March End

A cup of frothy coffee enjoyed in the cosy warmth of my bed is how I really like to start my mornings. It's the perfect way for me to gently adjust my mind to the new day and to process what I want to try and do with the hours stretching ahead. I don't meditate, but I am very good at just sitting and being in the moment. Often I wake up and my mind is so chockablock full of stuff it's hard to think straight, so I've been meaning to try and do a mini morning brain dump but I keep forgetting! I'm sure there is a lesson to be learnt there.  I was chatting about this with my bloggy friend Rachell who was telling me that taking just five minutes to empty your mind onto paper in the mornings is hugely beneficial. I'll try and remember to do it tomorrow morning, and I'll report back on how it goes. Do let me know in the comments if this is something you have tried or do regularly, I'd love to hear.

I was on a real go-slow this morning after another poor nights sleep, and as today is the first day of my monthly cycle I was not feeling the best. I know I must have been feeling low because even though the sun was shining I really didn't feel like taking my morning walk. I just didn't want to expend any energy, so I simply decided to stay put. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to make these decisions for myself I have to say, and I do really appreciate that fact. My Little People are at an age now where they sleep in late and are self sufficient in the mornings so I'm at liberty to please myself when there isn't a school run to do. I've had many, many years of very full on parenting, often starting my days at 5am as all three of my littln's were very early risers. This is my time now, and my goodness I'm grateful. 

After a very slow start, I eventually got myself together and went about my morning chores - emptying the dishwasher, putting a load of laundry in the machine, feeding the kitty, a quick tidy up of our downstairs living space. We had a family dentist appointment in the late morning which involved a drive to another town, oh, huge excitement to be leaving the boundaries of our local area and seeing Fresh New Scenery for the first time in months! It was a thrill, honestly. 

I get very nervous going to the dentist (even though this was just a check up, and my teeth are pretty good on the whole), so I wasn't able to eat very much this morning. By the time I got home at 1pm I was seriously hungry so I made myself a healthy lunch bowl. Yesterday I got a new gadget to play with and I'm pretty sure I'm about to become a little bit obsessed with it. The gadget in question is a spiralizer, but not one of those huge machines with a handle that takes up half the kitchen, oh no, this is the most amazing low-tech little hand held gizmo and I am so impressed with it. You can find it on Amazon ((here)), and I tell you it works a treat for making courgette noodles.

I made a simple salad dressing for my courgetti today (olive oil, lemon juice, wholegrain mustard and maple syrup), and tossed them in with cucumber, tomato and a bit of left over cooked chicken, then crumbled some feta cheese on top. Oh my goodness..... sooooooooooo good. I've been reading up on courgetti recipes (courgetti puttanesca, or a garlicky pesto - yes yes, I could make wild garlic pesto courgetti!) and I am most definitely going to be spiralizing my lunch on the daily for a while.

Lunch time rolled around into mid afternoon and I felt restless but weary at the same time. I couldn't decide what to do with myself, so in the end I decided to do nothing much. I made a coffee (all my coffees are decaff at the moment because of the rubbish hormonal sleep sitch), and sat myself in a sunny corner of the back yard to absorb some of the warmth and light into my brain. I think the sunshine must have helped recharge my batteries a little because once my coffee was finished I felt ready to do some work.

I spent some time caking up my Meadow blanket leftovers so that they can be neatly added to my yarn stash boxes. I needed to do this to free up my big baggy yarn bag because I'm starting out on a new blanket project and I've been sampling for it this afternoon. I'm still in the very early stages of working out the colour palette but I'm very nearly there with it I think. I'm beginning to get that fizzy feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me that this blanket is coming in with alllll the feels, so I know I'm close to nailing it down. There is a teensy clue in the above photo - two shades of red. Tis VERY exciting! 

It's taken me an age to write this blog entry (it's now gone ten o'clock and I've been sat here for hours, literally), so I hope I've not written a huge pile of gibberish. As you probably know, I don't faff my posts at all (other than a quick check through for typos) so what you read is the actual unedited stream of words that pours forth from my brain. Some days it pours in a flowing torrent, and other days it's a slow trickle, but at least it's always the true essence of what I'm thinking/feeling at the time.

Ah.......see that above?? Now that is partly why this blog post has taken me so long as I spent an AGE choosing and editing photos for my March round-up. Ha, I had forgotten all about that, honestly, my poor brain is so thick with fog sometimes, it's a wonder I can get anything done. 

