Easter Weekend 2021

Hellooooo!! I thought I'd come and chat to you at the end of what has been a beautiful, relaxing Easter weekend, and to share some of the things that have been making me feel really happy the past few days.

Firstly, these daffies on my table, oh-my-gosh they are incredibly beautiful. I picked them up from the supermarket on Friday when they were still in bud and had no idea they would be this way - the petals are kind of a mix between pale yellow and a very subtle blush colour, they are so lovely. They have a sweet scent too and I'm having the biggest crush on them (can you tell?)

The weather has been mostly bright and sunny but very chilly, so we are back to winter coats and woollies it seems. On Friday morning I met with five of my yarny friends for a walk through the park and a long over due catch up with a take out coffee. It was honestly so good for my soul to have female company for a few hours, I'm very thankful for my friends and have missed them terribly.

In the afternoon we went for a quick walk, mainly to get Little B out and about for some fresh air, daylight and exercise. He's become very teen-like of late, spending most of his time hunkered down in his bedroom with the curtains closed, playing games, chatting to his mates and watching insane videos on YouTube. I sometimes find myself missing the younger Little B, but this more mature version is certainly very low maintenance. Just a bit of a walk every now and again and he's good.

I'm delighting in this new season we're in, soaking up every little scrap of fresh green growth that I come across. Every day I see more signs of Spring emerging, and it honestly makes me so happy.

Saturday afternoon saw us walking out again, this time the four of us. I really love having Little Lady with us because she keeps me company when the boys are chatting boy-stuff. Without her I'm a bit of a lonesome straggler on our walks as Little B is very much a Daddy's boy at the moment and I don't really get much of a look in.

We walked over the fields on Saturday, it was a bit squishy under foot still, but nowhere near the mud fest that we've had during the winter months. This pussy willow looked incredibly pretty against the blue of the sky....

....and as you can see it was in full-fluff mode. I stroked it (of course I did), and I can report that it did indeed feel as soft and fluffy as it looks.

This circular walk takes us across fields and along quiet country lanes, and it felt good to have the sun on our faces and some wide open views to drink in. I love waking in the woods, but on a bright sunny day I definitely feel the pull to be more out in the open.

I wonder if you can guess from these photos that I really quite like walking?? Can you possibly tell??!

The above photo was taken Saturday evening just after 7pm. Little Lady was feeling restless and asked if I'd like to go and watch the sun go down. She is SO like me in so many ways and I recognise huge chunks of my personality traits within her. Plus, there is this part of Mummying-me that just swells with joy when she seeks out my company. She is almost seventeen and the fact that she likes to be with me is just the most heart warming thing, I feel very lucky indeed.

We walked up into the park just as the sun was lowering down to the horizon, all golden and dusky. We decided on a whim to walk up to the farm shop to see if they had any little flowering plants. Re-planting my doorstep pot has been an item on my to-do list for far too long now.

The Easter display in the entrance was really lovely - possibly the biggest Easter tree I've ever seen. They also had a decent selection of potted bulbs for sale, so I bought three small pots to bring home.

It's such a treat to have daylight in the evenings now, and although the temperature has been very wintry, the lengthening days more than make up for it.

It's about 8.15pm in the above photo and we are crossing the canal bridge on our way back from the park and farm shop. Ready to climb up the hill and back into the cosy warmth of home.

Sunday morning now, and despite the hideousness of it, I'm showing you my doorstep pot with deceased cyclamen still in residence. You can see what it looked like back in October when it was at it's peak - to be fair the flowers did last much longer than I thought they would and they were lovely right the way through the Autumn and early winter. However, the above sight has been making me feel miserable for the past few weeks so it was high time for a little Spring makeover....

........ta-dah! I spent about £7 at the farm shop on these bulbs and they've made me so happy. I must gather some moss and cover up the earth I think, heaven knows I've got the mossiest grass at the moment in my front garden. Not complaining though, you know how much I adore moss. In fact I would be quite enchanted if the whole of my grassy grass was in fact moss.

I'm looking forward to coming and going in and out of the front door in the weeks to come and watching these flowers bloom. 

Sunday afternoon, and the very chilly weather meant that we decided to light the fire in the middle of the afternoon. Although I wasn't impressed with having near freezing temperatures for Easter, there is nothing nicer than lighting the fire at the weekend and settling down for some cosy fireside loafing. 

I think I told you during Blarch that I spent some time having a bit of a tidy up, and that I had some magazine reading on my to-do list? I already managed to read and pass on the March issues to my friend, and on Sunday I had the perfect opportunity to spend some time swooning my way through the April issues.  

Oh it was delightful, lots of Spring inspiration and Easterish feel-good, I drank it all in and felt very uplifted I have to say. Sometime these aspirational magazines make me feel a bit inadequate and needy/greedy (I want more!! More space, more garden, more beautiful things, more holidays, more freedom, more, more). But mostly I can flick through the pages and feel inspired by the gorgeous images and seasonal narrative.

