A Week of Highs and Lows

Hello, how you doing? How's your week been? I wasn't going to post this weekend as I've had a rather traumatic few days (the lows in the above title) and am feeling rather worn down. But then I remembered how much better I always feel when I make time to sit quietly in the Attic and send my words out into cyber space for you to catch and read, and so here I am. Sitting, thinking, holding on to the memory of the highs in the above title.

At the start of the week J and I took advantage of our non-working Monday arrangement (which has been one of the best things to happen for us in recent times) and set out to walk some miles in the Dales. 

It's a beautiful time of year for walking with perfect temperatures and amazing light, and the freshness of Autumn air is invigorating. It's a lovely time for J and I to chat too, and we end up talking about all sorts of random things as we cover the miles.

Oh, I do love love love walking for pleasure, it makes me so happy to be out there amongst all that natural colour, climbing hills, rambling along quiet country lanes and woodland trails....

....strolling along peaceful riverbanks, climbing over stiles and striding across lush fields. I love it all.

As you can see, it's looking gloriously Autumnal around these parts, and if you could zoom in on the above photo you would notice that the ground is absolutely covered with fallen conkers - loads and loads and loads of them! I have honestly never seen so many in all my life - great big juicy, shiny conkers for days.

Linton Falls was spectacular in it's fullness, both the visuals and the noise levels, gosh this is one noisy bit of river! No matter how many times we visit this spot along the river Wharfe, it never fails to wow me, it's just so BiG and rushing and spectacular. As you well know, my heart is always happiest when it's be the sea shore, but this lovely stretch of river feels like home to me since we've been walking here for over twenty years.

I snapped  a photo of a pair of chattering magpies sat on the house at the top of my street on Tuesday. It's not often we see these birds around here, but I automatically thought - ahhhh, two for joy!! Yay!!!! (If you' don't know this rhyme, you can read about it here). The thought of something joyful happening really put a spring in my step, which is a bit ridiculous really, but some superstitions stick with you from childhood and they are hard to shake. I seriously hate seeing just one lonesome magpie.

I've been finishing up the tutorial for my felted basket this week, taking lots of photographs and measurements before the basket goes on it's thrilling journey into the washing machine. I was meant to do that today, but chickened out haha!! I am both excited and nervous about putting all that work into a load of spinning hot soapy water, but I think tomorrow I should do it, don't you? I really want to show it to you and share the pattern - I've got a pure wool yarn pack all ready to go too, so I really do need to stop being a wuss.

I wanted to share this with you as it's had a big impact on me this week. This is called "Five Ways to Wellbeing" and I came across it as I was researching online with Little B for his homework. I completely love that he's been talking about this in school - we talked a lot about it together too,  about how we can look after our mental wellbeing and he made a fantastic presentation in his homework book all about it. I would consider myself to be very mentally healthy, but it's always good to be reminded not to take it for granted.

The weather this week has been sublime, a beautiful slice of autumnal perfection. 

We've woken to very cold mornings with frost and low lying mist, but accompanied by the most delicious golden sunshine. 

The combination has been atmospheric and breathtaking, especially the way the mist swirls over the surface of the canal as we walk along the tow path to school.

We played Eye Spy on this misty morning, Little B and I, crikey that child is ridiculously good at it. He picked something beginning with the letter T, and all the way to school I was trying so hard to get my brain to figure out what he might be seeing. All. The. Way. To. School. I had to give in when we ran out of walking time, much to his utter delight. Turns out is was T for Tag (as in the name tag on his guitar which I was carrying in my hand the whole way), I wanted to tell him off, but really I need to up my game.

I've started eating Brunch on the days that I'm at home, and it suits me very well. I sit down with just a frothy coffee at 8am when the Little People are tucking into their bowls of cereal, then make myself something more substantial around 10.30. My current favourite thing is toasted multi-seeded bread, topped with mashed up avocado, a little olive oil, heavy-handed seasoning, and a poached egg. All those flavours and textures make my toes curl with pleasure. I then eat a light bit of mid afternoon snackage instead of a full blown lunch, and I so look forward to it! Sometimes it might be cheese and crackers with some fruit, or maybe some bread sticks with hummus and salad, or sometimes a toasted crumpet eaten with the Little People when they come home from school. We still all sit down for our main meal at around 5.30 and it's the highlight of my day, truly. I love love love family meals, they are precious times indeed.

