December Chitter-Chatter

 

Helloooooooo!!! I'm giving you a big and long overdue enthusiastic wave from the Attic window as I sit here on the very last day of the year and think about the weeks that have passed. I've been trying to write this post for the past few days and am happy to have finally managed it now that we're on the flip side of Christmas and teetering on the brink of the New Year.

D you know, I wrote the title of this post and then wondered if chitter-chatter was actually a proper word so went to look it up. Turns out it is indeed and means "informal and inconsequential conversation", which about sums up the overall gist of this post (well most of my blog posts actually). So I hope you're up for a some inconsequential chitter-chatter and a few photos to go with it? Onwards!!

 

 

Little B remarked to me this morning that this holiday has already felt super-long and I had to agree with him. It seems like aaaaages since we managed to exit the house at 8.30am and walk to school along the canal. This past week has been lazy in the extreme - there have been late nights and late mornings, entire days spent in pyjamas, erratic meals and way too much chocolate and screen time. It's been relaxed and restful, a much needed respite from the routine and clock watching of our school and work days. I for one have relished it all, have loved the slightly chaotic nature of having us all home together enjoying the long slow hours of nothing in particular.

 

 

I made a journey down to Dorset a few weeks before Christmas, travelling the 300 miles by train and bus. This is the second time this year that I've been to Dorset on my own, and although I'd much prefer to have J and the Little Peeps with me, I've come to appreciate the pleasure of travelling alone. I do enjoy a solo train journey where I can divide my time between reading, listening to music (Christmas tunes on this trip), browsing Instagram/blogs and crocheting, with some idle scenery gazing and day dreaming thrown in for good measure. 

 

 

I was pleased to find my Dad in good spirits and although we don't always see eye to eye on things, we generally manage to rub along OK for a few days at a time. Obviously I was mainly visiting to spend time with Dad and Lady B, but there is also a really deep need in me to be back on my home turf from time to time, for personal, nostalgic, feel-good reasons. Oh, I miss it there, I really do.

 

 

We walked to West Bay on a bright and breezy day in mid December and it was everything that I needed it to be. It was fresh and brisk, with blue skies and sunshine, noisy, pounding waves and salty sea spray. We walked around the harbour and out along the pier before heading to the cosy warmth of a local pub for a quick drink to fortify us for the two mile return walk.

 

 

I was away for three nights and J did a fabulous job of keeping the home front ticking over in my absence. In fact, I'm sure the Little People didn't really miss me at all, although I did receive the biggest hug from Little B when I got in through the door, so I think perhaps he missed me a smidge even though he insisted that he didn't.

 

 

In the days/weeks since I returned from Dorset, life has been steady. I lost track of the number of people (both friends and random strangers) who asked me if I was Ready For Christmas, and each time I would shake my head and tell them no. I never, ever feel ready for Christmas until that particular hour in the late afternoon on Christmas Eve when all the presents are wrapped, all the food has been bought and all the fire-fuel (logs) and festive-fuel (prossecco mainly) are in the house. Only then do I sit, breathe deeply and feel ready. Up until that point, there is not a jot of readiness to be felt within me, but I am absolutely OK with that. It is how it is, I am a last minute person and I try very hard not to stress it, even when people give me the wide eyes when I tell them I haven't bought presents and our tree isn't up (this being the 2nd week in December - PLeNty of time yet!!)

 

 

This year, as is the norm for me, I treated myself to a few little from-me-to-me Christmas gifts. J and I don't exchange gifts with each other and never have done in the twenty five years we've been together, so I feel it's absolutely ok to gift to myself. I bought the above book which I've been curious about for a a few years, and I would love to tell you I carved out time to read it but I don't want to lie to you. I've flipped through the pages (some glorious photos and illustrations) and dipped in and out of the chapters, but I'm saving the serious reading and absorbing of it for January.

Two other things I treated myself to - a Sweet Pea scented candle ready to light on 4th January when the Sweet Pea Crochet-Along begins, and a tree. HA!! Yes, I bought myself a tree. It's only a small sapling (1-2 foot high) and it hasn't been delivered yet but I'm beyond excited about the idea of it, mainly so that I can have access to it's leaves to squeeze and sniff to my hearts content......yes, it's a eucalyptus tree. I plan to grow it in a large pot in my back yard as I know they can grow into beastly big things, and I am just giddy about it. I'll show you when it comes!

 

 

I've been yarning along with myself during the past month of course, but haven't got anything much that I can show you. I've got a pair of socks on my needles which  are a belated Christmas gift for my fabulous father-in-law. I'm not going to show them here just yet as I have a feeling he occasionally peeks in through my Attic window. They are stripy and fairly manly (blues and greys) and I'm enjoying the little stitches very much.