Four pm, and I decided that a cheeky little glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc would go very nicely with my fireside daydreaming. I just recently bought these new glasses and am so in love with them. They were only cheap from the supermarket, I think they are called "stemless wine glasses". I love the weighty curviness of them, they're a pleasure to drink from and not nearly so tricky as a tall wine glass when you are lounging on the sofa with a magazine.

We were forecast s.n.o.w. today, can you believe that? In fact we woke up to smattering of the icy white stuff on the ground this morning but not really what I would call a snowfall as such. Still, it was blinkin' freezing (literally, -1 degrees) but the sky was oh-so-blue and I couldn't wait to get out in it. Eight o'clock and I was heading up the hill to the meadow, to walk around a bit, stretch out my muscles and breathe in the freezing cold spring air.

Interestingly I had company this morning as J came with me - I didn't really think it through when I invited him along to be honest. He kept saying "where are we going?" and I said well we're just going here, right here, this is the meadow and we're walking around it.....he definitely didn't seem to feel the magic like I do. 

I'm trying to make better choices for myself with regards to what enters my mouth now, after a long weekend of wine, chocolate and buttery hot cross buns. The over indulgence is over, and I am hauling myself back in line. Yes, I really am. I'm feeling a bit plumper around my middle again and the heaviness doesn't feel so good. The saying "you are what you eat" is so simple yet so true, and I always do feel so much better in myself when I'm eating good things.

This morning's coffee was taken down by the sunny canal side, wrapped up in many layers against the chill of zero degrees. The coffee was superb, and honestly really cheered my day along. Such a pleasure as always.

Fuelled by sunshine and good coffee, I came home and spent many hours sat with my crochet hook today. During this past week I've been working on a new blanket design - lots and lots of sampling to work through colour palette decisions and then pattern ideas. I think I'm finally there with it, both the colours and the design and I am sooooooooooooo excited by it. It's something different for me, and I absolutely cannot wait to get going now that the nitty gritty design stage is complete. I'm working a long way in advance for this one as the launch date isn't until early September, but I'll be showing you some of my progress as I slowly work on it during the next few months.

Well I think that brings us to a gentle close for now, I'm suddenly hearing my flowery pillow calling to me and I think I'm ready to be right there in my comfy bed as it's almost ten o'clock. I hope you've enjoyed a wonderful Easter weekend full of things that have made your heart sing...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Alice]

Lovely spring flowers! All the daffodils are starting to come up in our garden and although there is snow on the ground, it's nice to have that little bit of spring(very confusing though having both!!)

I am sooo excited to see your new blanket design!!! something to look forward too in the later months! I have very recently started designing and have launched a blog called woollensmile and I just wanted to say a thank you because you have been very inspirational and I really love your work x

[Kate McCurrach]

Lovely to read about your Easter weekend Lucy. It did make me chuckle thinking of J's face walking around the meadow. I also thought how good it must be to have a teenage daughter who wants to spend time with you. I certainly didn't have that (I told you all at that stitchy weekend that she didn't like me breathing 😂) but now she's 18, I think she's shifting a bit more back to me again.xxx

[Linda]

I just made 1 of your Applique sheep patterns. It turned out so cute. I am a first time grand Aunt and want to make animals for the 1960's book Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin, JR ..one of the animals is black sheep, yours was perfect.
do you have any patterns for a bird a cat, dog, or horse, in similar size for little child to hold in her hands as Mommy reads to her?
Linda

[Beverley]

Glad you had a lovely Easter weekend Lucy. It has been so good to be able to venture out more and see a few friends for coffee and a chat hasn't it. Have a happy creative rest of the week x

[Bronwyn]

I just love your nature walk posts and photos. Spring is such a gorgeous time of the year. Lol I thought I was the only one who loved moss in the garden. Everyone else seems to want to spray it. I just love it's texture, colour and springyness.

[Sandra]

I've just had a look at stylecraft special dk - not bought any for a while and was surprised how expensive it has got. Don't think I can afford to make a blanket any more, which is a shame.

[Lekki]

Hi Lucy, I’ve been catching up on your blog posts. I do enjoy reading it and seeing your little corner of the world through your eyes. Thank you, I’m a long-time reader. Here’s a little trick that cyclamen have. They die down for the winter, then pop their leaves back up for the spring and summer. At least, they do here in New Zealand. In Yorkshire, you might have to dig the corm, (bulb), out and store it indoors. Another neat trick they do, is when the flower heads have gone to seed, they lean over and touch the ground. Then they deposit all their little seeds directly into the soil. Neat huh? Mum has cyclamen popping up in her garden and we know we didn’t plant them.

[Lynda Robinson]

oh I loved catching up with what you did over Easter and we certainly are in spring now. I loved the walks with you and all the beautiful cosy interiors, and your spring planter deserves to be in that spring edition of Country Living!
xxx

[Denise Henderson]

Oh my, already loving those colors and hoping it is a new granny square!

