Settling Down

Here in the Attic we've spent this past week settling down and easing back into life at home. We've all been through the inevitable adjustment period that follows every holiday away, and I've noticed that each of us have dealt with it by gravitating to the things that we left behind/missed whilst we were on hols. It's interesting for me to look at these pictures and see what things I immediately chose to reconnect with at home, and to see that (shock-horror) this did not include any crochet!!! WHat the *&%@??!! I seem to be in a strange non-crochet phase right now, in part due to the fact that the only projects I have on the go are various Yarndale yarn bombing projects and I can't seem to get myself fully engaged with them just at the moment. However, my head suddenly seems to be FULL of ideas, they keep on arriving at the most unexpected of moments, popping in like brightly coloured bubbles, PING! I hope to be able to release some of them soonish before they begin to drive me crazy and stop me from sleeping. Oh, and whilst we're talking crochet, just to let you know that I'm working hard behind the scenes finishing up a full tute for edging a ripple blanket, and as soon as that is done and dusted I'll be ready to reveal my beloved coastal ripple blanket (eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem very very very very excited for that!)

One of the very first things I did when I got home last week was check on my back yard pots. In fact, it was about 11pm on the night that we landed home when I suddenly thought CriKey, I do really hope everything has survived a week with no water!!!! I dashed outside in the dark and discovered that everything was on the verge of death, with some serious wilting happening left, right and centre. I spent the next 2o minutes throwing watering cans of water over everything and praying that it would all be ok....and by the following morning pretty much everything had perked up nicely. Phew. My pots are looking great actually, those flowers bring me such a lot of daily happiness :)

I snipped some stems to put on the table, do you know what, I don't think our table has been without flowers a-top of the mandala centre-piece since early May, isn't that a lovely thought?

There are now enough geraniums in flower for me to snip some stems without feeling guilty, so I did just that...snip, snip, snip, snip snip. I've got 5 different varieties/colours happening.....

.....a symphony of summer reds and pinks!

I put the jug beside my bed, does anyone else give themselves bedside flowers? You really should give it a go, the pleasure of waking up to the sight of a few colourful blooms just inches from your nose is really worth it.

When we holiday in Dorset, our bed there is supremely comfortable, it has a deep divan base and a newish mattress and a light but cosy feather duvet. But there is nothing nicer than the comfort of your own bed, is there? I love my bed, so very much, more than I think is completely normal actually.

Looking at the above photo, I think to myself I really, really must hang that beautiful framed print on the wall, it should be on the wall above my bed, not propped up there beside my bed on top of my books! I bought the print last Autumn after stumbling across it on Facebook and falling in love with the quirky style and delightful stitchiness of it. Would you like to take a closer look?

OK, here you go................................

...isn't it wonderful? Rosie Made A Thing is the name of the shop, and Rosie herself is an utter delight. Like me, she is a creative Mum to three Little People, and her work is unique and beautiful. I lover her writing style too, she has a very funny way with words and her Facebook page often has me laughing out loud. You can find the above print in Rosie's Etsy shop, along with some other real gems (by the way, Rosie has variations on the above image, with either 3, 4, 5 or 6 family members in the bed, so be sure to order the one that fits your own brood!)

Whilst settling down at home this week I have enjoyed being back in my own dinky little kitchen space. I have baked (fruity flapjacks and oaty cookies) as a little bit of home baked goodness is often very much appreciated by the Little People during school holidays. I've got some browning bananas to see to in a day or two (I love this recipe), which is perfect fodder for that "I'm staaaaaaaaaaaaarving" thing that my kiddos do without fail every day at 4pm.

I confess that it's not been so easy to ease back into cooking meals, in fact I've found that cooking up a nutritious family meal from scratch every day has felt like a real chore this past week. I loved the beach barbecues and easy no-cook salad meals we ate whilst on holiday! However,  I have thrown myself back into the kitchen, even trying out some new recipes - this chorizo and spinach paella was a great success, although the hair-raising cost of the saffron made me weep a little.

One of the loveliest things about coming home from holiday is getting back together with good friends. It's a hard thing to capture in photographic form if you don't wish to include the actual Friends in person, but the above image says it pretty well I think. This is me, sat at the kitchen table of my friend at number 18 late yesterday afternoon, enjoying a glass of chilled white wine. Tracy (my studio buddy) was also there as she lives close by, and often the three of us can be found drinking, chatting, crocheting and roaring with laughter on a weekend afternoon before we each get down to the business of cooking dinner for our families. Good friends are worth their weight in gold, and I am blessed to have them so close by.

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★...more little snippets from the Attic...★

The Starflower Mandala

Yarndale 2013 :: The Yarn Bombing

2013 :: Year End Review :: crochet

Mandala Love

Mandala Wheels for Yarndale

Comments

[Rae]

Lovely post Lucy and always hard settling back into routine after holidays even its only a few days I struggle a bit too. Flowers beside my bed is sadly a no no far too many pollen's sweeping up my little sensitive nose all night.... ahhh the joys of hay-fever!! Luckily my dear neighbour and I exchange flower watering duties whilst we are away if needed but we both use those water retaining crystals that you mix with the soil when planting up they work well and are eco friendly.