The past few days we've had a bit of an Indian Summer and I painted my toenails coral pink to celebrate. I even got to wear my sandals out today which pleased me enormously. As much as I love hand knit socks and colourful boots at the end of my feet in Autumn, nothing beats being able to wiggle your bare toes in the unexpected October sunshine.

I took the above photos on Thursday evening as we walked down through the park on our way to the swimming pool, gosh the sun was something else at that time of day. It was low and golden, slanting through the trees as it made its end of day descent. We were running late so I wasn't able to linger as long as I would have liked - I am such a sun worshiper, I wanted to stand still and drink it in for long, long beautiful golden minutes. But I had to be content with some quick snaps, and then a bit of a run to catch up with J and Little B who refused to wait for me while I faffed.

Little did we know at that time that within an hour, things would take such a dramatic turn. Gosh, life sure does throw a major wobbly sometimes! I won't go into detail, suffice to say that we spent six hours in the hospital that evening with J. He is OK and was able to come home, but it was flippin' scary at the time and we are still somewhat recovering from the trauma of it all. 

Despite very little sleep Thursday night, I felt the pressing need to be out of the house and surrounded by friends on Friday morning, with a much needed dose of caffeine and some gentle yarn therapy. I felt wrung out, but so so glad for the gentle rhythm of my hook and the happy conversations that flowed around me. I never cease to give thanks for the joy that crochet brings to my life, and how it soothes the soul when it is most needed.

Before I go, I want to say a heart felt thank you for all your Birthday wishes on my last post, I'm so grateful for your kindness! I love the friendship that surrounds my little Attic window, thank you so very much for all that you send my way. 

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ps without too much fanfare, could I possibly just show you this exciting news????

 

 

 

Comments

[April]

Conkers are chestnuts. :-)

As always, I love your scenic photos and slightly envy the access so many in the UK enjoy to walkable land. ;-)

Hope all continues to imrpove!

[Dominique Benmuvhar]

Dear Lucy
I love so much your blog. Thank you so much for all the ideas, tutorials and inspiration you share with us.
I just registered to the French Chateau Crochet Retreat and I’m looking so much forward for the week we will spend with you
Best regards and see you soon :-))
Even if April seems quite far away
Dominique from Switzerland

[Penny]

Precious Little B with his T for tag. 😃.

[Julie Higgerson]

Jackie G - Conkers are what we in Illinois call Buckeyes. We had a tree growing up.

Lucy, hope & prayers for your hubby' s health
And,of course I can't wait for the CAL, this time I might get to actually participate at the time instead of putting it on my future list!
I he several of your kits & love your colors & the yarn itself. I bought both of the summer ripple kits, but since they are for me, they can wait until I am ready;)

[Angela]

It was lovely to see the photo of the English Magpies, they are so pretty :)
I love my Australian Magpies (except in mating season when they are absolute terrorists and if they don't know you and you don't feed them they attack you relentlessly from above), they are black and white, but that's the only similarity. They become really tame when you feed them and bring their babies to meet you.

[Gillian Roe]

Oh Lucy I had no idea! You poor thing. I really hope all is ok now. Xxx

[CJ]

I'm glad to hear that J is at home and fine, and I'm sending some good energy to you for a swift recovery from the shock. Rather a shock here today as well, so I know how these things play on the mind. I am doing a lot of deep breathing. Gorgeous autumnal photos you have there, the one of the mist over the canal is wonderful. And your local countryside is absolutely stunning. I'm glad you've been out and about to enjoy it. The chateau looks amazing, what a fantastic thing to be doing. I am wishing you all a good weekend Lucy, without any drama. CJ xx

[Jenny]

Lovely photos Lucy hope you both recovering well lots love Jenny from Cornwall xx

[Jacki G.]

Since I live in the US, I have absolutely no idea what conkers are! Would you please kindly fill me in?

