Pretty much every Monday you will find J and I together, taking advantage of six child-free hours where we can hang out and do stuff just the two of us. J has been working part time (three days a week) for almost three years now, but having every Monday free still feels like the biggest treat and I haven't ever gotten over the specialness of it. I appreciate it very much and don't ever take it for granted. I know we are blessed to be so time rich, and also fortunate in that we really do enjoy each others company so much. I count myself exceptionally lucky.
So on Mondays after dropping Little B at school, we usually head into town to run any errands and visit the local shops to pick up anything we've run short of over the weekend. Then it's a stop for coffee and breakfast when our favourite café opens at 9 o'clock (the café with the "outrageously good coffee" of course), where we chat about what we want to do with the rest of our day. If the weather is good we quite often drive out into the countryside to tramp around the footpaths of the Yorkshire Dales, and I do LOVE it when we have our walking days. But sometimes it's really nice just to make the day into a slow potter at home - time to just sit quietly together to read or catch up on any little jobs which need doing.
On Monday of this week the weather was absolute Autumn perfection, but rather than driving anywhere we decided to take it slow and stay local. I asked J if he fancied a walk through the park to the farm shop instead of our usual woodland walk, and so off we went into the sunny morning.
It's not a long walk as it's only a mile or so to the farm shop, but it's a nice stroll and I had a definite reason for wanting to go there......
.......I wanted to search for something seasonal in the florist section.
Ahhhh, doesn't it look beautiful? You can pick and choose individual stems to make up your own bespoke bunch which I think is such a lovely idea.
But I was only really after one thing, and I was in luck. Look..................
..........do you see them in the glass vase on the counter there? These are called Chinese Lanterns (the official name is "Physalis Alkekengi", thank you Wikipedia).
I absolutely adore Chinese Lanterns and they have a strong nostalgic feel for me as my Mum always grew them in her garden to bring indoors in the Autumn. I was so pleased to be able to buy a few stems to bring home with me, it was definitely worth the two mile round walk :)
Strolling back through the sunny park, and I had the sudden realisation that we are now in October and I feel exceptionally well. WOW, I really do feel GrEaT!!!! Usually at this time of year I am in post-Yarndale recovery and very far from feeling my best. So for the first time in eight years it feels rather wonderful to be enjoying this month with a spring in my step and a fully charged battery so to speak. I'm so happy about that!
I kept taking little peeks at my pretty paper wrapped parcel of lanterns......awwww, I love them so much!
Back at home and I carefully unwrapped the stems ready to pop into vase and Tilly immediately came over to perform some essential quality control checks. Yes, they passed inspection. The lanterns are still soft at the moment, but in the warmth of home they'll become dry and papery but will retain all that glorious Autumn colour.
As you know, my mantel has still been holding onto Summer but it was time to make the change into the new season. So I packed all the summer decs away into their organza bag and gave the mantel a good dust and polish. Then I had the joy of re-discovering all my Autumn decorations from previous years - it's so much fun, honestly, I can highly recommend seasonal decorating, it's not just for Christmas.
I thought I'd have a bit of fun with my camera and took a photo of Autumn before it landed on the mantel.....
...........ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!
Love love love my crochet and stitched decs!
You can find the Pumpkin pattern info ((HERE), and the Autumn garland pattern info ((HERE)).
I made them both in 2017, so this is the fourth annual outing for them and I couldn't love them more.
My two little mushroom makes came from the seasonal crafting boxes designed by Craftpod.
You can read about the embroidered mushroom hoop ((HERE))....
....and my little paper mushroom sculptures are ((HERE))
I made the Autumn cross stitch back in February of this year after I did the Winter one in January and absolutely loved stitching it. They were part of the fabulous Cotton and Twine monthly subscription boxes, but you can now buy them as individual projects if you like the look of them - you can find them ((HERE)).
I've made three of these seasonal canvases so far, I still have the Summer one to complete. I can highly recommend them if you like stitching - I'll maybe do a cross stitching update very soon to show you some more of my completed stitchy projects? Ooo....now I'm writing about this, my fingers are itching to stitch something new, haha!!
