Frosty Warm

It appears that I have a fixation with the weather at the moment, and I sincerely hope this is not boring the pants off you. Actually, it's not so much the weather that is at the centre of my thoughts, but more the rapid change in seasons. Summer to Autumn was deliciously slow and leisurely this year and I loved that gentle transition so much. Autumn to Winter has been like BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In your face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I'm not liking that effect nearly so much, it has jolted my innards and I really wish for things to slooooow right down please. This morning we woke to sub zero temperatures and a chilly walk to school. The ducks were ice skating on the slippery surface of the frozen canal which made us laugh and made us late for school as we spent way too much time standing and watching it all unfold.

Despite the shock of the cold, there was an abundance of natural beauty out there in the world this morning.

Even a mundane trip to the supermarket to buy broccoli and Parmesan cheese was rewarded with these gorgeous frosty berries in the car park.

I got half way up the hill home, then decided on a whim to turn left instead of carrying straight on, just for the pleasure of walking a little longer in the cool frosty morning.

I wish you could lean in a little closer and put your nose to your screen to sniff at the air here - it's the smell of cold air mixed with wood smoke, as so many of the canal boats have their wood burning stoves lit to keep them cosy inside. I love love love this smell so much, and it will forever remind me of living here in this little town.

Ahhh.....I seem to be heading towards the park, I think my boots have walked this way of their own accord!

Frosty grass and icy leaves under foot as I walk......

.....even the dead leaves look rather beautiful with their delicate outline of ice crystals. Which has just reminded me of a hashtag on Instagram #lovelydeadcrap which makes me snort with laughter every time (thanks to Emma @silverpebble2 for that gem!)

I look at the above photo and I want to tell you how beautiful the light was (again), but I feel I might even be boring myself with this constant need to talk about the light levels. My inner dialogue is fixating, I swear I never used to be this way.

This has become my current uniform of choice - red boots (always, unless it's raining, in which case I put on my spotty ankle wellies), leggings (worn with a skirt/pinafore/dress of some sorts) and a pair of warm, cosy, beautiful hand knit socks on my feet (joy of absolute joys). I blinkin' love wearing hand knit socks, they give me nothing but utter pleasure for the whole day long. Which reminds me, I must give you a sock update soon. I've got hand dyed yarn to show you, and it is rather spesh.

OH!!!!!!!!!!!!! The LiGhT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See what I mean about that sunlight?? It moves me, truly.

Light-lit leaves, the last few still hanging on to the branches.....

.....it was really lovely to see little itty bits of bright green lit up amongst the brown.

The air was still and quiet today, the landscape muffled and muted by the frosty cold.

Back home now, and fresh coffee is top of my agenda before I can think about doing anything. I don't have a fancy milk frother gadget, but I do like to perform a bit of light whipping with a teeny tiny whisk to add some air bubbles to my hot milk. Life's little pleasures and all.

I enjoyed a mini mince pie with my morning coffee and planning, and rather delicious it was too. My hyacinths have grown so quickly in the warmth of home, and I'm hoping to see those sweet flowers bloom very soon. The kitty has not paid the slightest bit of attention to them by the way, which I am hugely grateful for, because honestly, she ate my geraniums which were on my table a few weeks back. Not just a small nibble or a bit of a curious investigation, but actual eating. 

I bought paper snowflakes yesterday, three for £1 from Poundland. I haven't done anything remotely Christmassy yet (not an inkling of any purchases at all which is slightly worrying), but ahh I did get suckered in by the flood of nostalgic memories which assaulted  me when I saw these paper decorations. 

Takes me right back to being Little B's age or there abouts. Talking of the B child, let me show you something......

.....this was on my floor this morning, the product of Little B getting up at 6.30 am and occupying himself by building dens/hideouts/lairs/camps and nests. The above is a nest apparently, and is pretty much a daily occurrence. He carefully constructs these things, then sits himself in the middle, snuggles himself right in, demands food (usually cherry tomatoes, I kid you not), then spends the next hour watching some insane cartoon (Teen Titans Go! which is mental).