Today being March End and all, my two weeks of daily blogging have come to a gentle finishing line. Thank you so very much for joining me and for all the delightful comments you've written for me too, I really appreciate your company. I don't plan on disappearing so you can expect my blogs to keep on coming, maybe not every single day but I'll do my best.

A new month begins tomorrow and I'm so excited for it, the start of my favourite quarter of the year. I'm ready for all the light and sunshine and greenery and flowery things.

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ps huge thanks to my two friends Christine and Kate who have kept me company with my daily blogging endeavour this month, it's been wonderful to have them with me xx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Anna-Karin in Sweden]

Hi Lucy! I came to the conclusion that I had so much yarn left after crocheting so many blankets with Stylecraft yarn so I have made some kind of kimono/cardigan in all sorts of Attic24-inspired colors :) It's really cozy to have in front of the computer now when I work from home almost every day. But now I will abandon the crochet hook for a while and knit a sweater instead :) / XXX

[Noele]

Hello Lucy: Just want to say thank you for the blog postings this month. You are such an inspiration to me. I actually finished the cosy blanket and now working the Meadow Blanket and can't wait to see the new one. I actually didn't think I could do these blankets, but your lovely step by step photos have helped me enormously. Now I feel like I can do this! (with Lucy's help). so proud of myself. Thanks for posting all of the gorgeous photos, just love all of it! Hope you are doing well this week. Noelle

[Patti]

Thank you so much for your March daily blogs...it is so fun reading about where you live and your family life. I look forward to your next blanket adventure!!! My needlecraft group just loves the beautiful colours in the blankets. Be well and thanks for your generosity in sharing your talents. Stay safe and healthy!

[Susan]

Most mornings I write Morning Pages as a mind dump. I get up early,while the house is quiet, make a cup of tea, and sit drinking it while I scrawl mostly nonsense into a notebook. It is very much stream of conciousness, and might be about my work in the day ahead, something which is bothering me, or even along the lines of "I have no idea what to write" I don't usually read it back. The days I do it are always far more productive than those when I don't.

[Meredithe]

Thank you for your daily posts on your endeavours - they are always such a delight to read. How exciting to have a new blanket brewing! And so glad you got to see some new vistas even if it was a trip to the dentist. Hugs xx

[Marylin]

Hi Lucy, A new blanket...how exciting! Rich in color by the glimpse of it. Hormones, aren't they fun!? Not! I can relate to that and the brain fog for sure. I too go on lots of walks, arthritic knees or not and will have surgery on the bad knee in May. Looking forward to eventually walking without pain...won't that be a hoot!
Take care, MO

[Gwen]

Thanks as always, for sharing your thoughts & days with us! Enjoy your weekend!

[Laura]

I totally empathise, Lucy. I’m in the perimenopausal funtimes and my god, every month brings some new symptom that is tedious and challenging. Hormones are powerful and disruptive things! I find that on days where I just cannot motivate myself (and this is where I’m fortunate to be self-employed) I give into it. I always try but sometimes it’s best to relax a little. We all need a little recharge from time to time.

Looking forward to seeing your new project!

[Angela-Southern USA]

The fog is real, I've been in it for awhile now along with all the rest that goes with this hormonal time of life, mine has thrown in chronic migraines for an added jab. Here's to clearer days ahead! I have courgetti/zucchini just popping up in my garden, I look forward to having it fresh all summer long. Can't wait to see the latest blanket creation. I just posted my Easter wreath on IG that we made many years ago, it's still holding up well. Have a wonderful Easter! xxxxxxxxxxx

[Kristn Schmidt]

I just found you!💗

[Kim]

It has been an absolute joy to read your daily posts, they really do make my day.
I have started to enjoy living simply, being mindful and appreciating the little things and your blog posts ooze the things I love x
Wishing you all a very Happy Easter 🐰🐣

[Kathy]

Loved reading your daily blog posts and seeing your daily walks through the village and countryside. I’ve only made small patterns on your blog, such as the woolly lamb, Easter chick, leaves and roses so far. Your lunch inspired me to finally use the zoodle maker today. Had a salad with zoodles, spinach, mushrooms and smoked turkey and honey mustard dressing, it was so good. Hope you have a lovely Easter holiday.

