Ahhh look, the first signs of Spring have arrived here in Atticland, what a joy to behold!
In the eight years that I've lived in this picturesque part of the world, I've learnt that March does not mean Spring for us, however much we might wish for it. Most years we get snowflakes thrown at us during this month (the first March we lived here, it snowed on Easter Sunday! We built a 5ft snowman!)
These snowy scenes arrived without warning during the first week of the month, giving us two days of the white stuff which quickly melted away down here in town....
....but stayed for days like a dusting of powdery sugar on the surrounding hills. And so this is the view from my Attic window in early March, definitely more than a hint of winter remaining. I really must try not to wish the days away, Spring will come in it's own sweet time. Mid April if we're lucky. So I quietly say Roll on April, I will be so, so, so ready for a taste of Spring by then.
Despite the chilly temperatures and snow dusted landscapes, we've had a fabulous and very welcome dose of sunshine here just lately.
Early last week J had a day off work so we headed out into the Yorkshire Dales to stroll across the hilltops. It was wonderful to be out and about, my first Proper Walk since the start of the year. I was so relieved to discover that my legs were back in action again, yippeeeeee for some energy in my muscles, if felt great! I confess I was very, very tired afterwards, but I was so glad that I felt strong enough to take on a five mile walk. Progress indeed.
We've been doing this short circular walk for about twenty years, J and I, often alone, sometimes with the Little People in tow. The combination of high hills, wide open grassland, pretty woodland and gorgeous riverside make this a real favourite jaunt at all times of the year - in Spring the woodland floor will be filled with bluebells here.
Even the short walk along the road is a pleasure, I got a little bit excited over this glorious expanse of mossy wall. Like you do.
J and I have always loved this bit where large flat limestone rocks spread right down to the water's edge and we've had countless picnics and coffee stops on this sun warmed slab over the years. We saw a kingfisher flit past here last week, a quick flash of brilliant blue and then gone. Funnily enough the first thing that sprang to mind was sock yarn! I need to get out more.
The slow spring start has some definite advantages if you are of yarny persuasion, and during the past few weeks I've enjoyed a very welcome amount of sofa time ensconced with my Cupcake blanket. It's really coming on, only twelve more stripes to go (squeee!). I've also designed and sampled a new edging pattern for this blanket which I'm super happy with, can't wait to get onto the edge of the Edge with this Spring beauty.
The cold weather is also perfect for those of us who love cafés, and really there is nothing nicer than coming in out of the cold to settle down with a cup of something hot, delicious and frothy. On Sunday I went out into town with Little Lady, I needed to pick up a few bits from the shops that I'd forgotten in the week, but really it was an excuse for us to jaunt out together for an hour and sneak a quick café stop into the late morning. I tell you, that girl did not stop talking, even as she was spooning cream into her mouth from her loaded hot chocolate she was nattering on and on, it was a delight! Tales of friends, school, guinea pigs, manicure tips (I'm trying to grow my nails, she is my nail guru), ideas and plans and dreams and random thoughts came tumbling forth. Sweet girl of mine.
I have loved welcoming back my little patch of front garden crocus this week, the abundant sunshine makes them open their petals right out (I feel like that too when the sun shines). The sight of them at the weekend inspired me to do a little bit of planting in my very small front garden....
I bought some cheap bulbs from the supermarket (two trays for £3, bargain), so I was able just to do a bit of digging and weeding with a small trowel and plop the shooting bulbs straight into the earth ready to grow and flower. I bought a tray of narcissus Minnow (little pale yellow narcissus) and some Muscari (grape hyacinths)...oh pale yellow and purply blue, I think it's going to look very sweet. I am so excited for them to bloom, this is the first gardening I've done in an absolute age, and it feels fabulous to have an element of sweet floral anticipation back in my life.
I also planted out some tete a tete narcissus that had been blooming away in a corner of my backyard. These are the small pots of flowers that I have growing on my mantel indoors each year - I used to throw them away when they'd finished flowering, but then I realised that if I simply put the pots in a sheltered spot in my back yard they might possibly shoot and flower again the following year. What do you know, it actually happened! So into the soil they went this year, and I hope very much that they'll reappear again next Spring.
