Cosy November

Gosh, it's been a whirlwind kind of a week here in the Attic and even though I've been whirling in very small circles close to home I feel as if I've expended a lot of energy somehow. Some weeks just feel especially full I guess - full of social connection (even if it is all digital these days), quiet productivity, high emotion. All the feels here. I would like to say a mahooooosive, big squishy (((thank you))) for all the Meadow love on my last post, thank you for your kind words and your enthusiasm, I absolutely love love love sharing my creative endeavours with you all. The Meadow yarn packs have been selling so fast, flying out of the Warehouse to deliver some happy yarny cheer all around the world. I am SO EXCITED for the crochet a long to begin in January, and to have your company as we wander the summer meadow together. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

I mentioned in my last post about planner stickers - this is the fifth year that I've collaborated with Rachel of EllieBeth Designs and I absolutely love the way she takes my colour palettes/themes and produces the most beautiful sticky things to work alongside my CALs. You can find them in Rachels shop ((HERE)) - the stickers can be used on a calendar or in your notebooks/journals if you aren't into planners, and I absolutely love them.

Rachel has very kindly given me a discount code to pass onto you - you can get 15% off any stickers in her shop....

...just use the code MEADOWCAL15 at the checkout.

This past week has really felt like autumn is slipping away and winter is beginning to creep in, and although it's been quite mild (we've not had a frost yet this season), the air has nevertheless looked and felt quite wintry.

I've been enjoying the cosiness of my home, especially the first hour when I come home from the school run. Usually the timing works out just right for me to call at the coffee shop on my way home from dropping Little B, picking up two takeout coffees to bring home for J and me. I do miss my café visits in this locked-down life, but enjoying a really good freshly made coffee in the comfort of home is still a wonderful luxury and I am grateful for it.

Once a week I get to collect my takeout coffee and carry it up to the park to meet up with a very good friend. We sit (socially distanced) at the top of a small run of stone steps, her on one end and me perched on the other end so that we both have this  view out across the park. We can sit and drink our coffees and chat for about half an hour until our butts get too cold and stiff, then we walk a brisk circuit around the park to warm up again. 

This week I have felt very blessed with my friendships, and I have spent a lot of time chatting via WhatsApp on my phone, and on social media. I received a beautiful little parcel through the post a few days ago too, from one of my yarny friends who I used to see once a week at our Coopers knit and natter when life was normal.

She has been knitting little houses using her very own pattern, such a delight! She knit a whole street and very kindly sent them out to her friends, simply to bring a little cheer. Oh my, I was overwhelmed with emotion over this beautiful little handmade gift.

You may know that I have a Thing for little houses, I totally adore them and over the years I've managed to collect and build a small handmade street. Gosh, I've just noticed how terribly dusty my mantel is, please do try and overlook my very slapdash approach to the housework and focus on the houses. Eyes up. Aren't they cute?

It's been all things Meadow here during the past few weeks as I've worked hard behind the scenes to finalise all the colour work decisions. These colours have been bringing me a lot of happiness, a LOT. I think they are magical actually, and I can't wait for you to experience them for yourself in January. 

Lots of time spent in this room as J an I both work here during the days when the Little Peeps are at school. I've started lighting the fire in the early afternoon as the house seems to suddenly feel chilly round about then. We've usually been on our woodland walk, had some lunch and settled down for a few more hours of work before the 3pm school departure, so lighting the fire has given us some very welcome warmth and comfort. Right now I am sat exactly where Tilly is sleeping in the above photo, it's one of my favourite places to sit. I pull the coffee table over so that I can sit on the floor with my legs stretched out underneath it, and lean my back against the sofa. Not a bad working-from-home situation by any means.

As I mentioned earlier, there has definitely been a distinct whiff of winter in the air this week. 

I am so glad of my wellies now as the pathways are very muddy and the most dominant colour of the November woodland is brown. Oh dear, it really isn't my favourite.

Thank goodness for moss, it provides such a beautiful little bright spot of colour in amongst all the murk and I couldn't love it more. I'm a moss-lover, and proud of it.

↑↑ OK, so this happened on Tuesday, I know, I know. Danish pastries are not very "clean eating" but totally acceptable in terms of "wellness" I'd say (please see this post if you don't know what I'm going on about!). I always treat myself to a pastry on new-blanket-launch-days, it's become a little ritual that I have - a small celebrational treat from me, to me. It was still warm when I snaffled it from the bakery shelves and it was utterly divine I can tell you. Di-VINE. 

And so my days whirl along, and I continue to feel very thankful for it all. 

We found out today the this area of the UK will be out of Lockdown next week, but our socialising is still going to be very limited. Our pubs and cafés will reopen and J and I will be able to return to enjoy our morning coffees, but that's only because we live within the same household. I really, really miss my weekly yarny get togethers and was hoping to have them back again next week but sadly it's not happening. Ah well, I guess we just keep on doing our bit to stay safe and hope that little by little things begin to improve.

There are only three more weeks left of school now before the Christmas holidays, I can hardly believe it to be honest. 

