I was out and about into town quite early this morning, in fact I managed to wangle the timing so that I had to leave the house at the very same time as Little B. He walked out the front door laden down with his school bag and games kit not realising that Mum was following closely behind, and the look of utter disbelief on his face was priceless. He even went so far as to run away down the street (and I mean no idle jog but a full blown sprint) until I yelled at him to stop and wait for me. I guess the thought of me walking with him to Big School was just too horrifying to contemplate, and in the end I took pity on him and let him go on ahead. My, my, it was bitter sweet I can tell you. Anyhow, child cruelty aside, I was off into town to meet my good friend at a favourite café of ours which is a pretty usual occurrence for a Tuesday morning. It was lovely - a fantastic latté, some sourdough toast with homemade raspberry and lime preserve and a jolly good natter with plenty of laughter. When I came home mid morning the postman had been, and today I had not one but two smile-inducing packages waiting for me. Oh, I do so love a Happy Post kind of a day!
The first parcel was squishy and I knew exactly what was inside.......I've had a hankering just lately to cast on a pair of socks, having not made any since J's blue pair a year ago.
I chose a beautiful ball of Regia which is one of my favourite sock yarn brands. Regia yarn is very robust, it knits up beautifully but most importantly it wears and washes exceptionally well. I can pop the socks into a mesh laundry bag and wash them at 40 degrees in the machine with a normal clothes load and they don't ever shrink, felt or pull out of shape.
The other reason I love Regia is because they partner with some well known designers to create the most beautifully coloured self striping yarn for sock making. The above yarn was designed by none other than colour guru Kaffe Fassett (whom I love to bits) and if you are interested in this kind of thing, the yarn is called Regia Design Line 4 ply by Kaffe Fassett in colourway "Cool".
I'm really looking forward to casting on and seeing these stripes emerge on my needles, well actually I'm mostly looking forward to wearing these colours on my feet. I can't wait for that.
My second happy post was the latest Country Living magazine which is the November issue. As you may have guessed (because I am very predictable) the summer issues are my absolute swoony favourite, closely followed by spring. Autumn comes third, winter last. I tend to find Autumn styling and story themes all a bit brown, but having a quick look through this issue made me re-think.....
....the Seasonal Decorating pages are absolutely beautiful and full of glorious colour.
Nature is such a constant source of joy and inspiration for me, and seeing these pages sent me scurrying to my shelves for a creative rifle through my yarn stash. The pinks and golds reminded me of my "Crochet Pumpkin Patch" post from a few years ago, which inspired a very pretty autumn colour palette. Dusky pinks, oranges, golds and soft greens - this isn't the usual thing that springs to mind when you think of autumn, but oh, it really should be. It's yummy!!
I took some yarn to Coopers café this afternoon so that I could work on a second Yuletide mandala. I wanted to check over the written pattern to make sure I hadn't made any mistakes, and the best way to do this is to for me to actually use the pattern. All is well (only two small errors which is good going) so I'll ask J very nicely if he can work my blurb into a proper downloadable PDF pattern for me to share with you.
By the way, thank you SO MUCH for all your enthusiasm on yesterdays post, I'm thrilled that so many of you would like to make this mandala and I'll try and get the pattern together in the next few days. I'll also be able to show you the mandala I made this afternoon (I ran out of time/light to photograph it properly today), it really is pretty and has a completely different feel to the Yuletide version.
On the way home from the café I stopped to pick up some fresh ingredients for our meal tonight. The weather today has been shockingly cold, wet and miserable so I decided to make a warming Thai style coconut curry. I like to make my own green curry paste using a recipe I found many years ago, you just cannot beat the flavours when you make it from scratch.
I know it doesn't look like much, just green sludge on a spoon, but trust me the smell and taste is absolutely incredible. It's a very powerful curry paste, but once it gets diluted with coconut milk it makes the most wonderful curry. I added in red peppers and king prawns, and we ate it out of bowls with basmati rice and flat breads. Yummmmmmmm.
It's definitely fire lighting weather today, and the above photo was me this afternoon, around 4pm. I came home from the shops feeling absolutely chilled to the bone, so I immediately got the fire underway, pulled on some woolly socks and a jumper and cosied up under a blanket. Little Lady came home from school and very kindly made me a cup of tea, so all was well in my world as I gradually started to feel myself thaw out.
Right now it's 8pm and dark outside and I can hear the rain hitting the windows. I heard from a reliable source (my milkman) that the weather is due to warm up as the week goes on, so I hope he's right about that. I'm not a fan of cold, wet Octobers, I'm much happier when there is a smidge of sunshine. I hope you've had a wonderful day, do tell me what has made you happy today, I'd love to hear xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Love your blog Lucy. Your photos and work make me smile. Can you share your curry recipe?
