May Miscellany

♥ the cherry blossom was here and gone so very quickly this year, but it was incredibly beautiful while it lasted. A thunderstorm passed briefly through our patch one night and the following day the blossom petals were falling like snow ♥

♥ walking through a drift of pink snow petals on our way home from school, it was so enchanting. I wished (not for the first time) that blossom flowers stayed around for a whole lot longer ♥

♥ enjoying our first punnet of English strawberries from the market. They were ripe and juicy and came in all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes too ♥

♥ sitting in the café on Friday, surrounded by a room of laughing, chattering ladies at our weekly knit n natter. My coastal ripples are giving me such a huge amount of pleasure as I ride those waves ♥

♥ taking a solitary early morning walk at the weekend (this was taken at 7,30am on Saturday), the morning light was bright and crisp and the woodland so very green. I felt like I wanted to gulp in the light and air and greenery and fill my soul to the brim with freshness! ♥

♥ Atticland was in festival mode at the weekend as the town celebrated it's vibrant canal waterway. Oodles of brightly decorated boats and colourful bunting flags against a bright blue sky, it was very pretty indeed. I'll share some more pictures with you tomorrow ♥

♥ A sunny moment as the early morning light landed on my poncho draped over the arm of the sofa. This has to be one of my all time favourite makes, I love it dearly and it certainly is very well used. So cosy and cheerful ♥

♥ a morning chat with my Little/Big Man as he sat snuggled under a pile of cushions and blankets. He is growing so fast, I can hardly keep up with the speed of him ♥

♥  a really lovely day out on Saturday, just Little Lady and I. We took a train to the city and shopped, it was hugely enjoyable and hugely exhausting! She celebrated her tenth birthday last week and this planned girly shopping trip (with a lovely lunch in the middle of it) was what she had asked for. That and a sleepover with two school friends. Sweet girl. Ten already ♥

♥ enjoying a beautiful sprig of lilac on my table which gives me an instant hit of childhood nostalgia. Every time I catch a whiff of it's scent I am transported to my Granny's back garden in the London suburbs and feel like I am five years old ♥

♥ I devoured this book  over the bank holiday weekend, it was a wonderful read. It was one of those stories where I felt desperately sad when it had finished as I could no longer immerse myself in it's twists and turns. Sigh. I miss the sea too, a lot ♥

♥ love-love-loving watching my youngest Little Person explore the delights of painterly colour. We've been painting together every afternoon this week, and he has created a portfolio of brightly coloured nature-inspired paintings that have made me want to cry with pleasure ♥

♥ in amongst the painting, we baked and iced some sweet caramel buns yesterday. My whizzy mixer has broken after twelve years of frequent use, so we made this bun mixture the old fashioned way with a wooden spoon and lots of muscle power ♥

♥ really enjoying my daily walks from A to B as I go about depositing and collecting the Little People. It is a joy to live near the water and be able to walk by it every day. The boats along this stretch are permanent moorings, in other words people's homes, isn't that something?  ♥

♥ enjoying the first coffee of the day, from a gorgeous new mug. I discovered it hiding in the guinea pig run yesterday afternoon, left there by the postman (it was a surprise gift sent by a friend). Isn't it just so very, very me?! Sue....I LoVe it, thank you ♥

♥ We tidied out Little B's toy boxes at the weekend, and managed to assemble three big bags of old toys to donate to the charity shops. The upside is that some favourite boxes of forgotten toys have been unearthed and are enjoying a new lease of life. It's been especially lovely to see all three of my Little Peeps playing together with the Duplo before school in the mornings, even Little/Big Man has been down on his hands and knees joining in ♥

♥ it's been raining today, I got caught out on the school/nursery run this morning wearing totally inappropriate footwear and the Wrong Coat. I returned home bedraggled and chilly, but the sight of raindrops sitting prettily in the alchemilla leaves at the bottom of my front steps cheered me up no end ♥

♥ I'm really enjoying my brief spells spent in the studio working alongside Tracy. Mostly I make time to crochet when I'm there, working on various Yarndale yarn bomb projects whilst chatting and slurping a hot frothy latté. Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings,  my schedule is working out pretty good ♥

One week in and May is shaping up beautifully so far. My photos are like a scrappy patchwork quilt, a bit mismatched but the overall effect seems to be rather pleasing. Lots of lovely little moments and simple pleasures which all add up to a whole lot of happy. I hope May is delivering you a whole lot of happy too. Enjoy your days!

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Comments

[Winwick Mum]

Our lilac tree is by our front door and smells wonderful, it's a real spring treat. Glad you had some lovely birthday time with your big girl; they do grow up so fast - my eldest is about to start her GCSEs. The good news is that if you're very lucky (as I am!), they become friends as well as daughters xx

[Susan M]

LOVE your new mug! What a nice gift!

[Maggie]

Hi Lucy, I've been reading your blog for awhile now but never have posted. I love your sweet caramel buns, will you post the recipe up sometime soon please. I love making cupcakes and cakes by "hand" it makes me feel so much more apart of the item.

