Thank you for all the kind words you sent my way after my blog post yesterday, it's been something special to receive so much feel-good from you all and for me to digest your wise words and take your advice. I've been thinking a lot about my blog today, and remembering how much I love to create and share my stories here in this space - blogging for my own pleasure has always been my priority since day one and that hasn't changed over the years. Having said that, I've learnt that I do still need to give myself permission to take a break when I need it, and to place value on time spent away from my laptop. I need to remind myself that it's not a failure if I miss some weeks here and there, especially not given the length of time I've consistently shown up to open my Attic window - over fourteen years now, one hundred and seventy seven months and counting. I'm really proud of still being here, writing about my life as I moved out of my thirties, through a whole decade of my forties, and now into my fifties.....oooo.....I'm feeling a smidge emotional, I had better get a grip and start chatting about leaves!
Autumn leaves.....aren't they just the best little gifts from nature? Right now the trees are bare and the leafage is just a memory, so it's been lovely to dig back into my photos from two months ago and find some lovely seasonal colour to share with you.
October was a month for visiting Bolton Abbey, I think I went at least three times maybe more. I love to spend time in the woodland when the seasons are changing - the first rush of bright green leaves in May, and then the beauty of the Autumn colour shift in October.
In October I had to admit that my toes were cold and put my sandals to sleep for a while. It's no hardship really, because >>hello<< cosy, stripy handknit socks and my beloved Fly London boots. Believe me, it's a heavenly combination and I can highly recommend both. If you need to learn about knitting socks, then Winwick Mum will hold your hand with her free beginner tutorials. And if you are in the market for some uber-comfy leather boots to house your stripy socked feet, then I can point you in the direction of my Fly London chelsea boots ((here)). I've got two pairs, the purple pictured above (they are a lovely deep dark reddish colour in real life) and the green ones, and this is their fifth winter. I love love love them.
Speaking of hand knit socks, in October I made a real effort to finish off the pair that I cast on in August.
They came off my needles and onto my feet after I got back from France and was feeling the chill, and I'm so happy with them. The yarn is from the Regia Design Line range by Kaffe Fassett and the colourway is called "Moor". It's quite hard to find this range of sock yarn now so you need to hunt around in your local yarn shops or online. I found mine at a small indie online store called KnitUK which is fabulous - the yarn came beautifully packaged with real care and attention. You can find it ((here)). I've just actually ordered the "frost" colourway as it reminds me of my Springfrost blanket. I admit I do get a bit of a buzz out of matching my socks to my blankets, all those colourful stripes are perfect eye candy I have to say.
I've grown to love Autumn in recent years and the colours in nature are a big part of the enjoyment for me.
It's a habit now for me to spend as much time as possible outside throughout the year and I walk a fair bit in the course of an ordinary day. I find it extremely good for my mind, and I think that walking might be even more beneficial for my mental health than for my physical health (although clocking up 15,000 steps a day certainly does some good for the old bod).
I love that there is always beauty to be found, and I am very tuned in to finding it.
My photos are certainly full of all sorts of random things that have caught my eye (most of which I share with you), so I hope you enjoy seeing things through my goggles.
Another photo from Bolton Abbey...I've just remembered that one of the reasons I took so many visits in October was to do with friends visiting or local friends wanting to walk there with me, and for us to see the moon.
Yes, the moon......
......ta-dah!! This amazing installation was hanging inside Bolton Abbey priory church for a few weeks in October and it was wonderful to be able to see it a few times while it was there. It measures seven metres in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. It's amazing to think that each centimetre of the sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface....it really is a bit awesome.
The "Museum of the Moon" is a travelling exhibition which moves around the world so maybe you've already seen it, or perhaps it will be dangling in a place near you next year. You can read more about it ((here)).
During October I was mainly fixating on my Springfrost blanket and working on sampling and preparation for the crochet-along kit to launch in November. I have to say that in the run up to the reveal of a new blanket it really does take over so that it's hard to think about very much else.
