Friday Feel-Good

Today has felt wonderful in a slow, quiet way and I've taken some time to reflect on the week and count my blessings. 

We had to go out in the car this morning to buy some more solid fuel for the fire. We support a small local business in our town and buy little and often because we don't have any space at home to store large quantities of coal and logs. So seeing as we were out and about with the wheels I suggested to J that we could perhaps keep on driving a few miles out of town and take a walk around the reservoir. I really felt like I needed a change of scenery and  there is something very soothing about walking beside still water.

It's been cold today, just a few degrees above zero. The air was unexpectedly still and the surface of the water was calm which hardly ever happens here as it's usually a very windy place. It felt exactly like winter with the blueish light and the chill in the air and I am certain that autumn has left us now.

This is such a lovely little stroll, it only takes about half an hour to walk all around the waters edge but we took some time to sit on a bench for a while, listening to the geese making their usual racket. I do like to see them flocking together on the water, but my goodness, they are huge disturbers of the peace.

I paddled in the sandy shallows for a while, wiggling my toes to send ripples out across the surface of the water which really delighted me for some obscure reason. 

It was a happy post day today as my subscription box from Cotton & Twine arrived - yay!! This months project is a very cute little framed Christmas picture, and after I mentioned yesterday about my obsession with little houses, you can imagine how much I am loving this design. I can't wait to get stitching, although hmmmm......black aida......not the easiest stitching experience. I shall be wearing my ready readers and my neck light for sure.

I realised that I never showed you the finished design from October which I finished a few weeks ago. I happened to have a red flexi-hoop in my Cupboard of Doom, so I used that to frame the finished piece instead of wrapping ribbon around a wooden hoop. I'm actually really looking forward to putting Autumn guff away very soon and decorating for the festive season....Advent arrives on Tuesday and I am excited for all the extra colour and sparkle.

My white hyacinth bloomed itself out at the start of the week, so today I purchased a replacement. I suddenly remembered that I have some real live moss growing in my front garden (I'm a Moss Mummy!!) so I gathered some to create a little mossy bed around the bulbs. I added a couple of weeny toadstools for good measure and felt so utterly delighted with the whole ensemble that I think I squeaked out loud. 

The kitty has been in a playful mood today and we had fun playing chase and other assorted games where she basically stalks me, pounces, then runs away and pretends it never happened. I do love her bold character, she is often very demanding for attention. Ooooo, looking at the above photo I just had a rush of excitement thinking that my Christmas wreath will be hanging on the wall next week, yaaayyy!!!! Very, very excited for that particular event.

It was a cold, clear, still afternoon here and the light was wonderful as we walked home from school. I am trying hard not to wish the days away but I can't help counting down to the shortest day now. Not long to go.

Remember my wall basket that I spent £6 on back last month? It's looking really lovely still, and makes me smile every single time I walk up my front steps. The little splashes of living colour against the grey of our stone wall  are a joy to me, honestly, it takes very little to keep me happy. 

Friday feel-good nearly always includes a glass of chilled fizz these days, it's become a ritual for J and I to sit down at around 4pm and enjoy a drink of prosecco together. I can't tell you how much I look forward to it  - I stay alcohol free for the rest of the week, but a little Friday tipple is just the best.

I'm looking forward to an early night tonight, in fact as soon as I've finished chatting to you I think I'm going to make myself a cup of tea and snuggle down to read for a while. I've actually been sleeping really well this week and have also done some great workouts every morning so I'm not especially tired, I'm just craving the comfort I think.

Well after writing that, I have actually started to yawn (!) so I shall bid you farewell for today and slink off to make myself cosy in my nest........byyyeeeeeeeeee!

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Comments

[Kristine Pierce]

Lucy,
You have got to take a look at Sandra-CherryHeart.blogspot, Crochet Tutorials, Working the Starting Chains. I had read this before years ago, but for some reason I thought about it and went back and reread it closely. Sandra is abosolutely right that her process takes the stress out of that starting chain. All the recounting I have done over and over. No more, and it absolutely has a better finish look. It's truely a simple idea, and I thought of you too as I am preparing to start your latest blanket.

Thank You for always filling the day with happy colors and the appreciation of nature.

[Tineke]

Keep the old Hyacinth a bit cooler, sometimes they surprise you with a second bloom. I remember being on holiday in the UK, my youngest asking me about all those reservoirs, he was totally flabbergasted when I told him about the locks, the canals, the special boots, the aqueducts, and small boat life in general. He thought us the only one with a canal boat life. Love the red hoop around the embroidered tree, sometimes the cupboard of doom has pleasant surprises in its belly. Thanks for the lovely post, Lucy.

