Slow and Quiet

I've had a slow, quiet sort of a day today, lots going on in my mind it seems. I woke up early (5.30am) and got up not long after so my day has felt quite long - not in a bad way though. I really like having extra time in the early morning to come into the day at a slow pace, and it meant I had almost two hours to sit quietly and drink coffee before needing to be up and out.

I intended to sit and do a bit of a therapeutic brain dump this morning but I accidentally got caught up in the online world. I'm not sure how it happened, but I found myself reading all about Intentional Living, wow, there are some passionate folks out there advocating this way of life, and reading about it was fascinating. There is a lot of crossover between intentional living, simple living and minimalism and although this sort of lifestyle isn't for me, I can certainly see how adopting elements of it could be hugely beneficial. Lots to think about. I keep a little notebook and pen beside my bed and often like to jot things down when I find myself contemplating new ideas. I think I'll do some more reading/viewing online and try and organise my thoughts a bit better, then I'll write about it here - could be interesting?!

I was out the door at 7.30 this morning as per my new spring routine, walking swiftly down through the park, along the canal, then back up the steep hill to home. It was grey and cold so I didn't linger to take many photos, and I made it home in exactly ten minutes - a fantastic way to warm up before my twenty minute running interval workout which I really enjoyed this morning. J and I also took a wet walk through the woods, it was a bit grim to be honest as the rain was pretty freezing and blowing in our faces. We stopped in town on the way back to pick up our coffee and I was so glad to finally get back home, wrap a blanket around myself and sit a while in the Big Chair with my latté to warm myself up.

As I was sat drinking my coffee I noticed that my Winter wreath was still in situ, so a bit later in the day I unpacked my Easter wreath ready for it to take it's place for the Spring season.

I've just looked back through my archives to find the Ta-dah post for this wreath, and am shocked to discover it was eight years ago. Gosh, how the years fly by. I still love this wreath, although if I were to make it again I would make some changes. I would remove the pompoms and space the flowers out a little bit more - it's very crowded on there! It's such a cheerful decoration though and I'm enjoying having it on my wall again.

The flowers on my table are teensy weeny this week, a couple little stems of blossom that are very slowly beginning to open. They are so, so beautiful, the perfect, delicate shade of pink.

Actually my table has been in a right mess this afternoon as I decided to have a bit of a sort out. The dining room has become my work-from-home makeshift studio during the past year or so, and it's gotten into a real chaotic state. I think all that reading about simple living must have seeped into my soul as I suddenly felt desperate to try and clear some space for myself. 

I tackled a huuuuuuuuuge teetering pile of stuff on top of my old desk (which is supposed to be leaving us as soon as we can find how/where to move it out), and boy was it therapeutic. I managed to sling a massive pile of paper/card/packaging/old magazines/boxes into the recycling bin, and sort out the varied assortment of miscellaneous objects which had accumulated over the months. The piles were so tall and so dense that I unearthed a wonderful collection of lost and forgotten things, including some Christmas presents, crochet projects and a box of posh chocolates.

I gathered together a small pile of recent magazines which I want to read before giving away to friends. I found my Meadow blanket colour squares which need stitching together (I make up colour samplers for all of my blanket projects which I keep for reference). And to my utter shame, I found my Granny Josephine bag sat at the bottom of the pile looking very neglected indeed. You may remember I was working on her during Blogtober and she's so very nearly finished, what a silly thing to have left this project for so long.

All that needs to be done is a little bit of hand stitching - leaves, flowers and the handle flap, and then she is done - flying straight to the top of my to-do list. Seriously. This bag needs to be used and loved, and I shall make that happen this weekend.

Also in my monstrous desk pile was the latest Craftpod box which arrived earlier in the week, oh, it's so lovely! I took out the little cross stitch project as I really love the design and the colours and would love to see it on my Spring mantel. I shall need to see to Granny J first, and then I'll make a start on the birdie.

BY the way, if you like the look of this project, you can buy the Spring box as a one-off purchase while stocks last - see ((here)).

Today was the last day of the Spring term and I think we all collectively breathed a sigh of relief at 3.30 when home school finished for Little B and Little Lady came through the door. She was in a good mood because she got an A score in her recent maths test (she's studying A level Maths, as well as Physics and Spanish, she's a clever so-and-so). We've got two weeks free from school stuff now, and even though lockdown life means that we can't do very much, I'm still hoping that there might be some sort of a holiday feeling to our days.

