Blogtober 2021 :: Day 6

Early morning walks at this time of year start out in semi darkness, but there is something very uplifting about witnessing the first light of a new day. I think I mentioned the other week that J and I have moved the time of our daily walk from mid morning to first thing, and I'm really enjoying the change. Because of the low light levels we've stopped walking in the woods for the time being, and instead we walk a circular route which follows the canal towpath, into the park and then a climb up through hilly residential streets.

We walk between 6.30 and 7.30, and it isn't always easy to make that happen I must admit. Take this morning for example - I was actually sound asleep at 6.30, right in the middle of a dream where I was taking part in a fashion show. J came and woke me up and I literally tumbled out of bed with my eyes still half closed, pulled on some clothes, brushed my teeth, splashed cold water on my face and was putting my shoes on a mere ten minutes after walking the catwalk in Dreamland. I impressed myself quite honestly, and as always I was so, so glad I seized the day (with J's help). Getting outdoors to stretch my muscles, breathe deeply and wake my body up with exercise and fresh air is a great way to start the day, I can highly recommend it.

Tomorrow I think I'm going to go back to setting my alarm for 6am, so that I stand a chance of caffeinating myself before I have to go and climb hills. 

It's been an absolutely stunning day today with endless blues skies and warm sun and I have been so happy about it. The weather does really affect my mood, well not so much the weather as the light levels I think. Having the brightest of blue skies above me all day I've felt full of energy, and I've really been thankful for that.

So what do you make of this room, with it's William Morris wallpaper and olde worlde charm?? I tell you, I am so spoilt living here in Atticland because we have some truly amazing independent coffee shops and cafés, and this delightful room belongs to one of my favourites. It's a small, upstairs café - on the ground floor there is a shop where you can buy a huge variety of coffee beans and loose leaf teas. Downstairs is also home to the old roasting machine, and on days when the coffee beans are being toasted the smell in the surrounding area is wonderful. And because they roast their beans freshly on the premises, the resulting coffee is really, really good. Like unbelievably good.

Needless to say I'm a regular customer and frequently stop by to collect takeouts, but this week J suggested that he would enjoy taking a break from his computer screen in the middle of the morning, and would I fancy a proper sit-down coffee? Well what a ridiculous question, honestly, it took me a nanosecond to agree to this new arrangement and oh, it's suiting me very well indeed. If I tell you that this delightful place is a mere one minute walk from my front door, you can see how my love for a frothy milky coffee has been pretty inevitable living here. Lucky, lucky me.

The rest of my morning was spent darning in ends and taking a few photographs for the Yuletide mandala pattern. I'll have everything ready to share either tomorrow or Friday, and I'm excited to show you more of the colours I've been playing with.

I needed to go out and run a few errands this afternoon, and it was heaven being able to leave the house without wearing a coat. So different to yesterday when my bones felt chilled all day. I snapped a quick photo of my view before I set off down the hill, it's been a while since I shared it with you and it's still looking quite summery for October.

It was busy along the canal today, with plenty of boats cruising back and forth and a good number of people out enjoying the sunshine. 

Ahhhh......back doing "the school run"!! I still think of this part of the canal in terms of walking to school, and I wonder whether this will change in time or if I'll always feel the attachment to the memories? 

I spent some time in the back yard this afternoon and absolutely loved being outdoors with the warmth of the sun on my face. I ate a late lunch sat on my lounger and it felt so good, like an unexpected dip back into summertime. I did some gentle deadheading too, and admired the abundant floral colour which is still thriving out there. Brightly coloured flowers make me happy right down to my toes.

I hope you're still enjoying my daily posts and that you're not finding things too samey. Thank you for all your chatty comments so far on my Blogtober posts, I really love to hear from you and find out what is making you happy and how you are spending your days. See you tomorrow xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Susie]

Loving your daily posts. Your idea of a morning (and day for that matter) sounds perfect for me. Lovely, scenic walk and coffee - pure bliss.

[Silvia]

Today I can sit and read your October posts and Enjoy every single one!!
Love the mandala and your early walks... Here is the beginnig of spring so flowers are everywhere... And the sun is perfect!
Thanks a lot for October and you!!!

