A Sunshiny Day

Oh my happy heart and soul, we have had a real gift of a day today and I have loved every single little minute of it, truly. My day started as it often does, at 6am with Little B creeping in all warm and dozy from sleep for an early morning cuddle. This morning though, different to usual, he soon got bored chatting to me and promptly toddled off to find his Daddy who was already up and about. This left me alone in bed, still on the cusp of dreamy sleep, so I granted myself the luxury of just a weeny bit of extra shut-eye. Such bliss to indulge in extra sleep, I eventually got up at 7.30 feeling like I'd had the most terrifically lengthy lie-in. 

The sun was streaming in to the house by this time and the sky was the most beautiful clear blue. I love waking up on a Sunday to a good-weather-day, it generally means that a short walk will be possible which = instant happy-vibes in my mind. I drank coffee and ate a mini little pain au chocolat for breakfast, whilst writing a bit of a to-do list for the coming week in my "book of days".

Now that we are officially in Springtime, I am really, really, really appreciating the glorious light and noticing with more than a teensy bit of joy that our days are lengthening rather nicely. It's just so lovely to see the sun streaming in through the window and dancing over the sofa in the mornings.

My Mother's Day tulips are a week old and still looking mighty fine I'm pleased to say.

I'm also really loving this miniature glass jar of Spring blooms sitting on my kitchen drainer, so simple but a real visual treat.

J isn't well at the moment with a head full of cold, so for our walk today we decided to keep it short and local. 

It was still glorious though, and do you know it was the very first time this year that it's been warm enough to venture out without a coat - yipppeeeeee for early Spring warmth and sunshine!

Little Lady and I wandered along the small beach looking for treasure, and watching her climb and run took me instantly back to this time when she was just three years old. Woolly pink stripes have been replaced by opaque black, she is growing up so fast but I refuse to feel saddened by the natural passage of time. It is as it should be.

I confess I am beginning to really long for Spring. Living here in North Yorskhire, I've learnt that Spring arrives late and it's arrival is often followed swiftly by a last bite of winter (we've had snow at Easter before). But it doesn't stop me longing for it once we head towards the end of March. 

I have LOVED the warmth of the sun on my face today, it felt delicious after so many months without it.

Our walk this morning was really enjoyable, just an hour out of the day for all five of us to be together.

I'm hoping that it won't be too long before we can climb The Crag again (that's it up there in the picture above), although Little Man's groans were so heartfelt when I voiced this notion that I think I may well have to employ some serious bribery when the time comes.

Today's warm sunshine meant that our sweet piggies Pip and Lola could be put out to graze again for the first time this year. They were visibly thrilled with this turn of events and gorged themselves stupid on all the lush green grass available to them within the rectangle of their run. It was joyful to watch them speed-nibbling.

I sat for a while on the wall of our front garden drinking chocolate-dusted coffee out of my old enamel mug. Face turned up to the sun, listening to the sound of the Little Peeps playing in the street, it's such a good sound isn't it, the sound of children playing? We are so lucky living here on this narrow, hilly street lined with it's tall rows of old terraced houses. Our children can play safely in the street (literally in the road) as it is so quiet and fairly free of traffic. Street play seems to me to be delightfully simple and old fashioned. Bicycles and scooters feature heavily, then there are things like skipping, chalking and bubble blowing which haven't changed a jot since I was a child.

Today when we went to fetch our tub of chalks from the cellar there were only a few stubs left from last year. So I took Little B and off we trotted down the hill into town to purchase some new ones.

I love these big chunky sticks of chalk very much, they are actually called "Street Chalks" which pleases me enormously. There was an awful lot of chalking going on this afternoon, I was going to photograph it but forgot, so you will have to imagine the colourful chalky rainbows and space rockets and dinosaurs and traffic signals and houses.

I did manage to photograph a bubble (just the one) and what a palaver that exercise was! Have you ever tried to take photos of a five year old swirling around with a bubble wand? It's fast and exciting and those bubbles whip up into the breeze in a split second, you gotta be quick-quick-quick to catch them!  

Another first today (added on to the no-coat walking and the piggies in the grass and the al fresco coffee) was the beginning of the pegging out season. Oh happy day! I managed to snap my washing line this morning whilst in the process of untangling the three metres of passion flower vine that had grown along it last year. So at the same time as purchasing street chalks and bubble wands, I also bought a new washing line in a lovely minty green colour.

Pegging out my freshly laundered bedding to dry in the afternoon sunshine filled me with domestic bliss. Right now (9.30pm) poorly J (suffering badly with his Man Cold) is tucked up in bed and I am about to go and join him. The thought of gently creeping beneath my crisp white cotton duvet, laying my head on those plump rosy pillows and breathing deeply inwards is sooooooooooooooo good. I am loving that thought - a lovely end to a beautiful sunhiny day.

Night night xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Jan]

I love you Lucy!! I have been following you for about 5 years now. I think that maybe you are responsible for making elpeth maclean extremely popular right now. Waiting to see Your rocks. Maybe they will be even better, no pressure, lol. Love you always, Jan

[Rachell]

The bubble pic! You could enter it into a photo comp, it's a goodie Lucy.