There is a bare patch of earth in the above photo, well it looks bare, but I sowed some seeds there.....
....I planted some Pot Marigolds in that small patch, one of my most favourite summer flowers. I was going to put some nasturtiums in too, but read the seed packet and realised it's a little too early for them, so they'll go in once the bulbs have finished flowering. I haven't felt inspired to garden for a few years (my back yard had one of it's regular "fallow" years in 2015), but this year, I am keen, keen as mustard! Watch this space........
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Hello Lucy!
Here is an entry from Francis Kilvert's diary (from 1871) that I think you'd like!
" Villaging about to Margaret Griffith, who told me that in the old fashioned farm houses a steen of butter and something particularly good was always kept till March and not touched, because March was reckoned to be a very severe and trying month, and people were thought to want some special support then."
Love your blog! Happy Easter!
Posted by: Lizzie | March 27, 2016 at 01:51 PM
No longer blogging? It seems like a long time since your last post. Hope the all is well with you and your family.
Posted by: Charlotte | March 23, 2016 at 11:41 PM
Beautiful photos and lovely place. Hubby's family lives in Yorkshire and moved there about a year or so ago. We're hoping to visit there this summer. Lovely purple crocuses and how thrilling to see your Springtime flowers starting to peek up out of the ground! :)
Posted by: Alexandra | March 23, 2016 at 08:42 PM
Awsom pictures.What a beautiful place. I live in the North of Norway, no signs of the spring yet…..but I`m waiting :-) Its been snowing for several days no.
I`ve put you on my bloglist so I can follow you. Happy Easter.
Posted by: Hilde | March 20, 2016 at 07:28 PM
Can't wait for the temperatures to rise a bit! Spring is definitely the best time of year...when it's mild and sunny, that is! Loving your cupcake blankie! It reminds me a bit of mini egg colours. :)
Just popped over to let you know I am blogging again! Hope you'll pop over and say hello! love, Tina xx
Posted by: Tina | March 20, 2016 at 03:30 PM
Hello, I love your crochet, it is beauty, I love this colors, I follow your blog, I have a blog about crochet with free patterns and free crochet diagrams, visit me , hugs from Brazil.
- Tita Carré - Crochet
Posted by: tita Carré | March 20, 2016 at 03:55 AM
Funny how people on the opposite sides of the planet wish for different things. Here in Australia we should have been seeing signs of Autumn but last week we were still in the mid 30's. I hate the intense heat and love the cold. Maybe we should swap places. But too much of something often has you yearning for a change. Such is life.
Posted by: Therese Bizabishaka | March 19, 2016 at 07:42 AM
Hi, Lucy! I would like to make a small circular cushion using your flat circle pattern. I am struggling to find a 30cm cushion; I would also have a go at some socks but cannot find any 30cm circular needles. Can you help? I just love everything you do! Thank you so much for being such an inspiration !!! Christine xx
Posted by: Christine | March 18, 2016 at 08:01 PM
I'm getting back into sports and working out after a heavy cold myself. I can't wait for spring to come to be able to go for walks and go running outside! The sun has come out finally, after weeks of raining here in Austria, but it's still really, really cold! I really would love to have 20 degrees and be able to don that stupid winter jacket!
Posted by: Emm.A | March 18, 2016 at 07:54 AM
Glad to see hooky time is strengthening your health Lucy. It seems appropriate that you are coming out of your enforced cocoon time in the chrysalis of Spring. Loving the cupcake throw. Take good care.
We are anxiously waiting Autumn in Oz.
Chele
Posted by: Chele | March 17, 2016 at 09:58 PM
March is always a surprise for us: Big snow storm or An early spring!
Thsi year is pretty good !! no big storms and sun! the snow is going to leave us for a while and flowers will grow slowly!
i love that time between two seasons!
Your view is so beautiful.
And i always love to see your flowers pots!
Have a great day,
Rose, xx
Posted by: Rose | March 17, 2016 at 05:50 PM
I think March has been colder than winter...although it's lovely and sunny here today. I long for those first spring flowers, trouble is Otto has taken to chewing every new plant that dares to pop out from under the ground! ;) xxx
Posted by: Amanda | March 17, 2016 at 01:11 PM
Wow! That photo with flowers under the snow is gorgeous! Unfortunately, spring this year is not going to come on time and joy us:) However, I am writing about spring in my essay for http://pinkelstar.com/essay-writing-services/write-my-essay-paper/ (write my essay), and I really feel like sunny weather is around the corner.