[Kokopelli]

That print is soooo cute!

[Teresa Kasner]

Hi Lucy.. I'm glad you're settling in after your trip. We leave tomorrow for ours. Next time you go in the summer, you'll have to ask a neighbor to come water your flowers. Our daughter-in-law will take care of ours and the chickens while we're gone, thank goodness. I've always wished to make some of your yummy looking fruity flapjacks!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Holly Nelson]

How lovely to have fresh flowers all of the time! I can't wait to have a garden!

[Alicia larrain sanchez]

Dear lucy makes me so happy reading your blog asyou enjoysimple pretty things thanks from chile!!! Alicia

[Jill at emeraldcottage.blogspot.co.uk]

My pots are close to death too and I haven't even been away! A once a day drink for them is all I manage and it doesn't seem to be enough. Poor things. Never mind, there is always next year!

[Nicole]

You could always use paprika instead of saffron and it gives it a lovely taste :-)

[Velvet Cow]

My ripples are nearing their end so looking forward to your edging with anticipation! Love your blog especially your Dorset pics.. Hope you've left me some holey stones x

[Clare]

Glad the flowers survived I had to rescue our wilting tomatoe's the other day, it amazes me how resiliant plants can be
Clare x

[Astrid Jansen]

So nice to follow your post. Even I can have a mess in my house , there are always some flowers.
Flowers are comforting.
Geraniums are strong plants. They suit very well with the old stone walls of your house.
sometimes it is good to have a break in your daily routine , it is holiday . You'll be busy enough with coming yarndale in september.
Good luck.

[Angela-Southern USA]

Glad your flowers survived your absents and they look wonderful. Mine are a bit droopy as they tend to do in late summer here, intense heat and very little rain so, it's dragging about the hose if I want they to survive another day routine. Your spotty jug of geraniums are gorgeous! I don't have any by the bed but, I did just place a plum granny there though, I love the scent of those tiny orange striped melons, from the Victorian times, they say the ladies carried them about in their pockets to snuff instead of some bad odor. :) That little bed of bunnies is just TOO cute AND that the doggy has a crocheted coat!Have a great week Lucy.x

[CJ]

Your flowers are looking beautiful, it's always nice to have a few in the house as well isn't it. Although I've had rather too many aphids on mine this year. Time with good friends is a wonderful thing, it always leaves me feeling inspired and energised. It must be lovely to have a crafty friend in Tracy as well, I sometimes wish I knew someone here with similar interests. CJ xx

[Sigi G]

Love your blog - all of it! Recipes for food/crochet projects and your wonderful pics of home inside and out and holiday adventures. Every time I'm left with a cosy feeling of home and contentment. Thank you!!

[Jacquie]

Hi Lucy, glad you are settling back into life at home. I loved your photos of Barden Fell....just wondering if a moorland colours blanket might be nice to go with your coastal one ?
Jacquie x

[niki murray]

Great post, love the flowers, truly joyful. I also weep with you at the cost of saffron, mine is to go n Spanish rice and chicken this week!! Looking forward to the straight edge a ripple tutorial, will be a great help xx

[Thetwistedyarn.com]

Welcome back to real life. It's amazing how wilting flowers can be revived. My poor hanging baskets are forced to regularly dice with death, but they always come back to life. And I love that last photo - very atmospheric.

[karen@mixture43]

Lovely Lucy, I go on my holidays to France this week, and I can relate to the settling period that follows- I will be the same, checking on changes whilst we were away and catching up with people. I'm photographing my completed poncho (sooooo excited) whilst away in France- the sunflower fields are calling me and I think they will make a fantastic backdrop to the colours in it. Looking forwards to your ripple reveal- mine is still a WIP but gives me much pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your home holidays! Karen xx

[Lyn Zalk]

Blessed are those with Friends close by!!!!

[Joy]

lovely catch up .... once your geraniums start to die back you can take cuttings for next year. I did mine today!! Love the fruity flapjacks Xx lots of love Joy Xx

[TracyBzz]

I too love my bed more than I think is normal. First night back home after holidays I actually sigh out loud the when I get into it. I feel like The Princess and the Pea on any other bed.

[Claire Kirby]

Glad the flowers survived I am worried about ours we goo tomorrow. I wanted to do the coastal blanket on holiday. I enlarged and studiously studied your bag of yarn to try to order the correct colours I hope I have got them right. Is the pattern the same as your neat ripple pattern? I hope so then at least I can start. Just love those coastal colours. I will wave to Devon for you as we pass through on our way to Cornwall.

[Winwick Mum]

I always think it's a funny week, the first week back from holidays. It's a sort of vacuum between holiday-life and normal-life, especially in our house as it's filled with mountains of washing! xx

[Anne]

You are very lucky that your flowers could be saved :) we will return to Germany from Canada tomorrow and I am fairly sure all my spices will be,dead... There was a heat wave in Germany while we were away.

your cooking looks great! After three weeks of eating out or cooking in hostel kitchens, I am certainly looking forward to some real cooking action at home!

take care
Anne
http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de