Blogtober 2020 :: Day 28

Today has been a blissfully slow kind of a day, the very best kind of pace for a stay-home holiday week. J and I were both up and about early this morning so we decided to take a walk up to the farm shop around 8.30am. We walked through the park which was very quiet and peaceful and as you can see, it was sunny - yes, actual, real sunny-sunshine, yaayyyy!! It was so so so lovely to feel the sun on my face for a little while, no matter how brief it was.

Many of the trees are looking bare now, although there are some still managing to hold onto their leaves. 

I stopped for a moment to look up through the treetops at the blue sky, loving the brightness of the still early day. My feet were cosy in my hand knit socks and boots, and my hands were cosy in my hand knit mitts. I was wearing a new sweatshirt top which has a hood that kind of sits quite closely around my neck (it's this one) so I was toasty warm, but the chill of the cold wind on my face was really exhilarating. I felt happy and full of morning energy, it was such a great feeling I have to say.

We paused at the top of the hill to take in the view of the hills before jaunting down the steps and following the footpath all the way to the farm shop. Because we were so early it was wonderfully quiet in the shop. This is something I've come to appreciate when we have to wear face coverings as it can feel very claustrophobic very quickly when it's warm and busy. We only really wanted one thing (well two things if you count the coffee) so it was a speedy in and out pop-n-shop, just the way I like it. 

By the time we were walking back through the park the weather had already begun to change and the sun was gone. I appreciated my al fresco on-the-move latté very much, it tasted pretty good with a back drop of Autumnal nature.

The thing we had walked all the way to the farm shop for was meat, specifically lamb. The meat at the farm shop is always great quality and super fresh so I always think it's well worth the walk to get the good stuff. I made another favourite recipe from the slow cook book for tonights dinner - Lamb Rogan Josh. This is a truly excellent curry, one of the best recipes I've ever come across. As well as dried spice and a generous dollop of spice paste from a jar, this recipe uses fresh cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods to add a really rich, aromatic flavour. It's a long, slow cook (up to 8 hours) which makes the lamb melt-in-the-mouth tender....oh it really did not disappoint, it was absolutely delicious. 

With dinner in the slow cooker, the rest of the day was open for me to get busy with my own thing. So after lunch I fetched Granny Josephine from the naughty corner and prepared her for surgery.

It was a tricky procedure, unpicking parts of the lining, then unpicking the carefully darned in ends so I could frog back the joining seams enough to release the top four corner squares. Granny remained calm, and even with a bit of her top missing she still managed to hold it together. 

I am so so glad that somehow in the midst of my foggiest of brain-fog times last year I managed to not only create a half-square from scratch, but also miraculously managed to write up the pattern for it. I am not kidding when I tell you that I really do not remember doing any of it, it's a complete blank (hahaha, I just type "blanket" instead of blank, and had a little chuckle to myself). 

So I had the joy of following my own pattern to create four new half squares......

.....to replace the ones that I extracted from Granny earlier. I used the same colours for some sort of continuity, although I'm well aware that the photo tutorial is going to be a bit of a mess because of having to re-do this bit but not being able to photograph it properly. Ah well, I trust that you won't mind too much and I'll do my best to explain it all as best as I can. 

In the dwindling daylight this afternoon I managed to join the four half squares into Granny's top half, giving her some dainty sloping shoulders. Ideally I would have liked her to have more depth, but in order to make the handles work, this seemed to be the least tricky path to take. 

As I ran out of light and energy in the late part of the afternoon the lining is just pinned in place for now. Tomorrow I hope to really make some good progress and advance to the handle attaching stage. I am determined to drag Granny Josephine into her Ta-dah spotlight, and take her out on the town when she's all embellished and ready to wow her public. I absolutely can't wait.

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Comments

[Georgie]

Hello Lucy, thank you for your beautiful blog. I really enjoy reading about you, J and the Little People and your daily life. I was wondering if there was a link or any information about those lovely mittens you knitted. I clicked on Knitting and scrolled through but couldn’t see them. I’m currently knitting my first pair of Winwick mum’s socks based on your recommendation and am enjoying it. I’ve also crocheted your Granny Stripe Blanket and loved that, and have made a Cowl Neck Poncho similar to yours that I remember reading about ages ago. ( I found a Simone Francis pattern that was similar). Anyway, I would like to knit some mittens at some stage and I liked the look of yours. But no bother re pattern really, I know you put so much time into blog and and don’t want to create any unnecessary follow up, but if there’s a quick & easy link that would be wonderful. Thank you again for your blog, I cannot even tell you how much I enjoy it & how much comfort it brings me. Xxxxxxxxxxx

[Susan]

Your walks and woods are breathtaking! Thanks for sharing your photos of such beautiful surroundings. It's provides a bit of an escape for me as well.

