January Bright Moments

Do you know something, I do really rather like January for it's sheer newness and optimistic feel. As is the norm, I have been rather late sorting out my new calendars (I have four throughout the house) and still have my main family writing-on calendar to update with birthdays, school holidays etc. But the sight of that clear January calendar page is making me feel all cleansed and delighted and positive about the year ahead, possibly because the page is currently blank so it looks as if it's all free time and nothing pressing to remember at all, no appointments, no Birthdays, nothing doing AT ALL. That isn't the case of course, there has already been one Birthday (Little B turned nine on the 5th), there is another family birthday next week I think, and I've had my first Yarndale meeting of the year this morning. It was only by sheer chance that I actually remembered the meeting at all, I really must get my act together. 

I ordered a new Erin Condren Life Planner last week, again with the lateness I know. I cannot wait for it to arrive as I do feel like I need it - I've a head full of lists and plans and dates, and I'm so going to enjoy those blank pages and sticker therapy. Bring it on...I'll show you when it comes as I've gone for the hardbound version this year for the first time, it was cheaper than the ring bound and had 20% off at the time I snagged it, so that swayed it for me.

So I thought I'd bob in to the Attic and chat about this and that, no New Year's resolutions or magic Word of The Year, just a deep desire to live every day with a joyful heart and positive outlook. I feel very good for January actually (I often don't feel at all well at this time of year), I'm not exactly bursting with energy but something calmer and more sedate, a kind of low hum of energy perhaps? It feels good I have to say.

The above photos were taken on New Year's day, a short family walk through the woods in the pale morning sunshine. It was busy amongst the trees, and despite the above pathway being clear of other folk at the time I snapped the photo, we met and greeted so many other families out walking. It was a lovely way to mark the first day of the year.

During the past week in the lull after New Year, we all kind of slumped here in the Attic. Well, that's not true exactly as it was mainly the rest of the family taking it easy while I worked my socks off creating the Sweet Pea Cal post and full pattern tutorial. And I've spent an incredible number of hours on social media too, which is all part of the CAL experience for me. But look, see, there were still moments where I wore pyjamas and woolly socks and settled down to crochet a few quiet rows, so it all balances out in the end.

I have really, really, really, really enjoyed seeing how the Sweet Pea blanket has taken off with you all, it's giving me the most incredible feeling of deep down happiness. It's very hard to put into words that feeling, it's so emotional for me, and feels quite raw at times. I often feel very moved and tearful when I read about your experiences of the colours and the joy of those rows growing, it never gets old. I love sharing my blankets with a true passion.

There's a glimpse of Big Blanket on my bed too, still making me very happy and keeping us cosy in the cold weather. Can't believe this blanket is almost ten years old now.

I lit my Sweet Pea candle over the weekend, it's lovely! Truthfully it doesn't smell an awful lot like Sweet Peas, but the scent is lightly floral and unmistakably summery so I'm good with that. It tickles me that the text on the side of the tin says "The One I Truly Love" as it makes me think of my blanket every time, awwww, I'm a bit in love with my Sweet Pea blanket!!!

I packed away Christmas at the weekend, gosh what a mammoth event that turned out to be. I had to pull out the sofa to retrieve all the bells and baubles that the kitty had hidden under there, and that resulted in a huge bout of manic guilt-cleaning. Oh, the fluff and miscellaneous detritus to be found behind the sofa was quite shocking, but it's all ship-shape now and I'm trying to erase the memory of how bad it had gotten.

Removing Christmas from the mantels gave me a reason to dust, polish and faff, and set up a little bit of a Winter theme. Do you remember my simple crochet garland from last year? It was so lovely to unpack it from it's "winter decoration" bag and enjoy those soft seasonal colours again.

I've got some hyacinth bulbs just starting out - these ones were labelled as being Red (not pink) so I'm really looking forward to seeing what they turn out like when they bloom. I'm also LOVING my new painting by one of my favourite artists Annabel Burton. I commissioned this canvas from Annabel after seeing something similar on her website, isn't it delightful? I love the wintry trees, but also the feeling of soft light and seasonal change which makes me look forward to the months to come. She is such a lovely lady and I adore her style and colour sense - you can keep up to date with all her latest works on Facebook, tell her I sent you!

Yesterday morning the sky was beautiful over the rooftops and I couldn't wait to get out there and breathe in the cold wintry air.

The Little People went back to school yesterday so Little B and I set out on our morning commute along the canal. It was lovely to embrace the return of our routine, I do enjoy the structure of the school day very much. It grants me six hours to do what I need to do, which yesterday consisted of my accounts, coffee and a good chat with a friend, lots of Facebook and Instagram stuff, emails, and then this......

.....an afternoon at Coopers cafe with my fabulous yarny ladies, jaunting up and down my Trellis Stripe rows. And look - what do you make of my Drink That Isn't Coffee???? That's a rare sight indeed, to see me at Coopers without a mug of frothy coffee in hand!! I decided on a whim to try out the Very Berry smoothie and my goodness, it was utterly delicious and extremely fruity and berry-y. I could positively feel it doing my insides good.

Do you remember me telling you that I'd ordered myself a Eucalyptus tree? Well it arrived in the post last week, all snug inside a cardboard box, and oh oh oh, I do love it so!!!!!! I think it's amazing that you can order a tree through the post - I ordered from Amazon and it just pleased me so much to unpack it and examine it and think to myself "it's my very own tree!" Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever bought a tree before, not ever in my life. Ha! No wonder it was so bloomin' exciting!

For those who have asked, I'm intending to keep my eucalyptus tree in the back yard, growing it on into a large pot and keeping it pruned/trimmed to keep it under control.

I've already snipped a few stems to have on my table, it's the most wonderful thing to be able to inhale that distinctive eucalyptus fragrance whenever the mood takes me. Ok, I'll stop going on about it now.

In other news, I purchased my first bunch of annual daffodils yesterday when I spotted them for £1 in the supermarket. I always wait until January to do this, even though I saw buckets of daffs as early as November. It's become one of my New Year traditions, and makes me very very happy. Can you imagine....fresh eucalyptus AND daffodils in the house????? I might have been a little bit giddy.

Yesterday the daffies were in bud.......

.....and today they bloomed in glorious fashion. So joyful, and such a lovely bolt of bright colour when you come into the room.

A rare photo of the kitty - she detests having the camera pointing at her, but I like to do it anyway. Actually, this is a really bad photo, the sofa is sloping and my cushions are slumped and my blankets are untidy.....but it's home in all it's perfect imperfectness. The cushion on the right (the fabric one) is one I made years ago for Connievan. It has huge sentimental value because it has the original caravan cushion inside it, and when you open the zip and sniff the cushion it still smells of the caravan. Sounds a bit weird, but that smell is so nostalgic and sweet, gosh I do so treasure the precious memories we made with Connievan.

And so that's where I'm at as we gently step into 2019, rejoicing in this quiet life that is uniquely mine. I hope the year is treating you kindly so far, and that you feel optimistic and and positive about where you're heading. I'm wishing you lots of brightness in your days!

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Comments

[Sue Floyd]

Oh Lucy I so enjoyed this post! Love daffodils myself & I'm going to look for some tomorrow. I'm making a scarf with the trellis stripe pattern...I smile every time I work on it! Thanks for the inspiration.
Sue from Akron OH

[Doris]

Rhonda i think this is it
https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/summer-harmony-blanket.html

[Rhonda miller]

Hi ya thanks for awesome posts , your endless inspiration, and the fact I now have more yarn and WIP than is normal lol ......the throw your gorgeous cat is sitting on is it a kit ? If not what is pattern and what colours ? I love love LOVE it