On Monday morning I woke up feeling just a smidgeon brighter that I have done in quite a while. So after the school drop off I decided to try and manage a short walk, just a gentle stroll up the high street, past the castle.......
....and on past the small sheep field. All of a sudden the sun broke through the clouds and I was so happy to see those shafts of soft light making their way to me through the trees, oh so welcome on this rather cold, gloomy February morning. I carried on walking, slowly, slowly, only a gentle hill but my body doesn't really allow me to do hills at the moment. Shuffle, shuffle, not too much further.....
....destination Snowdrop!
I love visiting this little patch every Winter, it's a small wild area where the very edge of the woods meets the road into the top of town.
Snowdrops are such unusual little flowers when you stop to look closely at them, and the effect of them carpeting the leafy ground in the depths of winter is stunning.
Truthfully, I would loved to have picked a few little sweet flowers to bring home with me. I could picture them all dainty in a teeny tiny little glass jar, nodding their sweet white heads and bringing me oodles of pleasure. But I know these are naughty thoughts and so I made myself content with capturing them on my camera.
I loitered around the wild patch at the side of the road, at the edge of the woods for quite a while, walking this way and that, pointing my camera, trying to capture the beauty of snowdrops-in-the-sunshine. I leaned over the fence, crouched down and stuck my arms through the fence. And then I straightened up and stood very still for a while, working out how my body was feeling, trying to decide what to do. Turn around and head back down into town? Or walk onwards and follow the pathway into the woodland?
I turned my back on the pavement and chose the muddy pathway, following this gloriously mossy stone wall which forms the top boundary of the woodland.
I am completely, crushingly in love with moss, and when I see it growing so joyfully over every standing-still brown thing, my heart honestly feels like it might implode with gladness. These vibrant green mounds take the edge off the pervading brown-ness of the winter woodland, they are just so full of life! I love it when moss shoots up these ultra-cute little things (what are they? Moss flowers? Moss seedheads? I want to know all about mossy goings on!), well I love those little shooty-up things most of all.
Ahh, here is the waterfall in the middle of the woodland - please note that I appear to be up above it rather than down beside it on the path there like I normally am. That would be because I managed to get myself completely lost following the mossy path, neglecting to turn at the point where I should have turned. I walked on and on and on, and it was raining, and my beloved red boots became caked in mud. I do not possess any sense of direction, the place in my brain where there should be a logical compass is just an empty space. I think I walked around the edge of the soggy woodland for about an hour until eventually, I ended up at a point that I recognised. It was waaaaay off the pathway that I should have been on, but at least it was familiar and I was able to descend down the steep bank and pretend that I was never, ever lost at all. Just taking the scenic route.
I was very, very tired by this point, my legs had decided to mimic the tree trunks and turn themselves into lumps of wood.
But it had been such a lovely little unplanned walk, and the memories of the snowdrop carpet and mossy walls and tumbling water stayed with me as I made my way slowly home.
The homeward route from the woods conveniently goes right past the local Bakery which has a brass door handle in he shape of a croissant. I decided that the only treatment for Wooden Leg Syndrome is a soft iced bun popped into a paper bag, and carried carefully home so that it can accompany a mug of steaming hot coffee. It worked a treat. Whilst I was sipping my coffee and scoffing my bun, I thought about the snowdrops all over again, and it reminded me about the calendar that hangs next to my desk....
....this lovely calendar was a free gift last year with one of my favourite magazines - Country Home and Interiors. I've been a subscriber to this magazine for almost a decade, and I can tell you that in recent years it has consistently provided me with a huge amount of inspirational, seasonal visual pleasure. The free annual calendar has also given me a lot of pleasure over the years - those of you who've been visiting me here for a while may remember my years of "Calendar Posts" where each month I would share seasonal images from my various calendars? The Country Homes calendar was always known as the Bossy Calendar, as each image was usually accompanied by a command to do something or other. It did used to make me laugh.
This year, the theme is country flowers, and I thoroughly approve of charting the months in this way. How lovely! The photos are beautiful, and the text for each month is as charmingly bossy as ever.
So here we have January, which features the humble snowdrop and the following command >
"At the start of the year, bring bunches of velvety white snowdrops inside from the garden to display alongside glowing candlelight."
Oh, ok then! Excepting that I don't have bunches of snowdrops growing in my garden. I don't have a garden which grows bunches of anything really. And I couldn't bring myself to steal even one single stem of a snowdrop from the wild patch at the edge of the woods. I shall just have to make do with pictures instead.....
