February Good Times

It was our half term break last week. We seemed to have it a week later than pretty much the whole of the country and we were all so ready for some idle days of rest and relaxation. It was sooo good, all of it, even the low key days where we forgot what day it was and didn't bother to get dressed until after lunch. 

With the brood returned to school today and our daily routine restored, I've thoroughly enjoyed the gentle silence here in the house. It made me sit quiet and still this afternoon catching my breath (if you can have an emotional breath to catch) taking some time to reflect and think about how this year is going so far. I took a look through my February photos and reminded myself how very good this past month has been.

February can be a tough ol' month and I find that unless I make a conscious effort to seek out the things that make me happy, the days tend to drag by in a slow, dull blur. I really find bluuurrr days very trying so I do my best not to allow them to take hold. It honestly doesn't take an awful lot to make me happy right down to my toes - a short walk by water, a good coffee, a jug of fresh flowers on my table, something colourful and yarny in my hands. All those things would be at the top of my personal feel-good anti-blur list, and instinctively I incorporate them into my days as often as I can. 

It takes effort to get out for a walk in the winter months, and the Little People can be hard to persuade. But I find that when we do make it happen it's soooooo worth it and without fail I always return home feeling uplifted. 

These photos were taken mid month, a cold, brisk stroll around the reservoir one Sunday morning. I wore my short floral wellies and paddled in the shallow water, thinking that if I can't be beside the sea then this sandy little reservoir beach is not a bad second best.

It was one of those walks where we constantly felt like we were only a few minutes away from a torrential downpour that would ruin everything. The sky was so dark and heavy with the threat of rain, but despite the ominous clouds and eerie light it never actually came, and I was thankful for that simple thing.

February was pretty much consumed by the Sweet Pea CAL for me and there wasn't really any time for much else. I spent some days in the studio tidying up and taking stock of things, clearing my table, re-jigging my very full shelves and generally faffing around making everything feel good in there. It's been a while since I had flowers on my studio table so I treated myself to some tulips from the supermarket, and oh they did make me happy!

Over the days that I was working in the studio I had the pleasure of watching those petals gently unfurl in the warmth of my cosy room. Such a beautiful visual pleasure, I couldn't stop drinking them in.

Flowers reached a peak on my mantel last week, with red hyacinths flowering at one end and bridal crown narcissus reaching for the ceiling at the other end.

I absolutely adore narcissus, the scent of them is so sweet and beautiful and so very much a February joy.

Out in my front garden and the crocus patch all of a sudden woke up after its winter slumber. We had a welcome amount of sunshine last week and these flowers bloomed their little hearts out. I'm sure they are early (I think of them as March flowers?) but I'm not complaining, they have been a real treat to see every time I come home and climb the stone steps to my front door.

The starlings continue to murmur above our house each and every evening, and my goodness, it is a spectacular sight. During the past few weeks the numbers have swelled dramatically and the flock is now absolutely mahoosive. Being that they fly (at great speed) right overhead here at number 24 it's impossibly hard to photograph and hard to describe the true scale of it. I found a beautiful bit of video footage on YouTube - do go and look ((here)) to see the full murmuration effect. The downside is the mess - our street is a bit of a poo zone, our car liberally decorated for the season. Not complaining though, I don't think I'll ever forget this Starling Winter.

At the start of our half term holiday last week we were blessed with a short burst of the most incredible weather. Cloudless blue, blue skies and warm hours of sunshine, it was absolute bliss. 

Last Monday we took Little B on his bike to the park and even though it was February (truly a Winter month here in North Yorkshire) the temperature reached a balmy 18 degrees. EIgHtEen!!!!! It was t-shirt hot, lay on a blanket and soak in the sun hot, close your eyes and make-believe it's Summer hot.

It made me think of this....

.....I saw this online somewhere a while ago and it proper made me laugh! So I kept saying to J last week, this is Fool's Spring we're having you know, and he didn't have a clue what I was on about, but still.......it was glorious, an especially good memory as we appear to be firmly into the Second Winter this week. Won't be long until we can enjoy the Spring of Deception. Ha!

Coinciding with Fool's Spring, we were fortunate enough to enjoy a couple of short trips away from home at the end of February. The weather was utter perfection and we couldn't believe our luck.

J and I took off for a twenty four hour one night away from home just the two of us - we didn't go far, driving just 20 miles into West Yorkshire to visit the quirky little town of Hebden Bridge. We booked into a cosy little pub B&B high on the hill above the town, and spent our time walking and pootling in the sunshine.

During half term week, we decided very last minute to take a short family holiday over to St Anne's on the Lancashire coast. We've stayed here a few times before and were able to book the same house which was delightfully relaxing and familiar. I won't bore you with more weather details (just look at that sky!!!), but well, it was bloomin' wonderful. We celebrated J's Big Birthday (he reached the big 5-0 like me) and it was just the best little holiday. 

The tide very rarely comes right in at St. Annes but occasional storms bring the waves right up the beach to the base of the sand dunes, leaving behind a strandline rich with seaside treasure. I just can't resist the urge to collect and gather when I'm by the sea, it's such a deeply ingrained habit that has been with me since childhood. 

