What February Looked Like

Well hello one and all, I am back in the Attic after an unintentional break and I'm really, really happy to be back. I've missed you! Thank you very kindly for all your well wishes of late, and I am very sorry to have been gone so long.

February seems to have passed by in a bit of a blur to be honest, a month of personal struggle for me on a few different levels, and truthfully I am glad it's now behind me. For those who have asked ((thank you, thank you)), my health is improving slowly but surely and for that simple fact I am immensely thankful. I went for some checks at the hospital, had some more blood tests done and everything appears to be "satisfactory", gosh I think my sigh of relief could have been heard for miles. I've another month or so of iron supplements to take, then more blood tests, so although I'm not quite 100% just yet I am very, very much better than I was a month ago.

These photos were taken at Bolton Abbey in the middle of February, a short walk with the youngest two Little Peeps (we left The Teen in bed). The day was cold and bright, and although I look at these images and remember that I was feeling really rather rubbish at the time (oh those hilly paths, my legs complained very loudly!), it was also a wonderful walk with the L-Peeps.

A morning of low winter sunshine and long shadows....

....of slow plodding and mindfulness.

There was a time back in mid February when I truly worried that I would never feel normal again, when there was a tinge of melancholy and fretting seeping into pretty much everything I did. It was so hard to shake off the exhaustion and keep myself cheery and positive, but hey - I muddled through and tried hard to listen to my body, treat myself kindly and allow myself time to recover gently.

Slowly, slowly over the past few weeks I have felt my energy begin to return, and I am so grateful for it. I am trying not to be too negative here, after all, I only have anaemia and a vitamin deficiency and I am well on my way to recovery from both. The struggles I've experienced have been oh so minor compared to the lives of others. So I have tried hard to balance the negativity with gratitude, to combat the exhaustion and low moods with early nights and gentle days and just get on with the business of living life. I hibernated a bit too I guess, tucked myself up at home and withdrew a little from putting myself out there, cos it felt like the right thing to do at the time. But oh it's GREAT to be back, I have seriously missed my normal, happy, share-everything self!!!!!

We had a welcome break from routine in February with a week off school/work for Half Term. We went away for a few days (more of that in a bit), but mostly the week comprised of slow and leisurely days spent quietly at home.

The Little People happily entertained themselves for hours on end, with visiting friends/neighbours adding to the fun. Just to keep it real, a rather extensive amount of screen time was indulged, I confess it's not all paper crafts and hama beads around here. To keep it even more real, I admit I actively encouraged the screen time. I even once or twice commanded Little B (in a slightly hysterical tone of voice) to Go-play-on-your-Play-Station!!! when I really didn't have the energy to deal with his boredom. There. It's all out now. Real life, warts and all.

One of the reasons I've not been blogging lately, (apart from the fact my brain felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool) is down to a timing issue. Often the only window of opportunity for me to sit at my desk and write is in the evenings once the kiddlets are in bed. But due to the tiredness I've been experiencing, I simply haven't had the stamina to do anything much in the evenings. Apart from crochet that is. I've found that crochet has really saved my evenings from being a blur of nothingness. Often I've retreated to bed at 8pm to cosy up and work on some colourful rows - crochet really is the perfect therapy and a very, very happy way to end a long tiring day. Particularly with the easy granny stripe pattern, I have found the repetitive stitches have often sent me into a kind of a trance which is soooooo relaxing and a down right lovely experience. Not only that, but you get a beautiful handmade blanket at the end of it all - win win!!

As a result of all the extra sofa time and early bedtimes last month, I managed to crochet and make this blanket (an updated version of my original granny stripe) in under six weeks, and it's now all finished. I'll be sharing a little ta-dah moment soon to show you the extra stripes I added, plus the slightly simplified Little Waves border. I've started work on writing up the printed pattern for the yarn packs so hoping to have that done and dusted in the next week or so. Thank you for your patience if you've been waiting for this.

I have also been busy working on new projects for Yarndale, we do lots of creative planning and scheming at this time of year, but my biggest job right now is to work with my friend Lovely C to hatch a new sheep for our yarny flock.

This will be our fifth sheep, we have named her Flora as she is particularly fond of flowers.

I've been crocheting a little flower meadow for Flora to frolic in which has been a lot of fun actually, I do really love making flowers. I created a new flower design for this project and I love the way they look. In fact I've had a lot of sparks flying in and out of my Creative Mind inspired by these flowers (made using Drops Karisma DK which is gorgeous 100% wool yarn). I love the buzz of inspiration when it strikes unexpectedly, it's such a wonderful feeling!

My new Cupcake blanket is coming on a treat too, I am over half way with the stripes now and trying really hard to get it finished in the next three weeks, cos I have an idea........

......we'll be heading down to Dorset for Easter and I've got it into my head that the pastel painted beach huts at Lyme Regis will make the most beautiful backdrop for a little blanket photo shoot. What do you think? Good idea?

