Christmas and New Year came and went in a bit of a blur for me as I was really laid pretty low for the entire time with a chest full of cough and a head full of snot. It's amazing how utterly tiring it is when one's days (and nights) are spent coughing and trying to eject a mountain of snot into a whole box of tissues. I found it exhausting. I spent a good few days of the holiday keeping myself as still as possible and in a horizontal position, and I was so thankful to have J around to keep the house and Little People ticking over whilst I made myself rest.
Our Christmas day was quiet and rather lovely, a gentle day of enjoying new toys, overdosing on chocolate and cooking/eating a delicious roast dinner. I wasn't well enough to socialise on Boxing Day, so whilst J took the kidlets to spend the day with his family, I took advantage of a quiet house and spent the day lolling around in bed.
This Christmas has been thoroughly enhanced by having Tilly around, she has been an absolute delight. She's a bold, feisty little kitty who loves to be at the centre of whatever is going on, so she was completely involved in every aspect of our Christmas.
I don't have a huge number of photos of her yet as she is incredibly hard to capture on camera. I love that she is still slight enough to be able to scramble up and sit on the narrow ledge of the sash windows....
....and every day during the Christmas period she spent time crawling around the branches of the Christmas tree. Crazy kitty.
We enjoyed some delicious weather during the holiday period, lots of beautiful sunny days and cold, cold temperatures.
Despite feeling pretty rubbish, I did manage to get out and about a few times with the family to fill my lungs with cold fresh air and take in the scenery.
We don't manage to get the Teen to come with us any more, but I've made my peace with that fact. What has really surprised me this holiday is how willing the other two Little People have been to go for a few short walks - in fact this particular walk in the woods was met with something close to enthusiasm which gave me a quiet personal little thrill.
It was a beautiful afternoon, and there was a pocket full of chocolate coins to sweeten the process, plus a promise of a detour into town to have a hot chocolate at the end of the walk. But really, they were just happy to be out and about strolling and chatting and I am secretly hopeful that this might possibly be an ongoing change from the sulky reluctance we've become used to. Fingers and toes crossed.
So I'm looking at this picture of a very pleasant looking waterfall, and in my mind I'm remembering the bent over double laughing that was going on at the time. I was walking with Little B and we were talking about Naughty Words, the sort that Mummy often says but which are really not appropriate for six year old mouths. I told him that as a special one-off, he could say as many bad words out loud as he wanted, right there in front of the waterfall. I gave him a few choice suggestions and his beautiful green eyes went as wide as anything and he literally gasped with shock! Then through a heap of incredulous giggles, he cussed out a long string of Naughty Words, ohmygosh it was the funniest thing and I almost turned myself inside out laughing. Just to reassure you, the words weren't that dreadful, they were along the lines of sh*t and cr*p and b*gg*r. Jeez, I am typing this and absolutely snorting with laughter at my computer screen......so so sorry!!!!! Bad, bad Lucy.......
Aaaaaaaand.......a few deep breaths.........hmmm, I love it so much when our weather does what it's supposed to do and presents us with some seasonal perfection. We're enjoying a fabulous Winter this year so far and although there hasn't been any snow we've had lots of crisp, cold, bright frosty days which are my very best favourite at this time of year.
Another day and another short walk - this was one of those slow, slow days in between Christmas and New Year when an incy-wincy bit of cabin fever had set in. It was a spontaneous walk, a decision made and an out-the-door-immediately type of thing.
It was late afternoon, around 4pm and the sun was golden and hanging low over the horizon.
We took a gentle stroll, a light potter around the edge of the water with a little bit of a paddle in the shallows. It was just enough for my still-exhausted bod to cope with, and I enjoyed it very much.
Just before Christmas, we celebrated Nine Years making our home here at number 24 in this wonderful, friendly town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. I love living here so so much, and I love that we are giving our Little People a childhood that has waterfalls, woodland and waterside walks in it. Here's to a New Year full of cosy stay home days and gentle, pottering outdoor days...
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Hi I can't understand the third row in the cosy stripe pattern. If you begin with 2 trebles and leave 2 spaces (that is the first multiple of 3) continue along the row and the last lot of 3 trebles leaves with 2 chain stitches which is the last multiple of 3. So, how can you leave 2 spaces at the end of that row? Please help as this is driving me nuts.
Posted by: Maree | February 05, 2017 at 09:24 AM
Looking foward to start my Moorland blanket!
I have to finish my Ripple blanket made with Cupcake colors before.
Thank you so much for all your beautifully colored project. You colore my life!
Posted by: virginie | January 27, 2017 at 10:30 AM
Thank you for sharing this little bit of your life, The shifts of family life, growing, developing children, quiet moments. The little things that are really so important. I do so enjoy these gentle blog posts. Hope you are feeling better now.
xxxx
Posted by: Madeline | January 15, 2017 at 10:17 AM
thanks for the walk
recoverying from hip replacement-a piece of cake!!!!!!!!
ooxoxox crafty mema
Posted by: crafty mema | January 12, 2017 at 01:27 PM
Hello Lucy.
