Twixmas

I think twixmas is an absolutely magical word and it perfectly seems to fit these delicious, relaxed days that sit between Christmas and New Year. The word originates from the old English word 'betwixt' which means 'between', so it makes perfect sense and well, I just love it. 

I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas and enjoyed some time to just be content in the moment. We had a really lovey day here in the Attic, in fact I can't remember a more laid back and relaxed Christmas. The Little Peeps were a delight and seemed super-happy with their smelly and edible gifts which magically appeared in their stockings, as well as the ££'s which landed in each of their pockets. As is our tradition they got to open their pyjama gifts on Christmas Eve, and although there wasn't the same level of excitement as when they were very small Little Peeps, it was still a lovely moment.  

J and I went out for a brisk walk on Christmas morning before coming home and enjoying a champagne breakfast with warm pastries (alllllllll my danish pastry fantasies came true, it was heavenly!). We ate our main meal around 2.30pm, and it was just the most lovely, relaxing day from start to finish. 

On Sunday evening Storm Bella raged through our little town and we could hear the wind whistling down the chimney and the rain battering against the windows. In the dark of the night we had no idea that the rain had turned to icy snow, so it was a real surprise to wake up on Monday morning to a snowy white view out across the hilltops. Although we had very little laid on the ground down in the town, it still felt beautifully wintry.

I love love love when the seasons deliver a dose of correct and appropriate weather, and this felt absolutely perfect for Twixmas. 

J and I have walked every day this past week, wrapping up in warm layers and enjoying the fact that the very muddy paths have been frozen and hard under foot.

We walked at Bolton Abbey one morning (with the Little People in tow), but mostly it's just been the two of us tramping around our very familiar woodland route as we've been doing most days since March.

Sometimes I just can't get over how much happiness seems to enter into my soul when I am out walking, I love it so, so much. Even when our lives are so restricted and we are walking the exact same route day after day after day I never get tired of it. It's such a beautiful way to observe the slowly changing seasons throughout the year and never fails to lift my spirits.

Yesterday morning we dragged Little B from his nest and walked through the park to the farm shop. He's been thoroughly enjoying his lazy pyjama lifestyle this holiday and we've mostly let him do as he pleases, but I do believe in the good of getting children away from their screens and out into the fresh air from time to time.

It was a cold, icy walk, but the farm shop was quiet so we decided to stop for a bit and treat ourselves to a late breakfast in the café there. Little B was delighted with his eggs and bacon on toast and agreed that it was worth putting his shoes on for. I have to say, I agreed with him.

Late yesterday afternoon, Little Lady asked me if I fancied heading out for a quick walk as the weather was too good to stay indoors. I was delighted with the offer to be out and about in the beautiful wintry landscape for a second time in one day, and we were very soon wrapped up and out the door.

It was around 3.30pm when we climbed up to the top of the hill, and the late afternoon sky was breath taking. We timed it perfectly to catch the very last rays of the sun before it disappeared behind the hill, and despite the very, very muddy slip-sliding that we had to do to get up there, it was amazing. 

Tomorrow we will be heading into a more restrictive time as lockdown measures tighten up a notch, but thank goodness we will still be able to get out and enjoy the local countryside. I am so thankful for where we live, I appreciate it every single day.

I think that as tomorrow is the very last day of 2020 I am going to pack up Christmas a little earlier than usual and clear the way for a fresh start to the new year. I am really enjoying my festive blooms though, so I'll keep them going for as long as they last, but.........I am already looking forward to replacing them with some early sweet narcissus which is a little tradition of mine. Little daffies are always the first fresh flowers to come into the house at the start of a new year and I look forward to them very much. I've already seen them in the supermarket ready and waiting - my fingers honestly twitched when I spotted them today, no joke. But I'll wait just a little bit longer, it is still 2020 after all.

Twixmas this year in our house has been very very cold, quite literally, as our boiler stopped working on Monday. Of course at this time of year it's impossible to find anyone who will come out to do boiler things, so we have had to manage without the luxury of central heating or hot water for a few days. It's been manageable - the upstairs part of the house has been baltic but thanks to our open fire we've been able to at least keep our downstairs living room warm and cosy. I absolutely hate being cold so I've been wearing lots of extra layers (even a woolly bobble hat and gloves stayed on indoors this morning as I was just too cold to take them off). Woolly socks and crochet blankets have really come into their own and I've been pretty much living under layers of yarn. I've either been on the sofa or tucked up in bed (which is where I am right now, writing to you with my laptop on my lap, a hot water bottle on my feet and my feather duvet pulled right up to my chin).

I put Big Blanket on the bed yesterday for the first time in ages as the temperature dropped to minus two last night. I haven't needed any extra layers on the bed for a long time due to being a hormonal super-heater at night, but the sight of this blanket made me so, so happy, even after all these years (I made it in 2009). And oh, the cosiness of it was an absolute joy! There is something about the weight of a large blanket which is so very comforting and reassuring, and I had the best sleep last night.

Well, I hope that you are all staying warm and cosy (or cool and chilled if you're down on the other side of the planet), and that you have been enjoying these in-betweeny twixmas days. I am sending lots of love out to you all, life feels a little bit of an uphill struggle at the moment, but taking it one day at a time is the way to go. Twenty-twenty is almost done and dusted, and doesn't that feel good?!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

Comments

[Amanda]

Happy New Year, Lucy,and to your lucky family who get to live surrounded in all the colorful warmth you create.
It's a miserable rainy cold day here in Western Canada (British Columbia), and coming to your blog has filled me with inner warmth and happiness.
I've been a long time follower.
You're a strong woman, Lucy.

