We had such a lovely long weekend of it here, celebrating the start of May with three days of leisure and pleasure. May is my absolute most favourite month of the whole year, I just adore the abundance of it - so much daylight and greenery and fresh blooming things. Love love love love love all of it.
We walked at Bolton Abbey on Saturday to take in the bluebells. They are early this year because of the unseasonable warmth we had in February and are already just tipping past their prime.....
....still looking gorgeous though, carpeting the woodland floor with a gentle haze of sunny blue.
We walked along the side of the river Wharfe....
.....admiring the stunning wildlife (this is a Mandarin Duck, we often see them on this stretch of the river).
Several duck families were also paddling up stream, the teensy little ducklings looking impossibly fluffy and small as they danced about on the wide surface of the river.
We sat a while here on the low rocks while Little B leaped about and did boyish things, exploring and poking and the such like. It was such a lovely thing to see him so happy in his own little world, singing some crazy ditty to himself as he hopped around on the rocks.
Green, green and more green, the woodlands honestly take my breath way at this time of year and I don't think I will ever not be wowed by it. Wild garlic in abundance (not quite in flower just yet, but almost) and the freshest zingy green beech leaves newly unfurled in the treetops.
It was the very definition of the word f-r-e-s-h and the scent was intoxicating. Damp earth and wild garlic, sunshine and oxygen. Beautiful in every way.
The May Bank Holiday weekend here in Atticland is always joyful and boat filled as the town celebrates the historic canal with it's annual Waterway Festival.
Boats start arriving and mooring up during the week before....
....and the canal becomes a busy, festive hub of activity. Each year there is a theme (this year is was the 1960's) and it's all very jolly indeed.
The abundance of bunting always makes my heart leap, I just love the bright colours and the festival atmosphere it creates.
Early on Sunday morning, J and I took a walk along the tow path to take it all in. Little B was at a sleep over with a school friend and the Teens were still tucked up in their beds so it was just the two of us, and I did miss my Little Peeps I have to say. I have many layers of memories of doing this very thing (have just re-read this post, when the Big Teen was still a Littl'n' and only six years old), and although I relish seeing my offspring grow into beautiful, independent, strong young people, I do miss their Little Days sometimes.
As usual, the boats were looking glorious.
I love to take in the decorative details, and have a real fondness for the old fashioned painted enamel "barge ware" which is traditional decoration for canal boats.
The folk art floral style and bright colours are very inspiring.......
....I'd love to translate this into crochet one day, maybe a folksy floral something-something with roses and daisies and stripes and pompoms.....(Creative Mind is whizzing now!)
Its easy to forget that these boats are homes to people and animals....
....and that they aren't just there for show.
There is something so appealing about this type of lifestyle, although for me personally I would much prefer to keep my tootsies planted on terra firma. I do adore the cosiness and the prettiness of canal boats though.
Oh look! I can spot a crochet blanket at a hundred paces and immediately zoomed in on this beauty casually draped over the bow of the boat. Doesn't it look so at home?
This was my favourite boat of all, all Loved Up and decked out in 1960's style finery. There was yarn too.....
.....colourful crochet flowers, pom poms, hearts and birds, what a visual delight!
Back on the home front and there was yarn and colour here too......of course there was!
You might remember me telling you last week that I've started on a stash-bust project using yarn left over from the Sweet Pea and Dune blankets? Well on Sunday I tipped out the bag of circles that I've been making and began to turn them slowly, one by one, into squares.
I'm using an old pattern of mine from years ago (seriously, years and years!) the Summer Garden Granny Square.
I created this pattern a whole decade ago and used it to make a couple of wool blankets (a big one here and a small one here). It's been lovely to re-visit it, and I'm really enjoying the freedom of working these little squares just for pleasure and without much of a plan.
However, over the weekend I decided that these squares won't become another blanket because they are shouting GRANNY SQUARE BAG to me very loudly, and I just can't ignore that type of creative shouting. The idea has been so loud in my mind that I dreamt about the exact granny square bag on Monday night, I kid you not. So now that my Creative Mind has seen the bag image (with some delightful decorative details) I simply must make it a reality. I am ridiculously excited by it all, and I can't wait to share more of this with you as it unfolds.
On Monday morning, with no work or school we decided to leave the car at home and set out to walk around our neighbourhood. It was a grey, overcast day but nevertheless it felt so good to stride out and climb up high to take in the views over this lovely little rural market town that we call home. It delights me that we can see the actual Attic from the top of the hill, and see our home sitting in it's friendly terraced street amidst the rolling green countryside.
Coming into the woods from the high hill, we enter along the top pathway. It's oh-so-green, beautiful in it's airy lushness.
Isn't May such a delight? I can't get enough of it, the bright colour is almost overwhelming in the woodland after so many months of drab brown.
