I was out in my back yard early this morning as usual, mug of coffee in hand, pottering around chatting to my flowers. I enjoy coming out here so much, it's such a tidgey little space with zero privacy (actually below zero privacy), but I love what I have managed to do with it this year. Quite simply, it provides me with a nice place to sit and ponder, to drink a mug of coffee, to hang out my laundry (when it's not peeing down with rain like it is right now), and to grow some brightly coloured flowers and a few edible herbs. And that's pretty much all I want really.
So I was sitting with my coffee trying to practice a little bit of Mindfulness, but my mind was not co-operating this morning. I felt unsettled and jittery, unable to just "be still". My thoughts were all over the place, leaping about like fleas, jumping from one thing to another, then back to the first thing again, then off on a completely random tangent altogether. It was maddening. And so for the first time in a veeeeeeeery long time, I was hit with the idea of writing A List. Yes! I shall write A List and note down all those thought-fleas that keep leaping about and making me feel all jittery and panicky. I shall round them all up and number them and make some sort of order out of it all and hope that it'll a) make me feel better and b) force me to actually get some important stuff done.
I know list writing is such a simple concept, but it is not something I am used to doing. I know lots of habitual list writers, and it always seems to me to be a very good way to proceed through life's busy days. I think I just forget that there is another way to go about things other than the unstructured, spontaneous, slightly chaotic way that seems to be the norm for me. And I can see the supreme usefulness of list writing when time is short and deadlines loom and a serious number of things begin to stack and teeter on my mental shelves.
So I did indeed make a list, it has 11 items on it (excluding caravan things), most of which are Work To-do's. It surprises me on a daily basis that I have become this working Mum. I still think of myself as a SAHM (stay at home mum) but I'm actually now kind of a WSAHM (working stay at home mum). These summer holidays are teaching me a lot about balancing my days (I'm deliberately choosing to use the word Balance instead of Juggle right now, it sounds calmer!), dividing the waking hours between the following ::
1. Mummy/parenting time :: we have been doing a lot of crafting, stitching and baking together, but sometimes all I need to do to fulfill my role is just Be There for cuddles and attention-giving. We have watched films, looked at books, chatted. I am also needed at very regular intervals to provide food and snack material, this seems to be a big part of summer holiday parenting I've found.
2. Work time :: I am incredibly busy at the moment, with various bits of Attic24 work. I am writing (blog content, crochet patterns, magazine column), designing kits, preparing for various forthcoming events. I'm going to be giving a talk on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holymoly, yes it's true! I shall be at Texere Yarns in Bradford, placing myself in front of 50+ visitors, chatting about stuff, I can hardly believe it, but there you go. If you are oop north and fancy coming along, you will be very welcome...I think the first session is fully booked now, but the second session (1-2pm) still has spaces.
I'm crazy busy with Yarndale stuff, we are just finalising the brochure copy ready to go to the printers this week, and I am ploughing ahead with my yarn bombing plans. If you offered to help me with yarn bombing (either via Facebook or Ravelry) thank you very much, it's number 6 on my list and I'll be in touch very soon. The Mandala's are now all in, catalogued and stored ready for their big reveal in September. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who contributed, all 1,182 of you from 49 different countries around the world (wowsers, this project has been incredible!). You can see every single mandala online now (Yarndale Pinterest), which I am very proud of as it's been a humongous amount of work for me to achieve that.
Ahhhh, my gorgeous coastal ripple blanket, it's been fully integrated into our household now as you can see and is being used for daily sofa snuggling. I need to apologise for the Ta-dah being so late and all, I know many of you are getting impatient waiting for it and I am sorry. I had meant to have it all ready for Monday, but then had to prioritise my Yarndale work cos the deadline at the printers was looming and I couldn't change that. The kiddies too needed my time this week, we've been stitching up a storm here (making felt toys, I'll show you the results in a day or two). I had to give them my time and attention with that really, they were so keen (Little Lady and Little B) so we've been on numerous trips to the shops to purchase felt and thread and have really had fun making stuff. Anyhoooo, any time now, after I've published this post, I will get cracking with finishing up the tutorial I am writing (for edging a ripple blanket) and I will try hard to get that out to you as soon as I can. It's high on my list, I'm on it!!
3. Housewifery time :: this is probably the smallest segment of my balancing act, some days it's ludicrously small actually. But certain things do need to get done even during holiday time, namely the menu planning, food shopping, meal providing and the endless loads of laundry. I fling the vacuum cleaner around the floors every so often, empty the bins, load and unload the dishwasher, swish and swipe around the bathroom and perform some basic tidying of well used surfaces.
I've also been doing some essential and time consuming jobs of late, namely purchasing lots of new school uniform, getting feet measured and buying new school shoes, taking the Little Peeps to get pictures taken in order to get all of our passports renewed and a first passport for Little B. All these things eat into the days like you wouldn't believe.
