Ahhh, it's the end of the week and to be honest I feel a little bit done in. Some weeks just feel longer than usual and leave me feeling a weensy bit ragged around the edges, do you know what I mean? Or is it just me? My alarm woke me at 6am and I was so hard and fast asleep it felt like my eyelids were glued together. After a much needed coffee (which I sneak back to bed to drink) and a splash of cold water on my face, I was ready to head out 40 minutes later, and oh, what a truly gorgeous start to the morning it turned out to be.
There is no mistaking the season now, the crisp chill in the air could only belong to autumn. Despite walking much of our early morning walk in semi-darkness, it's still amazing how much we get to see and appreciate.
Three hours later and I was heading out again, by myself this time. Friday mornings always bring about a feeling of excitement as it's one of my favourite parts of the whole week - precious time spent with my yarny tribe, yippeeee!!
Just look at that sky, isn't it radiant? There wasn't a cloud in sight this morning, the sky was completely clear and blue and it made me feel so good. I hope we have many more days like this before the year is out. Isn't it strange to think that there are only eleven more weeks left in this year - that's right, only seventy seven days left of 2021. How??? I've no idea how, the passing of time honestly baffles me sometimes.
I thought you might like to see the above view which I don't think I've ever shared before. In the morning when I set off on my jaunts, I head down the steep hill from the end of my street, round the corner at the bottom before crossing over the canal via a swing bridge which opens from time to time to let the boats pass through. Once I've crossed the canal I can either turn right to head along the tow path to the park or turn left to head along the tow path towards school town. Or I can walk straight ahead and continue down that steep hill which runs between the mill buildings and takes me to Coopers café and the supermarket etc. Believe it or not this is actually a road where cars drive (cars can also drive across the swing bridge) - I wonder if you have any unusual roads like this where you live? I do enjoy living in such a historical town, and especially love the textile heritage of the old cotton mill buildings here.
Coopers café was a really fun place to be this morning, it was buzzing with friends and all things yarny and I loved it, every single minute of it. It was extra special too because my old friend Tracy (who I used to share the studio with) was visiting for the first time in twenty months since she moved with her family to a very small island far away in Orkney. It was wonderful to see her again, and to catch up with all her news, I've missed her and she hasn't changed a bit which was lovely.
I spent much of this afternoon with Little Lady, doing my very best to offer advice and support, she is really coming through some wobbles right now. These teenage years can be tricky to navigate, there is so much decision making expected at a time when I don't think they are always ready for it. Add in a dash of sky-high hormones and the melting pot is quite likely to bubble over. The main advice I could offer is that whatever happens at the end of this school year, she will be OK. She will have our unconditional love and support no matter what grades she gets and what she decides to do (or not do). All will be as it should be. I hope that doesn't sound too vague, I mean it with all my heart.
It was definitely time for a little bit of liquid refreshment come four o'clock, that's for sure. We decided not to cook this evening and had a very rare Chinese takeout instead. J and I shared crispy duck and pancakes which is quite the treat I have to say - it was very yummy, but now I am overly full (I ate too much) and feel extremely thirsty. Like I could drink a bath full of chilled fresh water, I am parched dry from head to toe. Water, water, water, it's all I can think about. I want to lie down and rest my full tummy, and drink water for ever.
We are pretty much half way through the month of October now, day fifteen of thirty one. I hope you're still enjoying our daily get togethers during Blogtober and not yawning your way through the sameyness of my daily routines. I wonder if you're visiting any other blogtober blogs? Christine? CJ? Barbara? Do tell me your thoughts, I love to hear them. I'm thinking about doing an "ask me anything" type Q&A sometime next week, is there anything you've always wanted to ask or wanted to know? Gosh, here's me asking you lots of questions, haha, please do feel free to ask me any burning questions and I'll put them together in a post of some sorts.
Right............w....a.....t.....e....r......
I really need to go and get a drink or ten, so I shall love you and leave you and will be back again tomorrow.
