Last Days of Winter

It's the Spring Equinox this Sunday 20th so we're in the very last week of winter, and what a lovely thought that is. 

I've often remarked how much I enjoy celebrating these quarterly points in the year, they are more meaningful to me in many ways than following the months on a traditional calendar. The older I get, the more I recognise an intuitive need to be in tune with nature and the changing seasons, it grounds me and keeps me focused on the here and now which I seem to need.

It's interesting being on the cusp of a seasonal change, and during the past week or so I've noticed a perfect mix of winter and spring. It's still very wintry cold here in the north of England with early morning temperatures sitting only just above zero degrees. And yet the light.....

.....oh, the light is so very, gloriously spring-like and very, very much appreciated by me I can tell you!

I get to see the sun rising above the hill around 7am at the moment, and often times I stop walking and just stand still to soak in the gentle warmth of it. Sunlight makes me really happy, it's as simple as that.

Yesterday I had to pop to the shops at the top of town and on the way back I took a small detour through the churchyard. I used to come here regularly when Little B was very small because we went to a lovely singing group in the church hall every Monday morning. The garden in front of the church is in an elevated position, so it gives a lovely view right down the main high street of the town. Here, let me zoom in a bit for you.....

....there you go. It's a lovely main street I think, it's wide with cobbled setts in between the pavement and the road which is where the street market takes place three times a week. Yesterday wasn't a market day so there are cars parked on the cobbles but even with the cars I think it's still very picturesque. 

I walked home along this stretch of the canal which you can access from one of the shopping streets at the top of town. The bakery is just over to the right in the above photo, so I often cross the stream via that wooden bridge to get onto the canal tow path. I love being out and about on a bright winter-spring morning, there is nothing nicer than breathing in the cold air and feeling energised by the light.

My daffodils are in full tilt now and I was delighted to find one single pale rogue flower in the bunch. I love it, and wish we could buy bunches of these more delicate varieties. So pretty.

In Winter Garland news, things have not been going to plan. This morning I was all set to start crocheting it together, so thought I'd lay everything out to take a few photographs first. As you can see in the above photo, there are some noticeable gaps - 2 blossom flowers and 3 leaves missing. Eh? I searched high and low and I cannot find them anywhere, so I'll just have to crochet up some replacements. I also realised that although I'd crocheted all the berries, I've still got the faff of stitching them to the fern leaves before I can get busy with crocheting the garland.

So by the time I got my head around the work that still needs to be done, the weather had changed and the good morning light was gone for the day, so I'll try again tomorrow. I can't wait to have it finished - I really, really want to see it hanging on my mantel because I think it's going to look wonderful.

There have been other yarny happenings this week which is very exciting indeed - I have some new yarn to play with, oh, the thrill!!

This is Stylecraft Highland Heathers which is a DK weight acrylic yarn and it really is very lovely. Each shade is created by heavily blending several colours together which gives it a richly tweeded effect - it's hard to capture on camera but trust me it's an absolute delight in real life. This is a relatively new yarn which launched in summer 2020 and this is the first time I've had the chance to try it out.

I've been working on some design ideas for a new blanket and am so excited about it, I always love the thrill of starting out on a new blanket journey. I've got a pretty clear idea of the overall design, but am still in the sampling stage where I'm working out how exactly to bring my idea to life. I enjoy these early stages of blanket making so, so much, it's gives me such a massive creative buzz! 

You can see from the above photo how dreary the weather has been today - mid afternoon and I'm lighting a candle to take the edge off the gloom. There was nothing gloomy about my yarn play though...........

.....EEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those colours!! When I'm in a mad sampling phase I always like to gather in all the tail ends at the end of each session because seeing them all together like this gives me a really good idea of how the colours are working. If I look at them and feel butterflies in my tummy (and I really do with these) then I know I'm on the right track.

Anyhow, it's very early days but I thought I would try and share some of the design process with you as I go along this time. All being well, there will be a Highland Heathers yarn pack and new blanket pattern coming in September. And I'm very, very, very excited about it. Butterflies are taking flight in swarms for this one!

It's been a funny sort of a day today, the weather has been drizzly and grey and the light has been gloomy, and nothing has gone quite right somehow. I've felt a bit discombobulated, and that hasn't happened to me for quite a while. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be brighter in more ways than one, and that I can finally see my lovely Winter Garland over the finishing line. A Thursday Ta-Dah would be a very good thing so I shall try hard to make it happen.

Incidentally, can you see Tilly in the above photo? She's the dark blob sleeping soundly in a sea of colourful crochet. Lucky kitty.

I'm hoping you've had a good day without even a smidge of discombobulation, and that these last days of winter are treating you well. And if you're on t'other side of the world, then I hope that the coming of Autumn will bring you joy too.

Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow with a ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-dah!

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Comments

[Solance Poole]

I love reading your blog Lucy, it makes me feel calm I don’t know why! The new colours look stunning and I can’t wait for the new blanket and garland. Also where you live looks beautiful, I’m in Wiltshire and we do have some lovely places but your town looks picture perfect xx

[Cathy Tucker]

Lucy, I too get butterfly tummy from just the right combination of colours. Here in Australia we enjoy months and months of warmth and sunshine. Thank you for nudging me to be more grateful for it, and not take it for granted.

[BillieJo]

Such a cozy post! We are near the start of spring here in Pennsylvania, and although I love the coziness of winter, I am ready for all things spring! Thank you for sharing the lovely photos today. Have a cozy evening!

[Catherine]

The Highland Heather's are lovely colours. I dyed my hair those shades recently 😊. The Aria blanket looks beautiful, I'm about to start my second!

[Ruthie]

I love the pale daffodils….imagine my excitement when my bunch of daffies that I had ordered with my weekly grocery delivery, turned out to be the pale lemon ones!
Incidentally my cousin in North Carolina tells me that people there sometimes call them buttercups, and also jonquils. I don’t know why, but I find this fascinating!

[Jean Stein]

I ordered yarn from Wool Warehouse based on the colors of your pegs when you started your new garland, thinking I'd make two garlands and tuck them at the tops of my bedroom windows. That's still the plan, but the entirely different color of the Highland Heathers is so exciting! I like the way the two shades of green/gold stand out. You are always an inspiration, thank you.

[Linda from Boston]

I can’t wait to see your garland. It will be stunning. I think Tilly made off with your missing pieces!!!! After all……you have so many. You’ll never miss them!!
As for the new blanket and new yarn!!! Be still my heart. What a treat to look forward to this. I’m on my second scrappy blanket using the granny stripe. I absolutely love these blankets. Mixing and matching colors. Are you familiar with the children’s book Frederick? He’s a mouse that studies colors so that in the winter he can remember what they look like. That’s what I feel like! 😀

[Hedy]

I feel strange since daylight savings time started here last Sunday. We turn our clocks ahead one hour in the spring and turn them back one hour in the fall. It started to give farmers more daytime hours to work in the evening. I loved getting up when it was starting to become daylight. And now it’s pitch black when I wake up. I’m hoping my body starts to adjust soon. Love your pictures as always, just keep on posting them.

[Jacky Gordon]

I love logging on to read your blog to see what you are up to

I have tonight picked up my Sweet Pea blanket, where I left off 2+ years ago!
Unfinished. A house move, 225 miles away, lots of decorating and a garden to sort have kept me busy.
I am now on the final row. The straightening row.

I also have another of your kits in a trunk ready to start. Purchased so long ago I can’t even remember which one it is!!

It got me wondering how many blankets you have done since Sweet Pea??

xXx

[Pat]

Absolutely stunning photos !!! Color and light 😍 thank you so much for sharing !! I know hat you mean about stopping to appreciate the really sunlight the season markers. On toward Spring!!!

[Sandra Arrell]

I love Highland Heathers - I used some with SSDK in a blanket and it gave it some lovely rich highlights. Looking forward to your Highland Heathers project and thank you for your lovely photos of your town - so inspiring

[Mary Kizilis]

Ohhhh, I am very excited at the thought of a Highland Heathers blanket, it’s lovely yarn with all the flecks of colour - I’m looking forward to that very much! And your one pale daffodil is beautiful, I wish you could buy mixed bunches with all the colours, they are such a cheerful sight x

[Louise]

Cannot wait for the new blanket, thank you for everything you do. It helps me so much with my anxiety to escape into these pages

[Maggie]

I have three of the Highland heathers currently in use on my project and I am also totally in love with the way the sun catches the different colours and sparkles so beautifully 🥰
I look forward to seeing your blanket! 🤩

[LAURA K]

Oh those colors for the new blanket will be so lovely in our van.... just bought beautiful blue flowered sheets and textured dark blue duvet covers.... I await the pattern and yarn pack and look forward to crocheting as my sweet husband drives the miles. The vibe that you picked is exactly what I am needing for that cozy space - thanks so much.....EXCITED!!!!!!!

[Jill]

Love the look of that Stylecraft yarn, must give it a try!
Jill from emeraldcottage.blogspot.co.uk xx

[Sue]

I love the Highland heather's Lucy, the Highlands are one of my favourite places to visit. It's been a very wet afternoon here in Leicestershire, so I have been busy doing some cross-stitch, and making cheese scones.

[Sarah Cooley]

I love all your stories and everything you are working on.

I made a cowl neck poncho using the Highland Heathers. It’s really gorgeous yarn.