Some days I leave his nest alone and spend the entire day stepping over and around it. Yesterday the tripping hazard became too much so I spent a while putting cushions back on sofas and folding and stacking my blankets.....

.....ooooo such a pretty pile, in a house where messy, unruly piles are generally unsightly and not in the least bit picturesque. This pile, I could happily sit and gaze at for long, lovely moments, it pleases me so much to take in all the colours, and ponder on the memories of time and place caught up in those thousands and thousands of yarny stitches. Makes me very happy.

This afternoon I toddled off to Coopers Cafe for a really pleasurable creative sesh with the most lovely ladies - I really do enjoy these hours in my week so so much. There was frothy, chocolate dusted coffee and a warm homemade scone (not the healthiest lunch, but hey-ho, it really did hit that comfort-needy spot). There was chatter and laughter and there were waves of yarny colour. I have to say, I'm finding these colour combos rather weird, they kind of make me feel simultaneously joyful and concerned. It's what happens when I go Rogue Random (instead of my usual Planned Random), I do like it but it also makes my toes curl a weeny bit. 

It's 8.30 pm now, and I am already ready for bed. Sad, but true. My energy levels are quite low at the moment so I'm treating myself kindly and making sure I get plenty of sleep. On these cold, dark nights I've started heading to my bed around about now, taking a hot water bottle and my bag of wacky yarn colours with me and hooking up some rows of rogue waves before my eyes start to droop. It's such a beautiful, peaceful, soothing way to end the day, I can highly recommend it.

Righty-o, I shall shuffle off away from my desk now and go tuck up into my own nest. Thank you for indulging my seasonal fixations and reading my ramblings. It's always lovely to chat xxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Ozge Basagac]

Love your adventures:)Although i do not crochet i love reading about it, somehow it feels so cosy. My cat eats all kinds of flowers, too, in the house. And i always panic if it becomes poisonous for him. So the last year we have started locking up our indoor plants away from him.I keep many on the balcony as long as our mild winter allows.Hope you are having a great week.Cheers from Izmir, Turkey :)

[kelliinkc]

I so love your nature posts. I, too, am fascinated by the difference in the light as the seasons change so go on and talk about the light as much as you wish. I am with you! Love the canal boat photos, too. It has been an unusually warm fall here in the midwest but the cold finally hit this week and it feels frigid! Brrrrrr, but I love the beauty of all the different seasons. Weather fascinates me.

[Margotka]

<3 <3 <3

[Laura]

Love your writting!

[Susan.]

Lovely post, although I am very late commenting due to i'net problems and being away. The canal looks so different in that light and ice on it already? We too are having weird weather with the odd hot day, then back to cooler days. The rugs look gorgeous all stacked. I'm well over 2/3rds way through my cupcake rug and just about to go and crochet some whilst watching the cricket (Australia versus New Zealand). Have a good week and take care.

[Lisa in Queensland]

Thank you Lucy for your lovely post. I'm in the middle of packing up our house in 35 deg heat and high humidity for a big move and have been feeling overwhelmed,sad and hot. On my five minute break between filling boxes, I read your post and feel quite restored. Thank you again for sharing your beautiful place in the world. Cheers, Lisa

[Susan]

Absolutely beautiful scenery in your neighborhood this time of year.
The stack of gorgeously colorful afghans - delicious!

[Charlotte.]

They look like new blankets.. Is the yarn really that washable or do you keep making new blankets?

[Linda Stansifer]

Thanks for sharing how to make an ordinary day magical. And thanks for reminding me that I need to stop and take in the colors and light and smells.

[Ali Dufty]

Fabulous pics Lucy ! Winter light is always a source of frustration for me for photographing ;/ . So yay for crispy , fresh ,sunlight enhanced , magical days :))

[Tracy Sherwood-Farnfield]

my little man refuses to put a change of clothes on when he changes out of his school uniform in the aftertnoon and instead wraps himself in one of my many blankets to watch his insane cartoons (Teen Titans a big hit here too! I like Raven) I do feel quite envious at times of his blanket moments, a day cuddled up in crochet goodness watching something without anything else to do sounds just lovely.