....these beautiful pages are from last months Country Living magazine (Feb).
Oh just look at those delightful mossy pots! I really wish I had some mossy posts and pretty snowdrops of my own.
These sweet little flowers fill me with delight, and even though the colours on these pages are very pale and muted, they are just so right for this time of year. I do love a spot of seasonal colour.
I was inspired to have a little play with my yarn pegs and channel some inner winter snowdrop vibes. Mmmm...very restful and calming, wouldn't you say? A pretty Winter palette for January.
Mind you, seeing as we are now into February, I'll have to think up something floral and Februaryish to share with you now. You never know, I might even obey the Bossy Calendar this month, there is an instruction to go and look for paperwhite narcissus.......
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I enjoyed your walk vicariously, thanks for sharing. I'm sure the sticky bun made everything feel better - especially since it came from a baker with a croissant door handle!
Posted by: Kim Hood | February 04, 2016 at 08:06 AM
I just love the palette you've laid out. Very soothing and peaceful. Perfect for January. I can't wait to see what it becomes.
Posted by: Susan | February 04, 2016 at 03:45 AM
Hi Lucy.. I'm so happy that you found such a sea of Snowdrops! I actually have several huge patches of them here on my farm in Oregon, USA an just put some on my blog post this morning.. do pop over and see them. I also photographed 100 Tundra Swans that Winter over just 10 minutes from my house. I may have to pull up a bunch of Snowdrops and put them in an old clay pot and bring them in. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | February 04, 2016 at 02:55 AM
What a lovely post. I'm so jealous of your snowdrops. I don't know if we have any in Connecticut, USA. I've never seen them. I do have some nice proper English bluebells though. Enjoy your bossy calendar. It reminds me of Martha Stewart's in her magazine listing all the things she does, which we should all do too.
Posted by: Toni | February 04, 2016 at 02:37 AM
Hello Lucy. I really felt like I was on your ramble with you. As for the moss, my daughter (a biology student in Pre-Med) tells me that when it has those reddish things sticking up that the moss is perfectly happy, in a perfect environment with everything it needs. She calls it happy moss! I have a tiny patch of snowdrops in my garden that will bloom in a couple of weeks here on the West Coast of Canada. Continue to get well and enjoy the spring.
Posted by: Alison Routley | February 04, 2016 at 02:01 AM
Oh Lucy what a beautiful colour combination and the details of your walk, it is like I am right there. Looking forward to seeing what project you dream up for this colour way. Here in Canada it will be another two months before we get snowdrops.
Posted by: Susan Wilkie | February 04, 2016 at 01:46 AM
When I saw your pictures of the wild snowdrops, I thought what a delightful inspiration they would make for a variegated yarn colour, white, greens and browns.
Posted by: Colleen Donnelly | February 04, 2016 at 12:20 AM
I am now a Floridian, but a former N.Y'er..In the house where I lived between my yard and my neighbor were snow drops. Just about this time every year they would pop up the little heads. I especially loved it when it snowed and they made there way up through the ice and snow. Do not have that where I live now and until I read your post I did not realize how much I missed them. Be well so you can enjoy them again at some point.
Posted by: Dorothy | February 03, 2016 at 11:19 PM
Oh I did that walk so many times and I miss it sooooo much! It's been a sweltering 35 degrees here in Brisbane so I was with you in spirit. Sending get well wishes across the seas.
x
Posted by: Beth | February 03, 2016 at 11:07 PM
Do you make this sample closepins on all your yarn?
Posted by: Linda | February 03, 2016 at 10:50 PM
The snowdrops are so beautiful. There is a tiny clump of them in my garden but to see them in the natural setting of the woodland dappled in sunlight is magical. Thank you for sharing your walk, words and photos Lucy, it's like walking in your footsteps.
Posted by: Anne | February 03, 2016 at 10:33 PM
What absolutely gorgeous colours. And a lovely walk, I'm glad you were feeling a bit better, long may it continue. The snowdrops are fantastic, and I love mossy walls as well, I know exactly what you mean, they're completely delightful. Enjoy the rest of the week Lucy. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | February 03, 2016 at 10:22 PM
How absolutely incredible to have such a beautiful walk right on your doorstep. I am have been reading your blog for many years, since you started. I want to say that you have such a gift for writing. You write beautifully and is obvious it comes naturally. How I enjoyed that walk and all of your walks you take me on. I am in Melbourne, Australia and in the midst of summer. :)
Posted by: Patricia | February 03, 2016 at 10:01 PM
This morning I just picked 4 snowdrops from my garden for in a greenglass inkwell.
