First Day of Spring

Well winter is now officially behind us and today is the Spring Equinox which is when day and night are of equal length. I am very much in the astronomical camp when it comes to the changing seasons (more about that here) and I enjoy celebrating the equinoxes and solstices each year. They seem to me like a really good opportunity to pause and take stock, a gentle quarterly review if you like. We are now into my favourite quarter by far as our days lengthen and we start jaunting through to the Summer Solstice in June. I love these months very, very much.

The weather today has been very un-spring-like (often the case on the Spring Equinox), but I thought you might still like to see how my hill view looked today. It was dull, murky, still and cold. But hey, no rain, so I'm thankful for that at least.

Being Saturday, J and I set off into town this morning for our weekly market and local food shop. It's less than ten minutes walk to the main high street so it's no hardship and I really look forward to it. Once we've gathered in our produce (fruit, veggies, cheese, meat and bread), we pick up a takeout coffee to drink sitting beside the canal. In our non-lockdown life we would visit our favourite little café and cosy up inside with our drinks, but right now we are making the best of our al fresco experience. It's cold though I have to admit.

I thought I would share my market haul with you today - everything goes straight into my canvas shoppers and often times we don't even bother with paper bags. Tilly was very eager to inspect the goods, she is always right there waiting for us when we come home.

The above selection is a typical weeks fruit and veg for us, although we usually end up needing to buy more fruit towards the end of the week. Isn't it so pleasing to look at? So satisfying to see it all laid out!

I love buying, cooking and eating fresh ingredients, it gives me a lot of pleasure to feed myself and my family in this way.

We also buy eggs from the veg stall and they are always these snowy white ones which have the most gorgeous, rich orange yolks. 

Ah Tilly, you are such a crazy little kitty! 

I made myself a late breakfast once I'd packed away all the food, then decided the time was right for some Equinox faffery on the mantel. Time to pack away Winter and welcome in the Spring.

I was a little sad to say goodbye to my Winter TreePeep, I've loved having her on my mantel. I can't remember if I've showed you my TreePeeps before? They're painted by my super-talented Instagram friend Lynn (@silverypaws) and so far I've collected Autumn, Winter and Christmas. Lynn is painting me a Spring TreePeep this week so I'm VERY excited for that (you can see some of her Spring peeps here), I'll be sure to show you when she arrives in the Attic. If you'd like to give a TreePeep a home, do get in touch with Lynn via her Instagram.

Once Winter had been collected and stored away, I gave the mantel a good clean and changed over my candelabra. As always, it was really nice to unpack the new seasons decorations and remember what I had collected - do you know I had actually forgotten all about the Spring garland that I made last year? It was a delight to see it again! You can read all about the making of it in this post, and I wrote up the patterns for the flowers if you would like to create your own.

You can also see the Spring cross stitch canvas I made last year from Cotton & Twine. I really enjoyed stitching all those beautiful bluebells, it was my lockdown project at the start of Covid almost a year ago. I've just started stitching the Summer design so that it'll be ready for June, I'll show you that once I've made a bit more progress.

Loving the look of my Spring mantel, most especially the garland. So pretty! By the way, can you see the bare twigs up there on the right hand side? I'm going to crochet some blossom flowers to decorate them this week, and I am really crazy excited for that to happen. I've not done any crochet at all since finishing my Meadow Blanket last month (my hands really needed a rest) so I'm more than ready to have my hook back in my hand again.

I bought myself a new scented candle this week as I've been without one on my mantel since the mulled wine binge over Christmas. I opted for "Quiescent" from the Botanical Candle Co (you may remember me going on about their "Late Summer" candle that I obsessed over last year)

Would you care to know how this one smells? Here's the official blurb....

"Eucalyptus is uplifting, cleansing and fresh whilst the floral notes of lavender soften this scent and provides a sense of calm. Frankincense delivers a resinous base note that's grounding, complex and earthy. Overall, Quiescent is comforting, pure and luxurious."