[Monica]

Lucy, your blogs are always inspiring. I love hearing about your family and how they use your blankets so much, they must love them as much as you do. I also enjoy reading about the walks you do and your photos are lovely. I tend to read your blog at night sitting relaxing with a cuppa. Thank you for sharing your days with us.

[MChicago]

Hello from the Chicago "area". I adore your little gnashings about just about anything. Thank you for bringing sparkle to my life. We are "frostying up", too and today I made a large pot of chicken soup as I caught up on your posts. Gosh. Cozy all around.

[Eleanor MacLean]

I love your blog and the way you enjoy the simple things all around us; most of it we just take for granted, but it is so refreshing to read your posts! The colours you use and your designs are so cozy and cheerful!

[Tomeloos Haken]

Dear Lucy, I love reading your posts... I love the way you enjoy the simple things in life... x Nele

[Emily S]

I am such a fan. Thanks for the virtual teleportations that you do!! Question: your blankets always look so beautiful and new, and the colors so vibrant. Any special washing instructions or is it all in the yarn?

[Debby Peterson]

I had to laugh at Poundland. We have the Dollar Store here in the states. It just struck me as funny. I loved your post as I do all your posts. You inspire me all the time. I so wish I could smell the smoke from those canal boats. You live in a lovely place.

[Alicia - Newmarket Canada]

I LOVE reading your blog and your pictures are amazing! Makes me sooo want to go on those daily walks with you and enjoy your 'little town'. Please don't stop...they are never boring!

Looking forward to starting the Moorland Blanket CAL with you in January too :-)

[Rowena Corlett]

A very evocative post and beautiful pictures.I am tired by 8:30 at this time of year! I put my pajamas on around six and snuggle under my granny stripe blanket with my feet up finishing my crochet git's for Christmas and other WIPS - must have most out of the way by 6th January!

[bekki]

I really enjoyed reading your post today. Your photos of the frost and light illustrate perfectly the beauty of this time of year. I love that lovely pile of folded blankets is so nice. Such an inviting display of cosy!

[Erica]

Wax on about the light! I spent 10 years in the Arizona desert/ city with few seasonal changes (mostly hot or hotter) and now that we live in eastern Wyoming, I'm obsessed. My kiddos get to be bored stiff by me exclaiming over summer light bronzing into Autumn gold (why do we say Fall in the US, Autumn is much more picturesque), and sighing over winter's dusky beauty already darkening when they get off the school bus. Your posts make my fingers itch to get my lazy rear outside with a camera. My neighborhood is so different from yours but full of rugged beauty. Do people live in those canal boats then?! Just amazing. You're so blessed to have such an appreciation for your surroundings and awareness for what moves you.

[Charity]

I had pondered on your log cabin style blanket for some time. I was alarmed at the colors you chose but as time has passed I am starting to fall for the snugly warmth it projects. I do believe it may be on my to do list along with beauty that begins in January. Being a "self taught" crochet novice from watching YouTube videos I do believe it would not be as hard as it looks. You have inspired my hooky adventures to the next level. Thank you.

[Kimmy]

It's pitch black when I go to work in the morning and pitch black when I leave the office at night. So you can imagine how much I enjoy your account of walking in daylight and viewing all of your fantastic pictures. The surroundings are oh so gorgeous. Colorful crochet pics are also always a delight. It's fun knowing what's going on on the other side of the world. Hugs to you.

[Andrea]

Love to read your writing, no matter what the subject...light, weather, walks, yarn, colours, etc., while your gorgeous photos quantify it all. The absolute best way to start my day and I so love having a quick transport back to the UK whenever there's a new entry. Thanks for sharing your life! Cheers!

[Cathy]

Loved reading your post but what really caught my attention was your saying how Little B loves cherry tomatoes! My granddaughter, who is not quite 3, loves cherry tomatoes and is always asking me for them when she is over at my house. In fact this summer, she loved going outside with her Papa and picking fresh ones right off of the plants and eating them as quickly as she could pick them. To her they are like candy and she can't get enough!