Talking of the seaside, we took a little trip to the coast in the middle of February and it was absolutely beautiful. We had perfect winter weather (blinking freezing, but oh the sunshine and blue skies were delicious). I'll share some more seaside stuff very soon, can't wait to show you where we went.

Back soon (and I mean soon! I'm back in the Attic, yippeeee!!)

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Comments

[Anna Maria Quagliero]

Welcome back Lucy , glad you fill better !

[susan]

Oh Lucy, please please PLEASE take care of yourself. I love reading about your crafty life but would be absolutely fine with you taking necessary breaks. I'm pretty sure I speak for others as well.

[Penny R]

Welcome back, Lucy. So happy you are doing better. Prayers really are answered. Just keep doing what your doing and one day all that tiredness and draggy feeling will be just a distant memory. Looking forward to your Ta-Da's and gorgeous cupcake color blanket photo shoot.

[Jacqui]

welcome back yes I have checked that I haven't missed anything,so glad youre beginning to feel better. Don't put yourself down anaemia and vitamin deficiency make you really rough and miserable especially when you are a creative person oerhaps you have had a touch of S.A.D as well??
all your new blankets are gorgeous

[Victoria S]

Glad you are feeling more human. Hope it continues and you end up bouncing like a spring lamb in the coming weeks.

[kathy b]

SO happy you feel well again. Your stitches are wonderful. I love the painted beach doors! I love a sand shot any day too

[Claudia Rodriguez La Rosa]

So happy you are feeling better, I was really worried checking every day! Great to have you back!!!!!

[Marilyn]

So happy you are back....I've checked often. Glad your health is improving, I really missed you here. Your Alabama, USA friend.

[Louise]

Hurray! The first couple of weeks blog silence felt like I was being forced to withdraw from an addiction. I'm so glad you are back. My harmony blanket is coming on well - five columns done. I've got a self imposed deadline of my little one's birthday on 7 April and I'm not sure I'll make it.... Looking forward to my first spring following you x

[Carol]

Missed you Lucy, and I was worried as well, where you were.

Glad you are feeling better - Spring and the warmer weather is hopefully round the corner.

[Winnie]

So happy to hear you are feeling better and back in the blog world. Love the flowers and striped blankets. The photo shoot back drop will be beautiful.

[Sam Roberts]

Bless you. Glad you are feeling a bit more yourself xxx

[Susan]

So happy to hear you're feeling better, Lucy. It's wonderful to have you back.

[piglettos]

Glad you are back and on the road to recovery!

[Sally]

Glad you're doing better! Have to say, I'm not a pastel person, but I am going to be making that cupcake blanket. I think it's the addition of brown and tan that makes it especially appealing. I too have found the healing powers of crochet, btw. Thank you for sharing your talent.

[Susan M]

Yea! She's back!! Glad you're on the mend.

[Margaret Longden]

Yay! The best news that you are back and recovering well! I would like to thank you for your inspirational blog. Having found it I have taken up crochet again after a long interval and it is such a joy. I find it very calming, takes me away from my iPad addiction and it is so easy to transport, pick up and put down. I live in Addingham, very near to Skipton and it is very stimulating to see local surroundings through your creative eyes. Every good wish.

[fiona]

hi Lucy, so good to hear about your latest projects. i love the crochet flowers on Flora the sheep and flower pot holders. The flowers would also look good on blankets, so perhaps i can use this idea for my next blanket project. thanks for the inspiration.
All the best
Fiona

http://www.createdforyouandme.blogspot.com.au

[Rosie]

So glad you're feeling better Lucy. Take care :) x

[Cathy]

So glad to hear you are feeling better Lucy! Be kind to yourself, we women tend not to take as good care of ourselves as we do of our family members. Can't wait to see Flora!

[Adaliza]

Can't wait to see Flora the Sheep - I named my pet duckling Flora (after the Floral Dance in Helston, Cornwall). She's a garden duck and can often be found having a doze in the middle of the daffodils and snowdrops at this time of year. She's 5 this year! You'll find Flora Puddleduck photos if you pop her name into Google!

[Margaret Hayward]

Hurray! So glad to have you back. It was like losing a friend even though I've never met you. I'm really pleased that you're feeling better.

[mrs. smythe]

So glad you're back and doing better!

[Brenda]

Welcome back Lucy, it's a long road back from anemia, I've done it myself but you will get there. I have a question for you... Our primary school is turning 100 ( probably not very impressive to the English, but a big deal here in Australia) and we were hoping to have crochet bunting like your Yarndale bunting, are you happy for me to link to your pattern for people to use? Take care of yourself and just love the Bolton Abbey photos, I am fortunate to have been there, oh it's so lovely!

[The Little Farmhouse]

Glad you feel better, and never apologize for being away, your own health comes first!

Love the pretty flowers ... :-)

Corine
x

http://blog.thelittlefarmhouse.nl/