Yesterday I had such a lovely, lovely time faffing my mantel and making the seasonal change from Summer to Autumn, it felt really therapeutic to welcome in the new season in such a slow, thoughtful way.
I have two candelabras which each have half a year on my mantel. This red one will be on display for Autumn and Winter and I absolutely love it - I can't remember how many years ago I bought it, but it came from the Scandinavian company Gudrun Sjödén. I adore their style, especially their home wares which are always colourful with a folksy vibe that I love. I think the candelabra was part of their festive collection a fair few years back - they do usually have the most delightful Christmas decorations, well worth a little lookee a bit later in the year.....just saying......
So Autumn has landed in the Attic, and I am really LOvInG the cosy vibe that it's bringing to our home. Don't the chinese lanterns look fabulous? I'm so happy I managed to find some, they should stay looking beautiful right through till it's time to make way for the greenery of Christmas.
I have one more Autumny thing to show you before I go....
I went on a quick little jaunt after the school run this morning to collect some photo props, like you do.....
....oh, how very perfectly, delightfully seasonal!
I picked up all the fallen leaves from my walk along the canal and home through the park, and the hips and berries came from the allotment.
I needed them to help me create this................
.......a photo for today's yarny hashtag prompt on Instagram which is appropriately entitled "Autumn".
Do you like?
I feel like my week has contained an awful lot of very happy faffing, and I'm absolutely OK with that. Creative Faffing is exceptionally good for the soul don't you know.
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I love your crochet patterns. Do you have anything for a Christmas tree skirt? Been looking around for a pattern, but can’t find anything that really stands out to me. Thanks!
Posted by: Sarah | November 28, 2020 at 01:55 AM
Enjoying the daily blogs Lucy, have missed your comings and goings over the past few months, so glad you've got your mojo back! Love the seasonal faffing too! Keep it up and keep safe xx
Posted by: Lindsay | October 10, 2020 at 09:59 AM
Whoops, I meant blog not bag! Hehe.
Posted by: Sara Jane Apple | October 08, 2020 at 06:30 PM
Thank you from my souls heart for inviting us into your lovingly creative home. Many Blessings to you and yours. Your bag brings me great comfort and joy. Thank you.
Posted by: Sara Jane Apple | October 08, 2020 at 06:29 PM
Just popping in to say thank you for the daily blogs which are brightening my days during October. I love all the pictures you put up on Instagram too. With much heartfelt thanks for all the inspiration.
Posted by: Claire Hayden | October 08, 2020 at 02:25 PM
Love All of it !
Posted by: Miss Daisy | October 08, 2020 at 01:37 PM
Hi Lucy it is so lovely that you are taking the time to chat with us again, you really make my day. So glad you are feeling so much better with no yarn dale to deal with, it was obviously just too much for you. So glad that you and J have such a lovely friendship, and have these wonderful days together to do as you like, it is sooo good for a marriage to have that time. Your mantle looks gorgeous as always, how I love your home, your life, you, such a ray of sunshine on what is a miserable day here In The south, but crafting to do and because I now live alone and love it I can do as much or as little as I want. I too am embroidering again, forgotten how soothing it is. Take care dear Lucy xxx. Daphne
Posted by: Daphne | October 08, 2020 at 11:33 AM
What a nice thing to have Monday mornings for yourself as a couple. And that you both are making efforts to make that time special. I so wish we had a great café to pop into for breakfast around here... We used to do that when living in AUstralia a million years ago, but cozy cafés are something that the Swiss lack... I don't think they have the word "cosy" in their vocabulary. Ha ha ha!
Love your mantel piece and the decorations you swap with seasons. Your wreath is stunning! I love the change of season and every year I'm especially ejoying the transition into autumn. The light is magical. At least when the sun is out. Like today. Gorgeous. I should do some work, but I think I'll take off for a walk across the fields and through the forest. It will add more to my happiness than an extra hour in front of the screen. Have a lovely day Lucy.