As you can see above, I also tried my hand at making a critter a few weeks ago which was unexpectedly challenging (not the crochet so much as the facial features). I've got lots more to show you about that but can't just yet as this was a pattern test for a friend, so I need to wait for her nod. But if you know her critters already you will know that this is going to be one cute little thing. Oh it's so difficult to make animals look cute though, I had no idea!

 

 

In other creative news, I've been totally obsessed with my Sweet Pea blankets. In previous years I've crocheted the blanket more or less at the same time as I run the crochet along (just a week or two ahead so I can get the photos ready in time). But this year, as soon as I made the decision to offer two versions of the blanket I really had to get cracking as a LOT of hooky hours are needed to create two whole blankets. So I made the Posy version first and I'm now working on the Colourwash version, and I'm really, really, really looking forward to Friday and sharing the pattern and first colour installments with you. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has bought a Sweet Pea yarn pack from my shop at Wool Warehouse, I'm just thrilled to bits that our online crochet community is such a happy, positive and thriving place.

 

 

In the week before Christmas I finally started to think about gifts for family and friends. I decided for various reasons not to write Christmas cards this year, and instead I gifted potted bulbs to friends who I knew I was going to see. I bought some single hyacinth and amaryllis bulbs from the farm shop, wrapped them carefully in gold tissue paper and popped them into paper gift bags.

 

 

I know how much pleasure I get from watching hyacinths grow and bloom, there is something so optimistic and simple about them, the slow anticipation is just perfect. I hope they are bringing a smile to my friends as we head into the New Year, a dash of living greenery and a bloom of colour to welcome in 2019.

 

 

We decorated for Christmas at our usual time this year, around ten days before Christmas. This is early enough for me as I like to have the tree up until the Twelfth Night, or there abouts. And wonders will never cease - I even remembered to purchase the candy canes in time!!!! 

 

 

We have our usual haphazard arrangement of colourful mismatched decs on our old faithful artificial tree. Little B and I did the honours together, and I think we did a pretty good job. The tree isn't especially twinkly as we opted for battery powered lights after last year's kitty disaster (she chewed through a set of lights). But still, I do enjoy the gentle glow of it especially first thing in the morning when we come downstairs and it's still dark.

 

 

I decorated both mantels as I usually do, pretty much the same as last year and I've really been enjoying the twinkly little lights and the various candles. I don't think you can ever have too much sparkle and glow at this time of year.

 

 

Coffee Yeah!!!! Not much to add to that really is there??!! In fact, I'm not sure why I took this photo, other than to remember that there have been many happy little moments of daily sitting, sipping and taking stock during the past few weeks. It's not always easy to stop still and grant time to just be in the moment and allow thoughts to flow, but I think a mug of good coffee does aid that practice rather well. Yeah!

 

 

On Christmas Eve we woke up to the most perfectly perfect winters day, brrrrrrrrrr it was freezing! Being that we were firmly in holiday mode and therefore not able to get out the door before midday, it was early afternoon by the time we set out for a walk. The above photo was taken from inside the car around 2pm, and with temperatures still well below zero the ice crystals on the windscreen were mesmerising to look at.

 

 

We walked at Bolton Abbey with Little Lady and Little B, striding through the cold, sunlit woodland......

 

 

......following the frosty pathways through the trees.

 

 

There were plenty of people out on this crisp, clear afternoon enjoying the fresh air, yet it still felt tranquil. 

 

 

Heading back towards the car in the late afternoon, and the prospect of snuggling up in the cosy cafe suddenly seemed very appealing. Did I mention how cold it was? Uh-huh, below freezing, and definitely frothy coffee/hot chocolate weather. 

 

 

On the way home we stopped  a while on top of the moors to take in the sun - I think this was the exact moment when I finally felt ready for Christmas actually. So beautiful, those long distance, glowy golden views on the eve before Christmas.

 

 

From one day to the next and the weather couldn't have been more different. If Christmas Eve was full of sparkly gold, then Christmas day was a dull pewter grey. We had an early start on Christmas morning thanks to Little B who woke us all up at 5.45am absolutely fizzing with excitement. Gosh, that boy, his mood was highly infectious and the pleasure we had from watching him delight in his presents was worth the lack of shut eye.

 

 

J and I knew that we would meet huge resistance if we attempted to make the Little People venture outdoors on Christmas morning, so we took the decision to leave them behind. It was only for an hour - a quick walk into the woods as far as the pond, then back to the warmth of home. They barely registered that we'd been gone, all engrossed in new games and gifts. Although it was very gloomy out there, the fresh air was invigorating and I felt so glad of it.

 

 

We spent a quiet day at home just the five of us, and I am so grateful for the gentle ease of it all. Since then, our days have merged  into one long idle, contented blur. The kind where you wake up without an alarm, have no idea what day of the week it is, and wonder if you even need to bother getting dressed at all. It's been fabulous, and we are all rejoicing in the fact that we still have another week left to enjoy. I'm hoping to get out and about a bit more this week though, possibly to the seaside if I can get the family into the car to head west to the coast. Fingers crossed on that one.