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Hi Lucy i love following your blog adore your way with colour. Your advice to your young lady is so right, and although she won't recognise it now eventually she will come to realise that lifes journey is made up of dead ends, detours, stop and go, A and B roads but eventually she will get to wear she wants to be. I work with young people who have left care and need advice on education employment and training, we always say to our uni applicants visit as many open days, speak to student ambassadors, compare additional extras the universities offer, apply to a good variety, nothing is written in stone and changes can always be made even after you have started. If you don't get the A levels its not the end look for courses with a foundation year. With your support she will get xx
Posted by: Gail | October 19, 2021 at 09:59 PM
Hi Lucy, I’m a big fan and love my crochet too. I walk with friends and their dogs most days after the morning school drop off. We walk beside a shady creek that runs through the middle of our town and sometimes, if we’re lucky, we see a platypus swimming along, in and out of the overhanging roots in the creek bank. It’s the most magical thing. (Queensland, Australia)
Posted by: Sally | October 17, 2021 at 07:56 AM
I live in a relatively new area here in Australia to where you live.
Living now in an older unit complex that is slightly over 20 years old. Before that in a house that would be 50 years old if it hadn't been knocked down and replaced by a two story duplex.
I actually know the man who was in charge of the people putting the electric lights in this city. He is in his late 80s now. I was talking about my area and mentioned the Catholic school. He said they were talking about building one there next to the church. Hmm, the church is dwarfed by the school so I hadn't really noticed it until he mentioned a church. Had to look really hard the next time that I drove past.
I grew up in another state in a part of Brisbane that was developed into housing over many years with my street built up 60 years ago. Before that it was farming land and I grew up in one of the original farm houses.
Told a person who was new to the area in the early 2000s that I used to watch cattle being driven down my street to a slaughter house on the hill near where we were standing by a drover riding his horse in the mid 1950s. Was promptly told by that person that there had never been a slaughterhouse in her posh suburb. :-)
That's funny, because I could see it from my parent's house for the nineteen years that I lived there.
I let it go as she obviously had no love of history.
Posted by: PatriciaA | October 17, 2021 at 03:26 AM
I've been loving your daily posts and such lovely pictures. It's a lovely fall here in Wisconsin with unusually warm weather so I've been taking it all in and enjoying every minute.
Posted by: Tammy Marquardt | October 17, 2021 at 01:26 AM
Your words to your daughter are wonderful! And yes, I sooo know what you mean about this week having felt like such a very long one: it has here, too. Thank you so much for taking the time to write your blog - I'm really enjoying it and look forward to reading it each day xx
Posted by: Sarah | October 16, 2021 at 10:25 PM
I have a crochet question...what is the best way to join granny squares together? I am making my Flora squares and I am thinking about how to join them. I would love your thoughts.
And I love all your posts. Your life my seem very boring or same ol' to you, but to me, here in the US, it sounds wonderful, and slower and just dreamy.
Posted by: charlotte m. | October 16, 2021 at 03:37 PM
Oh Lucy. Your daughter is so lucky to have you as her mom.
Posted by: Deb | October 16, 2021 at 02:47 PM
Ma chère Lucy, chaque année j'ai hâte d'être en Octobre pour vous retrouver tous les jours, j'aime tellement partager vos journées. Bon weekend.
Posted by: Nadine G | October 16, 2021 at 12:44 PM
I know just what you mean about some weeks, or even some days. Yesterday was my friend Cynth's birthday, we went for a lovely drive, a beautiful walk, high along Offa's Dyke, and had a reviving stop for tea and cake in Clun on the way home. Then I decided to put the last coat of paint on the hall ceiling. Yes, it was a great day, but like you, I was done in!
You really do live in the most gorgeous little town (!), and I'm pleased you found it was worth the effort to prise yourself out of bed, and share it with us.
Your Blogtober posts are really enjoyable (I don't follow any others), and will miss you when things are back to normal ;(
Posted by: Charlotte Pountney | October 16, 2021 at 09:41 AM
Yes, the fresh, cool air in the early morning, the nature without people, streets with noises from inside the houses... a wonderful time and worth getting up early.
Nana
Posted by: Nana | October 16, 2021 at 08:33 AM
Such loving and perfect advice and support for your little lady.
This has been a hideously hot week where I live - 38-42C since Wednesday - and many long end of year school speech days and assemblies to sit through! Was finished by last evening. Thankfully cool this morning.
Posted by: Tracey | October 16, 2021 at 06:12 AM
Good advice to your girl Mama. If my mother had said the things you said about unconditional love and support I think my life would have been very different. You're doing great!