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Posted by: Annette | October 08, 2020 at 08:32 AM
You’re always so inspiring. You’ve been my favorite blog for about eight years now and I just love all of your vibrant posts on here and on Instagram. I’m making one of your blankets for each of my children. Thank you for sharing your creativity with the world :)
Posted by: Sarah F. | October 08, 2020 at 08:15 AM
Ohhhhhh.. the canal boats.. I'm so in love with them. I do love your Autumn mantel decorations. Will you add some Halloween things at the end of the month? I am determined to get my Halloween bin down on the weekend. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | October 08, 2020 at 06:24 AM
Incredible colour and inspiration.
Posted by: Susie Bree | October 08, 2020 at 03:03 AM
just wanted to say hi and let you know how much I appreciate you blogging daily- it is such a lovely treat at the end of the work day. With all of the challenges in the world you offer respite and calm and beauty- thank you
Posted by: laura k | October 08, 2020 at 12:11 AM
You've no idea how much I love that little hedgehog in your autumn wreath, he's just scrumptious. It's so good that J works part-time, a really good work life balance I think. So often people miss out on walking in the countryside and the really good stuff in life if they are working all the hours etc. I love all your autumn mantel stuff. I was looking at my mantel the other day and thinking how everything on it means something to me. Some of it is just stones and driftwood and feathers, but they make me happy because of the memories attached. So glad you are feeling energised this year, I can well imagine how much Yarndale has taken out of you in the past. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | October 07, 2020 at 10:12 PM
My favorite flowershop when I lived in Germany mixed their flowers in the shop vases in what I would call suggestions of bouquet ideas, not single color/type groupings. I had my own ideas of what I wanted to put together, but if you didn't have an idea, it would have been very helpful. Not sure why more florists don't do that.
Second I love chinese lanterns, too.
Posted by: Helen Mathey-Horn | October 07, 2020 at 10:08 PM
It’s so good to hear that you are enjoying Autumn, which is such a lovely season.
Posted by: Moyra Guthrie | October 07, 2020 at 09:45 PM
Estimada Amiga, siento que estas muy feliz, me alegro por eso. Me gusta leer tu blog. Saludos de Costa Rica
Posted by: geovanna conejo chacon | October 07, 2020 at 09:45 PM
I think Helen is thinking of Honesty seed pods, my Mum grew them and once they were dry I enjoyed rubbing off the outer "pennies" to reveal the round transparent part (hence the name) and seeds. She also grew Chinese lanterns which have a round orange berry inside. Some restaurants have physalis berries to garnish desserts, but the Chinese lantern variety are apparently bitter, and are toxic when unripe so need to be kept away from small children.
I am really enjoying these daily blogs, thank you for all the time you're taking, Lucy.
So glad that you're not feeling the usual blues, the knitwear designer Kate
Davies has just blogged about working through winter and I found it helpful
Posted by: Geeha | October 07, 2020 at 09:44 PM
My mum used to grow Chinese lanterns too. I loved when they had dried and were transparent and you could see all the seeds inside each pod
Posted by: Helen W | October 07, 2020 at 08:33 PM
Sounds like a wonderful day. I have only seen Chinese lanterns in pictures. Very interesting and Fall like. The mantle looks great!
Posted by: Charlotte | October 07, 2020 at 08:29 PM
Creative Faffing...its a thing. My husband thinks its just me. I have crocheted some pumpkins and leaves today.More to come.Its good to know you and J enjoy pootling about and get enjoyment just from nice coffee at your favourite cafe.We do the same.(we are retired). You don't need a lot of money either. Much better to be time rich.
Posted by: carol partridge | October 07, 2020 at 08:27 PM
Love, love, LOVE!!! Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Vicki Brunberg | October 07, 2020 at 08:27 PM
Creative faffing is marvellous. I am on annual leave from work and can’t go anywhere. (Covid). But I can stay home and create. Love the daily blog.
Posted by: Penny | October 07, 2020 at 08:25 PM