I had another slow start to the day and have really enjoyed my long morning sleep-in's this weekend. I feel as if I've needed them after a few weeks of poor sleep and it's just wonderful to feel more like my normal self again. Hoorraaaayyy!!! I think it was almost 9am when I finally got myself out of bed, I was awake before then, but sat a while to catch up with all your comments left on my blog yesterday - THaNk YoU!!!!! Thank you so much for all your enthusiasm and positive feedback on my Blogtober endeavour, I truly appreciate it. I'm secretly quite proud of myself for managing a whole thirty one days as it was quite a commitment of time and energy. But here I am on day thirty two of this blogging streak and I don't seem to have run out of things to say.....I mean I've still got coffee cups to show you!
J and I snook off at around 10ish to sit a while at our favourite table next to the window in the café and enjoyed coffee (of the outrageously good variety) and a plate of toast. I am very aware that our café-going days are numbered as from Thursday we go into another whole month of national lockdown. Sigh. I don't yet know whether cafés will be permitted to stay open if they offer a takeaway service, I am keeping all digits crossed.
When we stepped out of the café the weather was unexpectedly lovely, so on the spur of the moment we decided to walk home "the scenic way". This involves following the tow path from the canal basin as it runs under the little hump-backed road bridge....
....and keep walking along the water's edge as we wind our way out of town. I love the above photo, I have a slight obsession with reflections in water and am absolutely mesmerized by them. I could stand and gaze at the water for ages when it is still and clear like this.
This is such a cute little pathway - the canal is on the right and to the left (hidden from view) is the beck. It's lovely to walk with water on both sides, and I enjoy the contrast of the still canal water on one side and the rushing of the beck as it tumbles over rocks in a series of mini waterfalls on the other side.
The sunshine was so welcome, especially as the weather forecast had been full of stormy-laden doom and gloom. I had to keep reminding myself that today is the first day of November as it really didn't feel like it.
Onwards along the raised walkway with the castle standing high above us on the right.
I don't know if you can see the little robin perched on a branch in the above photo? He was sat in the sunshine singing his little heart out, such a sweet sound for a Sunday morning.
We weren't going into the woods today as we didn't have the right footwear on for a muddy walk. Instead we followed the little lane round as it curves away from the woodland towards my "gratitude view" out over the town that I often share with you. I am very drawn to this ramshackle old tin shed - over the years it has blended more and more into it's surroundings as moss and ivy have claimed it. I think it's charming even though it is very dilapidated.
I was admiring my yellow chrysanths earlier, still going strong more than 2 weeks since I bought them (on Day 13 of Blogtober). What amazingly good value they turned out to be, I think they were only £3. They are just beginning to go over now though and the petals are beginning to drop - I think I'll go and see if I can find another bunch this week before we go into lockdown.
I sat a while and did a little bit of slow hand stitching on my bag lining this afternoon, so that I'm now ready to get going with attaching the handles. This project really, really needs to be finished, it's top of my to-do list for this week. Item number one - Finish The Bag.
Underneath the Summer Harmony and Tilly cat combo is Little Lady. She spent an extended time on the sofa this afternoon watching children's cartoons on TV - she isn't well right now. No, not the virus, just a bit of a head cold I think as her sinuses are blocked (she does seem to frequently suffer with this kind of thing). I don't like it when one of the Little People are ill, even though the eldest two are no longer children really, I still feel anxious when they aren't well. I made her a mug of warm lemon and honey with a Lemsip powder thrown in to try and help decongest her little blocked up tubes. She was feeling very sorry for herself, poor love.
The weather turned really mean and nasty this afternoon with high winds and heavy rain lashing against the window. I lit the fire and settled down on the floor cushion beside the hearth to soak in some of the warmth and comfort. I finally managed to finish reading October Country Living (I feel like it's taken me all week) - I can now pass it on to my good friend who will devour it cover to cover before taking it to the hospital where she works. I like the idea of actively recycling my feel-good magazines. I love to think of the many patients who will be sitting in the hospital waiting room in the weeks to come, enjoying some colour and uplifting imagery to take their mind off the business of sitting and waiting.