It is a delight I can tell you, well anything with eucalyptus in immediately gets my vote to be honest. It's the perfect winter/spring scent I think, and yes I would agree that it is cleansing, fresh and calm. Just the thing for pandemic lockdown life.

Spring may be here but it's still fire lighting weather in Atticland with single digit temperatures. At the weekends I light the fire in the mid afternoon as J and I are usually spending time together in our main living room. I just can't get enough of the cosy vibes at the moment, I guess winter comforts are still needed for a while longer until the weather begins to do it's Spring thing. 

Before I go, I wanted to say a huge big thank you to those of you who have clicked on my little "buy me a coffee" button just lately. I have been so humbled and deeply touched by the kindness that has come my way and have felt overwhelmed with gratitude. I appreciate you all so much, and I'm really happy to be back here in my patch having a chat with you. Your comments on my last couple of posts have been incredibly heart warming, so thank you for the hot milky coffees and for your kind words and all that you do to make me feel cherished.

A few days ago I was reading back through my Blogtober archives and remembering how much fun it was to create a daily blog for a while, and I've decided that for the remainder of March I'm going to be here every single day to chat to you. Blogtober had such a cute ring to it, but I'm thinking Blarch doesn't sound quite so appealing?! Haha, well we don't have to name this thing do we, but I hope you'll enjoy a daily dose of Attic life during the next eleven days. 

Happy Spring (or Autumn if you're down on t'other side of the planet), I hope today has been a good one. See you tomorrow!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps my lovely friend Christine (she who knits alllllll the socks) has decided to join in with my Blarch adventure, so you're very welcome to pop on over to Winwick and enjoy her daily words and photos x

 

 

 

Comments

[Karen]

Hi Lucy, lovely to see you back. Blarch really made me laugh! I’m with you on being ready for Spring, spring and Summer are my favourite seasons too. I always love to see your seasonal mantle faffery too 😘

[mary mathews]

hi lucy!

i am a knitter, but you have inspired me to learn to crochet this year.

i would love to purchase some little tree peeps for myself and a friend, but i couldn't find a link on her instagram. does she sell them?

as always, i'm so happy you are blogging everyday as i find your post to always be so positive and uplifting. i live by the beach in california and your posts make me want to spend a few months in a small english village. (or a coastal village like the one in doc martin!)

enjoy your day!

[Hannah]

Blarch is exactly how my March sounds as I soldier through first trimester blergs.

[Sue]

Always enjoy your posts Lucy and I’m sure lots of people, not just me, will be looking forward to daily posts. I agree with you that ‘Blarch’ doesn’t quite have the right sound and it occurred to me that perhaps it should be ‘Bling’ a combination of blog and Spring. Bling sounds bright and shiny, rather like the lovely bright spring shoots and flowers emerging every day and the sun shining ever more brightly. 😊

[Elizabeth]

Are you going to make a blanket in vegetable and fruit colours they look great

[Lynda Robinson]

I love that you change your mantle to match the seasons...I love the paintings you had in winter and the spring one. Did you paint them? Have you got a Ko-Fi page? I follow a couple of crafty arty people on there and buy them a coffee!
I'm looking forward to reading you Blarch Posts!
xxx

[[email protected]]

Ah Lucy another lovely post..

Loving your new mantel look, especially your floral garland..

Must check it out 😊.....

You were right to take time out for yourself.....

Enjoy Springtime 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷😘

[Evelyn]

Perhaps your colorful fruits and veggies will inspire the colors for your next blanket?

[Tineke]

We have to do with the "Blarch" do we? XD Lovely how spring-like your mantle looks.