Ah, here is the Stalking Horse, quietly standing in place, awesome in it's willowy stillness.
There aren't a huge number of bluebells in these woods, just a few here and there - they make me so happy.
Another week or so and this huge bank of wild garlic will be in full flower, it's a beautiful sight I can tell you.
We came out of the woods via the bottom gate and as we were close to the edge of town we decided on the spur of the moment to go and have coffee. We chose a cafe close to the canal, a lovely little place where you can sit in a pretty courtyard outside when the weather is decent enough. The Waterway festival was in full swing and as we sat to drink our cappuccino's (banana milkshake for a delighted Little B) we were entertained by a full-force marching bagpipe band. It was glorious! Such a rich, full sound, and not your average Monday morning soundtrack that's for sure.
Little B was ecstatic at the prospect of so much naughty, edible festival temptation. He swayed dramatically between wanting freshly cooked crepes, candyfloss or fresh donuts, and in the end the donuts won. They came on a paper plate, hot and fluffy, smothered in chocolate sauce and whipped cream......his face was a picture, and it reminded me of our Bruges trip last year and the whole waffle experience....such good memories.
Monday afternoon and I decided to bake a cake. I think Little B's sweet cravings had rubbed off on me and all I could think about was the taste of an old fashioned Victoria Sponge. I had a bit of trouble with my cake tins as some of the cake mixture managed to leak out through the removable bottoms somehow, making the layers a little on the flat side. No matter though, as this cake wasn't made for show it was made for eating, and goodness me it went down well! Despite it's flatness it tasted very good indeed and the whole family agreed that I should bake cakes more often.
I hope that you are all doing OK and enjoying the ebb of flow of your days whatever season you are in. I'm enjoying my days very much, I love May, I really do. It's all good.
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Posted by: Hpsetup | August 01, 2019 at 11:29 AM
May is also my favourite month. The colours in the woods are just breathtakingly beautiful. The carpets of bluebells mingled with cow parsley elderflower buttercups etc etc & the 40 shades of green.
I wonder would you ever consider doing a May woodland blanket Lucy? Would LOVE to make one but have no talent for colour coordination.
Posted by: Catherine Schafer | May 25, 2019 at 06:28 PM
Hi, love your sweet Mandarin Drake. I live in Co Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. My hubby is a keen photographer and took this image of a very elusive mandarin. Only ever saw it twice in two years. Quite rare here. I thought it so beautiful I matched with stylecraft yarn but don’t have a blanket pattern yet to do it justice. Thought you would like to see so here is a link. https://www.facebook.com/miriamtaylormade/photos/a.359281154913808/409242999917623/?type=3&theater
Miriam
Posted by: Miriam Coulter | May 17, 2019 at 07:22 PM
I love the “stalking horse” Lucy!
Hope all’s well with you,
Katie B x x
Posted by: Katie Burman | May 16, 2019 at 02:21 PM
Love seeing your corner of the world..green open countryside..wow! The festive boats look fun..I've become addicted to making Pom poms since I discovered the clover Pom maker, so much easier. Definitely gonna try making your cute, pretty granny squares.😍
Posted by: tammy | May 10, 2019 at 07:37 PM
I enjoy this post a lot!! I love water, rivers, seas and canals so much, I think you live in paradise💖
Here is the begining of autumn and I love the brown and golden nature and the warm temperature,
By the way, I had the same trouble witn my baking tin but things went well after all.
Wishing you a happy weekend, I send hugs from Argentina!!
Posted by: Silvia | May 10, 2019 at 03:22 PM
Thank you for sharing. Beautiful pictures and interesting reading. As always :-) Your pictures on the canal boats reminded me of a television series shown here with Prunella Scales and Timothy West. Together they did "Great Canal Journeys" where they also visited the Göta Canal in Sweden. Very interesting about canals in England and other countries. I'm excited to see your new crocheted bag when it is finished.Take care
Ida
Posted by: Ida | May 10, 2019 at 02:59 PM
I so enjoy seeing the canal boats, thanks for sharing them again! Once the heavy pollen passed here I have spent some time outdoors everyday this spring. It's been glorious! Have a wonderful weekend! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela- southern USA | May 10, 2019 at 12:57 PM
You have just brightened my day considerably for which I thank you. Such lovely photos of your part of the world.
Posted by: Diane Smith | May 10, 2019 at 08:39 AM
Love this post. Love all that green and the pops of colour from the canal boats. Thank you.
Posted by: Cecilia Joyce | May 10, 2019 at 08:13 AM
I love your posts, they bring a little breath of freshness with them.