[Heather Cawte]

So sorry to hear about J’s unexpected hospital trip. It must have been frighten8ng fir the whole family - I’m glad to hear he’s on the mend now ❤️

Huge congratulations on the French crochet retreat! I can hardly believe how much life has changed for you since I first subscribed. Enjoy it - you deserve it!

[Heidi]

So sad to hear about the trauma! I'm glad all is well and I hope it continues to be well for you and yours. Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful pictures of your autumn and for your optimistic attitude. Best wishes!

[PennyL]

Hope this week is going well , and that your husband is now okay. This was a lovely post, so glad you did decide to write it PennyL in Dorsetxxx

[Patricia A]

HI Lucy, Another commenter wrote on another page that the subscribe button is not working. Tested it in a couple of different pages of your blog.
Clicking on the button results in one being given a tab with your blog in text format.
Take care, getting older increases visits to the hospital... :-(

[Iris]

Sending all the best wishes to your husband!

[Caroline]

Sending you love. Those hospital visits are not nice. I had one with my husband a few years back and it really shook me to the core. Take care of yourselves x

[Gillian McM]

Thank you so much for sharing your ups and downs. Many blessings on your life, Lucy. May all be well.

[sandra dorey]

Sending you all happy vibes full of good health and well being from sunny Dorset. So glad all turned out well.

[Sarah West]

So sorry to hear about J, hope he recovering it must have been such a shock.x

[sew]

I do hope that all's well with J - highs and lows indeed.
On a lighter note, how is it that every time I see a photo of an Attic24 poached egg I feel the need to make one as I did yesterday?!
xx

[Angela- Southern USA]

So glad to hear J is better! I always loved the I Spy game, L.B. was clever. lol Well done him on his school work also. Smoothies are my midday meal, I can eat healthier that way than I would normally at that time of day (you can hide so many things their, even from yourself. ; )
Good luck with the felting!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Linda K Klinedinst]

I dearly love all of your Photos...they are so very pretty...and so vibrant of Autumn Colors.

I hope that your are feeling better and that everything is going better for you and that you are doing so much better. Life can be ugly at times. I went through that last week myself and its hard to keep on living when you have things that you are struggling with in life. My friends from all over the world keeps me going - seeing beautiful pictures like you have posted on your Blog - things like that keeps me going and helps me keep moving forward.

I hope that your week is much better as mine will be too cause I will make sure that it is better.

Take care - Have A Beautiful Week

Oh I love your Afghans that you have made too. I crochet as well. I am making another Afghan for me. It is on my Blog if you want to go take a look at it.

Happy Crocheting

Linda K, Buttercup

[Nina Kellock]

Hope J. is back to his usual self. Really scary when something like that happens to the one person in your life who is constant, healthy, the strong one physically and mentally. It really shakes your world for a time, but also makes you think how lucky you are when it turns out to be nothing too serious. You tend to look at the person in a different light, seeing them as vulnerable too in a way.
It happened to me when we went to the Lakes one year, got there and other half complained of chest pains. There we were in a strange place, no idea where the hospital was, and it was late October, seven o'clock and dark. When we got to a hospital they decided to keep him in, but thankfully the people who owned the holiday cottage came to my rescue as I was too shaken up to drive.
You get over these things, but never forget.
Very exciting news for you at the end of your post Lucy, well done!

[carolyn mary jackson]

So sorry to read of your scare, do hope J is well now, most of us know the feeling when one of the family are unwell. Our groups and crafts with friends are worth so much when we need caring company and a cheer up .x

[Tammy]

So sorry to hear about your dear J, but so glad all is well and he is home! These unexpected little happenings throw us for a loop don't they! Thank you for taking the time to share your week with us. As always your blog is full of wonderful pictures and the goodness that is life. Wishing you all healthy days and many more moments of pleasure from living a simple, good life.

[Kimmy]

Lucy, you have a way with words, hooks and photos. I love all that you bring to the Attic. Whatever scare you endured, I hope it's over for good. Wishing you and your family all the best of health and much happiness. You certainly do live in a gorgeous part of the planet!