[Irene A]

So pleased you are feeling the energy needed to share with us all a daily blog for the next 10 days or so. Your blogposts are always so uplifting and honest, and will be something to look forward to reading each day. It is just a like a lovely pick me up and chat with a good friend. I hope you can feel all the happiness and positive vibes winging their way to Skipton.
Be gentle on yourself as we move gradually more and more into the light of spring and then summer. 🥰

[Annette Frater]

Hi Lucy, great to read your Blarch!!! I and everyone else enjoys and appreciates your blog(s). I am still enjoying crocheting my meadow blanket BUT in bold colours, perhaps I will manage to take a photo once it is finished - I didn't start at same time as everyone else, so it will be a few weeks yet. Take care. Annette

[kate bates]

It will be so lovely to be able to drop into Atticland once a day. The perfect little boost to get us through these last (hopefully!) Lockdown days xxx Here's to brighter times !

[Juliana Ellington]

I'm so glad you are doing a Blarch challenge! Hopefully writing each day will help you stay in the present, and will thus help you make it until warmer weather and lots of green everywhere can boost your spirits. Your Spring mantel is just lovely. Hooray for spring color and flowers!
Also, I followed the link to Winwick Mum and really enjoyed her posts too. Thanks for a new blog to follow.

[Kate Buckley]

Oh lovely, I'm so glad you're going to blog every day, it becomes part of my routine to read what you've been up to, makes me review my own day. x Kate

[Kim Poulton]

I love the way you have decorated your mantel - beautiful colours x

[Tracy Wheeler]

Another lovely read 😊 I'm going to treat myself to one of the candles! Looking forward to your daily blogs.

[Alice]

Wow those fruits and vegetable look amazing!! And I'm in love with that spring Garland, I might have to take some blanket time out and make that one in time for easter :) I absolutely loved blogtober it was lovely checking in with you every day and blarch will be lovely too haha

[Clare]

Last year’s post led me to the cotton & twine site and a hefty amount of money spent with them over the last year! Their designs are so beautiful and compliment our many Lucy blankets. Thank you so much, you sparked a crochet blanket obsession in this house a few years ago and the cosy home we have created has helped us both navigate a really difficult year. Clare & Carly x

[Sandie Chandler]

I love your idea of changing the mantle piece with the season....an instant refresh/pick me up. I normally only make changes at Christmas and am so sad when they come down.....am off to find "spring for my living room" ...thsnk you!

[Stephanie Mapleson]

Blarch,haha! How about blog/spring...BLING!!! So much more appealing. I dearly love your posts and hope they bring you joy for many more years to come xxx

[Teresa Kasner]

Hi Lucy, I enjoyed seeing your wonderful produce you have there. I'm looking forward to our outdoor markets here this summer. I'm glad you're feeling chipper! Sent you a coffee or two. Enjoy!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Anne Dearle]

Love your mantle Lucy. It will bring a smile to your face every day. I look forward to your posts as it brightens my day. You deserve the donations for a coffee as you do so much for us. Have a great day 🥰

[Jean]

As I was admiring your fresh produce, my first thought was, "There are three kids in that family! That fruit will probably only last until Tuesday!" It's good to hear from you again -- your blog brings me a serenity that's been difficult to find these last many months. Thank you.

[Sasha Oliver]

Spring is my favourite time of year. The starting of budding flowers, and fresh green leaves, well still enjoying the winter comforts of a raging fire and freshly brewed coffee. Still new to your blogs and patterns, but loving them. :) Would love to see a browns and reds inspired blanket design though, but that could just be seeing your coffee and fire and cosy set up. Hope You are Well and Safe. Will buy you a coffee as soon as I am able! :)
Sasha
x

[Jackie Farrow]

I see a blanket in the making looking at all the fruit and veg! 🤔 Two days of 38+ and meant to be 31 today. Next week mid to high 20’s. So looking forward to cooler weather. I wish I had a mantle to pop some loves on. Looking forward to see you Spring Peep. Of to get ready to take daughter to hockey training, her husband had to use her car to get to work, his broke down of all times over the weekend. Doesn’t matter how old your kids are you still do the parenting thing. Collecting a coffee table for them today as well. Take care and stay safe. Jx