Unlike much of the UK, here in Atticland we didn't really get hit by Storm Eunice in any major way yesterday. Yes it was windy, and yes we had a fair bit of rainfall, but nothing that really made me feel like we were weathering a huge storm. We got off very lightly I know, and I'm so grateful that we didn't have any issues with power at all, and no damage to deal with either, not a single wind-blown thing around our house. Very thankful indeed, and my heart goes out to all those who have been hardest hit by this extreme winter weather.
This morning it was grey and still when we went off into town to visit the market and shops, and we had absolutely no idea what kind of weather would soon be arriving. Nobody mentioned snow, it's been all about the high winds in the news so you can imagine how surprised I was to look out of the window in the early afternoon and see the sky swirling with big, fat feathery snowflakes.
After half an hour of watching from indoors, Little B said he really wanted to go out and see what the park looked like so we pulled on some extra layers and plodded slowly up the road to take it all in. The snow was the wet, icy, slushy kind that looks pretty from a distance (behind a double glazed window pane is ideal) but is actually really rubbish to walk in or play in. Snowballs end up as lethal, solid blocks of ice which can do hard damage, and the mix of mud and slippery slush in the park was a bit nasty to be honest.
But it did look pretty in my photos, and I appreciated the fact that it was oh-so-quiet and tranquil and perfectly winterish. At one point we were the only two people in the whole of the park, laughing and slip sliding down the icy, grassy slope, trying our very best to stay upright.
We walked up into the meadow with only the birds for company...
...and I was actually pretty glad when Little B suddenly declared he was ready to head homewards.
I noticed for the first time that the crocuses are starting to show in the front garden, and I hope they don't mind the wintry weather because the temperature has been a steady 1° all day. They must be used to this kind of weather though, or is February just too early for them do you think? Mind you, it's not like you can talk to them and persuade them to reverse back into the safety of the ground, so I just hope they know what they're doing.
It was a certain feeling of bliss to come back into a warm home, flinging off wet outer layers and preparing to simply sit down for a while and feel cosy. Little B made himself a hot chocolate, then proceeded to gather together every single crochet blanket he could find to make himself a huge yarny nest to snuggle in. I tell you, he is never, ever content with just one blanket, no, no, not ever.
I managed to keep a hold of one solitary crochet blanket for myself (and I had to fight hard for it too), then speedily lit the fire and made myself a coffee before he could steal it from me. Two-thirty-eight in the afternoon and all was well in my world.
Today's best buy from the market was a bag of blood oranges which are in season at the moment, we got ten oranges for £2. I successfully managed to freak the Little People out when I cut one open and I so clearly remember having the exact same shock when I was a child. Watching Little B's face turn from horror to utter suspicion really made me laugh! I had to work hard to get him to try some, and of course he absolutely loved it, I mean, they are am-A-zing. The sweet flavour and the downright over the top juiciness really is wonderful.
My hyacinth is in flower, and it's turned out to be a beautiful pale pink colour.
So, so pretty. Weirdly, it doesn't seem to smell of anything much at the moment but perhaps it's just building up to it. Sometimes hyacinths can be like that, they can go from nothing much to overpowering in the space of a few days.
And finally in today's weather report, I'm here to tell you that the snow lasted precisely two and a half hours. One minute it was a blizzard out there, the next minute there was actual blue sky and sunshine and a full on melt situation. Talk about fickle.
I hope you've had a good day where you are, whatever the weather has thrown at you.
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Hi Lucy, your blog posts are beautiful.
I think crocuses are pretty hardy, we have been having overnight temps of around minus 5°C recently and our crocuses are popping up all over the place 🥰
All the best.
Posted by: Maggie | March 11, 2022 at 06:05 AM
All those georgeous blankets together,cosy,colourful heaven.
Hyacinths are wonderful and I love the scent of them. I have some growing in the greenhouse at the moment and will start bringing them into the house very soon.
Happy week to you Lucy x
Posted by: Beverley | February 23, 2022 at 09:12 PM
I remember having the same reaction to blood oranges when I was little :-) . (It's the name, as well as the look, isn't it). However, am happy to report that the adult me now appreciates their yumminess too.
Your blog is just *the best* for details like that-love it so much.
Posted by: Clare | February 23, 2022 at 07:46 PM
It's so nice to see you blogging again :-)! Enjoy the small signs of spring!
Posted by: EV | February 23, 2022 at 07:05 AM
Hi Lucy Here on Vancouver Island, BC Canada we are having below freezing temps the last few days. Fickle is the correct word for sure! We had a taste of spring and then it changed. There were saying we might have a bit of snow...no thanks, is my comment. I've been itching to get into the flowerbeds and pots and do a clean up in readiness, but I know it is too early for that in my neck of the woods. Thank you for sharing your walks. Rather you do it than me! LOL Take Care, Hugs, MO
Posted by: Marylin Ollivier | February 22, 2022 at 07:00 PM
Beautiful photos!
Posted by: Jacqueline Sherman | February 22, 2022 at 03:58 PM
I love the fickleness of winter turning to spring. Your posts are so well written and I can just imagine myself there. I love making your blankets and still do even here in sunny Arizona USA! I'm a quilter, but the blankets that are loved the best are yours! Happy 2/22/22!
XOXO
Posted by: Doris Bradshaw | February 22, 2022 at 03:25 PM
Lucy, I have just discovered your blog and I enjoyed this entry. We are watching the PBS All Creatures Great and Small with gorgeous scenes of Yorkshire. I got to visit England once, my lifelong dream, but it was in the southern part of the country. Here in central Texas we rarely have snow….though we had a beautiful one last year along with 1 degree temps, creating a crisis for us Texans. I will continue to look forward to your blog visits and take a look at crochet, which I’ve never attempted…..I stitch and quilt.