You can see how my creative coastal playtime took a hold.........got lots more to show you very soon!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Christina]

It’s always so easy for me to feel depressed in the winter months. Thanks for the ideas to help brighten up my winter days with color!

[Lynn Bailey]

Ooh am loving those colours at the end! Hope it's something exciting! I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from the sweet pea blanket and I only finished it yesterday ;) x

[Veronica Cooke]

Just to say I watched Gogglebox on Friday evening and unless I'm very much mistaken the woman I call 'the crochet lady' on there, was busy crocheting the Sweet Pea blanket! She is always crocheting something; is surrounded by lovely crocheted blankets and has crocheted mandalas/doilys on her table - I don't know her name...

[Linda]

I like all your photos and I would like to be in the third photo and walk for a long time.

[Crafty Cath]

oooh is that a seaside shell blanket in the making??? really nice colours, very calming :)

[Alison]

A little late but I wanted to tell you that I made the Cottage ripple for my Mom for Christmas and she loved it. More ripple kits please! Maybe even in other yarns that are readily available but perhaps a bit more expensive for those special gifts for others or oneself? I have no color sense at all and rely upon yours, LOL. Thank you for all your hard work with crochet and your blog; it's greatly appreciated. And P.S. I have a tortie cat too named Lily. _ Alison

[Green Girl Gardener]

Hasn't the beautiful weather this February just made the whole month more bearable? I normally hate February, but I think I probably enjoyed this one more than any February ever! Very excited to see what your creative mind is going to make out of your coastal finds xx.

[Elise]

I just loved this blog post! I have never heard of a Fool's Spring before but it's such an apt description! I love a good walk outside no matter the weather. I once heard the saying that's there's no bad weather, just bad gear. I have taken this to heart and now go for a walk regardless of the temps!

[Ros]

Crocuses come before daffodils and are definitely February flowers. Sometimes even January flowers!

[Sue Floyd]

Hi Lucy! Loved the post. Especially the photos & story...& The shells...my oh my! Made me smile so much. Thanks for being you!
Sue

[Arlene]

So nice to find something that makes you smile when the cold weather just won't leave quite yet.

Spring is near in Canada too, although we have about 5 feet of snow piled every where.

[Jessica]

Oh, Lucy! The Tulips from the supermarket are a great treat. Tulip is my favorite flower. They're lovely :) Fool's spring! haha :)

[Mary Pobedinsky]

Fool's Spring makes me think of the ending of a favorite poem, Richard Wilbur's Winter Spring:
"This too-soon spring will pass
Perhaps tonight,
And doubtless it is dangerous to love
This somersault of seasons;
But I am weary of
The winter way of loving things for reasons."

Beautiful photos--thanks!
--Mary P

[Elizabeth]

Oooo love the photos. Happy birthday J. Last photo looks yummy - sea grass blanket????!!!

[Susan]

That later half term was a gift weather wise.I was doing Forest School and we could take off our coats!Bliss😎

[Sheelagh Franklin]

Love the look of those new colours Lucy, anticipation is in the air! Xx

[MaryLloyd Jones]

Just come in from walking the dog down by the Straits,so lovely..sunshine but a wind that is bitterly cold! Settling down now with my Sweet Pea crochet,now on part 4...so getting there. Loved your post . Happy Birthday to J.

[CJ]

Happy birthday to J, I'm glad you both had some time away together and with the family. Starlings are wonderful aren't they. We had a couple of years of them flying in sight of our house, and every single time we would all stop what we were doing and stand and marvel. It's a beautiful, mesmerising, relaxing sight. CJ xx

[Mary]

Ooh love those colours! Is that a new colour pack coming along?

[Jacqui]

Ahhhhhh the seaside and shells and fresh air and trees and sun and starlings ahhhhh lovely post thankyou

[Lynne]

Hopefully another lovely easy pattern. I had never crocheted before as I was left handed but my friend showed me how to do it right handed have just finished my sweet pea blanket. Thank you Lucy for making it easy.

[Catherine]

Great photos as usual Lucy. Hopefully your short break in Lancashire will have left you rested and restored. I love your new colour pegs. If that is for a CAL count me in!

[Teresa Kasner]

I'm so glad you and your dear one got to have a getaway just the two of you.. are the kids old enough to stay home on their own or did someone stay with them? *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to your husband. That is a momentous celebration. I love the colors of yarn in that last photo.. you tease! I put a TaDah post up today on my Sweet Pea blanket! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Carolyn]

Crocuses, lilies of the valley, and daffodils always make spring to me. I love seeing the flowers come to life in the spring and I love the spring colors all through your blog posts!

[Pam Emerson Clarke]

I am back reading yr blog again Lucy after being inactive for awhile.. Too lazy to get my laptop going so use my phone most of time these days.. I am still crocheting & see yr FB posts .. Always in awe of yr colour combinations.. Your countryside looks lovely at moment.. We are still having that long drawn out Drought, Everthing had died in my garden, can’t afford the water .. Most of our rivers have dried up.. awful.. we have a beautiful river fed by a dam about 50 kms away but now on water restrictions because a Copeton Dam is becoming low like most of the other dams all over.. So we are all praying for rain.. Keep up your great interesting Post.. Best Wishes from Pam , Bingara, nth west NSW, Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