[Abigail @ rosy_hill]

This all looks magical. Thank you for the update! 😊

[Miss Elaineous]

Lovely to hear from you as always! My project bin is overflowing with ongoing and anticipated projects, including the first 20 rows or so of the Meadow Blanket. I had big ambitions to participate in real time with the CAL this year which were foiled by the arrival of our very own Little Lady, so I am catching time to do a row or two every day or so and taking it easy. Hopefully it will be done by the time your meadow is in full bloom again.

Any chance we will get the Ta-Dah post for the Meadow Blanket? I'd love some spoilers for the final look all together with the edging on. And while I am being needy, I can't seem to find a final Ta-Dah for the Dahlia Blanket either... which is high on my list of projects that make my hands itch with anticipation.

I resolved this year to always have a blanket going on the hook and so far I am keeping with it! Thank your for providing such lovely patterns and colors to keep this going.

[Becki]

Lovely Easter post Lucy, thank you. We’ve had quite a few light flurries of snow mingled with brilliant warming sunshine over the Easter weekend and thoroughly enjoyed our walks out in the fresh air (very fresh at times!). We too are extremely lucky to have beautiful countryside on our doorstep. I have been enjoying my take on your oaty pancakes for breakfast, can’t get enough of them I have to say! I use goats milk yogurt and gluten free oats but they still taste absolutely delicious topped with a variety of fruit. Love, love, love the look of your new blanket and can’t wait to see more. As always take care Lucy, love and hugs Becki xx

[Sandra]

Oh my I’m liking the look of that new blanket 😉
Lovely to read you blog as always x

[Kathy N]

Thanks for your spring Easter post, so lovely. I was tickled this winter when I found flower-y sheets. It's been too cold to use them (flannel is soooo cozy). But it has warmed up (barely) and I was excited to lay my head on my flower pillow. Thanks for the inspiration!

[JulietC]

Splendidly cold and clear in Carlisle, perfect weather for stitching or at least thinking about stitching as so many yarn projects suddenly look so bright and comforting. All your photos look fabulous

[gloria g]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your flowers are all toxic to cats..........please be careful.....since I know you have a cat...if she eats any of it it is poisonous. Just to let you know...........thanks happy Easter and enjoy, but be careful.

[Tineke]

Ah, they design those magazines to make you greedy, Lucy, the shop 'till you drop greed. Luckily we know we got all we need. Loads of love. No magazine can give you that ;>D enjoy the inspiration. That stack of blocks looks soooo good.

[CJ]

A post full of lovely things as always. I have a pot that I'm waiting to fill full of flowers as well at the moment. It just needs lining first, then I've got some little pink dianthus and a pale pink marguerite to put in it. My youngest said something to me the other day that I think you'll appreciate when I was expounding on the wonderfulness of small things - you don't need the big things to make you happy, you just need the little happy things to make up a whole happy life. I'm hoping he remembers that! CJ xx

[Sandra]

Dear Lucy, Thank you so much for your positive words and lovely photos! Very uplifting start to a sunny (and freezing) morning!

[Jenny M]

Beautiful Spring photos - I did a double take when you mentioned your daughter is nearly 17! Melbourne's Autumn weather for Easter was very warm 28-30c, it felt more like Summer!

[kathleenalice]

Your weekend sounds lovely and the new blanket sounds exciting.
I spent Saturday making and distributing several batches of hot cross buns to my family. Sunday was spent sitting in my daughter's garden in the warm sunshine. We had a delicious homemade afternoon tea and knitted together and watched the children play. By contrast, my husband and I went walking on Monday in a very remote and wild part of the East Yorkshire coast. The sun was beautiful but oh my goodness, it was bitterly cold, I was glad of my cosy handknits! 😃

[Jackie Farrow]

Good Friday we visited our son and his family. Our youngest grandchild and only girl is such a cutie but I reckon will be a little madam when she gets older. She started walking just before she was nine months, far too early! So she is already a toddler and not even a year yet. Saturday I did a bit of shopping and I think that was about it. Sunday I collected our daughter and eldest grandson (husband working....retail). Grandson will be 6 in June and full of beans. We live opposite a park (sports is played on there). There is play equipment, so took him over there for a little while. For some reason we (daughter & I) decided to take it in turns to run around that area and see how quick we could do it in. Yep, mad moment, I felt like an old woman running, not my younger self from the pass! Well I am 60, so guess I am the old woman in body, mind not so. Lol Anyway, we had a BBQ dinner and grandson was so excited. I forgot to say when he arrived at our house the Easter Bunny had been and he/her had left lots of goody chocolates. Yesterday, Monday decided it was veg out day! Stayed in my pjs all day, played games and knitted and talk with hubby! Oh and before I forget, the trees (not Australian natives) know it’s Autumn 🍂 and are dropping leaves etc but the weather doesn’t seem to know. We are still getting mid 30’s!!!!! 😫 By for now, sorry this turn out to be a long read.

[Charlotte]

Our weather has been variable for weeks but Easter Sunday was great. Looking forward to the new blanket.

[Teresa Kasner]

Your weekend sounded wonderful. I am looking forward to you showing us your new blanket design. I'm still working on my Meadow! LOL! Have a super week. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Paula]

So good to hear from you, Lucy! Your new blanket is intriguing...