[blair]

The pictures you post always make me smile.
It's so nice to find beauty out in the world...even if it's an ocean away!

[Angela-Southern USA]

My May days are a lot in the garden, with dirt under my nails, and dirty feet too. lol Setting out veggie plants and sowing seeds, mainly just soaking in the sunshine and natures beauty. I too mourn the cherry blossoms, what an enchanting walk indeed! A B-I-G Happy 10th Birthday to L.L! Where does the time go?! My baby girl just went to the prom. Yikes! Happy May!

[Cyndy R - Canada]

God plants simple moments throughout our day, doesn't He....thanks for reminding me to enjoy them :)

[Gwennie Nunn]

Lovey pictures, lovely blog - if only everyone could see the simple pleasures we derive from say a piece of lilac, dandelion etc.or from just spending quality time with those we love. I am having a Me Day which we all need now and again. On Sunday I spent two solitary hours in our local woods and marvelled at seeing the deer and squirrels going about their business oblivious to me sitting quietly filming them

[Laptitebricole]

I like a lot your blog for the simplicity of moments (excuse my bad english lol).
Photo, crochet are really beautiful.

[Emma]

You know, I think I love your daily life photo posts as much as the tah-dah big crochet posts. Beautiful photos :)

[Miriam]

Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery nice post for eyes and for heart!
Thank you, Lucy!!!
Miriam from Italy

[justpootling.blogspot.co.uk]

Lovely post Lucy. I adore the smell of Lilac, isn't it funny how just a smell can take you right back to a certain time or place or bring back memories ?
Your ripple blanket is so pretty, I haven't tried this pattern yet ... just might have to give it a try.
Scary how quickly the little ones get big .... I nearly have three over 20 now and it seems like yesterday they were all just running around at home.
Have a lovely rest of week,
Kate
justpootling.blogspot.co.uk

[Laura]

I LOVE reading your blog. You have become my friend :0)

[Vicky]

Oh Lucy, how I love your blog :) I would dearly love to visit England but through your blog, I'm content to see the beautiful scenery - for now ;). Loving your daily walks along the waterways too - lucky you. And your crochet - I'm a knitter but would love to be able to crochet too. Take care and keep up the wonderful blog.
Vicky (NZ)

[Laura]

Hi Lucy - my youngest is 10 and I can't always get my head round how "grown up" he is! I'm sure I wasn't that mature when I was 10. Sad and good all at the same time .... Looking at your boy's beautiful artwork here's an idea. Take a pic, load on your laptop/phone and use as the wallpaper. If you have loads then you can have a different one every day! That way you can keep them forever and load them all up for display at his 21st birthday party just to embarress him!!! Just a thought. x

[Catherine Pritchard]

Even the wet photos are lovely. Do you carry your camera everywhere or do you sometimes use an iPhone or similar?
May is so beautiful.

[Pat]

I so envy your wonderful daily walks, so safe it seems, even to walk alone, what heaven.

[Katie]

Early morning light is the best! I have been enjoying it here - and also captured some pretty rain drops. The canal festival sounds like a lot of fun - looking forward to seeing pictures!

[JenEverAfter]

What lovely photos! And I am jealous of all your fiber work. I haven't had a chance to touch my knitting/crochet stuff in years. And I've got bags full of beautiful yarn that either need to get used or get out!

[Carolyn]

p.s. You really do get some bizarre comments here...

[Carolyn]

Gorgeous cherry blossom carpet- do they have a fragrance to match that beauty? That and lilac- two plants I have never had the chance to experience. Maybe one day.

[Mary P. Smith]

Can you please tell me what yarn you used for
your coastal ripple? I live in Southern California
and it was 105 in our back yard last week and it is already very dry here and not green.

[Jeanette in Illinois, USA]

Lucy,
E.v.e.r.y.t.h.I.n.g you post is a delight and most-definitely pleasing!!!

Thanks so much for sharing these lovely glimpses of your beginning to May. I'd say it's off to a spectacular start, indeed!

Please wish Little Lady a belated happy birthday. She's a doll, i'm sure! Glad you both had such a sweet day together.
Hugs,
Jeanette

[gail]

Lucy I love to visit your blog and see all the fab stuff you make - I know you love to come up with your own patterns and ideas but thought you might like to take a look here
http://www.ravelry.com/stores/heidi-bears-designs

I'm sure your daughter is not too old to love the crochet hippo or one of the other designs - you can probably come up with something similar yourself . I don't crochet but I love all these patterns.

[Laura]

Thank you for your beautiful blog post as always! So happy and colorful, just lovely! Maybe a book in the future for you?

[Mary Marsh]

I'm in Maine, USA. I'm SO jealous of all the green you have, trees, grass, flowers. We had SO much snow this winter, the buds are just coming out on the trees. We drive down the highway and there's a tinge of green, about to explode!
Love your blog Lucy. Your mandalas are lovely, your ripply afghan, all your work.
You bright bright joy to my day!
Mary