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

[Green Girl Gardener]

I do hope that J is well on the road to recovery and that next week is full of lots of highs and no lows. The Stitchtopia holiday looks awesome - I so wish I could join you. Sending you lots of love 😁.

[Susie Moten]

I am praying for J and your family. Wanted to let you know how inspired I was by your mental well-being info- I am a teacher and plan on implementing Wellness Wednesdays utilizing the info from the site you mentioned—thanks for the inspiration and your wonderful blog!

[Jacqui]

I just love your posts and tha magic of your photos. Glad J is ok and I am sure we are all sending you all big hugs, these things are sent to try us xx

[Ida]

Thank you for sharing beautiful pictures and the "highs and lows" story. Hope J feels better and that you and he will not get into such predicament anytime soon again. Take care.

[Kate]

Be gentle on yourselves.Each.Day. Hope you are all back in good health.
Hugs to you all, from Australia.
Kate

[Tinke]

Life is a fragile thing is it eh. We tend to take it for granted.Until it hits us. Take care dear. You know how to take it in and enjoy it. Big hug.

[Madeline]

You have wonderfully captured the feel of this time of year in your photos, what a beautiful place to go walking.
All love to you and your family hoping that J gets well soon.
xx

[Heather Coady]

I so love reading your blogs and enjoyment about your life!
Sorry to hear about hubby do hope all is well again x

[jacqui]

Thank you for sharing a little snippet of your beautiful life with us. It is unsurprising i find it a little upsetting that you have mmmmm lets say 'wobbly days'. You are not alone, what can appear to be a perfect life for some is to another a struggle, for some weird natural reason. I think its harder for us creatives that just need to be able to be ourself do what takes us and be in nature. I can honestly say I'm never happier than when im able to do be see and touch nature and create things in its spleditious forms and colours. Much love to you, and for your wonderful blog. x

[Tracey]

Thinking of you and your family. Hope your husband is much recovered. Thank you for an exquisite post Lucy. Beautiful, uplifting pictures and words xTracey

[Amy B]

Sending you and the family warm and healing thoughts. Just picked up my WIP today and am feeling so much more centered. Thank you, as always, for your generosity, Lucy!

[Paula]

Once again your pictures & word magic have made me smile.
Love your blog, keep it up.
Best wishes to J for a speedy recovery &to all the family.x

[Suzan]

I am sorry that you had a scare with J. I love the way you live your life with such intention and love. God bless you and y our family.

How I wish I was closer as I would love to spend time in France.

[Victoria Oyama]

Thank you so much for sharing all the beautiful autumn photos!
I was very sorry to hear that your husband was in hospital, albeit briefly. I do hope everything is much, much better now. Love reading your posts here in Japan. You are so inspiring, Lucy!

[Charlotte.]

So glad J is home and better. Showed my husband your brunch picture and he said yes that is the kind of egg I would like. Don’t know how to do it. We have been dealing with and struggling with illness since the end of September. Doing lots of crochet. Need to order your cotton blanket in the morning. Wishing you a better week ahead.

[Deborah]

Prayers and Good Wishes from across the pond. When my sister was so terribly sick, crochet was my constant companion. Enjoy every bright spot each day has to offer. Your blog friends and family will be sending prayers, love and strength to you and your family:)

[Kate]

So scary when something happens to your husband. Mine has had two minor surgeries this month and I didn't know how stressed I was about it until they were over. Praying for J's good health and that all is well.

[Susan]

Love the way you spent time with yarny peeps after traumatic events,sending love to you & yours❤️

[One-oh-four]

Big hugs to all of you - hope J is OK now - life can be so random sometimes can’t it? I heard something unexpected about a former colleague / friend recently and it really knocked me for six - I discussed it with my kids and my daughter’s advice was “do some knitting - that”ll make you feel alright again...” It certainly helped :)

Loving your brunch picture - that’s one of my favourites too although I usually add a sneaky frankfurter sausage on the side!

[Winwick Mum]

So glad to hear that J is OK, these things are always scary, and perhaps more so because they are unexpected. We heard about the Five Ways to Wellbeing some years ago as part of a campaign and as simple as they seem, they are so important and not always that hard to fit into everyday life either - a walk with a companion or a morning at Coopers ticks them all! :) xx

[Megan - Dolly Henry Blog]

We have had a couple of weeks like that here - unexpected medical emergencies and sadly, the loss of a pet. I did the same thing this week, dragged along to craft group because craft therapy was precisely what I needed! I love how craft can bring so much joy and also be equally soothing when life hands you lemons...❤️ How amazing is the French Chateau workshop?!! Megan x

[Wendy]

It is amazing, isn't it, how soothing yarn can be to the soul during trying times. Praying all is now well.

[Sally Spragg]

I spent 4hours in a&e the other week with my hubby. Thankfully all was ok, but I was shattered when we got home! Do hope he is on the mend whatever was wrong and hope that your spirits will shine again soon! Love the photos. The weather has certainly been glorious.x