Posted by: Char | October 16, 2021 at 01:55 AM
Hi Lucy, I am enjoying your sameness. Sail on! And I do have a question. You put so much time, love, and effort into the making of your blankets... I wonder how you deal with the accidental yarn picks and pulls from your kitty and/or your peeps. Does it freak you out to see your blankets, uh, injured in this way? xxoo, Maureen
Posted by: Maureen | October 16, 2021 at 01:14 AM
I don't crochet...but I love watching you come up with such lovely designs....and I enjoy seeing your town. my husband will look over my shoulder and ask when we are going to visit.
Posted by: Ann Marie | October 16, 2021 at 01:08 AM
Are the mill buildings still in use? Looks like unbroken glass in all the windows.
Posted by: Sue | October 16, 2021 at 12:48 AM
You have such an enjoyable and easy writing style, a lovely natural voice and the ability to make everyday life endlessly interesting (which of course it is, with the right approach!).
Posted by: Margaret Longden | October 16, 2021 at 12:11 AM
I love old towns. I'm stuck in the boring newer burbs of a big city so I love seeing all the photos you post of your town. I look at the 3 and 4 story buildings in your photos and wonder if people live there, are they businesses, & I imagine what the town looked like hundreds of years ago.
I remember when I was the Little Lady's age. I felt it wasn't fair to strive for and then have to make a choice about career and uni. I wasn't ready! I wasn't sure! So I used that experience with my older son a few years ago. I told him that whatever he chose now didnt lock him in for life. Uni isn't about getting THE qualifications for THE career you have to do forever. Uni is about acquiring life experiences. And you can change your mind. Or take a gap year or two until theyre ready to get started. I hope she feels a little less stressed soon. I didnt go to uni until my mid 20s. And I was old enough to really have the mindset that I knew what I wanted to do and to enjoy the whole uni experience!
Posted by: Louise | October 16, 2021 at 12:08 AM
There's something very comforting about "sameyness," definitely not a bad thing. We all appreciate the sameyness of Attic24. A creative sisterhood, a respite from our own lives. I think we all unpack our sighs and smiles as we drink in your countryside, your projects, your heart. Thank you for sharing yourself.
Posted by: Fay | October 15, 2021 at 10:56 PM
It’s been so mild here in the Boston area this October it’s hard to believe the end of the year is coming. Say it ain’t so!! I’m on the border of the Yuletide blanket and can only seem to manage one row a day!!! So long!! What is that wave blanket in the picture?? A sneak peek of the CAL?? Can’t wait. Have a good night.
Posted by: Linda from Boston | October 15, 2021 at 10:46 PM
Glued together eyes here this morning too. Something about the change of seasons makes me extra sleepy. Loved seeing your old lanes. Such a beautiful town with so much character. Always love reading your posts and empathise with your daughter at the moment. Teenagers are expected to make too many decisions at the most difficult stage of their lives. It’s good that she has so much support. Thank you for giving me a mention. I’m loving blogtober too. B x
Posted by: Barbara | October 15, 2021 at 10:43 PM
Dear Lucy, sending you love from Australia. I adore your blog. You have inspired me to crochet again after my children have left home and I was feeling a bit lost. Hope Little Lady is ok with all her decisions, always a bit stressful.
Posted by: Christine | October 15, 2021 at 10:34 PM
Dear Lucy, I am fairly new to your blogs and your lovely Attic 24 site. I would really like to know how you started your 'crochet career'. How did you start your shop within Wool Warehouse? When did you start crocheting and designing? Where did the name Attic 24 come from? Just interested to know how it all started for you. All the best xx
Posted by: Ann Lawrence | October 15, 2021 at 10:32 PM
Urgh the dreaded msg thirst. You will be peeing all night now ;p
Posted by: Fiona Tims | October 15, 2021 at 10:24 PM
Hi Lucy, it’s so good to read your blog. Lots of love and hugs to you and Little Lady. It really brings back memories and my little lady has turned out to be a wonderful grown up lady. Thank you for your wonderful blankets. Yuletide is keeping me sane while we go through the stress of moving house! Take care ……
Posted by: Roz Peel | October 15, 2021 at 10:15 PM
I couldn't wake up this morning either and it's been a bit dark all day after all the sunshine we've had lately. Can't believe there are only eleven weeks left of the year, yikes. It does fly by. Thanks for the mention, and I love the idea of an ask me anything, I shall look forward to seeing if you do it. Hope you have a good and restful weekend. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | October 15, 2021 at 10:04 PM