Hello! Home again, home again after a really enjoyable break away beside the sea last week. It's good to be home, although I confess my heart is still being tugged by the sound of the waves and the tang of salty sea breezes. It always takes me a week or two to settle after spending time at the coast, and I am trying to enjoy the settling process without giving in to melancholy. Trying.
I took the usual umpteen-and-then-some photographs last week which I shall attempt to marshall into a bit of a coastal story to share with you this week. In the meantime, would you indulge me while I show you two new little holiday purchases? Purchase number one is this quirky little painted wooden caravan, complete with bunting strings and errrrrrr, flamingo's. I have no idea why there should be pink flamingo's, but the very oddity of them makes me laugh. Bonkers indeed.
Purchase number two is this wonderful pink Avoca button jug, spotted on the Discount Shelf in one of my favourite shops in Lyme Regis. It was less than half price and so I swooped without hesitation, and have to say it is really making me happy.
It's on my table right now filled with the most glorious tulips, gosh I do so love tulips. They help enormously with the settling process when onen's heart is feeling slightly heavier than usual.
Perfection.
On Saturday I was down at the Studio, spending the day with a group of wonderful, friendly, chatty ladies who had come to enjoy a day of creative hooky with me. We had fun!
By the end of the day, seven gorgeous new birdies had hatched in a riot of beautiful colour and spread their wings to fly to new homes.
Today has been a day dedicated to rest and relaxation. Sod the piles of laundry and the general air of post-holiday chaos, I'm going to lounge about in my jammies, drink multiple mugs of coffee and crochet! It was rather indulgent, but entirely necessary and I feel very much better for it. Interspersed with the crochet and coffee, there was lots of time spent with the Little Peeps. J made us all pancakes for breakfast and I baked a batch of oaty cookies followed by a rather delicious coconut lime loaf. Late afternoon we went for a brisk, bracing walk around the reservoir, by jingo it was cold! We are still suffering very low, wintry temperatures here in North Yorkshire, we are desperate for some Spring Warmth.
We enjoyed some welcome warmth last week in Dorset, oh the absolute blissful pleasure to be found in the warmth of the sun on my face! Not all week mind you, no, the first three days were horrid (weather wise, wonderful other wise), but the latter part of the week we were blessed with glorious sunshine. It's very noticeably milder 300 miles south than it is up here in Atticland.
I'm really looking forward to sharing my holiday with you, I've been pootling through my holiday snaps a lot during the past few days, recalling the abundance of happy moments spent with my family. My Little People are really not very little any more, it is always more apparent in photos I think, a bit of a shock actually. I love them so much.
Back soon :)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lovely, your trip to the sea! I do love the seaside too, luckily I live just a few miles from the dutch coast. But, even more beautiful these days are the fields full with tulips in all glorious colours you can think of. So visit my blog this week and you can enjoy a snippet of that sunburst colours I think you will love it too! http://heidiovergaauw.blogspot.nl/2014/04/kleur-bloemen-lente.html
Posted by: heidi | April 14, 2014 at 04:33 PM
Sounds like a wonderful time! And when the melancholy tries to set in, start planning and thinking of your next trip! :)
You mentioned coconut lime loaf and I'm dying to know the recipe. Would you be able to share?
Posted by: Sarah | April 14, 2014 at 04:20 PM
Love those photo's and pleased you enjoyed your break in Dorset. Your picture of the crochet birds just goes to prove how different and individual we all are.....sizes and colours vary so much....each persons interpretation of the same thing....I just love that!
Posted by: Rae | April 14, 2014 at 03:51 PM
Gosh Lucy, those tulips are so beautiful, the colours so yummy .... it's Autumn here in South Africa, still warm and sunny, but chilly in the early morning and evening ... we are lucky indeed!
Pat :)
Posted by: Pat | April 14, 2014 at 03:32 PM
I loved the photos but must admit I am especially eager to get a full view of that new ripple afghan I saw in the background!
Posted by: Jo Ann | April 14, 2014 at 02:44 PM
Brilliant pictures! The little wooden caravan is so adoreable!
If it makes you feel better: Offically I am even further south (= Germany) but the weather is really yucky today. Storm, rain and cold temperatures. I think I will walk straight to my crochet basket when I return home from work... Best way to spent such a wet day, don't you think?
Take care,
Anne
http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de
Posted by: Anne | April 14, 2014 at 01:23 PM
Unfortunately Lucy the little peeps grow up all too quickly. I look at my now adult children and think where did that little baby go that I bought home so carefully from the hospital especially as they all tower above me now which isn't difficult even my last number 3 son who will be 11 this year isn't far short of me now and he constantly reminds me he's nearly as big as me. Still they may grow up but they can't take away our memories or the photographic evidence :-)
Posted by: Mitzi | April 14, 2014 at 12:57 PM
Welcome home Lucy. So glad you had a happy break. I think we both have a jug addiction :0)
I love you atmospheric seaside pictures and stunning Tulips.