Posted by: Ann Garner | October 10, 2021 at 02:24 AM
I would also love the Thai Green Curry Paste recipe if you're able to share it ☺
Posted by: Gillian Greenshields | October 07, 2021 at 08:54 AM
Hi Lucy, i have been enjoying blogtober. I have been finishing up my smaller yultide peices as i plan to make a cushion cover with mine. I've done it in Autumnal colours with a bit of added sparkle. Just need to measure up to see if their big enough and then join them together and find some buttons. I've also just finished a shawl by Zooty Owl, a pattern i've used several times now but this time for a wedding i'm going to on Monday, just wondering what weather will present itself?!?
Posted by: Kerridwen Niner | October 06, 2021 at 08:57 PM
Hi Lucy! I’d also love to see your green curry paste recipe if it’s shareable. I’ve had Green curry on my mind for the last few weeks because it’s a meal we ate regularly…until curiously I haven’t found any Thai Green curry paste on the shelves of any supermarkets we go to for weeks. Loving your cosy pictures. I,too, am not a fan of wet, cold October’s. I’m relieved we have sun on the forecast too!
Posted by: Remaliah | October 06, 2021 at 08:57 PM
Thank you Lucy and J for putting the mandala pattern together and posting! I look forward to seeing it soon.
Posted by: Julie Mutchler | October 06, 2021 at 05:47 PM
They do grow up so quickly, don't they? Love all your pictures. The fall is one of my favorite seasons. I do truly love all the seasons, but fall just makes my heart sing. I finally got off the fence about the Yuletide blanket and am waiting for a notice that it is back in stock. I am getting ready to do a big move, so I will wait until I am on the other end of it to begin, but I want to have it at the ready. Right now what is making me happy it making your flora granny squares. I am using all my leftover blanket yarns from previous blankets for the squares. I counted yesterday and I have 33 squares done! This will be a long term project, and it is so easily portable during the move. Once I run out of yarn, we will see how many there are and how big my piece can be. It is very colorful, and to put them all together, I plan to crochet one more row around each one in a neutral yarn color, before it stitch them together.
Posted by: charlotte m. | October 06, 2021 at 02:49 PM
Hi Lucy, your blogs are always an inspiration to me and your colours make me very happy. Also today's happy for me includes my daughter's operation on her foot has gone well and she is due to go home. Unfortunately her home is London, mine is Morley, Yorkshire. Happy no.3 is I have finished making my Christmas cards for this year, a job I absolutely love. Finally no.4 - The Sun Is Shining!!! Hooray!
Posted by: Gill Compigne-Leaney | October 06, 2021 at 02:25 PM
Hi Lucy,
I’m loving your blogtober posts. Happy mail is the best. That issue of Country Living looks interesting I may just have to pick up a copy .
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Posted by: Carol Blakeley | October 06, 2021 at 12:42 PM
I love your posts. Would you share your recipe for your Thai style coconut curry? It sounds delicious!
Posted by: Regina | October 06, 2021 at 11:53 AM
Those socks are going to be fabulous! Kaffe Fassett's Design Line yarns were the very first I made into socks, and I used that yarn for my own very favourite pair too! :) xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | October 06, 2021 at 11:43 AM
Love your blog. I’m so happy today. Here in Sydney, Australia, we are allowed out of lockdown on Monday. Been in since 26 June. I can see my husband in aged care on Monday. It’s been so long. Summer is my favourite season, even though it gets quite hot sometimes here. My cat’s name is Summer!
.
Posted by: Carol | October 06, 2021 at 10:31 AM
Oh Lucy,
Your blog made me smile, it reminded me in a way of when my brother and I would go to Sunday School, many years ago now, and we would walk on opposite sides of the road, drove our mum mad.
Also, I made my grandchildren Regia socks, my younger grandson loved his in yellow green and blue so he wore them to ‘big’ school, were he was told in no uncertain terms that they were not school uniform!
Thank you for cheering us all up.
Ellie
Posted by: Ellie Williams | October 06, 2021 at 10:11 AM
I read your post and had to smile. I am in trouble for putting the fan on today. It went over 30 here and I hate the heat. I love reading that you can snuggle down in front of the fire and sip tea.
I am glad you pattern was almost perfect. That's incredible.
Haven't knitted socks in a long while. I might have to get back to it. They are perfect items to m are in extremely hot and humid weather.