I started putting together a Blogtober round-up post earlier, but realised quite quickly that it was going to take some time to create it and that I wouldn't manage it for today. I'm making some collages of images (I used to do a lot of these at one time) and I want to chat a little bit about how daily blogging has been for me. I think it's important to stop and reflect back at times, to gather in thoughts and feelings and give them fair consideration before moving onto the next idea, the next phase, the next project.
I also just wanted to say - I don't expect that I can manage to be here in the Attic every single day throughout November, but I will try to be here as often as I am able. With Lockdown coming along once again, my life is going to be running in very small, rhythmic circles of sameyness and I am predicting that some days will feel quite tricky. I am really loving being in my little Attic space though, chatting through the window to you all around the world. Aren't we so very lucky to have this connection with one another? Thank you for sticking around - see you soon
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you for lifting my spirits through October.
Colour, crochet and cats have saved me during my recovery from Coronavirus and I have loved walking and crocheting and seeing your cat through your posts when I’ve been unable to do much! I have crocheted at least a few stitches each day, a real sense of achievement while my body has been ailing and a great boost for my mind!
The power of colour, crochet and cats is real! 🌈😹🧶
Posted by: Jenny | November 02, 2020 at 07:15 AM
I really look forward to your posts Lucy. Keep 'em coming! (Pretty please).
Posted by: Cathy Tucker | November 02, 2020 at 06:57 AM
Thank you for all of your truly inspiring photos and words, it has been appreciated. Sarah in Dorset.
Posted by: Sarah | November 02, 2020 at 06:23 AM
You live in a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing this with everyone. I've really enjoyed your blogging this last month and hope you feel like doing it some more.
Posted by: Ruth | November 02, 2020 at 05:00 AM
I greatly enjoy your blog postings...each and everyone!!! Where you live is so charming and different from where I live...The walks through the woods and along the canals are enchanting!! Keep it coming!! Mary in Colorado
Posted by: Mary Hennessey | November 02, 2020 at 04:42 AM
What a beautiful place you live in. Best wishes to the Little Lady. Hope she's better soon
Posted by: Margaret Stedman | November 02, 2020 at 03:39 AM
Thankyou for your month of blogging and sharing. Good luck in lockdown, todays walk looked lovely. Waving hallo from Aus.
Posted by: Jen | November 02, 2020 at 03:22 AM
We are almost out of lockdown in victoria Australia with zero cases.....as we open up we take it carefully. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting you and yes seeing your cups of coffee....today my blog post is full of food lol Hope little lady is feeling much better 😀😀😀😀
Posted by: Wendy | November 02, 2020 at 01:43 AM
Like so many others here, your daily blogs in October have been a real treat for me - something to look forward to and a great way to relax before bed! Thank you:)
I love your "fish" bowl - cute and colourful!
Perhaps reflections on water could be the inspiration for another blanket somehow?
Posted by: Simon | November 02, 2020 at 01:37 AM
I am so happy you are continuing your blogging. I missed you so much when you were gone, and have loved Blogtober!
Posted by: Conni Mitkowski | November 02, 2020 at 01:23 AM
Yes, we all are indeed lucky to have you, Lucy. You write your blogs so well - makes me feel like I live there - your country is beautiful. I am 41% English and 24% Scottish so I now know why I love this part of the country so much. Take care - I feel we in the US will be in another semi-lockdown in about 4-6 weeks.
Posted by: Rosanne (California USA) | November 02, 2020 at 01:08 AM
Dear Lucy, your month of blogging has been a lovely treat for me. I have been separated from my family in Melbourne for 4 months now and I need my treats. Allsaints is my birthday, so it was an extra treat to have one more bloggy post from you. Lots of love to you and your family over the rest of this difficult year and thank you! I really appreciate the energy and imagination that goes into your blog.
Posted by: Elizabeth Denny | November 01, 2020 at 11:50 PM
What a lovely October with your Blog to look forward too....hope your daughter will feel much better tomorrow. We,in Wales, have been in lockdown for just over a week now and it has made us feel quite down so we are looking forward to it coming to an end on the ninth of Nov. ..ouch another month bites the dust. Keep safe and keep well.
Posted by: Mary Lloyd Jones | November 01, 2020 at 11:46 PM
Once again thank you for sharing your time. Hope little Miss recovers soon. Hope this lockdown passes quickly and you can get back to norm a bit leading up to Christmas. Time will tell for us in the West (Australia). Our border to the rest of Australia opens on the 14th November. Meaning travelers from all but NSW and Vic can come in without going into Quarantine. Will be scary times here for a while. If things go wrong the borders will close again. Lighter note hope to see Josephine finished soon. Take care.
