Home Safe :: Week Two

Today marks the start of the third week of the UK lockdown due to Coronavirus, and although we are now into the Easter holidays for the Little People, it doesn't really feel any different to the past couple of home-school weeks. It's been a time of acclimating to our new routines, and I would say we are doing pretty well on the whole. I don't think our days in any way feel "normal" just yet, and quite possibly they never will while we are living with such restrictions. But we are managing to create some small daily habits and gentle structure to our days, and maybe that's the best thing to aim for as we all muddle through.

I am so very grateful for our daily family walks, an hour each day where we can breathe in deeply, stretch our muscles and soak up the calmness of our immediate local neighbourhood. It really does help to balance our days, it helps a lot actually. We are pretty much doing the same walk every day which takes us up some steep streets of houses, along a farm track and into the very top of the woodland. We then follow footpaths up and down through the trees in a circular loop until we come all the way back to the farm track. We climb an old wooden stile, heading up across a huge sloping field until we reach the dry stone wall at the top (you can see our hilltop view in this post). We rest a while here, taking in the sweeping view of our town nestled in the valley, before walking all the way down the grassy slope and back to the streets which lead us homeward. 

I find I don't get bored of this walk, even doing it day after day - every day has it's own unique feel depending on the weather and the time of day that we head out. It's been fantastic to witness the wild garlic growing ever greener, and to see fresh new buds and the may blossom emerging. The Little People complain a little about the repetitive nature of it all, but we are quick to remind them to be thankful for what we have on our doorstep, to be happy that we can take these walks and experience nature in all it's wonderfulness. 

Little Lady doesn't always come with us, but I do love it when she does. A few times she's been for a daily walk on her own, choosing to head out in the early evening now that we're into British Summer Time (yay!) and it's not getting dark until after 8pm. But I really appreciate her company and happy chatter, and try to encourage her to join us as I think in these strange times it does us good to be able to talk with each other. 

I always carry my camera with me when we walk, but don't always feel in the mood to take photos. But I had an idea that I'd like to chronicle these weeks here on my blog so that I can look back and remember in years to come. In my mind, I call these posts my "Lockdown Diary", but I decided to change the title to be more positive and have settled on "Home Safe". So these photos today are a mixed bag of things that were captured on my camera last week. I sincerely hope that you don't get fed up of seeing a stupid number of woodland photos, I'll try and hold back with sharing endless trees with you.

Little B and I did some baking last week, for the first time in a long time. It was my idea - a solution one afternoon when he seemed to be climbing the walls with boredom and in need of a distraction. He really enjoyed it, taking control of the weighing, mixing and beating like a little pro.

We made and iced buns, finding everything we needed already in the cupboards, including some rather dodgy looking blue food colouring and some charmingly named "unicorn sprinkles". Cadbury mini eggs are a permanent fixture on our weekly shopping list right now (they just hit the spot when a little chocolate fix is needed) so they provided the finishing flourish. The buns didn't last long, and I am thinking a tray of cranberry and sultana flapjack will be the next thing on my baking schedule.

The kitty is finding it hard having us around all the time, she is used to a quiet house during the day and undisturbed kitty naps in the Big Chair. She has started taking herself away somewhere in the house to sleep in the daytime, I've no idea where exactly she goes but I do get where her head is at - I often find myself wishing I could find somewhere to hide away for some solitude!

I tell you what though, she really can't resist the lure of my crochet blankets, especially if a convenient human is positioned underneath one. Within seconds of me getting comfy on the sofa for a bit of magazine browsing, she lands, turns a few circles then slumps down to nap. It's the most comforting thing to have the warm, heavy weight of a dozing kitty on your lap, but it never fails to make me feel reeeeeally sleepy myself, like I could just nod off sitting up. It's the ultimate sedative.

I'm making some progress on my cross stitch and am still really enjoying stitching this design. Last week I kept it out on the dining table and found myself picking it up and stitching little bits in odd pockets of time in between doing other things. I like it best when I can really get in the zone with cross stitching, but I've been finding it hard to settle for any length of time as my attention span has been quite short of late. I want to start the Craftpod Spring embroidery too, but also there's my crochet Spring Garland, and I feel like if I have too many WiP's going on at the same time my mind starts to feel overloaded.

Another day, and another walk to the woods, this time made a littler more exciting by the arrival of a sheep and lamb train! The farmer was moving them from the small field to the big sloping one, and it was just lovely to see and hear the lambs.

Wood anemones are in full flower in the woodland and on sunny days when they spread their petals right out they look ever so pretty. Bright little beacons of Spring, I do love them.