[kazzy]

wonderful, warm cosy wishes for the new year Lucy ,
lovely post as always, enjoy your instagram feed too...i just feel snow around Christmas is just right , just how it should be...we usually get a dusting around February but was delighted to have actual proper snow during december and the Morning of new years...but glad its not about for my stevie drive back to work today across the moorlands.
i had a catch up on my blog today...when i look back through this years posts i see so much positivity despite it being quite a surreal challenging year...I always see that in your uplifting posts Lucy...so much beauty and colour.
x k a z z y x

[Mary H]

Happy New Year, Lucy. Glad you had a happy "Twixmas." I also have always loved the week between Christmas and New year, a quiet space just to be. When I was a child it was the time for my friends and I to play with new Christmas presents before having to go back to school. I recently heard someone refer to it as "Old Year Week", which I also think is a nice description.

[Rowena Duffy]

Happy New Year to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

[Vickie]

Thank you for your posts and patterns! I love your boots! Who makes them? I’m in the United States and would love to find a pair here!

Thanks!
Vickie

[CORINNE]

Thank you Lucy, for the photos of your beautiful countryside, for your patterns, for allowing us to share your life, and for all the colour!
Hope you find a repair man soon.
Happy 2021!

[Tamara Goldson]

Happy New Year, Lucy to everyone at Attic 24. Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures of the countryside and your walks with us. They really lift my spirits. And I haven't managed to complete one of your amazing blanket patterns yet but I'm going to try this New Year. Something for me to look forward to. Hope you get your boiler fixed and hope everyone is safe and sound.

[Marjorie Sanderson]

Happy New Year To you and yours Lucy. Thank you for all your blogs this year I and many others have appreciated them so much. Stay safe hope you’re boiler is soon fix. Marjorie xx

[Ipukris]

Happy and happier year of 2021 to you Lucy on Attic24! I love your posts and the world have been a lot more colorful since I have find you blog in 2008.it is going to be better soon!

[Carine]

Dear Lucy, have a wonderful & colourful 2021. Greetings from a snowy Eifel in Germany. Carine

[Hilary Newman]

Happy New Year to you and all your family and thank you for all the pleasure I get from reading your blog.

[Charlotte]

Thank you for sharing. I do wish that I had such a great place to walk. Our twixmas has been okay. Christmas Eve was very warm and we had a 56 degree temperature drop for Christmas Day. So very glad that I had purchased and crocheted those blanket kits. Personally looking forward to a better year to come but our country doesn;t seem to have a great handle on the Covid problem as is with the UK. I look forward to your sharing and wish you all the best in 2021. As I write this it is already 2021 in the Attic !!!!

[Susan]

Hoping this comment will appear as I've had trouble with them on your blog. Thanks for the lovely scenes around The Dales & talking about how you've coped through this year. Thanks for a lovely blog & Hopeful New Year to you and your family. Take care & huggles from down under.

[De]

Hi from far away, Love your outlook on life and all your pretties. wishing a peaceful New Year for all of us.

[Jill]

Thanks for all the posts and inspiration - I have just finished one of your blankets :)
Wishing you and all your family a very happy and peaceful New Year, Jillxx

[Caroline King]

Thank you for all your blogs this year ,it has been great to have something to look forward too during lockdown.wishing you and your family a Happy New Year .xx

[Beverley]

Thank you for your lovely posts Lucy you have been wonderfully inspiring in so many ways.I would never have believed that I could manage to crochet anything let alone the blanket that I made for my daughter. As we turn our backs on this year I wish you and your loved ones a bright and happy New Year xx

[Nora McGrann]

Very happy 2021 to you and yours Lucy...

Thank you for everything you give us throughout the year....

Nora

[diana]

Thanks again for the lovely posts & photos for another year! Here is hoping you can find a boiler repairman soon. We would never survive any time without heating in an Ottawa winter.

Our province is also back in lockdown for a month as of Boxing Day. The UK seems to be on track to vaccinate everyone there soon. I'm hoping we will reach that point soon in Canada.

Wishing everyone a healthier and safer 2021!

[Mary W]

Twixmas is the perfect time to celebrate betwixt the blankets!

[Tineke]

Oh no! What a time to have the boiler shut down! Thank goodness your house is filled to the brim with blankets to keep warm, the fire roaring. We've emergency services here, not cheap but they work all holidays, I needed them at the first of January ones. Hope all gets sorted out soon and your house will be toasty warm. It's a joy to live in the countryside.

[Abby]

Thanks for all the beautiful pictures of the Yorkshire countryside. Happy and safe New Year to everyone at Attic 24 and hope your boiler is fixed very soon x

[Mary Cross]

Hi Lucy, thank you for your lovely posts I love reading them, I live a few miles out of your town so share your weather, the days have been sunny and clear and evenings full of moonlight.
Iam not very good at crochet but have been knitting and doing patchwork but I intend to practice more next year. Happy New Year to you all xx Mary

[Claire Hayden]

Dear Lucy, I did giggle to myself when I first saw the title of your post the first thing that popped into my head was you had indulged in some Twix fix over Christmas 🤣😂🤣. Just goes to show how my brain works. Wishing you all the very best for 2021.

[Tracy Bache]

Hi Lucy,so sorry to hear your boiler has decided to do the dirty on you!!!Why do they never stop working in the Summer?😡Never heard the word Twixmas before but I like it. We usually put our decs away on New year's day or the day after. I always love how big it makes my house feel. Im a bit of a minimalist,so that's were we differ!😂I wish you and your Family a Happy and healthy 2021.Stay safe. Love from Us in Dudley.xx