[Priya]

Came to know about you in a group today. Just visited your fb page ...
Oh my my.. what a collection of colours together..
Amazingly beautiful..
Feel to make a ripple..
Would love to try your ripple know how..
Thank you so much

[Lyn Z...]

you are amazing Lucy!!!

[Sue Floyd]

Ah Lucy! I can just close my eyes and see, or smell whatever you blog about! It's so amazing how you capture the essence when you blog and photograph! Thank you so much for this gift of blogtober! It is so appreciated.
Stay safe & joyful holidays and wintertide!
Sue

[Louise]

The colours of Granny are so joyful and serene at the same time. I recently made a granny square vest which I think I wanted to be colourful and serene, but turned out to be super kaleidoscopic! I'm now trying to figure out how I'm going to wear it as I don't quite have the wardrobe to match!
But you know, there's nothing quite like a granny square. I just wish I had your eye for colour!

[Jo Howes]

I'm glad Granny J 'held it together'...made me chuckle. Needing a bit of yarn therapy myself at the moment as the reality has bitten of another winter nearly upon us, and this year with all the ongoing difficulties of the pandemic alongside. I've really enjoyed the blog this month xx

[Maureen]

Love the post and hearing about Granny Josephine. Look forward to seeing her finished.

[Claire Hayden]

Love a ta-dah! moment, can't wait😀

[Caz]

She’s looking great. The left over squares could be lined with some extra fabric and sewn into the lining as a patch pocket.
I love a day when you don’t have stuff to do. Today is one for me. It’s stir fry for dinner so all I need to do is eat and crochet. Perfect for a rainy day.

[Liz]

Love your posts! Almost wish I wasn’t vegetarian!!! 💕

[Lorraine Bennett]

Can you tell me the name of your slow cooker book please. recipes sound amazing xx

[kathleenalice]

Lovely post as always Lucy, thank you. We often holiday in your area ( not this year sadly) and stay in our little caravan, not too far away from the farm shop.
We are so looking forward to returning next year. Your words and photos are almost as good as a visit.

[Wendy]

Your granny bag is going to be fabulous Lucy. Lucky you had written pattern for your half squares my brain would fizzle lol
Lovely walk pictures so beautiful there and will have a trip again one year again.

[PamelaRic]

You have totally made my month. I really don't want Blogtober to end. Thank you so very much for bringing your wonderful countryside/town/home into our lives each day this month.

[Barbara West]

I rather like the slightly shorter Granny bag, Lucy. And you know any leftover granny squares from the taller version don't have to go to waste. Perhaps a small pocket for notions?

I love seeing your photos of the countryside and your village.

[Beverley]

Looking forward to your ta-dah Granny Josephine moment. She looks lovely already.

[CJ]

The blanket mistyping made me laugh, my fingers do the same things sometimes, racing ahead of me and thinking they know what I'm about to say. Well done on tackling the bag, it is going to be lovely. CJ xx

[Mary Lloyd Jones]

Granny is looking grand!

[Jo Hyde]

have enjoyed your daily blog so much, fear I will get withdrawal symptoms when you stop! however you have a life and its not to prop us all up during this dreary covid time but thank you anyway!!

[Susan]

I've so enjoyed reading these posts, though I've not been commenting as you've so many readers & a little old lady here in Oz just doesn't count. The little snippets of your life & the amazing Yorkshire scenery are something to look forward to when I open my laptop. Thank you so much. Take care, stay safe & huggles from down under.

[Mandy Chenery]

Love love love reading the blog lucy x every daythis month I have looked forwards to reading about your lovely life. Xxx and if course seeing the pics too. I at the min am working from home and realised didnt go outside again today so seeing your blog and the lovely autumnal pics really made me happy xxxx take care my lovely xx