Posted by: Suzan | October 06, 2021 at 09:47 AM
That sounds like a very good morning indeed. I like the summer magazines as well, all that sunshine and green and little jars of flowers, just glorious. I like the look of your Thai green curry paste ingredients, sometimes there are so many things I get put off. I might give it a go and see if they like it. I would not be welcome on the walk to school with my youngest either, there would be similar horror, although the almost-18 year old likes to walk along with me and the dog if we happen to leave at the same time. Although that might be because of the dog to be honest. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | October 06, 2021 at 09:28 AM
Kaffe Fasset I swoon over his goodies his colour combos are magic.He talks like things are so easy he he.
That sock yarn swoon which pattern are you using please.
Oh no my other half loves thai curry and that looks gorgeous.
Cant wait for tha mandala pattern.
Thankyou lovely pist as usual hope you have warmed up nicely.
Posted by: Jacqui | October 06, 2021 at 09:18 AM
Lovely post, Lucy! We had brilliant sunshine here today and finally some warmth (22 degrees) and with our travel restrictions lifted a little I could get to my fav green grocer for some wonderful fresh fruit and veg. Came home and made a big salad for lunch and ate it outside in the sun! Perfect. As it clouded over this afternoon I came in and worked on my second sock from Christine’s (winwickmum) “Hometown Socks” pattern. Got two loads washing out and in too!
Posted by: Meredithe | October 06, 2021 at 09:03 AM
Horrible wet afternoon, cup of hot chocolate, crochet hook in hand, time to start my Yuletide blanket. Very happy.
Posted by: Maureen | October 06, 2021 at 08:25 AM
Someone told me yesterday that the weather is due to warm up down here too, I really hope he’s right!
I’m also a huge fan of Kaffe. I think he must be exhibiting somewhere in the world because my blog post on an exhibition of his in Bath keeps being viewed on my blog. I also saw him in the garden.
Could you send me your recipe for the curry place please? Sounds delicious. It’s a while since I made my own and I’ve not sure which recipe I used. XXX
Posted by: Rachell | October 06, 2021 at 07:59 AM
I love reading your inspirational posts Lucy. You write so beautifully. You make the most of every day. Twenty one weeks after breaking my leg i had my first,very short, solo dog walk yesterday. Thank you to the wonderful NHS for your reconstruction and to Lucy because now I put my alarm on early now to seize the day . XxxxxxxX
Posted by: Julie Round | October 06, 2021 at 07:38 AM
I would also love to have the recipe vor the green curry! It looks so good!
Posted by: Martina | October 06, 2021 at 07:33 AM
Happiness today was sharing time with some lovely ladies ar our Days for girls sewing group. All the doors were open so the room was well aired and we sat well spaced out. A wonderful cause which helps girls and women sooo much. I
Chilled to the bone and damp after my very quick walk home I too warmed up with a cup of tea and felt indulgent doing a few rounds of my Yuletide blanket.
I’m loving the different colour combinations.
I love Blogtober …
Thankyou for sharing.
Posted by: Sue Roberts | October 06, 2021 at 05:56 AM
Hi Lucy Your post made me happy. LOL And you mentioning Kaffe Fassett...be still my heart...I have loved that guy for years and years and years. I love his textiles and his paintings! So I will have to take a little jaunt down memory lane and look thru his wonderful books that I have, full of color and dreamyness. I used to knit children's sweaters in bright bold colors, inspired by Mr. Fassett. Now I crochet blankets inspired by you. I am hoping too that we get some autumnal sun, it is too early for all this rain! Take Care, Hugs MO
Posted by: Marylin Ollivier | October 06, 2021 at 04:55 AM
Hello Dear Lucy, I celebrated my son's 22nd with a takeaway and cake and ended the day singing at choir. A very happy day indeed.
Posted by: Claire Hayden | October 06, 2021 at 04:54 AM
I was thrilled the other day when I read your post about Blogtober and how you'll be posting every day! I am soo soo happy that I get to step away from the insanity that my life has become in the last little bit, to finally be able to sit down at night and step away from it all and read about your day.. I find it very calming and relaxing and I absolutely love all your photo's! Thank you for sharing your day, your life and your talent with us! I'm wondering though, have you given us a sneak peak in your final picture with the blanket you cosied up under? I thought I knew all your blankets but I'm not recognizing that one at all!
Posted by: Tammy | October 06, 2021 at 03:58 AM
Something that made me happy today? I finished my work early enough to go on an adventure, so I hopped on the subway to Ridgewood Queens in NYC to explore. While I was there I walked into a very old bakery and bought a loaf of sesame semolina bread. I wasn't expecting much, NYC doesn't have a lot of great bread. You have to go way out of your way to get it. It turned out to be super delicious!
Another thing that is making me happy is my cranky sick foster kitty has gained five pounds and started to follow me around and sit next to me wherever I am in my apartment.
Posted by: witloof | October 06, 2021 at 03:22 AM