Posted by: Jacqueline Farrow | November 01, 2020 at 11:39 PM
Thanks to you Octobre offered me something to look forward to and I love the photo of your place a reminder of my younger days in Yorkshire.
Now lockdown time has come again here in France. It is supposed to be lighter than the previous one. To me it looks darker as can't the end of it.
I will need every ray of sunshine and much of your positive attitude to cope with the days to come.
Posted by: Line | November 01, 2020 at 11:35 PM
Thank you so very much for your blog. I feel cheery and hopeful when I look at your coffee and blankies and scenery.
I assume you have lots of delicious projects to keep you occupied during the lockdown.
Posted by: ruth | November 01, 2020 at 11:11 PM
Love your blogs Lucy. Your picture along the water and the reflections are wonderful. Thank you for sharing your days with us. 🍂Lorrie
Posted by: Lorrie | November 01, 2020 at 11:07 PM
Thank you so much for your blog. I don’t follow any others but I love your photos of where you live. They are beautiful. Stay safe and I look forward to other blogs.
Posted by: Ann Blachford | November 01, 2020 at 11:06 PM
More lovely photos, thank you. You might find some advice to help your little lady on this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdXQ6K0zIj4
It's an interview of Patrick McKeown, a breathing expert by Rangan Chattergee, a British doctor. It's a long video and fascinating, but at 45 mins 30sec, he gives advice on how to help your children decongest their breathing...it really works, I've tried it!
Posted by: Charlotte Pountney | November 01, 2020 at 11:06 PM
Your blog is peacefilled and calls our attention to the details in our own lives. We are surrounded by beauty but it gets lost in the tumult. Thank you for the opportunity to refocus.
Posted by: Debby | November 01, 2020 at 10:56 PM
Have loved reading your blog everyday. It’s very comforting and a great reminder to appreciate the small everyday things. Looking forward to reading more in November and to the exercise and healthy eating post. Hope your little lady is feeling better soon. Hope you and your family stay well and safe and warm and cosy in your lovely home xx
Posted by: Shirley | November 01, 2020 at 10:25 PM
Well done in posting every day. No mean feat. I have really enjoyed reading your blog each night. It must be difficult to find something different to say....but you manage it! Even if you do feel you may be repeating yourself sometime. Its always a pleasure to see your photo's.I like the canal pictures you have put on today. I have walked that path in 2013 and am hoping to do so again. Maybe next Summer ? Fingers crossed.
Posted by: carol partridge | November 01, 2020 at 10:07 PM
Thank you SO much for your amazing Blogtober - It really made my month special - I looked forward to your posts every evening and was living rather vicariously through it - I used to live it the UK -and am now in the Netherlands and although I do love it here I miss the gorgeous scenery and your photos really captured British beauty which I miss so much.
I also enjoy very good coffee and love your cosy warm descriptions. the bag looks amazing ! I know its a lot of work but very happy to hear you might be coming on to blog more during November - and maybe even giving a run down of your exercise regime... I hope you are able to find some good coffee availability after Thursday - Here is NL we are still getting takeaways but our Lockdown is titled as a Lockdown Light with an announcement on Tuesday of stricter measures. just hope schools stay open as I am a teacher and really do not want to work from home again. I find I lost my crojo last time as work and home became so muddled. Thank you for your lovely lovely blogs which are such moments of joy and rays of light in these difficult times BIG Hugs Lucy and Thank you !!! And Beterschap (Get Well in Dutch ) to your daughter xxx
Posted by: Frankie Rees | November 01, 2020 at 09:54 PM
Love your blog and the lovely pbotos. They give me so much joy. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Beverley | November 01, 2020 at 09:34 PM
Sorry to hear that little lady is feeling under the weather. Hope she soon improves!
The reflection photo is super. I keep looking at it! You were lucky to have a small window of good weather. Weather not been brilliant here. Rain and strong wind!
The crochet bag looks as though it is coming along nicely! Keep at it! Hope you can keep getting to the attic for a chat over the next few weeks. I look forward to reading your antics!
Posted by: Sally Spragg | November 01, 2020 at 09:33 PM