Blogtober 2021 :: Day 30

This is my fifth Saturday of Blogtober 2021 (previous ones are here, here, here and here) and I woke up to the sound of rain pattering heavily against the window. For a smidge of time I thought I was still in Dorset, but I gradually worked out where I was and that I didn't have to rush to get up as it was Saturday. I drifted back to sleep for a little while longer in that particularly delicious warmth of a soundly slept in bed. Crikey, I had such a good nights sleep last night, I really was bone tired by the time I walked in the front door last night at 9.30pm after nearly ten hours spent on the move.

I'm really glad to be home but it does take a little bit of readjustment after a break away. I've spent quite a bit of today doing chores - my usual weekend jobs, but also all the little things that slip through the net when I'm away and J is left in charge. My friend CJ calls it "re-entry" when you come back home after a holiday, and I totally get that - there is an element of bracing oneself to deal with the bumpy landing.

So today's market delights included the above spectacular vegetable, and I'm sorry the photo doesn't really do it justice because it was a beauty. I say was because it's all gone now, J and I ate the whole thing between us in one sitting. To be fair it was quite a small one (it's a Romanesco in case you didn't recognise it, a cross between a cauliflower and broccoli in terms of flavour). I broke it up into the prettiest of dainty florets, massaged them in a little olive oil, seasoned generously and baked in a hot oven for about 30 minutes. They come out lightly charred, a little bit sweet and utterly moreish, and we ate it with a veggie curry and sticky rice.

This morning the weather was nasty, it was cold and wet and our visit to the market was a bit of an endurance. Breakfast in the café afterwards was a much cosier and enjoyable affair and it felt good to be back in my familiar weekend groove.

This afternoon the rainy skies all of a sudden cleared and there was actual sunshine for a short while. I asked the fam if they fancied coming with me for a walk in the woods, but both Little People were still in pjs and taking it easy and couldn't be persuaded so it was just J and me.

 

It was very picturesque in the woodland, the sun makes such a huge difference to the colours and overall ambience and I hadn't realised quite how much I've missed it of late. 

You can see how quickly the leaves are changing now.......

....the autumn colours are sweeping through the treetops.....

....and the ground is carpeted with them too.

It was lovely to be out amongst it all, and we timed it just right because by the time we were walking back up our street the sun had disappeared and it was raining again. 

The kitty is pleased to have me home, in fact when I walked up to my front door last night she was sat on the doormat waiting for me which made my heart swell somewhat. She is such a contradiction, at times ridiculously feisty and difficult, and yet she really does seem to need us close by at all times. She's been sleeping all afternoon, shifting from the chair (pictured above with my new blanket) to the cushion beside the fire which currently has my cashmerino granny square blanket on it.

I really desperately want to tell you more about the new blanket, and once Blogtober has come to a close I'll have a little bit more headspace to chat to you about it. I'm excited!

A few people have asked me recently about the Yuletide Garland which I started back in September using left over scraps of yarn from making my Yuletide blanket. I'll get back to working on the patterns for it next week once the Little Peeps return to school, and I'll share progress on it as I go. There will be free patterns for you eventually so that you can choose to make either a garland or a little Yuletide wreath perhaps? Ivy, eucalyptus, holly and orange slices, with maybe a few little golden stars thrown in for good measure. I think it's going to be cute, and a lovely project to work on in the run up to Advent.

Ahhh, I'm sorry if I haven't sounded like my usual bright and breezy self today, I'm suddenly so, so tired my lovelies. It's 8.30pm and I think I'm going to head up to bed for an early night. The very thought of my bed is so insanely appealing that I now can't think about anything else other than sinking my head into my plump feather pillows. 

The clocks go back tonight, so we'll all enjoy an extra hour in bed and the timing of it couldn't be better. Night night, I'll see you all again tomorrow with some pumpkin related content I expect.

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Comments

[Kieltyka Monique]

Hello, my english is not good enough so je continue ce message en Français(milles excuses pour cette lacune linguistique).Cela fait déjà quelques années que j'ai découvert votre merveilleux blog et ses couleurs chatoyantes. Je suis moi-même une crocheteuse compulsive, une obsessionelle des laines et des couleurs et votre site et vos ouvrages m'ont totalement conquise. J'ai parfois des difficultés dans l'harmonisation des couleurs et des points que je réalise ou que j'invente, mais vos petites astuces en pinces à linge m'ont beaucoup aidé... Merci aussi pour vos belles photos de la campagne anglaise. La nature est toujours aussi belle. Moi-même qui habite le continent européen et qui ai la chance d'avoir un jardin, je m'émerveille autant que vous devant ce qui nous entoure et qui n'est brillant que par sa simplicité. Merci et tous mes voeux pour vous, votre famille et vos projets. Monika

[Helen]

Ha, you missed some exciting weather in Dorset , though to be fair it’s been a bit wild in quite a few places.
Bournemouth lower gardens were a lake, Cerne abbas flooding, though hardly surprising as it has steep hills to the valley . Buckland Newton was just a raging wall of water down the main road and several houses flooded. I think things became exciting in charmouth , no end of trees down and roads impassable . Plenty of daft motorists driving into deep water and cars getting stuck . I expect lots of places were affected but news down here isn’t exactly easy to find, the local “echos” are pretty naff to be honest

So am very glad you made it home safely , especially as some rail services were going nowhere .

