Christmas 2014

Our Christmas tree feels like it's already  been sitting in front of the bay window for months, but of course it was only ten days before Christmas when I carried out the business of unpacking, assembling and decorating those old branches.

As in previous years, the Little People took the job in hand and did it beautifully with a miraculous absence of squabbles. I loved that it was so harmonious, that we had Christmas tunes playing in the background, that the over-the-top miss-match of decorations and baubles came together to look so colourful and jolly.

No new decorations this year, but the familiarity of the "same old" made me happy. No need for change as far as I can see.

Last Saturday (the day after school finished for the holidays), I caught an incredibly early train and journeyed the 300 miles south to my parents in Dorset. It felt strange to be leaving J and the Little People behind at this time of year - so close to Christmas and with so much still to do, but I tried hard not to fret.

I spent two nights away, it was plenty enough. I spent a lot of time sat in front of my Mum's glorious old Esse stove warming my feet. My Mum is still pretty unwell, and my heart is heavy for her and her struggles. It's a difficult time for us, and I can't really talk about it here, but I wish it were different. I wish there was more I could do.

Despite the emotional strain of my visit to Dorset, I enjoyed the train journeys, and used the hours to try and relax a little. I read, slept, daydreamed, planned, allowed thoughts and ideas to drift through my mind and also managed to write/send a dozen Christmas cards. And drink rather a lot of coffee.

Oh, and crochet too. Crocheting to the rhythm of the train tracks is very enjoyable I have to say. I'm working up some cool blue/green stripes as a base for a new wreath, a celebration of Winter to take up the space between Christmas and Easter. I'll chat to you more about that in a while once I've got the stripes done and dusted and make a start with the decorative bits.

I was away in Dorset for Winter Solstice and I wished very much that I had been home to celebrate with my family here. I missed them. The day after I got home (Tuesday), Little Lady and I pulled on our wellies and went for a very slip-slidey muddy walk along the track and into the woods to gather greenery. I wanted some fresh foliage in the house as a reminder that we have now passed the shortest day (yippeeeee!) and also to add a bit of something seasonal to my mantel.....

.....this was the result - a rather last minute bit of festive decorating, but just in time for hanging the stockings and easing gently into the Christmas Spirit.

I am very, very glad that today there was ever so slightly more daylight than yesterday, I love to dwell on that fact at this time of year, to think about the lengthening days and feel a small swell of joy. In many ways I prefer to celebrate Yule more than Christmas itself, I have rather a sizeable chunk of Pagan spirit in my soul I think.

We started Christmas Day this year at 6 am prompt, it really was a joyful affair in so many ways. At almost five years old, Little B's excitement and wide-eyed wonder at all the little Christmas traditions was spectacular to behold ("Rudolph must've really been hungry because he ate ALL the carrot!!"). All three Little People were chuffed with their gifts and I've enjoyed observing many hours of concentrated play happening here in the Attic.

Our day was peaceful and filled with light and warmth - I even managed to find some time to snuggle up in the big chair in my cosy old brushed cotton pj's and catch up with magazine wonderland. I had two months worth of seasonal pages to devour, it was delicious.

My traditional red tulips made me happy too this Christmas, I cut the stems short this year and used my red spotty jug instead of my clear glass tank vase and much preferred the shorter, more casual look.

Despite a lengthy and vocal chorus of protests from the Little People, we managed to prize ourselves out of cosy pj's and into clothes, coats and wellies for a brisk Christmas morning walk.

The weather was glorious and we enjoyed some fresh air and gentle sunshine as we strolled up the road to the local woods.

We were thrilled to discover a couple of new snuffly, snorty residents in the chicken patch!

Low sunshine and long shadows, the best type of sweet mid winter light for strolling amongst the trees.....

....it was really peaceful and gorgeous, if a bit sticky and muddy.