Posted by: Jackie | May 10, 2019 at 04:17 AM
One picture has inspired a delightful watercolor. The little brown path leading through the trees. I see a gorgeous worn leather that has been polished to a scrumptious soft and pliable finish. The brown used for this would be held upside down and the dripping brown and amber paint would create the tree trunks. When I had enough trees, I would upright the painting again and drape the most lively young growing green webs across the branches to come sort of close to what your picture captured. At least in my mind.
Posted by: Mary W | May 10, 2019 at 01:25 AM
Loved seeing your May Weekend holiday festivities in Skipton,which I intend to visit soon.Barges are great.
I was enjoying the May holiday weekend in Llandudno where I live and where we have a Victorian Extravaganza weekend every year since it is a Victorian town. It is good to think of people all over the country in their little local places enjoying the beginning of summer.Have a happy May and thanks for your very feel-good blog. Diolch yn fawr!
Posted by: Megan Drennan | May 09, 2019 at 09:59 PM
canal boats and crochet = my favourite things :) Thanks for the post. Can't wait to see the lovely granny squircle bag xx
Posted by: Crafty Cath | May 09, 2019 at 09:20 PM
It really is breathtaking out there at this time of year isn't it. Sometimes I just stand staring out at the garden and marvelling at all the green. The Waterway festival looks magical, the boats are so pretty with all their decorations. The doughnuts look pretty good too. Glad you had a lovely few days. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | May 09, 2019 at 08:46 PM
Lovely greens, enjoyed seeing your photos thank you. My youngest is just starting his GCSE's next week and I've been thinking back to the toddler and primary school years. Though it's good the teens are growing into independent young men, those days of you being 'the one who knew all things' are long gone. Enjoy the growing stage is all you can do, Cx
Posted by: Hooks and Needles | May 09, 2019 at 08:41 PM
Love the canal festival! We love wandering along our own rural canals (edge of South Staffs) 'oohing' and 'aahing' at the beautifully decorated narrow boats - They're always so joyful. Some near us have their own little tow-path gardens too. I wonder if the owners ever get fed up of us peering and photographing?! :)
I absolutely LOVE May too - my very favourite month - so lush and green, with everything bursting into life.
Posted by: Rosie | May 09, 2019 at 08:06 PM
Loved reading this post, it's great that there's a May Day celebration on the canal - a lovely tradition xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | May 09, 2019 at 07:29 PM
I loved your blog today and seeing your Bank Holiday photos. May is my favourite month too. Up here in Scotland the bluebells are fantastic at the moment, as are the lovely new fresh green beech leaves. Throw in the odd bank of primroses as well and it’s heaven. What a gorgeous combination of colours - Inspiration for a new blanket possibly 🤔, or a Spring scarf. I’m very into the Dune blanket at present. Thank you Lucy for all you do for the crochet community. Ann
Posted by: Ann | May 09, 2019 at 05:30 PM
Thank you for the lovely photos and telling us about the canal boats. I’m so ready (in spirit) to jump the big pond to come live in your village. I just received my yarn to start the Dune blanket and will start reading your pattern. I’m not a great crochet person but I can look up how to do stitches, I hope. I love your granny squares so much, I made a few blankets like that years ago.
Posted by: Hedy | May 09, 2019 at 02:51 PM
amazing photos, so much going on, enjoyed the walk around your little town & aren't those boats just so cute! am a big fan of old cars too
gorgeous woodlands, such bright greens! i miss being able to grow winter bulbs up here in Queensland, it's just too hot, this month of May is still a little too warm for even winter vegies.
awww love granny squares & those are looking so sweet, can't wait to see it finished
lovely post
thanx for sharing
Posted by: Selina Baihn | May 09, 2019 at 10:52 AM
It was a lovely May wknd I love reading your posts and seeing your part of the world through your photos. That festival looks so gorgeous. Thankyou for sharing with u.s
Posted by: Jacqui | May 09, 2019 at 09:13 AM
Loved your blog today as we are on our narrowboat at the moment cruising the waterways all during the summer and I always bring a project with me ( I’m on the Cupcake blanket at the moment) . Were the photos taken at Skipton if they I will be there in September at Yarnfest which I have read about but never been to so can’t wait for that .
Posted by: Sandra Chilvers | May 09, 2019 at 09:02 AM
I so love reading your blogs so much more than reading a book and keeps motivating me on my crochet! Just love all your creative work and so envious as I have problems taking it up and just doing a bit even when don’t have a lot of spare time! Grandchildren and dogs take up a lot of precious time but love that as well!
Posted by: Heather Coady | May 09, 2019 at 08:14 AM
Please share your Victoria sponge recipe with this American baker! And what is the filling? I keep thinking of Paul and Mary on the Great British Baking show, and how Paul called it a "spuuunge," with whatever his accent was. Thanks for sharing your lovely May weekend, always a fan and follower.
Posted by: Jean | May 09, 2019 at 04:02 AM