[Kristine S]

It's so "opposite"... you, almost zero degrees, us, 40+ degrees C!
It is pleasant, strolling with you virtually - but not as pleasant as strolling or sitting crocheting in person!
Enjoy your cool - summer will come again ... I hope you're snug with your lovely family. Xxx Kristine

[Beverley]

Lovely festive Christmas tree stitching Lucy. Look forward to seeing the new stitchery soon x

[Tracy Bache]

Thank you Lucy for the uplifting pictures and your upbeat positivity. Your blog cheers me up no end. Worrying times here in Dudley as after lock down we will be in tier 3. Wondering when this will all end.Love the wellies. I hope they are comfy.Stay safe and take care.💖

[Cam]

Gorgeous photos of the clouds reflected in the reservoir! And I love your wellies making ripples! Thank you so much for sharing your world with us -- it's always such a treat -- like outrageously good coffee!

[Susan]

A lovely Friday catchup & sounds quite a relaxing, although chilly day. Quite the opposite to our 33deg day & finishing the shed extension. I do love your walks & snippets about the cat, homelife & crochet. Take care, stay safe & huggles from down under.

[Jo]

I am inspired by your delightful seasonal wreaths and unusually feel like doing something fiddly! thank you Lucy, you are full of inspiration to us lesser mortals!!

[Charlotte Pountney]

You are blessed with some very lovely walks, not far away. Also with a very forebearing husband...MORE hyacynths?!

[Shasta]

Beautiful relaxing photos. Love your October Christmas tree project.

[Mary H]

Lovey post, as usual. Both cross-stitch designs make me smile. Your winter cherry is new to me but I really like the way it looks. I'll have to search one out for my yard.

[CJ]

Love the new cross stitch, the black background is so striking, even if it makes it harder to sew. It will be worth it! CJ xx

[Charlotte Skelton]

Now, here's a question, Corinna. How do we hyacinth lovers support the flowers while they are blooming? String? Canes and string? Garden wire? And how do we make it look tidy? Love the recent posts Lucy. Such a treat just before bed. Charlotte x

[Evi]

Hi Lucy! Well, do you know you've made me a hyacinth person? I bought one about 2 weeks ago, and I bought another one yesterday! :-) Love the waiting of it to bloom, love its smell. Have a great day. Love from Greece xx

[Teresa Kasner]

Everything sounds pretty wonderful there in the Attic and beyond. I'm also enjoying the coziness of this time of year. I'm mainly wishing for the next inauguration 54 days.. can't come soon enough. We have a crazy man in office here who is trying to ruin everything in his last days. Today they removed protection for migratory birds that have been in place for 100 years.

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*H*A*P*P*Y* * *H*O*L*I*D*A*Y*S*!*!*!*
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((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Simon]

I realized earlier (well, actually by now it was yesterday) that I have been getting by with under 4 hours of sleep per night for the last week, so, now I've read your last two days-worth of posts, I'm off to bed too:) Nighty-night!

[Jackie Farrow]

Not the best at the moment. Have a chest infection. So when I got up this morning (Australia) I was so pleased not only to listen to Amanda Bloom on Instagram, I then got to read your blog. Great start to my otherwise gloomy morning. That’s me who’s gloomy, not the weather. Blue sky and boys playing cricket on the park opposite our house. As I’m not going to go out, doing the right thing I will crochet my “Leo” Granny Square blanket. 2 or 3 more rows of 8 squares to do, then I will block it before crocheting the border. Hope you sleep well, chin chin ❤️🧶

[kathleenalice]

Lovely cosy bedtime reading. Sleep well Lucy.

[Corinna Mazzotta]

I'm loving reading your blog posts in bed so I hope that you slept well. Sadly sleep is a struggle for me at the moment - especially in the early hours. No rhyme nor reason to it though so just have to accept it for now.
My hyacinths have started sending up second flower spikes - I didn't think they did that?
I need to cut the old ones off tomorrow so there is room for the new ones, shame they'll still be pink! 🤣 I have to ask though - why are yours tied up with string??
Looking forward to seeing your change of seasonal decor. I love your wreaths but they would be far too fiddly for my hands. I have to wait until closer to Christmas to get my seasonal fix with greenery & candles.
Enjoy your weekend x

[Teresa]

Love read your blog your cross stitch is so very festive. I will be looking forward to seeing your Christmas mantelpiece have a good evening

[Mags Wilkinson]

Thanks for sharing, night Lucy sleep well. x

[Carol]

I am still loving your posts. My favourite read just before bedtime. I am even contemplating learning to crochet just so I can have a go at your latest blanket.

[Ann]

Put a white cloth on your knee when cross stitching on the black fabric it makes the holes stand out more

[Heather Bentley]

Lovely to read as usual thanks and ni-night sleep well xxx