My favourite part of this walk is spending time staring at this waterfall, I absolutely love love love to  stand and watch/listen to the water here, the journey from slow, smooth, quiet stream to fast, gushing, noisy waterfall is completely mesmerising. Little B and I threw many small sticks into the smooth-quiet and watched them tumble over the edge into the gushy-noise. Endless, simple entertainment time after time after time.

We ate our Christmas meal around 3pm, a sort of hybrid lunch/dinner (queue discussions about whether we were eating Dunch or Linner). I enjoyed my time in the kitchen pottering about with my apron on and russled up a simple roast chicken with the addition of posh stuffing parcel thingies from m&S. It was really yummy I have to say. We had fab Christmas crackers this year too with cute wind up toys inside -  the cracker box transformed into a racing track. Brilliant. J and I shared a bottle of Cava topped with raspberry and cranberry juice (our cheap, festive version of Bucks Fizz) and I love that our Christmas drink is pink.

It was a really lovely, easy, gentle day for us here in the Attic, kind of special and ordinary all at once. I keep looking at my crochet bunting and reading the words -FUNANDJOY - and thinking how apt they are. Little Man did good when he gave me those words.

I hope you all enjoyed your own Special/Ordinary day with family and loved ones, that you had fun and joy in abundance. See you soon for some End-of-Year stuff...... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

Comments

[Maureen]

Hi Lucy,
I am trying to find the pattern for your Summer Blues bunting, and have had no luck. I know it was published in Simply Crochet, but I missed that issue. It is not easy to get that magazine consistently where I live. Is it available to order on Ravelry, besides the Simply Crochet site? I would love to make some buntings for my classroom, and that pattern seems perfect!
Happy New Year!

[nancy blanton]

In live in a small town in north carolina. Just ound your site a few months ago. Already making the cozy blanket.look forward to more.

[HeidiAphrodite]

Another of many comments wishing good health to your mom and peace to you. She'll be in my prayers!

[Monica Candan]

Hola Lucy! vivo del otro lado del mundo, donde Navidad es en pleno calor de verano!!! A pesar que todo es muy diferente conservamos muchas tradiciones de antepasados europeos y una de esas cosas es hacer y decorar galletas navideñas, pero no lo hacemos el dia de nasvidad, sino desde un mes antes horneando a la mañana temprano para escapar del calor del verano.... Me agrada mucho tu blog, sos muy calida expresandote y compartiendo con nosotros! Gracias por compartir yu dia navideño! Deseo que tu mama se reponga pronto y que tengan un hermoso fin de año y un nuevo año prospero y feliz!!

[Denise Marshall]

Hi Lucy, Your Christmas decorations and festivities with the family looked and sounded wonderful. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed them. I love your banner and your lovely fireplace and the tree looks fab just how I used to have mine when we had a house. I never did get around to putting up my tree this year, apart from a small coloured glass one, about 2 1/2" tall. Lol!!
On a more sober note, I am sorry to hear about your continuig concern about your Mum. I know how powerless you feel and it's a horrible feeling as I went through the same with my own Mother. Hope things improve as much as possible in the New Year. xx

[TINA]

I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year, full of happy , creative moments.
Love from a snowy , Athens, Greece.
Tina XXX

[Laura Miller]

Sending huge light and love to you and your Mum.... xxx ps we call our mid-afternoon Xmas meal "Dunch"!

[Devika]

Yuletide blessings & Happy New Year to you & your family, Lucy! Thank you for sharing your holiday joy with us...:)

[Phyl]

Thank you for sharing your Christmas Lucy.
Glad that you were able to spend some time with your Mum, good memories to treasure.
I know the anxiety you feel, my own Mum has been in hospital for the whole of the festive period and it has been quite a different Christmas.
I wish you peace and relaxation time spent with your lovely family. Take very good care, Phyl. xx

[Chrissi]

