As the weeks whizz by and we're almost at the end of March, I am making time to share the short holiday that we took in February before the memories become too faded. We had our half term holiday during the last week in February and decided quite last minute to book a few nights away in St Annes (Lancashire coast). We've stayed in the same rental house a few times before so it was all beautifully relaxed and familiar to us, and the drive across to the west coast only takes around an hour and a quarter from Atticland.
One of the reasons behind our sudden decision to take off for the coast was the stunning weather forecast - those of you in the UK will probably remember the astonishing weather we had at the end of February, it was an utter delight! February is usually a cold, grey winter month for us here in the North where we expect fog, snow, ice and sub zero temperatures. But this one week, well, it was an anomaly of grand proportions and the temperature on the day we landed at the coast was a blissful 19 degrees. NiNeTeEn!!!! I don't think I've ever known this type of February weather in my lifetime, and the sheer joy of having unexpected warm sun and blue sky was wonderful.
We parked our car at the house and immediately set off to walk the short five minutes down to the beach to eat our picnic lunch. We spread out some blankets at the base of the sand dunes, kicked off our boots and socks, shed a few layers of clothing and basked in the early afternoon sunshiny warmth. It felt so so so good!
I can't remember exactly what was in our picnic, but I found this photo of strawberries and remember now how sweet and juicy they were. It really was like a summer picnic miraculously transported into the middle of winter, and I can tell you I loved every nanosecond of it.
After lunch, I decided to go on a jaunt to see if I could possibly reach the sea. Often when we've been on this beach in the past, the tide has been so very far out that it's not actually been possible to reach the water in the time we've had. Honestly, you could walk for 45 minutes (which is maybe two miles?) and still not manage to reach the sea, the beach really is that vast!
The boys weren't interested in coming along, preferring to stay warm and lazy, idling in the sunny sand dunes. So it was me and Little Lady striding out over the still wet ripples of the sandy beach in search of the waters edge.
It took us around 15 minutes to reach this first patch of water which was like a big salty puddle....
....there we are look, having a super time laughing and chatting as we strolled across the huge expanse of sand. Little Lady is great company - she is almost 15 years old now, taller than me and a beautiful person inside and out.
Eventually we arrived at the edge of the sea where the shallow waves gently rolled back and forth.....
....it was so bright and beautiful!
Along this part of the coast, the tide moves extremely rapidly and you have to keep your wits about you. It's easy to get trapped without realising what is happening - one minute you are standing on wide open sand, the next minute the sea is literally sneaking up behind you and you are standing on an ever decreasing island surrounded by fast rising water.
We quickly discovered that the tide was coming in around us so took care to outwit it, edging our way slowly back up the beach....
....I loved the patterns in the sand....
....and all the beautiful little sea shells that caught my eye.
I've been trying to identify the ones that I found and didn't know the names of, it delights me to have this kind of knowledge tucked away in my brain. The one above is called a Rayed Trough Shell, isn't that lovely? I probably won't be able to remember this in future as my memory is pretty dire but I do still like to know.
Arriving back at the dunes and the boys were ready to head back to the house. I could have stayed for hours, sprawled out on a blanket soaking up the sun and daydreaming the time away.
I have to say, I really loved seeing my patchwork granny blanket out and about enjoying an al fresco moment - those patchwork colours looked so cheery in the sunshine. I love my crochet blankets so so much! They become so beautifully layered with memories over the years (the granny-patch is 6 years old now) and I dearly love them for the role they play in family life.
Later in the day now, and we are walking back from a trip to the little local cinema (we went to see "How to Train your Dragon 3" which was a fun way to spend 104 minutes).
We chose to walk back along the beach instead of along the road, and enjoy the last of the daylight.....
....it was so pretty!
A lovely end to a beautiful, beautiful day.
Day two, and we woke up to yet more blue sky and warm sunshine. After a leisurely breakfast (oh, hello warm, flaky croissants and fresh hot coffee!) we set off to walk the four miles of coastline which connect St Annes with Lytham. The two places are often merged together as Lytham-St-Annes but are actually two quite distinct places with their own communities and high streets.
We walked some of the way along the promenade....
....and some of the way along the beach. The further toward Lytham we got, the more grassy and un-beach-like the beach became. It's a curious coastline this one, being that the actual sea is nearly always absent from view.
There are still shells to be found though (Cockles and Baltic Tellins and Necklace Shells : thank you magic information-giving internet!)....