Jacquie x
Posted by: Jacquie | April 14, 2014 at 12:40 PM
My littlies are 15!! I used to wrap Avoca soap...it had gorgeous paper, copied from 1930s fabrics.
Posted by: Natasha Wells | April 14, 2014 at 11:57 AM
I love the sea, but then we are sailors in our household. Lucy have made some gorgeous Britain's favourite voted biscuits recenlty, think you and the small ones might enjoy making them over Easter, so very quick and easy to make and a HUGE HIT in our household. http://eclectichomelife.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-british-biscuit.html
Posted by: eclectichomelife.blogspot.com | April 14, 2014 at 11:46 AM
Hi Lucy, perhaps it is Flamingoland merchandise?? Just a thought, caravans and flamingos being together! Lovely to have you back! Just booked yarndale tickets too, excited already!!!
Posted by: Fiona steel | April 14, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Very envious of your visit to the sea - we're stuck in the middle of GCSE revision, so a similar visit will have to wait awhile. I'm glad you had a lovely holiday and I adore the new button jug. x
Posted by: Veggie Mummy | April 14, 2014 at 09:55 AM
Glad you had a lovely holiday - but how is it that you always have more washing to do when you come home than you took away with you?! Looking forward to more photos! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | April 14, 2014 at 09:15 AM
Thanks for a lovely post and great pictures as always. What camera do you use:? I am looking for a new point and shoot camera and have to say the colours are always vibrant in your pictures.
Posted by: Val Coombe | April 14, 2014 at 09:11 AM
Always a bit sad to leave a holiday behind isn't it, but you'll soon be back to loving being surrounded by your colourful things. I love the row of bower birds, I love seeing how each and everyone is slightly different, can't wait to make my own :oD xx
Posted by: Sarah | April 14, 2014 at 08:36 AM
Welcome home, lovely pictures the jug is fab as are the tulips, the seascape ripple blanket is looking gorgeous, I'm assuming it's supposed to be the sea and really hope it is. Enjoy the rest of the Easter holidays
Clare x
Posted by: Clare | April 14, 2014 at 07:49 AM
Wellcome home Lucy!
Posted by: Mitsa Xida | April 14, 2014 at 07:32 AM
Yes, the pink flamingos make total sense to those of us from the U.S. :) Very cute! Love the pictures of the countryside. I'm currently living in China where it is highly polluted and gray and dismal. I need some fresh air and bright skies like you have!
Posted by: Delirious | April 14, 2014 at 04:50 AM
Beautiful pictures ☺
Posted by: wendy | April 14, 2014 at 03:30 AM
Glad you had a wonderful time at the sea. I so miss the sea, the walking on the beach, collecting shells, all the wonders of the sea. Maybe someday I can live near it again. :) Could you tells us the colours you are using in your blanket? Would love to do a blanket with them. Love your little treasures you brought back. Especally like the bunting!
Have a wonderful week!
Posted by: Debbie P. | April 14, 2014 at 01:20 AM
I have a weakness for images of long marsh grasses. Glad you got refreshed!
Posted by: Lisa G. | April 14, 2014 at 01:18 AM
Glad to hear you all had a lovely time away, and sharing the pictures with us. :) Wonderful holiday treasures, the pink flamingos (of the plastic two feet tall variety) were a tradition here in the Southern U.S.A. when I was a child, I recall seeing them in yards and of course campers would have them out front decorating there temporary lawns on holiday. Another wonderful batch of birds have "hatched" in the Studio I see. Congrats to all!
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | April 14, 2014 at 12:29 AM
Gorgeous, those days by the sea. Three hundred miles makes a big difference in the temps; it's chilly again here too and I prefer the warm weather as you do. The sun on my face feels unlike any other thing.
Posted by: Lynda M Otvos | April 14, 2014 at 12:17 AM
What a beautiful post, Lucy. Nice to hear that your holidaywas good, and it's so lovely to se easter photos from your pretty home!
Posted by: Unn | April 13, 2014 at 11:53 PM
I do love coincidences! Here I am in London, heading off to visit a friend in Hebden Bridge tomorrow morning and wondering if I should take my reaaaallly thick winter coat, aka The Duvet, and you've answered my question. And I have a spookily similar picture of my ripple and coffee from earlier today. Except I am at the determined to finish today / forgetting this is my relaxing hobby that I love / mild swearing stage.
Posted by: MsZeb | April 13, 2014 at 11:46 PM