Stay safe !

[Marylin Ollivier]

Hi Lucy & Welcome home! I like the 're-entry' of your day back. Gently getting back to familiar routine after travelling always excites me for some reason. It's like a fresh start and I get all motivated to organize and such. Your new blanket is really appealing to me--luv the joyful color. My kitty Gracie, always thinks everything I crochet is for her. Looking forward to your next crochet project tutorial. Hugs, MO

[CJ]

Romanescoes are brilliant aren't they, and I love your way of cooking it. The eldest is also re-entering at the moment, after a fantastic week away. I messed up my timings last night and was late collecting him from the bus station (should have been there at 4.30am, eek). Love the woodland photos, the leaves really seem on the turn here over the past week. Lots of bits of flooding here this morning though, so they are very sodden. CJ xx

[Margit]

Dear Lucy, dear all, I have been following your beautiful work for several years now. You are really inspiring so many people! I would like to inform all of you about a crochet project in Germany (www.museum-frieder-burda.de/weltmeer-haekeln.php) inspired by a worldwide project from the Wertheim-sisters (www.margaretwertheim.com/crochet-coral-reef).

As a science teacher I would like to install a satellite reef at our school. So if anyone likes to make a coral as well, I would be happy if you sent it either to the Frieder-Burda-Museum and/or to me: Dr. Margit Sauer, Franz Kern Str. 9,
D-77767 Appenweier, Germany
You will find a pdf with instructions on both links.
Thanks for reading and maybe spreading this.
Many greetings, Margit

[Christine]

I missed your week in Dorset, short trip to hospital, and I was so looking forward to it.
Just caught up.
Thank you for Lyme and oh!! The sea spray on my face!!!! Just what I needed.
Good to know that all at home has ticked along nicely.
Thank you

[Becki]

Hi Lucy so glad you had a good and safe journey back home, I loved your little pebble, so pretty and will bring back such good memories when you look at it. I too shall be sad when Blogtober is over but realise it would be too all consuming to keep it up all the time. I have really enjoyed your posts for many years too and am sooooo thankful I came across your post and with your superb photo tutorials managed to learn to crochet.🌟 I shall try and send you some pictures. ☺️ I’ve really enjoyed seeing the different parts of the country too, take care, love and hugs Becki xxxx 🥰☺️

[Barbara]

Smile, re-entry... I understand that well. Lucy I have been crocheting my scraps into your flower cushion pattern. 3 strands of yarn and a N hook. I have fine several. The fabric is fantastic! Squishy! I organized my scraps by color. My favorite one is orange colors with several rows of green. Fantastic pumpkin look.

[Christine Whiting]

Will really miss your posts when they finish I read them before having my breakfast. Don't leave it to long till we have another.x

[Rachell]

I’ve also really enjoyed your daily blogs. Is BlogNovember a thing too?! Xx

[Lorna]

“Re-entry”, I love that and how delicately you’ve written about the return to domestic duties. I have to admit, I would often feel a level of resentment at being faced with this after being away, which could spoils things but henceforth I will endeavour to adopt your more sensible pragmatic approach!

[Line]

Glad you enjoyed your coming back home. I'll miss your daily articles.

[JG]

http://www.lymeregis.org/marine-theatre-webcam.aspx

http://www.lymeregis.org/webcam.aspx

For a virtual sea fix...
Appreciate your time and energy splashing happiness around...
Kind regards

[Winwick Mum]

We love Romanesco, you've reminded me that we've not had one for ages but hopefully this is the season for them1 "Re-entry" is a very good word for those days after a holiday! xx

[Charlotte Pountney]

So good to be home! Those romanesco cauliflowers look too pretty to eat...

[Louise]

It's funny how our furry family members seem to just do their own thing but there's these sweet moments when you know they like us. And not just for food or warmth. Ive half attempted a Yuletide wreath in the past but the bustle of the end of year always snatches it away and I think "maybe next year I'll get time and inspiration ". But if you have some little garlandy/ wreath patterns on their way, maybe I'll finally pull out that foam ring I've had stashed away and get making!

[Tineke]

You had enough energy to go to the market and a walk? Goodness, I am floored after such a long ride on the train. Thank you for this lovely month of vlogs while you were so busy and out and about. It was lovely.

[Charlotte]

It’s always nice to go but nice to come home. Yes, re-entry is a real thing after being away but it is nice to get back in ones routine. Sounds like your were missed on the home front by the cat. Thanks for sharing.

[Penny]

Glad you are back safe and sound. I am going to miss your daily blogs.