4. Me time :: Thinking about it, I can't recall an awful lot of dedicated me-time this holiday so far, although yes there has been some. I've loved socialising with friends, pootling through Blogland (some lovely summery tales, beautiful holiday photos and great writing/reading out there) and magazine reading in odd snatches of available time.
I wish I had more time to crochet though, I miss my self-indulgent hooky time very much. All my crochet right now is Yarndale related and as much as I still love doing these things, it's not quite the same. I miss my blanket making. I have a tonne of ideas for other stuff. I need to write another list to catalogue the pile of Future Projects teetering inside my creative mind, there are rather a lot of them pinging in at the moment.
Right........now I've got all that off my chest I feel very much better, thanks ever so much for reading. On with the ripple tutorial.........................
I have always made lists and I sometimes have too many lists, but it helps me to put my thoughts in order and I love when I get to cross another item off... I feel very productive. It seems like u are so extremely busy. I don't know how you get so much done. Good luck with the return to school.
Posted by: Taciana Simmons | September 05, 2014 at 06:17 AM
That Yarndale lettering and the mandalas are gorgeous! :)
Posted by: Bekah | August 18, 2014 at 09:36 AM
I write lists for everything!! It's so rewarding to be able to tick things off.
Posted by: Gillian | August 17, 2014 at 10:44 AM
Is that an ACTUAL fountain pen? It's gorgeous!! What kind is it and where did you get it? I must own one!! You can send the info to my email if you prefer.
Posted by: dot smith | August 15, 2014 at 08:29 PM
I so enjoy your blog, Lucy. I feel as if I'm visiting with a friend...
Do take a bit of time for just you - so essential to your 'balance' and sanity. Put it on your list if you must in order to do it...
Thank you for sharing so openly with us...Your patterns, your crochet is so awesome. I've notice that frequently if I see crochet work online I can recognize your work without seeing first that it is from you...just beautiful work, wonderful color combos...You are truly an inspiration to so many!
Posted by: Carol | August 15, 2014 at 08:18 PM
Quite the balancing act you have going there Lucy!!!! But in a funny sort of way, it's become the "NORM" for all of us, the WSAHM's!!! Somehow we just get on with coping with more and more chores!!!
Have a happy and creative weekend!!!
Love
AMarie xxx
Posted by: Anna-Marie Field | August 15, 2014 at 04:09 PM
Loved reading your lists post, I have always used a list it helps immensly to get through busy days, keeps you focused on what the priorities are for your day ahead.
Im a bit more relaxed with it all now the kids have all left the nest, have lots of me time finally. I feel guilty actually!
Love the way you are content with your family and love your crafts and garden so much. I feel very much the same I have a new house and just love the time I spend pottering,
would so love to come to Yarndale I have been reading all the posts, one day I will get to explore the countryside of England!
Living in Australia is great too, there is so much to see here too!
Posted by: Jayne | August 15, 2014 at 02:33 PM
Lucy, the photos are quite lovely. In the first photo, what is in the big blue pot? Nasturtiums? The leaves are exceptional! WOW. All that loveliness, all that color! Thank you for sharing. God bless.
Posted by: M. | August 15, 2014 at 02:28 PM
Wow, what a busy lady you are. A list difinitely helps and ticking off each item as you do them is even more satisfying.
Posted by: Maggie | August 15, 2014 at 02:17 PM
Hallo Lucy, such a lovely blog you write! And your crochet is wonderful ,colourful and mindful! The photograph of the mandala mosaic is beautiful!
I am a great fan of Kaffe Fasset and this picture reminds me of his fabric designs.
I think he would love your use of colour!!
Good luck with your talk; you can do it!!
I am am mother of 3 boys and grandmother to 6 grandchildren so I know about being busy. Don't forget your ME time!
Lydia
Posted by: Lydia van Benthem-Gravemaker | August 15, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Just wanted to say that although I have read your blog for ages, I have never commented, but today after flipping around the internet looking at other crochet blogs....how beautiful it was to come back to yours where we just get yoru beautiful pictures, words and crochet....not hundreds of ads.....it has been my pleasure to 'buy' you a coffee for your patterns...well now I am getting you cofee for your ad free beautiful space......thankyou
Posted by: Lee | August 15, 2014 at 09:00 AM
You have the loveliest blog... I love coming here for a visit! I feel the same way about my (small) patio. All I need is a little space where I can grow things and a chair to sit in where I can enjoy morning coffee and evening drinks. Your outdoor space is so nice and pretty!
Posted by: Julia | August 15, 2014 at 02:53 AM
Whew, you are rather amazing! I think you're doing an amazing job balancing it all, well done you! :-)
Posted by: Melissa | August 15, 2014 at 01:41 AM
Sounds like you are doing a good job of balancing everything. I also make lists. Between a full time job, the garden, quilting, crochet, cows, chickens, campground, cooking, cleaning, etc it is a constant balancing act.