....and sand dunes to climb too.
Four miles is quite a long way to walk even if it's mostly flat and scenic, and by the time we arrived into Lytham we were ready to find somewhere to rest and have some lunch.
We hadn't planned on where to go but knew that Lytham has lots and lots of very lovely places to choose from when something to eat is in order. We settled for this very stylish place (The Deacon), lured in by the prospect of sitting in the light and airy conservatory where we could feel as if we were outside while staying warm and sheltered from the wind.
The Deacon was such a treat, and we decided that as it had been J's 50th Birthday a few days before then we could justify the upmarketness of it. The contrast to the day before was not lost on me and although I did so love our modest beach picnic and crochet blanket cosyness, having a proper posh midday meal was super lovely.
The menu was interesting and varied, and Little Lady and I opted to share a platter - Korean chicken wings, sticky ribs, duck spring roll, guacamole, soy dip, pickled vegetables and freshly baked bread. It was delish!!
Full from all the food, we had a big discussion about the journey home, debating whether to catch the bus back or make the return on foot. In the end we divided and the boys decided they wanted to walk (Little B, you do surprise me sometimes!), while Little Lady and I hopped on the bus instead.
As we arrived back way before the boys, Little Lady and I had time to wander along to the end of the pier at St Annes and sit a while in the sunshine.
It was so lovely, a still moment after all the walking, talking and eating where we felt happy to just sit quietly on a bench and feel the sun shining down on us. I enjoyed the day so much - it was one of those wonderful family days that sticks in the memory, a day of pleasure and leisure, sunshine and happiness.
I spent the late afternoon playing with shells and yarn (as you do), and thinking about a design for a new blanket inspired by this lovely coastline that I have become so fond of.
Our last morning and the weather had changed quite dramatically. There was a misty damp fog hanging low over the beach, and a very faint whiff of light drizzly rain in the air. But still, I felt the need to wander for one last time along the beach, to soak up the peacefulness of all that open space and breathe it all in.
I also had it in my head that I wanted to photograph some shells whilst we were right there on the beach. I am very lucky in that my family don't often question my creative crazy vibe. They ask how they can help, scurry off to search for suitable shell offerings, looking for lovely colours or perfect shapes to gift to me for my photographs.
Didn't they do well? I'm not too sure about the manky feather, but everything else, yes, very photogenic and perfect for my sandy beach inspiration.
I love the subtle colours in these shells, especially the very pretty pink striped Tellins. The Necklace shells (the ones with the spiral whirl) were a new find, and I've only just discovered what they are called. I've never seen them on the beach before, but they are really lovely, especially when you look closely at all the subtle colours and markings.
Little B was enchanted to find a whole load of Mermaids Purses and whelk egg cases along the strandline which fascinated him, especially once we explained to him what they actually are. He very sweetly lined them up next to my shells and asked if I could photograph his collection, he was so proud of his beach finds.
Eventually, after I had taken way too many photographs and we had all begun to feel the chill of the damp morning, we began to pootle along the beach towards the pier.
It felt like Winter again, and the warmth of the previous few days seemed like a distant dream. The wind was cold and gusty and the sky a heavy, dull grey. But I still really enjoyed being out there, I do love beaches in winter. I love the solitude and the peacefulness and the wildness.
Our favourite cafe on the pier was open and our favourite table right by the window was waiting for us. Frothy Italian coffee for J and me, decadent hot chocolates (oh, so much cream!) for the Little Peeps. It was a lovely close to our coastal break, and we set off for home feeling very full of happy.
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, then you may have already seen me hint at the beginnings of a new blanket inspired by our trips to the beach at St Annes. I have had this idea in my mind for a while, since I was there last year for my fiftieth Birthday in October. I experienced a very strong urge to create a coastal blanket that felt like a joyful blast of cold, salty air. I wanted to capture the wide-open feeling of those huge sandy beaches, the softness of the sand dunes, the joy of beach combing and shell collecting, the gentle wandering along the water's edge as the tide ebbs in and out.
As is often the case with these things, once I start noodling on a creative idea it becomes a ginormous itch that absolutely has to be scratched and I simply cannot let it go. I obsess to the point of crazy, and then I know that I have no choice but to begin the journey. I choose the colours and search for the perfect stitch, then off I go, working those rows so that my brain will stop clammering for it and my fingers can gently bring my ideas to life.