 

 

Right now it's almost 9pm on New Year's Eve and I am going to take myself back to the fireside with a glass of fizz. We are choosing a gentle close to 2018, it's been such a contented year for us as a family and I am truly grateful every single day for the happiness and fulfillment that I find in my life.

Wishing you all a magical New Year, I hope you find happiness and joy in the little things and that life sparkles for you.

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Comments

[Kim]

Reading this on New Years morning warms my soul, your blog post is just perfect to ease us gently into January x wishing you all a very Happy New Year 💕💕

[CJ]

What a lovely post, and such beautiful photos, Dorset looks beautiful as ever and your Christmas Eve walk was glorious. My partner and I don't give each other gifts either, so I occasionally treat myself to a few books. I'm wishing you and yours the happiest of New Years Lucy. CJ xx

[Jane Carrick]

Happy New Year to you and yours.

[Margareta]

You make me smile, Lucy. Not only because of your beautiful blankets and the very exciting event coming on Friday, but because of your love for our Eucalyptus trees. Here on our property in Australia we are surrounded by Eucalyptus - gum trees - and in the 41 deg C heat expected on Friday, as I start your CAL most likely sitting in my bathers with my feet in a bucket of cold water, I will think of YOUR very exciting, potted, new arrival. Have a wonderful 2019. 💜

[Mary Lloyd Jones]

HappyNew Year to you Lucy and to your family and all the Sweet Pea Ladies ! So looking forward to starting the CAL. Happy days for everyone. 🤗🤗

[Nadine G]

Coucou LUCY, j'adore passer chez vous pour bavarder ! Quel bonheur- Je vous souhaite une excellente année 2019, qu'elle soit créative et pleine de coloris gais comme vous savez si bien le partager avec nous. De la joie, bonheur, amour et la santé. Je vous embrasse.

[jacqui]

Such a lovely post so uplifting and positive. Confused did you say 2 sweet pea blanket patterns omg ??? I have the pack?? sure it will all come clear?!

Where you live looks so beautiful we really need to venture into that neck of the woods instead of staying south this year.

Happy New Year to you and your family x

[Linda Harvey]

Contentment is such a wonderful thing to have. So glad you have it in your life.

[Julie Caisey]

Happy New Year

Julie xxxxx

[Teresa Kasner]

What a happy post, my friend. I got a rosy glow from reading of your contented family throughout the year. You really do have a lot to be thankful for. And your readers are thankful for YOU. I'm looking forward to the Sweet Pea CAL!

*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
  *H*A*P*P*Y* *N*E*W* *Y*E*A*R*!*
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((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Leah Lynch]

A very Happy New Year to you and yours. This New Years Eve I am with my youngest daughter and her son as she is learning to crochet. Hooray! A crochet pal!!!!!

[Kate]

Wishing you and your family a very blessed new year. I'm looking forward to reading your blog throughout 2019. I may never get to England, but I get to see some very beautiful parts of it through your blog. Happy New Year!

[Sarah Jenkins]

Happiest of New Years lovely Lucy 😘😘xxx

[Simon]

Your blog has been a constant source of inspiration and sanity over the past year, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and ideas with us all!

I wish you and your family all the very best for a peaceful and happy New Year!

[Sew]

Wishing you a very happy 2019 and thanking you for the pleasure you have given to us for another year and in all sorts of ways. Much love as always xx

[Michelle Gladiwsh]

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year xx

[Toni]

Happy New Year! Looking forward to my 2nd crochet blanket with you!

[Love it]

Best
I love your “new” word ‘chitter chatter’. It bought a long lost memory of my Granny using it to me when I talked too much. Thank you for that and also once again your beautiful photos and writings. Happy New Year

[Lyn]

Wishing you and your family a very happy 2019 xxx

[Wendy]

Happy New Year Lucy.
I've enjoyed your blog all year. x

[Marianne Roth]

It really is HARD to do the faces on little animals I totally agree! Thank you for the wonderful post. Here in Connecticut USA your area always seems magical, and I always look forward to your beautiful pictures and blog posts.

[Jacqui Fenner]

I treated myself to The Little Book of Hygge last year and it was a real treat to read. I will be re-visiting it in January for sure. I so enjoy your 'chitter chatter', keep it coming xx

[Anne Dearle]

Happy New Year Lucy. Thank you for sharing your beautiful posts with us. You live in a picturesque spot. Thanks for sharing your patterns with us. Everybody is so excited to start the CAL. Sweet peas bring back so many.beautiful memories of my MIL who has now passed. This blanket is for me to reminisce.

[Margaret Simpson]

Wishing you and your family a Happy, Healthy and peaceful New Year. Love your blogs Lucy, you are an inspiration to us all. Greetings from DownUnder. 😊🇦🇺

[Sue Knight]

Hi
Just bought the yarn and looking forward to starting the Sweetpea blanket. First crocheting in about 40 years!!