Posted by: Debbie | August 14, 2014 at 11:23 PM
That made me laugh. Lists - I found they transformed my life as a working mum of 3. It's that thing you say about stuff whizzing round but when you write it down there are fewer things to remember - I found that by the time I got to No 6, I'd forgotten what No 1 was if I didn't write them down. I still love lists. I SO well remember taking the kids for passport photos - Tesco photome booth. I had only just enough cash for the sets of photos and then our youngest appeared from the booth closely followed by his photos in the slot - 16 postage stamp photos. I exploded on the spot! Not a pretty sight. It seems so silly now - why hadn't I taken my purse and planned it a bit better. Happy Days - enjoy your little people - they grow up so fast. It won't be the end of the world if everyone has to wait another couple of weeks for a crochet tutorial.
Posted by: Adaliza | August 14, 2014 at 11:15 PM
Oh I love a list, I do. Just today I was thinking that I should do some menu planning. Food seems to take up a ridiculous amount of time at the moment. And I'd really like to clear some of the tins and stuff out of the back of the kitchen cupboards. The mandalas look amazing all set out together. What a talented bunch you all are! I do hope you manage to find a little time for the kind of crocheting you love the most Lucy. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | August 14, 2014 at 10:21 PM
What a busy time! Thanks for sharing all your doings with us. Sadly, I've been checking the mandala board on Pinterest and see that mine did not make the journey across the pond :-( To cheer myself up I'm envisioning some postal carrier using it on the dash of their mail van. I can't bear the thought of it sitting in a dusty corner somewhere under piles and piles of misrouted mail. Oh well, I do look forward to seeing the display you create at Yarndale. It's sure to be gorgeous!
Posted by: Tracy G in SLP | August 14, 2014 at 09:58 PM
I love listing. It focuses my attentions productively and stops me from drifting! Love the yarn dale banner!
Posted by: Holly Nelson | August 14, 2014 at 09:54 PM
Such an inspiring post Lucy - I too am giddy with the excitement at the thought of Yarndale xx
Posted by: Michelle | August 14, 2014 at 08:43 PM
Just wanted to say thank you for continuing with your blog even though you are clearly very committed elsewhere too. I honestly don't know how you manage everything, I admire you very much. I would love it if you were commissioned to write a book of all your patterns and thoughts on colours etc (just saying....) x
Posted by: Penny | August 14, 2014 at 08:15 PM
Before our hols this year I had lists of lists! Always a good idea for an 'over-stimulated' mind! Once I have a list I then number according to urgency. I love your little garden - it looks beautiful! And your hooky projects are gorgeous - as are your lovely jammies! Enjoy every precious moment, Lucy. Hugs, Chris x
Posted by: Chris Porter | August 14, 2014 at 08:14 PM
Lucy, I had to chuckle that you have finally realized that you have a job (aside from all you do for your family). I work from home for a large company which dominates 10-12 hrs daily. But I always find time to read your blog and ALWAYS look forward to hearing all about your homeland, your neighborhood, your family, and definitely watching to see what wonderful creations you have designed. I am so looking forward to your coastal ripple blanket and I believe you mentioned that you would also have a yarn kit that can be purchased? If so, also want to purchase one of your other kits which was recommended by another blogger for a totally different creation.
Cherish these days, you will always look back on them with a thankful smile.
Posted by: Michele Boucher-Hines | August 14, 2014 at 08:05 PM
Those really busy busy days are behind me now - my family are grown up and I have three grandchildren. I do enjoy spending time with them :) I had a patchwork and quilting shop ~ still running! but I retired. I did find it frustrating that although I was always sewing, it wasn't things for myself, but for the business. That, and feeling that I had no time was the reason I retired. My advice would be not to take on too much too quickly! I love reading your blog - good luck with the talk!
www.thequietstitcher.com
Posted by: Jacky Russell | August 14, 2014 at 07:34 PM
Making lists are great especially if you're trying to get to sleep and things pop in your head which you don't want to forget; if you write them down your head can settle knowing that if you forget in the morning it's ok!
I frequently make lists which I don't often look at but it's really nice every now & then to tick a good number of things off :-)
I really like the idea of #1 being "make a list" so you always start on a positive! x
Posted by: Nicole | August 14, 2014 at 07:30 PM
A good list goes a long way, doesn't it? If nothing else, if helps to focus the mind. Getting ready for a new school year is always surprisingly strenuous, particularly the shoe buying part. My four are now back at school, phew. I wrote a short list for my first day at home :) and ticked all 5 items off (including the knit and listen to my audiobook item). Very satisfying.
Posted by: Christina | August 14, 2014 at 07:12 PM