I'll be sharing a blog post about the start of my new Dune blanket very, very soon (maybe tomorrow actually?), it really is rather beautiful and I can't wait to share it with you.
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As is often the case with these things, once I start noodling on a creative idea it becomes a ginormous itch that absolutely has to be scratched and I simply cannot let it go. I obsess to the point of crazy, and then I know that I have no choice but to begin the journey. I choose the colours and search for the perfect stitch, then off I go, working those rows so that my brain will stop clammering for it and my fingers can gently bring my ideas to life.
---THIS! I do this about yarn or writing or cooking or whatever the current creative muse that pops her head in, I've just never been able to put it so succently into words!
Posted by: Nina | June 25, 2019 at 05:44 AM
When I look at your pictures it is like being at the coast. Thank you for sharing these great pictures.
Posted by: Charlotte. | March 29, 2019 at 07:42 PM
As soon as I saw the picture of the sand hill, I thought that looks like St Annes! I live in Lytham so get to see the water all the time as it is on the estuary. It is sad though that they stopped dredging the river in the 60s and let the grass grow all over the beach and its spreading along Granny's Bay which is very muddy and almost to St Annes.
It used to be called St Annes on Sea with Fairhaven and Ansdell in between St Annes and Lytham. Fairhaven had its own row of shops too and Ansdell still does but sadly no bank.
Am glad that you enjoyed Deacons - it is a bit pricey for me and I preferred it being my bank! Sadly, due to 'progress' in the last 8 years since I have lived at Lytham we have lost 3 banks, 2 newsagents, our Police Station and our Library. They were going to shut Ansdell library too but then karma stepped in and the roof collapsed on St Annes library so they had to keep Ansdell library open. It is such a hub of activity!
If you come again do join us at our Sewing Afternoon on Monday at Ansdell library 2 - 4pm (just bring a project or crochet if you like) and be sure to visit The Haven Chip shop on Alexandria Drive and sit in the little back room cafe. It is like being served by your auntie in the her living room (closed on Mondays). Find Fairhaven Road opposite the Beach Cafe on the Prom at St Annes and then turn right onto Alexandria Drive. Be sure to take a camera and snap the facade above Alexandria Pharmacy too.
Hope you visit us again :-)
Posted by: Mandy | March 28, 2019 at 09:47 PM
These beach images you post always AMAZE ME for how different they are from what I'm used to. They look absolutely nothing like CA beaches, where there is no more than 50 yards of extremely dry sand and then *boom* the Pacific Ocean right there in front of you, deep and blue as can be on a clear day. The British beaches that seem to go on forever and slope down so gradually are like nothing I've ever seen before. I would never have imagined that beaches could look like that ... It would be fun to visit one.
Posted by: Janis | March 28, 2019 at 03:13 PM
Those ripples in the sand!! Wow!!! 😍🌊🌊🌊
Posted by: Eleonora from Coastal Crochet | March 28, 2019 at 08:45 AM
Love the new stitch for the Dune blanket. I also love the manky feather...bet that was from littleB!
Posted by: Caz | March 27, 2019 at 09:44 PM
We went to the coast as well, North Norfolk the only beach on East coast that faces WEST! It really is bizarre it has the same huge tide we didn't reach the water either, but 11mth pup enjoyed the sorft sand immensely and yes the weather was amazing no need for my new waterproof coat.
Posted by: Heidi Clarke | March 27, 2019 at 09:38 PM
Lovely post and cannot wait for the dune blanket cal.we're going up to lancashire this week staying in Clitheroe but I will definitely check out how far st. Anne's is. Also cannot wait we will be visiting skipton again. Yay. Love the area. And lovely skipton market and yarn shops cannot wait x
Posted by: Pippa Moore | March 27, 2019 at 08:51 PM
Oh Lucy this post has just made my heart sing with joy! We’ve holidayed in St Anne’s since the 1960’s and I love it so much. Every one of your photos made me happy as I have done the walks you describe so many times. And now you’re doing a blanket inspired by my favourite place on Earth! SQUEAL!! I will be first in line to order your yarn pack for this blanket! I’m already thinking of adding little crocheted beach huts to the bottom of it too, I’m so excited!
P.S. if you follow “St Anne’s Beach Huts and Apartments” on Facebook they often post amazing photos of the coastline....and they showed a video a few days ago of the waves crashing over the fence in front of the huts! Proof that the tide DOES come in occasionally!