One of the very best things that has come out of this strange stay-home time is the introduction of daily exercise here in the Attic. And I'm not just talking about the walking we do, but about actual, proper jumping about, heart-pounding exercise, the stuff that makes you heave to catch your breath and leaves your legs wobbling like jelly. Like many other families, Little B and I have been tuning into YouTube at 9am every week day to do a live PE workout with Joe Wicks the Body Coach. At first I decided to do it to encourage Little B to burn off some of his excess energy, and to create some structure to our school mornings. He eats breakfast at 8am, then at 9am we do the half hour of PE, then he gets straight into the shower afterwards and gets dressed ready to start some school work. The routine has been working very well for us, and I guess the half hour of PE takes the place of our usual walk to school along the canal and the 15 minutes of mad running around in the playground that Little B starts his day with.

Part way into the second week of following this routine, I suddenly realised that I was enjoying the workouts myself and now I actually wake up looking forward to it. It's been over a decade since I did any sort of exercise besides walking, and my muscles have been properly complaining! But oh, I do feel so good for doing it! And as you can see in the photo above, we have the best exercise mats ;) 

I have my breakfast after my exercise now on weekdays, which makes it around 10am. Like many of us at the moment I am pretty time-rich and so breakfast has taken on something of a weekend vibe for me lately. I'm really happy about that I have to say! Slow, weekendy brunch-style meals are my absolute favourites, and I am enjoying them enormously. I am obsessed with making these little oat pancakes, they make me sooooo happy, like I want to squeal with joy after every mouthful.

In these days of enforced stay-home, I am so, so grateful for my creative habits, most especially crochet. My Spring Garland is keeping me busy and making me ridiculously happy - the fresh happy colours, the floral cuteness, the simplicity of making small things which come off the hook at a fast pace, all of it. Love love love love love it. Last night I finished up all the crochet (40 flowers and 40 leaves) and today I worked on photographing the tutorial for my new Polyanthus flowers. Tomorrow I have the pleasure of pulling it all together and creating the garland, and I am very excited about it. I'll be able to share the patterns and making process with you all on Wednesday, I absolutely can't wait.

Last week was cold here in Atticland and even though we now in British Summer Time, the temperatures remain wintry. Luckily we have enough fuel in to last us through this month, and I am still relishing lighting the fire on the evenings when we need a little extra warmth and cheer.

I also pulled my Sunny log cabin blanket back onto the bed and love having the extra little bit of weight on top of me at night and the bright colours to cheer me up in the mornings. As always I've been finding a lot of quiet comfort at bedtime, climbing under the soft, well washed flowery cotton and feeling so thankful for the simple fact of being at home with my family all safe and under one roof.

I hope very much that you are all feeling safe and cosy at home, and that despite the worries we are living with at the moment, you are finding small joys in the ordinariness of your days.

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Comments

[Alex Griffiths]

Hello Lucy, thank you for another lovely post ☺️

Can you please tell me which blanket the left hand ‘exercise mat’ is? I love the mix of small and large squares and the colours - is it one with a tutorial anywhere?

Lots of love
Alex

[Gillian Roe]

Hello lovely, I've just been having a wonderful catch up here with all your news. I'm another Pe With Joe fan too, and look forward to it every morning. I like the way it keeps my weekday and weekend morning routines distinct. The garland is so pretty, you really do have a gift with crochet and flowers. Well, and crochet in general really! lots of love xxxx

[kay]

A genuine thought - when you cross the farm style and track - you are infecting that for the farmer then - this is his workplace - if they get sick - they cannot look after the animals - please stay home - help protect someone elses home/workplace

[Susan]

Thanks for a lovely post Lucy & realise we are all in this together with enforced restrictions. I'm ready to read how everyone is passing the time & seeing lovely photos of where people are walking. Look forward to trying those ever so cute flowers. Take care, stay safe & huggles.

[Terri Beth]

I came here for some beauty after a news binge, and now I feel I can breathe again. So glad to have your blog. <3

[Jamie]

Please don't stop with the woodland photos (if possible!) It was only last week I was saying to my husband how much I look forward to them.

