
Jones x
Posted by: Jones | February 17, 2014 at 07:33 PM
I`m glad i`m not the only one with a painful arm and hand through too much hooky. Its so frustrating. I`ve had to give up for a while to rest the offending limbs grrrrrrrr! Love your blog as always penny from soggy swanage
Posted by: penny | February 17, 2014 at 06:26 PM
I have never crocheted with a "chunky" yarn, but I have only ever crocheted with worsted weight yarn on an I or a J hook until seeing your blog and just now ordering some Stylecraft Special Dk. I love it and really enjoyed using the smaller G hook. It looks like your next design might have me trying a much larger hook and some chunky yarn. Lucy, you are a great inspiration to all of us to try new crochet experiences.
Posted by: Suzanne | February 17, 2014 at 05:49 PM
Lovely interesting post Lucy, await the new bag.....incidentally, shouldn't you invest in some waterproof, breathable clothes? Yes, they can be expensive but so good when out in the driving rain and last for years and years....I even have waterproof overtrousers which are super...not a drop of rain gets through them. To have had to do the school run so many times in all that awful weather must have been horrendous indeeed.
Posted by: Joyce | February 17, 2014 at 04:44 PM
My insides are feeling squiggly at the thought of a new design too, especially a bag ! I love your designs and the colours you use and I love reading your blog. Thank you for sharing :-)
Posted by: Erica | February 17, 2014 at 04:20 PM
Hi Lucy, I just love your blog and read you every day - yep, I'm a lurker who doesn't comment much, please forgive me :-) I have just started blogging myself and now realise how nice it is to leave a comment! In fact today, I have linked to your blog, to your flat circle pattern, as I have been whipping up some place mats. Please pop over and take a look if you have a moment. Thank you for all your fabulous inspiration and hooky goodness x
Posted by: Bridget | February 17, 2014 at 04:00 PM
Oooh interesting, I wait all excited for your latest design.
Posted by: Jacqui | February 17, 2014 at 01:48 PM
I just love that cute little bunny xxx
Posted by: Paula hutchins | February 17, 2014 at 12:59 PM
Ooo, a bag, how exciting! I know what you mean about HAVING to create something, even with bad quality yarn when there's nothing else available. Can't wait to see the finished product, but loving the colours already! xxx
Posted by: Marie | February 17, 2014 at 12:57 PM
The little rabbit is adorable! I have bunnies on the brain, since our new one is arriving today. His name is Benjamin - of course I had to offer him a home!
Posted by: Katie | February 17, 2014 at 12:43 PM
I now have a massive craving for poached eggs! :)
Big Congrats on the likes!
Thought id also just say, ive finally bought the 'Attic24 Colour Pack'!! I needed more yarn so thought why not! They are very pretty colours :)
Jess x
http://jessbryan22.wordpress.com/
Posted by: Jess Bryan | February 17, 2014 at 11:54 AM
What a great descriptive post about the joys of being inside during the winter and watching the weather. Simple things but delightful!
Posted by: Catherine Pritchard | February 17, 2014 at 11:25 AM