Posted by: Jeremy | March 17, 2016 at 12:14 PM
Springtime or not - it's still looking lovely and that's the most important part, isn't it. In Cologne we have sunshine but it's really, really cold. Unusual for march. Thank God we can crochet ourselves to warmth... Greetings from Mila
Posted by: Mila | March 17, 2016 at 11:41 AM
Last year I discovered an accumulation of Nasturtium seed packets, as apparently I can't resist them. I planted them a bit late and thought they would never come up but they were an absolute joy up until the first frost. Highly recommended!
Posted by: Sally | March 16, 2016 at 11:08 PM
Stunning pics and lovely that spring is on the way it was very springlike here last week but winter back again this week with a cruel east wind coming straight off the sea.
Clare xx
Posted by: Clare | March 16, 2016 at 05:22 PM
So glad you 'tumbled' to the fact that the bulbs can go in the garden once they are through inside. I've populated many a garden spot with my inside spring bulbs. Tulips don't do particularly well at reblooming (even ones done only outside) but hyacinths and daffodil types never miss a beat. I think of it a two for one, money-wise. Actually more than two as they will come up every year now.
Posted by: Helen | March 16, 2016 at 05:11 PM
Lovely photo's x We have daffodils and crocus out here in Mid Norfolk but the old North Sea chill is over us and although bright and sunny today it is also chilly ...far too cold for gardening. One of my favourite's are Nasturtiums,they always remind me of my dear Mum who always used them as an easyily grown cover up for any place that looked drab in her garden.....Oranges,Reds, Yellows and Greens xxx
Posted by: Rae | March 16, 2016 at 03:32 PM
Who is this person and what have you done with Lucy?? LOL
I have been extremely busy of late and have not got reading my favourite blogs (yours being one of them). I am eating lunch at my desk today and thought I'd pop on for a wee catch up.
So I open this post and there is Lucy, crocheting on lap....... but is that Pastel Colours I see??? LOL
I'll have to get properly caught up now to see what your cupcake blanket is all about. :D
Posted by: Carla | March 16, 2016 at 02:08 PM
Who is this person and what have you done with Lucy?? LOL
I have been extremely busy of late and have not got reading my favourite blogs (yours being one of them). I am eating lunch at my desk today and thought I'd pop on for a wee catch up.
So I open this post and there is Lucy, crocheting on lap....... but is that Pastel Colours I see??? LOL
I'll have to get properly caught up now to see what your cupcake blanket is all about. :D
Posted by: Carla | March 16, 2016 at 02:08 PM
How about planting some sweet peas? If unsure how to, just look at one of the many videos on-line. I am planting Ballerina Blue and Scent Infusion, both beautiful and highly recommended..... Happy gardening!
Posted by: Judith Cuenzer | March 16, 2016 at 01:45 PM
New follower here :) I love England's slow, sweet start to Spring. I love your blog and your wonderful photos and words!
Posted by: Mary | March 16, 2016 at 11:56 AM
How wonderful that you are feeling better Lucy! I remember your posts of walks there previously. The snow looks lovely too, although I'm guessing you are wishing it gone. I thought I would llet you know I have done the post on the bunting for Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School with links to your pattern and to your Facebook page - thank you so much for agreeing to let us us iit. Do pop into the Facebook page and have a look at our little school we would love to see you. Take care and love toyou and your beautiful family xxBrenda
Posted by: Brenda | March 16, 2016 at 11:25 AM
Hello Lucy, I have to tell you that I love reading your blog! My heart makes an extra beat when I see you've posted one ;-) I'm making the cosy blanket and when I'm finished I'll start with the ripplestitch. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and lovely pictures, they really brighten up my day! I hope that I didn't make a lot of mistakes, my english is a bit rusty! Warm greetings from Madelief from the netherlands
Posted by: madelief | March 16, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Like one of your readers I am also from down under, I am very impatiently waiting for Autumn to roll in , so I can be cold.
Posted by: Belinda | March 16, 2016 at 10:52 AM