[Esthr]

Loving your daily posts, definitely not samey. Love the way you just capture life.
Interested in the sock post. I just cannot knit but would love to be able to do the socks you do. At the risk of suggesting even more hard work blogging, ever considered a photo tutorial?! You are so thorough in your descriptions and explanations I think I could knit some with your help!! Xx

[Patricia]

Lucy, I've enjoyed everything about your blogs for years now. Yes, your work and your opening the windows into your everyday life are all wonderful. But most of all, your sharing your feelings, your moods, your concerns are equally important. I'm sure you've inspired countless people to keep going, find what inspires them, what helps them, what they need to avoid. So I'm sending gratitude and smiles across the great Atlantic Ocean to you, with wishes for more sunny days and blue skies for you. Looking forward to the holiday project.

[Astrid Jansen van Beek]

Enjoying the soft sunbeams on my cheeks, I love it.
I also enjoy the things you write about , maybe it is universal.
The people by the canal sitting in the sunlight too.
Especially the gift of sunshine in the autumn,even it is for ten minutes makes me happy.
Nice to read your blogtober!

[Cathy]

woohoo!
Atticland blogtober!!
xx
Sydney,Australia.

[Gail Clarke]

Hi Lucy, i am loving our daily dips into your life, thank you for taking us along with you on your journey. I appreciate that it is a large commitment to blog daily and am thankful for your time.
That William Morris wall paper is heavenly, i do so love his designs. Could you imagine Morris' dssigns combined with Kaffe Fassett colour work......WOW!!

[Charlotte Pountney]

Samey? I could live with that level of sameyness, very easily! Really look forward to reading your posts and seeing life in your gorgeous little town...I even looked at 'properties for sale in', the other day!

[DawnC]

As always your post is so perfect! Love the photos also!

[CJ]

What a beautiful geranium in the last photo. It was a glorious day wasn't it. And what an amazing cafe nearby, you are lucky. I am a big fan of coffee these days, after decades without it. I like an early start and all that seize the day malarkey. Although sometimes to be honest I could do with a lie down by ten o'clock. CJ xx

[Gemma Braiding]

Because you’re my antipodes, I love having two opposite seasons (yours and mine) at the same time. It never gets old. And of course you have such an eye for colour. Love your posts.

[Carol]

I’m really enjoying your daily posts … there really are so many small things to be thankful for every single day if we take the time to stop and notice. I love that William Morris wallpaper … I can never resist buying fabric in his designs, though its so pretty I never want to use it … I’m saving it for the perfect project 🙈

[Corinne]

Thanks for the daily posts, Lucy. You take such lovely photos. I'm pleased you are able to have these special times with your other half.😊

[jan magor]

Thank you Lucy for sharing the beautiful part of the world you live in. I look forward to waking up and reading your blog

[Laura Martin]

I enjoy sooooo much reading your posts!!!

[Vicky]

Just ❤️ Following along Lucy and can almost picture myself walking canal-side too! We have just come into daylight saving here in NZ heralding spring and hopefully a wonderful summer. Take care and keep doing you xxx

[Carol Birl]

Great blog, almost feel like I am there with you. You live in a beautiful area.

[Kathryn Grimshaw]

Your posts are always wonderful Lucy, and I love the different photos you take that are all familiar to me. I love the coffee from the coffee shop ( I purchased mine in Clitheroe but I have visited the one you mention)
Hasn’t it been a fabulous day! We went for a walk in a little woods a near Barley ( Pendle area) and I also spent time in the garden where I had a special moment when I was able to photograph a Hummingbird moth hovering over the Verbena ( not an easy feat I can assure you! 😁) wish I could have shared the photo with you . ( it’s on my FB page)
It was a special day! Thanks for the lovely feel good blog. Xx

[Susan Benge]

I feel really jealous of your weather today Lucy. Here on the North Kent coast it’s been really windy and chilly too, hopefully will be better tomorrow. Looking forward to your mandala pattern when you are ready.

[Maypole]

Looking at the William Morris wallpaper, I just see colours for a crochet blanket.🙂

[Tineke]

Isn't that wonderful to do with the one you love? So happy for you both you enjoy these things together. The Yuletide in pastel is just as gorgeous as the Xmas Yuletide. And that blue sky <3 and view <3

[Jacqui]

Its been a lovely day here near heathrow too!
Been working on mini xmas stockings cant wait to make your mandala
Lovely post as ever Thankyou x

[Margaret Longden]

Ah yes, I know this little coffee shop very well, with its William Morris wallpaper - a beautiful timeless room and brilliant coffee. There is a sister shop in Clithero which is equally charming.