Not a comment on your post. But yesterday I came across something very Lucyish on the web, which I hope somebody already showed it to you a year ago. Or I am the first.
The most colorfull one is sold out. But the blue (!) and white one are still for sale.
Maybe it is something you like :-)
https://allesgehaakt.wordpress.com/tag/horloge/
Posted by: Lein | January 12, 2017 at 11:03 AM
I am stil laughing over Little B and the Naughty Words.
Posted by: Charlotte. | January 11, 2017 at 05:46 PM
The naughty words story is funny! There are worse things kids could be doing besides swearing these days. Love the kitty, so cute. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Salomon Speedcross 3 | January 11, 2017 at 10:21 AM
Glad you are feeling better Lucy and sorry you were under the weather over Christmas. I am keeping my fingers crossed here across the pond that I can avoid the colds and flu this year, did get a flu shot, but my grown daughter had strep just before Christmas. The naughty words story is funny! There are worse things kids could be doing besides swearing these days. Love the kitty, so cute. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Barb | January 11, 2017 at 12:23 AM
Oh, that little calico kitty! :)
Posted by: Maureen V Champion | January 10, 2017 at 07:05 PM
Oops, it's Ruth not Paula.
Posted by: Rachel | January 10, 2017 at 04:38 PM
I had a streamer on Christmas Day and spent the day sneezing and blowing my nose over everyone! Shame isn't it, when the build up is for so long and then it's all over in a few days.
I hope you're better and haven't got the lurking cough.
I love blog posts like this and delight in reading the comments as I know there will be someone somewhere who is outraged ha ha! Is that naughty of me?! Liked Paula and her strict childhood naughty words comment. A lot.
Posted by: Rachel | January 10, 2017 at 04:37 PM
Naughty words fest made me laugh so much like you I've been battling the snot monster since Christmas wishing you all a wonderful 2017
Clare x
Posted by: Clare | January 10, 2017 at 04:27 PM
I also loved the story about the Naughty Words! Can't believe someone took you off her blogroll!!! We are Americans but Anglophiles thru-and-thru, spent 8 visits in the UK and especially Yorkshire, our spiritual home-from-home. When my lobsterman husband went to name his new lobster boat after he lost his first one in a big storm, by the time it was ready for the water he was just about all in, and he named it the word that best suited the occasion, "Bollocks!" - including the exclamation mark! I hope that doesn't offend too many ears over there across the pond. Here it's not a Naughty Word, but our friends, who are from England, lived right on the water, looking out onto the harbor at Paul's boat and they were mortified seeing the name of the boat in bit letters across the transom! For the whole story in my blog, go here:
https://thoughtsfromcrowcottage.com/2016/09/08/whats-name/
Someone had asked me how he came to name his boat that name, so I did a blog about it! That someone was my former boss, a doctor who used to be a Radiologist at a hospital where I worked!
Posted by: Bex Crowell | January 10, 2017 at 02:53 PM
What a lovely post, thank you!
Posted by: Jill | January 10, 2017 at 02:41 PM
beautifully written. I love the waterfall story
Posted by: Brenda Cupryna | January 10, 2017 at 02:09 PM
What a lovely kitty she is - they add so much to a home, enjoy her.
Posted by: Ann | January 10, 2017 at 02:05 PM
Yes, here's to a year full of gentle enjoyment! I can just imagine L.B.'s expression! A funny memory for you both. I still have the cough/sinus issue going on 4 weeks now, everyone you meet is coughing. We were lucky enough to have a few inches of snow over the weekend, it makes everything magical. Enjoy the day!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | January 10, 2017 at 02:04 PM
I love reading your blog not only because of crochet, but also how lovely and warm and comfy your home seems to be.
Posted by: Pelagia | January 10, 2017 at 01:41 PM
Another lovely piece, Lucy...I always enjoy your little day to day stories..keep them coming!
Happy New Year to you and yours
Nora xx
Posted by: NORA | January 10, 2017 at 01:13 PM
Your blog continually reminds me to enjoy and savor the little moments in life. Thank you so much for that gift.
Posted by: mrs. smythe | January 10, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Happy new year Lucy, I hope 2017 is magical xxBrenda
Posted by: Brenda | January 10, 2017 at 12:04 PM
Can't quite get my head around you encouraging your little boy to swear. What a bizarre thing to do. Did you take too much cold medication, Lucy? Removed your website from my blogroll. Bye!
Posted by: Louise | January 10, 2017 at 11:52 AM
A Happy New Year to you and your family... and the cat (much part of the family though). Get well. Evelyne
Posted by: Jardin anglais | January 10, 2017 at 10:29 AM
The phases of life we go through with children is lovely, challenging and short lived. Your teen not wanting to come on walks is totally normal, love the way you have accepted it graciously. Love your photos of the landscape Lucy, quite soothing to the soul.
Posted by: Janette Surtees | January 10, 2017 at 09:11 AM
I am laughing out loud about Little B's free period for naughty words, haha!
Posted by: Angie | January 10, 2017 at 01:30 AM