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

[Helen godsmark]

Please start a new cal with another easy to follow blanket ❤️ xx

[Martina]

It looks like the Christmas of a happy family! I love the beginning of your new crocheted winter wreath, will there be a wool package i your shop be available?
Have a nice sunday, Martina

[Sue Beard]

Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us Lucy. It sounds just my sort of day. With the family, relaxing, nice food and a lovely walk in the Yorkshire countryside. Warm, snug and cosy. Looking forward to seeing the new wreath when it is completed. I gave 2 of your colourful Cosy blankets as Christmas gifts and they went down a storm. Now looking forward to starting a 3rd one as a gift for me, ha ha. My daughter would also like me to adapt the pattern for a scarf. That will keep me busy. Than you Lucy xx

[Ingrid Trost]

Merry Christmas dear Lucy
Right now I am halfway through my coastal ripple blanket. I love it!! Thank you so much.
love Ingrid

[Angel Jem]

I hope your Mum feels better able to cope with her illness. It's hard to live so far apart; but well done on having a proper Christmas with the family. It sounds like a lovely time was had by all!

[Carol]

Close family were in my thoughts too, for special prayers. Your Christmas sounds fun and special for you and I wish you and the family a Happy New Year.

[Rhian McCarthy]

Thank you for your blog Lucy, you are an inspration, I'm almost two thirds of the way through the ripple blanker now and have been enjoying time off to catch up with family, films and crochet. Hope you have a peaceful New Year and health improves for your mother. Nadolig Llawen from North Wales. Rhian xx

[Lucy @ Attic24]

Lizzie that really made me smile 😊 Little B no longer says that, but we all still say it, fond memories and a reminder at how fast they grow and change xxxxx

Sent from Windows Mail

From:Typepad
Sent:‎Sunday‎, ‎28‎ ‎December‎ ‎2014 ‎01‎:‎05
To:Lucy Attic24

A new comment from “Lizzie” was received on the post “Christmas 2014” of the blog “Attic24”.

Comment:
Wonderful Christmas wishes to you and your family. And just so you know, this morning I pronounced our holiday season had been a hundred thousand good. It has become a phrase I use over and over thanks to little B!

Commenter name: Lizzie
Commenter email: eastrong@gmail.com
IP address: 50.177.128.167
Authentication: None

Enjoy!
The Typepad Team

P.S.: Learn more about replying to comments.

Published

Unpublish

Delete

Mark as Spam

Edit Comment

Typepad, Inc.

10 Corporate Drive, Suite 300, Burlington, MA 01803

Manage Notifications |
Support |
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy

[Jo Navin]

Dear Lucy, Merry Christmas lovely friend. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for sharing your wonderful cosy blanket, my eldest daughter was so delighted with the one I made for her and this makes me very happy. It'll be going back to uni with her, a warm yarnie hug made with love. Wishing you and all your family peace and joy! Love Jo xxxx

[Jayne]

So loved the simplicity of your Christmas Lucy. Family time at 6am,I really miss that now our children are adults ! Lovely family christmas day walk and skimming sticks in the waterfal.
So glad you had time out of the Christmas rush to visit your poorly mom. That few days will be treasured by you both.
Happy New Year, Im looking forward to your blog in 2015.

[Karen Walk]

We had those crackers too, the children loved them, we had a lot of fun racing after dinner! Xx

[Leslie Leon-Cremeens]

Blessed Yule to you,dear Lucy and prayers to your mum for healing and to your family for love, joy, and happiness in the new year!! <3

[Eva]

A very heart felt post! Thank you for sharing xx

[Patti]

Hello Lucy... I sure hope your mom can get well and things get better!!
I have always loved your stories, your pictures, your crochet... I follow your life like it is my daily dose of therapy!! BUT I am so sad and disappointed to hear you say you are more pagan in heart, then Spiritual!!:( That surely makes me very sad as I always pictured you as a Godly woman. Wishing you well through the Holiday Season. Patti

[Martha Neave]

Glad to hear you had a happy Christmas, and also glad you had time with your mum. Both holidays here we have been the helpers and cheerer uppers for my parents, I know what you are feeling.
But I do want you to know that one of the ways I cheered her up while she is less mobile was to bring her a bin of Stylecraft and she is happily working on your Cosy Stripes beautifully. So you are helping more than just one Mom!!

[Lizzie]

Wonderful Christmas wishes to you and your family. And just so you know, this morning I pronounced our holiday season had been "a hundred thousand good." It has become a phrase I use over and over thanks to little B!

[Teresa Kasner]

Thanks for sharing your cozy happy day with us. We had a good one too.. I posted about it. We leave our lit tree up until NYs day -- it will seem so dark when we take them down. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
  *H*A*P*P*Y* *N*E*W* *Y*E*A*R*!*
*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*

[Donna T]

Sorry to hear of your mom. I'm a new reader from the US, and love your blog! The scenery is gorgeous where you live!

[Sigi G]

We too had a relaxed and blessed Christmas this year. Loved your cozy Christmasy home!

[Winwick Mum]

Glad you had a lovely day (we had the same crackers!) and that you managed to get to your Mum's and back safely. Sending you lots of love at a difficult time; it's never easy when your Mum's not well. Hope that 2015 is a wonderful year for you and your family xx

[Linden]

Sounds like a lovely Christmas. I love your mantelpiece bunting! Do you have a link to a pattern for it? Best wishes for the New Year. P.S. I don't have a Christmas tree at the moment owing to lack of space and 5 cats but I still have most of the old ornaments and hope to hang them on another tree at some point in the future. I think those new-every-year themed trees miss out on all the memories.

[Caroline]

It sounds like your family enjoyed a near perfect family Christmas. Your day is what Christmas should be about. Much love and good wishes to your family Lucy, from ours in New Zealand.

[Chris Porter]

Glad you've had a lovely family Christmas, and that you were able to spend some time with your Mum. A difficult time of year for lots of folks. Hugs, Chris xx

[jane oliver,asbury nj]

lucy, i was so happy to see that the children decorated the tree and did a fabulous job. we have had dreary weather the week before xmas in new jersey and everyone was in a down mood. xmas brought sunshine and brought out the holiday spirit. so it turned out well for both of us,i think. i saw my 93 year old mom at my brother's house for dinner. on friday my kucy pack for the cosy blanket arrived from wool-warehouse. merry xmas to me. cant wait to start. have a wonderful new year.
jane oliver

[J]

I love love your blog! Fantastic talents! Adore your use of color! Happy Christmas to you in the attic! Looking forward to 2015 posts.