I took the above photo yesterday on the way home from school, it was twenty past three in the afternoon and the sun was almost down beyond the horizon. It's twenty five more days before we land on the Winter Solstice (it's on Monday 21st this year). I am so looking forward to celebrating that special day of the year, I will be ready and waiting to gather in the greenery, light the candles and celebrate the fact that our days will begin to lengthen once more.

I hope you're having a good week however big or small your circles are, and that there is light and colour and warmth in your days xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[backrooms]

I am happy your blanket is (yet again) a great success. In 25 days, Lucy, the light will return. So looking out for that.

[Lucia]

I am Glad to have my husband back, ............Contact him for a solution to relationship/marriage problem {{Robinsonbuckler11@ gmail}} com ''

[Pat]

A few of my friends ordered the new yarn pack when it was released. I don't have space for it until I use the last two packs that I bought. :-)
We are in Summer and the sun is up before 6am and doesn't go down until 8pm.
Do not have the long/short days that you have as I live much closer to the equator than you do.
In Winter the sun goes down just before 5pm. So not the short days that you have.
The temperature is high today so the air con is on to keep us cool.
I too look forward to the winter solstice, but in June. Pat

[EDWINA KELLOCK]

I have a 'thing' for little houses too, and luckily there are lots of crafty people out there making lots of different ones...think I'll have to knit one again. I have a whole street of just fronts of houses, sewn onto a piece of linen, glued to a piece of wood. I made it about thirty years ago and it brings back memories of where we were living at the time, events in the family and so on.
Oh and by the way.... who drinks the rest of the bottle of Prosecco? I'd offer to help out but not allowed.

[Pippa bunty moore]

Lucy I love your little collection of houses on your mantel. And I really love the way you describe yourself as being slapdash! That's what my mother has always said about me x but I think it's so refreshing to have normality in blogs and social media. These days there are so many peeps portraying a perfect lifestyle which to most is totally unattainable making people feel inadequate and not good enough.
I love that all the years I've followed you have stayed true to yourself and are a realist. And I adore the cupboard of doom !! I'm sure everyone has at least one in their home xxxx best wishes xxxx

[Mary W]

LOVE the idea of wellness eating verses clean eating!

[Miss Daisy]

Several teachers here in South Carolina U.S.A. have the virus in several different schools. I think they opened them too soon. I am so tired of staying home , I have family that's angry at me cause I stayed home on Thanksgiving . Love your walks ,, everything looks so peaceful and safe. I love old man winter. Have a Blessed weekend.

[Tonia]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this November. I love the turn of the season and I figure that as I'm going to be housebound from December until February (recovering from major surgery), I'm not going to feel guilty about it, but make the most of being able to get outside while I can.
Looking forward to starting the Meadow CAL. That will keep me sane in January!

[CJ]

I have a thing for houses as well, in model form or in paintings and photos. I am always pointing my lens at them when I'm out and about. Your friend's knitted house is lovely. I have a pretty patchwork one that someone I know made that always comes out at Christmas, along with a white one. In fact this has reminded me to go and find it. It has a little light in it and I think the time may have come for a little light or two. I do love the crispness of winter and cold walks and coming home to a warm house and seeing fires through people's windows, but I know what you mean about the mud, especially when Some People do not take their shoes off and walk about the place when they come in. Sigh. Hope you have a lovely weekend. CJ xx

[Line]

Lovely optimistic message and beautiful photos: that's the best way to begin my day's work.

[Evi]

Oh, your little houses collection is sooo great! (didn't even notice the dust on the mantel! :-) Your posts are so soothing to my soul... It's like going out on a walk myself. Have another great day. Love from Greece. xx

[Teresa Kasner]

The days are so short and early darkness now, I will look forward to the solstice so the lightness can begin lengthening the day. What a sweet little knitted mini-house. I also love little houses and have painted some over the years. We had Thanksgiving dinner today and for the first time in 40 years we didn't cook it but our DIL did. It was a nice change. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Kimberley Atkinson]

wow - your lockdown was lenient compared to ours in New Zealand, where we couldn't meet with a sole (not even social distancing) or even get any takeaways of any variety! Only place open was the supermarkets. In lockdown #1 we didn't even have much mail order as little was deemed essential. I really hope things improve in the UK - it's been a looooooooooong road for you guys!

[Charlotte]

If you are in lockdown why is there school? It has been ab upside down year with no real answers. The new blanket should offer hope Thank for sharing.

[Julie Sit]

I’ve tried to use the 15% off discount MEADOWCAL 15 but it tells me that it is not valid. Please help.

[Rega Kowalski]

I cannot tell you how much your blog means to me. I am a knitter, retired and live in Indianapolis, IN. I was born in Germany but lived here since I was 11. My greatest joy now is my knit shop and my book store. I have traveled all over and my favorite place is Scotland. As soon as I can, I will be there to visit my friend. Keep blogging.

[Tineke]

I am happy your blanket is (yet again) a great success. In 25 days, Lucy, the light will return. So looking out for that.

[Hannah]

It's such a treat for us all when you release a new yarn pack I'm so pleased that you get yourself a treat on that day too! Thank you for the new CAL, looking forward to starting it (and hopefully finishing it) in the new year!