Posted by: Carol in Texas | February 22, 2022 at 03:05 PM
Thank you for the heads up on blood oranges. I love them, too, and hadn't realised they were about, so pleased to buy some yesterday. I've followed you since my sister introduced me to you and love all your comments. Thank you!
Posted by: Ann Smith | February 22, 2022 at 02:45 PM
Lucy! I discovered you back in 2010, I have followed you off and on throughout the years when I was attempting to crochet. Now I have two granddaughters and I want to make them some granny square throws, and I am now following you again. Thank you for what you do. Your tutorial links have helped me so much. Although I have not mastered crocheting yet, it is a labor of love to make these throws for my grandbabies.
Posted by: Anita | February 21, 2022 at 08:39 PM
Lovely crochet work! It is a wonderful feeling to be by the fire after a walk outdoors in the cold. I have been seeing lots of photos of the floods in England. Glad you are far from that. We have a terrible blizzard today here in Central North,US. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Angela | February 21, 2022 at 04:24 PM
Such lovely photos Lucy, I have followed you for years and am in Australia but had a Yorkshire mum. I love the look into her life you give. I have never seen snow falling, it looks so lovely
Posted by: Brenda | February 21, 2022 at 10:43 AM
Hello from Estonia ! I just need to give you feedback about your blog. It is so-so interesting to read about your crochet works, your everyday life and last, but not least life in England generally.
Beautiful photos, lovely colours, amazing pieces of hand work - I've been following your blog for a couple of years. Thank you !
Posted by: Eret | February 21, 2022 at 07:43 AM
How nice to have a sprinkle of snow in the morning to sun and blue skies by afternoon. I love oranges and I'm eating my share of them these days. It's nice to see the crocuses beginning to pop up and your pink hyacinth is gorgeous! Have a great week.
Posted by: Julia | February 21, 2022 at 01:08 AM
The winds here over the last few days have been pretty worrying at times. A couple of our fence panels became loosened and in one case completely down, but other than that not not much damage here. Phew!😌 In my opinion snow is always best looked at through a window, and preferably on a puzzle! And I hate seeing it fall - gives me the willies!😨 Our crocuses are up but getting spoiled by the weather.😬
Posted by: Simon | February 20, 2022 at 11:01 PM
Lovely post Lucy & I agree that weather can be ever so fickle & ours has also been playing strange games of late. I love the snowy photos, but Little Bs nest looks great as do your pretty hyacinths & that has made me want to go to a nursery now & nab some hyacinth bulbs for our upcoming winter too. Stay warm, take care & hugs.
Posted by: Susan | February 20, 2022 at 08:23 PM
Don’t worry about the crocus. I live in the northeast US and the crocus here are regularly pelted with snow, ice and “wintry mix”. Crocus are masochistic, coming up in the most beastly weather.
Thank you for the lovely little peek into your world.
Posted by: Beth | February 20, 2022 at 07:39 PM
So happy to have discovered your blog today! I love all I've seen of it thus far. And it seems like less and less people are updating their blogs anymore, having switched to Instagram - which has its merits, but for me not nearly as interesting as a blog.
I am envious of your snow too! Here in Los Angeles, it is a beautiful sunny day, about 70 degrees. While I appreciate it I also long for the variety of "real" weather, more like what I recall growing up in New York.
Posted by: Nankie | February 20, 2022 at 06:15 PM
We have topsy turvy here in the Boston area. Snow squalls one day, 60 degree weather the next. Glad to see that crocus coming up. A harbinger of spring. For me, it was a chipmunk sitting on my back stairs. Hurry spring. Love to see the granny stripe blanket. I’m currently working on one with leftover yarn while I wait for the Harbor border!!
Posted by: Linda from Boston | February 20, 2022 at 02:46 PM
I’m glad I went out to play in the snow with my great niece. We bought some chips, which warmed our tummies, en route to the nearby field. We pushed and pulled the sledge along with much laughter! No hills about here. All melted this morning and I’m quite happy if that’s all the snow we have this winter ❄️ ⛄️
Posted by: Frances | February 20, 2022 at 09:46 AM
It does look pretty with a sprinkling of snow, but I'm glad it didn't last too long. It was breezy here near the Severn, but nothing too bad. By mid-afternoon it was pretty much all over. Love the nest of blankets, it's so cosy to go out in the freezing cold and come back to a lovely warm home isn't it. We had a power cut here, nothing to do with the storm, just a coincidence, so I am extra appreciative of the heating at the moment. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | February 20, 2022 at 09:15 AM
Thank you for another lovely post Lucy. We had wet snow over on the East Yorkshire coast too. It laid for a little while but was soon gone. My tiny twin grandsons donned their snow suits and stood in the garden gazing in wonderment at the swirling snow. They came in to hot chocolate and crochet blankets too ! 😃
Posted by: kathleenalice | February 20, 2022 at 05:15 AM
That snowy park looks absolutely idyllic
Posted by: Anorina | February 20, 2022 at 05:01 AM
Here in Alberta, Canada, it was +6 C today, with warm air and melting snow. And this afternoon, it changed to -8 C, with colder temperatures over night. We made sure to get all our shopping and tasks down so we can stay home the next few days while the snow falls and the air is cold! Almost Spring .... X Chy
Posted by: Chy | February 20, 2022 at 12:00 AM
30 degrees here in coastal South Australia- but overcast and a little humid
No snow here- ever.I hate being cold so suits me
Posted by: Camcas | February 19, 2022 at 11:57 PM