I enjoy it every year again.
Just plant some in a pot for your garden .
You'll love it.
It gives hope.
Posted by: Astrid | February 03, 2016 at 09:58 PM
Love snowdrops, your photos of them are beautiful. We've got some just come out in our garden, wish I could send you some x
Posted by: Erica Field | February 03, 2016 at 09:14 PM
Oh, I do wish I could have been on that walk with you and of course the first pic of Skipton Castle brought a lump to my throat. I'm like you and fight hard not to pick native flowers and our beautiful ficifolia blossoms are out at the moment and looking so beautiful, I'd love a vase full, but no I've not picked any. I must put a photo of them on my blog. Love that colour combination and wondering if you'll do a pack for Wool Warehouse? I'd be very tempted to by that one and have it sent to Oz. Now what could I make with it? Hope you'll soon be feeling 100% and take care now.
Posted by: Susan Smith | February 03, 2016 at 09:08 PM
I just want to let you know how very much I have adored reading your blog for several years! Here in Pennsylvania, USA, it's too early for even the earliest flowers. But I'd love to be there and take your beautiful British walk! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Lisa | February 03, 2016 at 09:01 PM
Just want you to know how much I enjoy your adventures. It's like I'm walking right along side you. The Wooden Leg Syndrome had me laughing out loud!!! Thanks for sharing your day!
Posted by: Linda from Boston | February 03, 2016 at 08:55 PM
Snowdrops are literally months away still here, but my dear husband and I are heading to Vancouver tomorrow and will see them there. My father's garden will be awash with them. We will travel from winter at home into spring in Vancouver, and on the way back have to travel back into winter again. Oh well. I really love the palette of wintery colours in yarn on pegs. I was first drawn years ago to your bright, bright palette, but I'm really enjoying watching you experiment with adding more sombre hues into the mix. Your sense of colour seems to me to be getting deeper and subtler with every passing year. Yay, you, for showing me (all of us) the way.
Posted by: Anne at Shintangle Studio | February 03, 2016 at 08:45 PM
You're so good with words Lucy. I enjoy immensely reading your posts and you make me smile, laugh and see and smell everything you describe. Thank you for all the beauty and colors that you provide us with.
Posted by: Goga | February 03, 2016 at 08:35 PM
Buy a terracotta pot, plant it up with snowdrop bulbs
(you should be able to buy a pot full in flower), stick it in the back yard and enjoy...
The pot will weather and the bulbs will bloom again and again.
Glad you're feeling a bit better, just hope the extra long walk hasn't set you back. Funny how so many good things start with C - coffee, cake, chocolate, crisps, colour and of course - crochet!
Posted by: Kath | February 03, 2016 at 08:27 PM
Hi Lucy! Good to see that you are up and about. Walk as much as you can and most important, as much as your body lets you, never ignore the little twinges and you shall definitely be on the road to being your usual! Lucy I have to say, those colors, you are a wizard for sure, are gorgeous! You have done it again, my dear, giving me the 'wanties', as you say, to go to my yarn store, sigh I need one that stocks the yarn that you get in Europe and the UK! Have a good evening and looking forward to what you are going to make with those gorgeous colors! Be well Lucy!
Posted by: Shobha N | February 03, 2016 at 08:27 PM
Gorgeous.I was taking photos of mossy twigs myself on Sunday.sign of healthy air.breathe deep.spring is a coming😊🌺
Posted by: Susan | February 03, 2016 at 08:08 PM
I love moss too. On a mammoth walk (95!miles of The West Highland Way )!my husband was amazed that I found moss so fascinating! Hope you will continue to get better even if you feel it is too slow. Here our lovely snowdrop weekend is 13 and 14th Feb. I will miss it as I will be in India. No snowdrops there but lots of exotic plants. Keep warm and take care
Posted by: Bernie Birkett | February 03, 2016 at 08:06 PM
Thank you as always, Lucy. Thought you might enjoy this link. http://lifehacker.com/5915153/grow-moss-anywhere
Using water, buttermilk, moss, and a blender you can grow moss on almost any surface, and create your own indoor or outdoor moss garden by painting the mixture on (whatever) and waiting a few weeks. You can even make pictures or write words with it. I'm too old and lazy to do it.
Posted by: Sally Jo Bongle | February 03, 2016 at 08:05 PM