Over the weekend the clocks went forward an hour here in the UK, which means that for the next seven months we are living in British Summer Time. Right now that equates to ever so slightly darker mornings, but to make up for it we are treated to an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. It's a wonderful time of year, the extra light in our days is oh-so-very-very welcome after our rather long, grey winter.
The changing of the clocks affects the Little People's sleep patterns for the first week or so - it becomes a bit more tricky to get them into bed when it is still kinda light outside, but the darker mornings can sometimes deliver that rare and precious thing - quiet Mummy time. This morning, for the first time in aaaages, I had that luxury. I got up at 6.30 when J went off to work and for a full twenty minutes I had the peace and quiet of the house all to myself. I made myself a mug of fresh coffee and sat very still for a while, listening to the sound of, er, well, the sound of nothing. I felt so soothed by the quiet of this old house at rest, it was unexpectedly wonderful.
And YAY, school's out for Easter and so we are officially on holidays here in the Attic. Chocolate and hot cross buns for breakfast, pyjamas till lunch time, we are in full slobbery mode and we are all enjoying it enormously (sorry J, it'll be your turn next week)
I've started on a new blanket journey too this weekend, and lucky for you I am going to withhold the lengthy stream of excited exclamations which leap about inside my head whenever I think of this blanket and these colours. (!*&%!>}**&!!). Oh my. Breeeeeeathe. It's all good.
So, after faffing and dithering for over two months with the pattern and the colour choices, on Friday/Saturday I got down to some serious planning and decision making. Happy to say it is really (really) working out well, and I'm looking forward to sharing more of this with you soon. The colours (ooooooooo the colours!!) are just floating my boat in a very majorly pleasing way. They are singing to me of grassy picnics and gentle warm breezes, of babbling rivers and clear blue skies, of bluebell woods and blossom trees and all things light, airy, warm and relaxed.
Now take a look at that - one gloriously technicolour blanket den, constructed entirely by Little B (age 5) without a single bit of help from anyone. I was upstairs this morning pairing up eleventy-dozen socks and folding a small mountain of laundry, and when I came back down, ta-dah, there was this. Oh sweet child, how happy this has made me today! Doesn't this image perfectly capture the complete joy of crochet blankets and holiday weeks spent at home with Little People? I think I delivered approximately eleventy-dozen little bowls of snacks to that blankety dwelling today too, den building and the subsequent lounging around inside the aforementioned den is obviously seriously hungry work. Thank goodness that child loves fruit. And cherry tomatoes.
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Edit to add :: here are the links to the den blanket ta-dah's!
I love the colors in your new blanket! I will enjoy following along on this project to see what will evolve. Good job for Little B! He did a fine job of building that tent.. 5 years, you say? I've been with you for a long time! I remember when you announced his coming and then his arrival and all.. he's like a little virtual nephew to me. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | March 31, 2015 at 06:50 AM
Lovely pics Lucy, enjoy the easter break. I am so loving ditching the school run for the next two weeks.
Posted by: Little Pink Canary | March 31, 2015 at 02:40 AM
wonderful colors-wonderful family
oxoxox crafty mema
Posted by: crafty mena | March 31, 2015 at 01:21 AM
Love following your stories Lucy. Bev from Western Australia
Posted by: Bev Farrall | March 31, 2015 at 01:05 AM
Little B has just what it takes to make the best den to lay around in. Who knows he might have just the right genes to become one of our future's brightest architects. I can just image the little rays of sun shining through the crocheted holes in the granny squares. Enjoy the rest of your holiday Lucy. Tomorrow is my last sewing lesson so I am excited to be able to add sewing skills with the hooky goodness I am obtaining every day through your blog and other tutorials. My head is just swimming with all of the projects I want to do in the next couple of months. Lots of love to you and the family!! XXXXXXX
Posted by: Robin Summers | March 31, 2015 at 12:40 AM
Lucy I just adore you and all your projects! you are without a doubt, my favorite crocheter!
Posted by: Teri Sullivan | March 31, 2015 at 12:25 AM
Hi Lucy, what a great den! Fab place to play and have snacks :o) Loving all your crochet pics and I'm with you on the peaceful early mornings - they are precious and few and far between, but then the alternative is lovely warm soft cuddles from my baby - so I win all ways, happy days!! Looking forward to seeing how your new blanket comes along, Sam xxxx
Posted by: Sam Roberts | March 30, 2015 at 11:04 PM
Now that is one cozy looking den - so colorful! What a great way to spend the day!