Glad you had a lovely day Lucy. Inspired by you I put a big vase of holly on my window instead of the usual lights and love it (and no way did hubs climb a fence to get me some sprigs with berries on)
Lucky enough to receive a Cottage pack and the Snowflake book for Christmas but I really need to finish my cardi and cosy blanket before I start anything else :-)
Keep warm and have a lovely New Year

[Marlene Bumgarner]

Lucy,
I happened across your blog when doing some research for a novel which will be set in Saltaire (up came your your 2009 post). So I read your recent post and felt so close to you I wanted to reach out and say what a lovely job you are doing of creating a safe and peaceful space for your children. I also understand the pain of watching your mum struggle with ill health. I lost both of my parents in the past two years and it's not an easy stage of life to live through; lots of sadness, helplessness and grief. But if you continue to balance it with what you and your children have, you'll all get through it. Still, I wish her the best of health for 2015.

[Kate Mitchinson]

Love the picture of the Esse Dragon Lucy. bought back many happy memories as we were lucky enough to have one in our previous home. Hope your Mum fares better in 2015.

[Val]

Hi Lucy and family. Merry Christmas to you all and very best wishes for the new year. Val x

[Carrie]

Season's greetings Lucy. You encapsulated the Christmas spirit beautifully. Many good wishes to you and all your family.

[I Was Swallowed by a Hippo]

Lovely! One of my highlights is hanging up my 'hello Santa' crocheted bunting!
Merry Christmas to you. X

[Polly]

Sorry to hear about the hard times with your mum. I hope things improve soon. Your Christmas looks so colourful, cheerful and filled with love. Beautiful and very heart warming.

[louise in Melbourne]

It's almost too late now but Merriest of Christmases to you and your lovely family! I hope 2015 is full of colour and love for you all. I've cherished following your adventures and stories over the last several years and still get so much inspiration from your blogs. My thoughts are with your mum and hope she recovers from whatever ails her xox

[Angela-Southern USA]

Sounds like the important things got done and a happy Christmas was had...that's the best we can hope for. A quite family Christmas here as well, very enjoyable. I can't wait to see your winter wreath! How nice to crochet on the train. I read an article lately where a lady from Seattle crocheted her wedding dress during her bus commutes to work over a few months, it was gorgeous and well use of otherwise wasted time. Wishing your mum better days.

[Meredith]

Dear Lucy, wishing things were easier with your Mum. No need to go into it on your blog, sometimes being a daughter is so hard. Glad you had a lovely Christmas with your family.
Meredith

[Claire]

Luvverly. All of it.

Dunch and Linner are commonly-used words in our house too!

[sophie]

Having a Nice Christmas ans an happy end year make me feel happy !
Have good time with your family, it is So important for futures days !
See you sono best regards

[Kath]

Like you, dear Lucy, and many of your followers, I too have been on that roller coaster of caring for ill parents. You can only do what feels the best at the time. Try not to feel any guilt or regrets, you have many responsibilities and you're not superwoman! I'm sure your mum appreciates that and realises you can't be with her as much as you both might like.
Lots of love and hugs, and a BIG thank you for your lovely blog. It always brightens my day to read it. Hoping 2015 brings you and yours much joy and happiness.

[Lyn Zalk]

Lucy glad you had a good and peace filled Christmas.... sorry to hear about Your Mum.... I've been down that path with both of my parents.... Glad I gave them each the time I was able ~ no regrets now... Holding You all in my heart and prayers.... Sending Love Light Comfort and Grace from My Heart to yours.
Lyn~ xox

[Kristina]

Merry Christmas Lucy. Love and prayers to you and your mom. Several years ago I started following you on Facebook. I picked up my long forgotten crochet hook and began to stitch again. Thank you for giving me something that you can't wrap with a bow but has a lasting effect. The joy of creativity and the soothing comfort of yarn and hook. I hope you have a happy new year!

[Pam Roach]

Happy almost New Year's to you and your family. Your mum is in my prayers.

My greatest fun wish is to meet you. Until then I'll live through your love blogs!! Thank you Lucy!!