[Michele]

I enjoy your blog and hope for good things for you and your family always. Blessings to you and your family,
Hugs and love from California,
Michele

[Meg lynn]

HI Lucy,
I've been enjoying your blog for years, thank you for being you!
Mind dumps are a way of life for me. I generally have several projects going on at work, plus day to day duties. About once a week I just start typing and end up with a page of phrases and short paragraphs, and many exclamation points, lol I use that as a guide for the next week or so...I find if very helpful.
Have a Happy Easter!
Meg

[Teresa Kasner]

I commend you for doing a daily blog post, I do 3 a week and that is plenty for me! I enjoyed seeing all your images and hearing your story. Now I'm curious what the next blanket will be!

❀.•❤•.✿.•❤•.❀ Happy Easter! ❀.•❤•.✿.•❤•.❀

((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Abigail @ rosy_hill]

I have loved reading your daily posts. It is always lovely to join you in snippets of your daily life. :)

[Susan]

Lovely finish to your daily posts over the last 2 weeks & I've been on catchup most of the time & put it down to having our Covid jabs, which I'm sure have made me feather-brained at the moment. Good to hear you may get out & about a little further afield. We've just finished our dental appointments, after they were postponed from last February(2020) & like you I'm definitely not a fan. Look forward to seeing what you do with the reds? Take care, stay safe & hugs from down under.

[Tineke]

Well done, all those blogs are a huge accomplishment, Lucy. We females go with the tide our sister moon gives us. We breathe in and out with her and the sea surrounding us. So does our body. I am a follower of the path of yoga since my eight years. Meditation is not for the faint of heart. Remember that if you become quiet, your stream of thoughts becomes louder. It takes training to get the chatter of the ego to the background. It's the duty of the ego to chatter, so let it be, don't pay much attention to it. Writing every morning can become a task, just find a way that suits you to unload that brain. If it's that walking, so be it. Your walking can be your meditation. Focus on the walking, the observing. Not the naming, just the observer observing. One foot for another. Of you go. Thanks for that lovely vlogging <3

[Diane]

It's been a joy to keep up with you daily for the past couple of weeks! I'm extra-appreciative of my virtual visits to your corner of the world as we head into Month 13 of this business! Have a lovely weekend xxx

[Helen]

try magnesium for insomnia, honey can help, but we have bees so plenty of it, raw stuff !

ladies mantle tincture can help with those monthly things, but as I had a menopause at 40 its been years of bad nights, but especially when low on magnesium. I often get up and take a few tablets, the joys of being female and getting older !

[Ann]

Hi Lucy. It’s been a lovely gentle start to my day to read your blog. It’s so refreshing to connect with some else’s real unedited life. Thank you so much for your honesty and for your inspiration. You have given some excellent tips for day to day living as well as great yarn ideas. Have a great Easter. Ann

[Jennie Dunn]

Hi Lucy have followed your cheery blog for a few years now. Sleeping badly is awful and really affects everything. My optician gave me a tip which I find really helps. Put about half a tsp. of turmeric powder in a mug of milk, heat in microwave for 1 minute, stir, heat again for 30 secs. Take out and stir in a tsp.of good quality honey. Drink and enjoy!! I find it wonderful to have just before bed. Even better get some `empty` tea-bags from dotboutique.co.uk who made biodegradable paper ones in Scotland. Using them stops the turmeric from going lumpy. They're also great for herb or loose tea. Thanks for your super encouraging blogs. Take care

[CJ]

A lovely end of March post, and I just spent ages looking at Rachel's blog as well, which is brilliant, I know I will enjoy following her along. Just surprised I haven't come across her before, she has been blogging since 2011 I think. I know what you mean about waking up with a brain full of things. It is really frustrating if I wake up a couple of hours early and my mind starts whizzing around thinking of all the things to do. I like Lisa's meditation tip, but I'm not sure I can empty my mind enough. I'm sure it would be good for me though. I hope you have a good Easter weekend. CJ xx

[Femke]

Thank you for your daily blogs, I've enjoyed them very much. Can't wait to see your new blanket design!

[Carol Langley]

Lucy - thank you for your very enjoyable and colourful blog. Also I’d like to thank you for bringing the Craftpod items to our attention. I have a friend who recently broke her leg in three places and I wanted to send a gift to cheer her up, so I sent her the Spring Craftpod box and she is delighted with it. 😊