[Winwick Mum]

Your bubble picture is quite stunning, well worth the effort! We've had washing out on the line this weekend too, and it's just lovely to be able to bring that outside smell back inside xx

[jussara]

Hello Lucy! I follow your blog by always very fond of their jobs and posts and I am now creating my own blog. I'm taking your link and when you want to appear, I will be very happy. May your days be blessed, thank you !! bjs <3

[Georgina Pamela Davis]

You love alot of the things I love especially country living magazine!I sooo want to paper the walls of my downstairs loo with front covers of past issues but cannot bear to deface the magazine and what would I do with all the leftover magazine??? HOORAY for sunshine I LOVE it and prefer Easter to Christmas!! Pam.

[Lyn Zalk]

Your Bliss filled day certainly added much happiness and cheer to mine as well. Thanx as always for writing such an enchanting blog to while away some time in... like falling down the rabbit hole into a world filled with Natural wonder, sheer Joy and colors that delight!!!! (sigh ~ <3)

[Kateskites]

Love your posts and have followed many of your tutorials. Love this one particularly...there's nothing better than a mix of beautiful piggies, countryside and crochet!!

I might be wrong, but I think the cottage on the hill with sheep in front might be the place I spent many holidays as a child! Back then, the farmer had a massive Hereford bull called Morris in the field, and I thought he was so amazing (the bull, not the farmer!!), my artist Dad did a wonderful painting of him for me. Beautiful place. Whether it's the some place or not, glad your enjoyed your walk 😃

[Joy]

I have had a busy and hectic weekend and only catching up online ... what a glorious day you had on Sunday. Such simple pleasures like some new chalks and a new washing line and you are made up dear Lucy ... and the bubble was awesome!! Happy Springtime Xx lots of love Joy Xx

[Denise Marshall]

P.S. Loved your fantastic bubble picture - well done that must have been difficult to do xxx

[Denise Marshall]

Hi Lucy, Oooooh wonderful, got to go with you on one of your family walks again. Really enjoyed the sunshiny warmth, must have been warmer than here in the Midlands as although it was sunny we still needed coats. I really love Spring and Summer too. Autumn is also lovely, but like you I struggle to really love Winter. This is my S.A.D. side showing I think. Thanks again. xx

[Wendy]

Your blogs always make me feel happy. xxx

[Evanthia]

Lucy, I'm so jealous of you. The weather in (Northern) Greece has been rainy, wet, dump.... Not like spring at all! Enjoy the sunshine!

[Carol D]

I love your sharing of your jaunts....the lovely colors, the countryside - which is so pretty - and looks so relaxing!

And...oh! the joy of hanging bedding on the line! I used to do that years ago - and no longer can...and I so miss that wonderful scent - AND FEELING - of slipping into such a fresh-scented bed! How I miss that, Lucy!
No fabric softener of 'fabric scent' can give you that lovely fresh scent of sheets hanging out in the breeze in the warm sunshine!

[Kareen]

Lovely! As usual. Thanks for sharing. I always like the positive and lively energy that comes from your writing and the pictures you post. And I totally loved your guinea pigs <3

[Marie]

Your Sunday seems to mirrored mine! There was something about yesterday that felt 'dizzyingly' good. As always, thanks for sharing! :)

[Sophie]

Sometimes I wiss I could live in your part of the world! I looks really contryside and beautiful!
Enjoy...

[Wendy Rance]

Bliss. I love coming into spring as well. On my side of the world we are coming into autumn. As you said the light is changing and we are experiencing cooler mornings and beautiful afternoons. Enjoy the time with your family, they grow up so fast - my little girl is now a medical student, in her 6th year! Time certainly does fly by when you are having fun.

[Sue.]

I love reading your blog...you appreciate nature and the simple joys...I really appreciate that about you! Thank you! I am sending you warm smiles from Arizona, USA. Sue.

[Holly]

What a beautiful day from start to finish! That bubble picture is beautiful. I long for the sunshine to come back to me in Canada, but it will - slowly but surely!

[geovanna Conejo Chacon]

Hola Lucy,

me encanta leer tus post, aqui en Costa Rica,todavia tendemos la ropa en un alambre o mecate con prensas, para que seael sol que las seque. Nosotros tambien tenemos una media primavera que se echa de ver cuando una clase de arboles florecen.

Pura Vida¡¡¡ desde Costa Rica

[Irene]

Dear Lucy, How I wish that we were neighbors! You help me to appreciate all the beauty in the world, to enjoy the simple joys of everyday life. Thank you.

[Rebecca]

thank you for bringing a bit of spring into each of our homes. Great pictures! always look forward to your blog

[melissa]

J's cold....are you sure its not seasonal allergies? For years, I thought I was getting a cold every March and September. I thought that "was just how it is". then my doctor clued me in, its not a cold, its spring allergies. And boy they can make you feel like you're dying. But once I knew what it was, now, the first time I sneeze in March, I start the allergy meds. Twice a day all the way to May, and it doesn't turn into bronchitis and antibiotics anymore like it used to. Just saying...

[Sharon Braxton]

What a wonderful day you had! That bubble pic is amazing. So glad you are getting sunshine and lovely weather. Finally we are also. Hope J feels better soon.
Hugs,
Sharon

[Susan]

A lovely day indeed! Time spent outdoors in the sun, freshly laundered sheets and a walk by the water - what could be better.