Posted by: Karen Dodgson | March 27, 2019 at 04:12 PM
I always enjoy all the beautiful and fascinating photos you post. I will most likely never be able to see these wonderful places in person. So your photos are a joy to see.
Posted by: savannagal | March 27, 2019 at 03:20 PM
A lovely blog Lucy , I live by the seaside and ours has been ever changing these past few years our pier was pulled down last year (Colwyn Bay) due to its crumbling condition a new board walk is hopefully gong to built instead for now . They have deposited thousands of tons of sand so the tide doesn’t come in as far now . X
Posted by: Sandra Ford | March 27, 2019 at 03:17 PM
The colors I've seen are lovely....so calming and gentle. I'm VERY curious what stitch you've decided upon, the ripples in the sand are fun and inviting - but with the color pallet I'm think think something really softly "wave-y"!!
Posted by: Kathy K | March 27, 2019 at 03:09 PM
I never knew they were whelk egg cases !!!
Isn’t amazing what you can learn in your crochet journey 😃
Posted by: Julie Stevens | March 27, 2019 at 02:48 PM
I had to Google what a Mermaid Purse was... I learned something new!
Posted by: Arlene | March 27, 2019 at 01:49 PM
A previous reader said “ a lovely blog to read at the end of the day “ I couldn’t agree more except I read it over breakfast time and it set me up in a great mood for the rest of the day! Thanks Lucy!
Posted by: Lesley | March 27, 2019 at 12:21 PM
Loved today's blog ! I have one suggestion - you nixed the feather , would you consider working it in a corner of your blanket with yarn or embroidery floss . I love the feather. Glad y'all had a marvelous time , I hope you know what a very fortunate lady you are. Looking forward to your next pattern.
Posted by: Miss Daisy | March 27, 2019 at 11:44 AM
I'm still working with the sweet pea colours but have ended up learning to crochet straight sided granny squares as squares are easier to transport to my knit & natter class each week having had operations on my left wrist in the past. I am happy to say I have mastered the art of crocheting trebles(Not bad for someone nearer 80 than 70!!) and have received loads of lovely comments on the colours you chose.I have also unpicked some knitted cushion covers I made a few years ago and which have stretched.I want to sew them together to make throws to go over the chair backs.I now need a to make a border .Would you recommend a crochet border from one of your patterns.My 6 inch knitted squares are made in colours to match a carpet and are knitted in different patterns
Posted by: Janet Tomlinson | March 27, 2019 at 10:54 AM
Just what I needed this am ! Would really like to go there looks so amazing is there a link for where you stayed please?
You have inspired me to try to make my own colour CORNWALL blanket as I have been ther so often and love it so.I will probably use the sweetpea stitch tho I love it so much.
But I have never been to Yorkshire or Lancashire and it looks bloomin lovely.
Loving the post as usual.
Posted by: Jacqui | March 27, 2019 at 10:06 AM
Wow, what a wonderful break, the weather looked glorious, and in February too. Lovely to spend time with your family, but also to refill the creative well, I know how inspired you are by the coast and nature. And I know exactly what you mean about that pre-project excitement. I shall look forward to seeing your coastal-inspired blanket. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | March 27, 2019 at 09:51 AM
I've seen mermaid's purses on the beach but had no idea what they were! Your post was a mine of information for me today! :) xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | March 27, 2019 at 09:08 AM
Fantastic blog as usual, along with everyone else I cannot wait for new blanket, you are AMAZING! X
Posted by: Amy J | March 27, 2019 at 08:53 AM
Have a feeling the coastal colour theme will be right up my snicket! Can't wait.
Posted by: Fiona M | March 27, 2019 at 08:02 AM
A lovely post Lucy, which I enjoyed thoroughly, also being a coastal lover & not living near enough. Thanks. Ooh, a new blanket & I've still not bought my sweet pea one yet. I must get a wriggle on. Take care.
Posted by: Susan Smith | March 27, 2019 at 08:02 AM
I remember the week so well. Glorious weather so no wonder you went to the beach. I love shells to and always have my head down when walking on the sand and shingle.
Posted by: Carol Pullen | March 27, 2019 at 07:59 AM
Yesterday's (Tues 26th March) Blue Planet UK (S1 E2, at 36mins in) had a segment about whelks and their development which your little boy might find interesting. It's currently available on iPlayer.
Posted by: Hilary | March 27, 2019 at 07:19 AM