Little B doesn't spend much time with us downstairs any more, but once he'd finished his lessons today he came down to watch TV for a while. After years of guarded suspicion, Tilly has recently decided that she does in fact like Little B when he's not being all noisy and boisterous and she will always curl up on his lap any time he sits on the sofa. It's such a sweet thing - there is something about children and crochet blankets that makes my heart melt into a puddle, especially if you add in the crazy furball as well. So sweet.

I made this granny square blanket while I was pregnant with Little B and as he was born in the middle of an extremely cold snowy winter (it was -11 degrees on the day we brought him home from hospital), this blanket was very much needed in his cot at night. It's made from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, so it's really cosy and warm.

It's been very stormy here today, windy and wet with heavy hail showers thrown in for good measure. I'm glad I took the time to do a little bit of tidying today - still a LOT to do, but at least I made a start. It meant that I could sit for a while by the fire this afternoon without feeling guilty, making inroads into my small magazine pile. I've got both March and April issues with all the Spring vibes in those pages.....do you think I could add "read magazines" to my weekend to-do list, along with "Finish Granny Jo" and "Stitch a Greenfinch"?

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Comments

[Miss Daisy]

Ok , my birthday is April 13th I will be 66 and the Josephine bag would be a lovely gift , hint hint. Love the weather y'all are having , in the 80s here. Have a fantastic day.

[Tineke]

You may put anything you want on that to-do list. Even that latte. I never understood minimalistic lifestyle is seen as an empty white interior. Bizarre. It isn't, minimalism is just what you want to see in it, at least no shop till you drop mentality, constantly replacing what you have to follow the latest trends. Me being minimalistic is just having a healthy, spiritual, not attached to things lifestyle. I don't have much of anything, but my crafting materials are lush and lovely. I won't carry a stash, I buy what I need. I love colours, to wear and to use in my house. No white interior for me.

[kate bates]

Read magazines, drink coffee, admire socks! Sounds a great weekend! x

[Gill Compigne-Leaney]

I read about your early morning exercise with awe, I am NOT a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. My friend and I are strictly fair weather strollers and an afternoon in the sunshine wandering through the streets we have never been down before is our extent, it is amazing what you find doing this. One thing we found was a small stretch of the oldest woodland in Yorkshire so the notice said. Who knew!!! I hate to think what my state of fitness will be when we can start to dance again! Enjoy your holiday, I will miss my girls this Easter but hope for the summer.

[Kate McCurrach]

Lovely to read as always Lucy! I'm sure reading magazines can be squeezed into that weekend list of things to do. We still have another week of term (with Tom in the middle of mocks and Polly in the middle of A level essays - also doing Spanish) so our outward sigh of relief will have to wait until next weekend. Xx

[Geeha]

I thought I had decluttered to move close to our sons now we are both older with health issues. Lockdown started as we moved into a rented flat. Most of our possessions were in storage until we recently moved into our house. After almost a year we have found a lot is unnecessary, perhaps a link to simpler living. Now we need the charity shops to reopen as all deserve a chance of a new home.

I still have a stash of yarn and patterns, working on Meadow blanket, sweater for teenager and one for sevenyearold as need to suit project to mood and energy level. Throughout move and pandemic find that pacing myself, being kind to myself, fresh air and gentle exercise are essential.

[Teresa]

Hi Lucy lovely slow reading blog just what I needed today so glad you found granny Josephine the bag I've been following her journey and had wondered what had happened to her I look forward to when she's finished can get out and about have a wonderful restful Easter holidays with your family Leigh-Anne

[Alice]

I love seeing all the creative things you do, I cant wait to see the finished granny Joseph, I think I might have a few unfinished things hidden away somewhere too!

[Teresa Kasner]

I'm downright impressed with your schedule of getting out for an early walk then to come home and exercise more! It was fun to remember how we were all excited and anxious about your littlest one's arrival. Fun that he uses his baby blanket you made for him. Have a pleasant weekend!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Fiona Tims]

I almost asked about Granny Jo again a few days ago as i thought i may have missed it.

[CJ]

Decluttering is so therapeutic isn't it. I have a bit planned for tomorrow as it happens. I will be tackling children's books. Wind and rain here as well this morning, the dog and I and his chum got soaked. My umbrella blew inside out and hit me on the head. I'd love to hear a bit more about intentional living if you investigate it further. I hope you have a lovely weekend. CJ xx

[maypole]

It feels good to have a sort out and de clutter. I have become so lazy this year, because no one has been in my house apart from my son who is in my bubble, I have been putting jobs off till 'tomorrow' and as we know, tomorrow never comes. I dare not light my fire too early, because then I just want to sit by it!