Posted by: Susan | March 30, 2015 at 10:54 PM
Excellent den building skills! Obviously Little B has been well trained by his older brother and sister! I'm on half term too, although the kids aren't as their school is just over the border from mine. Great now for a few days' peace and quiet, not so great when I go back and they don't in two weeks' time.....have a lovely Easter break xx
Posted by: One-oh-four | March 30, 2015 at 10:50 PM
I love the new colours and what an amazing den!! Such a fantastic rainy, windy day thing to do. We had a camp here today, our son was using it to spy on the budgies mating!!! Sharon x
Posted by: Sharon Izzard | March 30, 2015 at 10:37 PM
Wow, the sight of that den takes me back, seems just like yesterday that my kids were doing stuff like that & now they're all adults, some with children of their own & I guess it won't be long until we're all enjoying a new generation of den builders. BTW I hate it when the clocks go back...I looovvvee to wake up really early & see the sun shining outside...puts me in a happy mood for the day. Deirdre x
Posted by: Deirdre Greene | March 30, 2015 at 10:32 PM
A gorgeous technicolour den! Truly fabulous! I hate pairing socks and no 1 son who I cajoled into the task is not keen either! Happy holidays! Emma x
Posted by: emma from toadstool tales | March 30, 2015 at 10:12 PM
The colours of your new squares are lovely - such beautiful combinations. If it's Stylecraft Special you're using, the new colours are looking amazing (especially the sage-y one) - can't wait to get hold of them!
Posted by: Sarah | March 30, 2015 at 09:56 PM
Here in Canada we sprung our clocks forward 3 weekends ago. I'm LOVING that it's not pitch black until 9:30. Oh joyous joy! I think I love it more every year after the long dark winter.
My girls are off school this Thursday, Friday and all next week. We are off to the Rocky Mountains for Easter weekend with my sister and family. Then a week at home piddling about. Probably have my nieces here a few days - so great cousin time will be had.
I'm on my final border round of my CAL. I did it in all shades of Stylecraft blue.
Posted by: TracyBzz | March 30, 2015 at 09:54 PM
Blanket tents here too. I love spring and especially spring break!
Posted by: Thistle | March 30, 2015 at 09:54 PM
Elmer squares I think Gwenna
Posted by: Nicole | March 30, 2015 at 09:38 PM
The den looks extremely cosy and snacks delivered too! Sounds like a place I'd like to be. Your blanket colours are wonderful, isn't it exciting starting something new? Have just hooked up flowers and leaves for your Heart and postie brought a WW parcel yesterday bearing yarn pack. Squeeee! Housework is being neglected...it's all your fault you know.
Posted by: fiona | March 30, 2015 at 09:32 PM
Love the den and think I'd like to curl up in there with either a good book or some crocheting. Ah, your clocks went forward and ours go back Easter weekend, so then we are only 9 hours in front of you. Enjoy the Easter break and take care.
Posted by: Susan Smith | March 30, 2015 at 09:20 PM
I adore the colours of your new blanket, sorbet and summer and flowers.
Posted by: Anne Marie | March 30, 2015 at 09:20 PM
Great den, took me back to my younger days when my daughters were little.
Posted by: mamsmercantile | March 30, 2015 at 09:15 PM
Precious, just precious! I'm glad you took a pic. I would be tempted to enlarge it and frame it.
Posted by: Cheryl | March 30, 2015 at 09:13 PM
Wonderful Lucy. I think there will be some den building here too this week, alas no crochet blankets yet though. I'm definitely working up to one though, I can feel it. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter break. It's blissful to have a couple of weeks of no school isn't it. Enjoy! CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | March 30, 2015 at 09:11 PM
I think there's something primeval that we never grow out of about den-building. How many of us have seen those blankets and want to get in there too? I like the idea of bowls of treats delivered to me at regular intervals during the day as well, so if you could see to that, I'd really appreciate it. My address is ... :-) xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | March 30, 2015 at 09:09 PM
Wow, what a den! Love den building with little people and all the fun that the den becomes. Your post sums up the exact same excitement buzzing around our house at the moment. Love Easter holidays, crochet blankets, chocolate and the longer days. You have summed it up perfectly, thank you for sharing! Sarah xx :0)
Posted by: Hula Loop | March 30, 2015 at 09:09 PM
The perfect blankety tent, loving the new colours too, enjoy the holidays
Clare x
Posted by: Clare | March 30, 2015 at 09:07 PM