[Teresa Kasner]

Dear Lucy, Thank you for this charming post full of good things and ideas. I might start an exercise program today! And I love your woodland walk photos.. who doesn't love trees? :-) We got two raised beds delivered yesterday so we'll be planting them full of seeds soon and be proper farmers now. :-) Sending love your way - ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[SUSANA]

Hola Lucy!!!!! Nosotros tambien en Argentina ya llevamos 20 dias dentro de casa pero a diferencia de ustedes no podemos salir a caminar. Es tremendo. Disfruto mucho de tu blog y paseo junto a ustedes. Te quiero un montón. Beso grande desde Casilda República Argentina. SUSANA

[NORA McGRANN]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[Mary W]

Always such a lovely way to start my day - coffee and our very appreciated walks. The oat cakes look delicious - did you already share that recipe? Here in Florida, we have the AC on and at night I adore having my Woodland blanket to keep on the foot of my bed. I love sleeping in cool air but my feet love the blanket so we are all happy. My garden popped up yesterday evening. This morning even more turnips, squash, cucumbers, and a long train of radishes between them all. I'm trying a new turnip that is actually sweet and can't wait for the taste test.

[Miss Daisy]

Thank you Lucy , enjoyed our walk. Wish it was cold here. Y'all stay safe.

[Viola Barwitzki]

Thanks for the nice photos ... yes it is wonderful outside now. I am in the forest every day and the first tulips are blooming in the garden.
You enjoy your needlework ... the cross stitch is great. I sew and knit a lot now.
Greetings to you. Viola

[Ida]

Thank you for sharing. It brightens my rainy day here. :-)
What luck that we can encourage each other with Blog comments Instagram Facebook and Messenger or other internet options that are not contagious in any other way than that they give a smile and a feeling of not being alone.
Take care
Ida

[Christine]

Living in the city as I do, I love, love going on your walks with you. I cant walk very much at all so even walking round my local streets, although quieter ergo safer, is an impossibility for me. Thank you for staying in touch and 'home safe'
X

[CJ]

What a lovely post. I am a late breakfast eater - at the moment by the time I eat at 9.30, some people have already had two breakfasts... PE with Joe is a hit here as well. The big gym-going boy likes to do it with the youngest, which is funny to see. Your local walk is lovely, it will be good to watch the change in the seasons, I am noticing so much more green now. I love the idea of a diary of these days - it will definitely be something our children remember and it will be good for them to have some pictures and words to look back on. CJ xx

[Joanna Worthington]

What a lovely blog post. It was, as always, great to be drawn into your world and catch glimpses of your surroundings and your family life. It cannot be easy to entertain all three of your offspring at home during these long days spent at home.
Your daily walk sounds like food for the soul. I am lucky to live near the coast, so often do the same route I used to walk with my dear departed black Labrador, Sam. The years I used to drop my two girls off at school and walk a big loop across fields, down lanes to the estuary where Southampton water meets the Solent, and you can see the windows of the town of Cowes, Isle of Wight, glinting in the sun. My eldest daughter now lives there and we often snapchat hello pictures of ourselves or the view to say hello when out on our walks. My youngest daughter lives on the outskirts of London in a tiny flat with her husband. They are both working from home and have no outside space, so fresh air is only taken on their daily walk by the nearby river. I so wish I had them both safely at home under our roof and protection. Difficult times for us all but thank goodness for crochet! I have made so many blankets, that my husband asked if we have enough now.... I’ve switched to making baby clothes, for as yet, any future grandchildren I may be lucky enough to have. Just in case. Thank goodness for our garden and the sunshine and warmth we are experiencing here at the moment. Much love from Hampshire to you and yours. Stay safe! 🌈

[Mary Cassell]

Thank you so much for brightening our days Lucy.

[Catherine]

Joe Wicks is a permanent fixture here too!

I too have found myself needing colour therapy recently. I have used Nancy Nicholson’s book: Modern Folk Embroidery for a visual fix and inspiration. I really recommend the book. It could send you off searching for felt though!

[jennie craine]

It's good that we can still create normality in what are quite surreal times. I have returned to the "me" of 30 years ago - concentrating on my garden (growing lots more veg this year) and getting on with the quilting UFOs which have clogged my craft room for a while now . . . those jobs you put off till tomorrow!! Love the little Polyanthus flowers btw and have just printed off a recipe for oaty pancakes (we have laid in a stock of porridge oats!!)

[Susan]

Lovely blog. Looking forward to your flower instructions. Stay safe, have fun. Xxx

[Wendy]

Love all your pics and also the woodlands especially....keep safe xoxo

[Penny]

Lovely blog post as usual. Thanks Lucy.

[Kath Stephenson]

Thank you for your cheery post and bright photos Lucy. Looking forward to the new pattern 😃

[Susan]

Have you considered doing a cookbook? I'll buy one.
Please keep sharing the woodland photos. I'm allergic to grass, trees, weeds, mold and other things so looking at your photos and reading your descriptions are wonderful.

[Helen]

Glad you are all safe and well in the attic there. Please don’t stop showing us the photos of trees, they are so beautiful and a treat to see when we can’t get out to see them ourselves.