But looking at my photos I was reminded that I also had this round cushion on the go too, and it often came to Coopers with me on a Friday morning. I'm not sure if I've shown it to you before - I started it when I was in France and it's made using the leftovers from the Fireside blanket (12 shades of Stylecraft Highland Heathers). I've almost finished it, but the cushion pad I bought is a bit larger than I thought (I bought 18 inches diameter instead of 16 inches by mistake) so I still need to work some extra rounds for it to fit.
October was the start of the leaves beginning to fall, and they continued to gently tumble right through November. It's kind of a bitter sweet time in some ways, the true end of summer with the constant visual reminder that the year is falling away.
We had our half term week towards the end of October and it was a gentle week of rest and relaxation for us here. We did manage a couple of day trips which were soooo good, but I'm going to share those in another post because really I took way too many photos to shoe-horn them into this one. Pumpkin season came and took over for a while, I don't think I've ever seen so many huge piles of them in the shops, or such a variety to choose from.
With my own Little People growing up, the rituals of celebrating Hallowe'en are slowly slip sliding away. Little B was only momentarily interested in the pumpkin carving and although his ears perked up at the mention of sweeties, he didn't really want to be involved this year. I carved my pumpkin quietly in the afternoon and enjoyed the gentle creativity....
....and in the dark of the evening we did have a large number of Littles calling by for treats. My pumpkin was much admired which gave me a ridiculous amount of pleasure, so I do think it's still a lovely thing to do to round out the end of October.
Well, I think that's about all for now, I hope you've enjoyed my rambles. I'll take a look at November next and see if there's anything of interest to show you - ooh, I did take a few days away to the seaside in November, so maybe I'll share some of that with you. A little bit of salty sea air is always good for the soul.
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Posted by: Rose j watson | December 30, 2022 at 11:16 AM
I saw the 'Museum of the Moon' when it was in Lichfield cathedral a few weeks ago. Pretty awesome :-)
Posted by: Beverley | December 13, 2022 at 09:24 PM
Hi Lucy, thank you for your wonderful meanderings through your beautiful countryside. Wondering what stitch/pattern you used for the fireside stripe blanket. I love the way the colours blend and have received my yarn. I am from country Queensland in Australia and it is always a joy to see the ‘cool’ happenings in your part of the world around this time of the year. May you and your family have a joy-filled Christmas.
Posted by: Mary | December 12, 2022 at 08:46 PM
Your photos always inspire me, especially the cosy ones of your open fire, your lovely blankets, the pretty canal boats and kitty of course. Please don't feel under pressure to blog! I love your designs and one day I am going to give up work and make them all!! Take care of yourself and keep warm :)
Posted by: Crafty Cath | December 11, 2022 at 06:49 PM
Love your pumpkin carving in Mexican Day of the Dead style
Posted by: Abby | December 11, 2022 at 02:52 PM
I am think I am possibly the only person who doesn't like hand-knitted socks! I find them unbelievably uncomfortable, like cheese graters for the feet. I don't mind knitting them, just not the wearing.
I haven't seen the moon installation but we did have the earth one in our council offices, I found it very disappointing, you could only see Antarctica from where we could stand! There's a gallery all around the area used, but the public weren't allowed on it.
Posted by: Su | December 11, 2022 at 12:27 AM
the answer is that pink and greenish/yellow above. it is a nice one.....gg
Posted by: gloria g. Walls | December 10, 2022 at 11:25 PM
the answer is that pink and greenish/yellow above. it is a nice one.....gg
Posted by: gloria g. Walls | December 10, 2022 at 11:25 PM
I'd been taking a daily peek to see if there might be another post, then it dawned on me: It's Christmas. Lucy's rightfully engaged in holiday prep.! And then. . here you are, brightening all of our days! It is not lost on me how much time these take, which makes them all the more dear. Just like you!
Posted by: Debbi Robertson | December 10, 2022 at 10:02 PM
Another lovely post & mentioning Bolton Abbey, our first port of call after a long flight from Oz, made me want to come over & see family & friends again.
Your socks are lovely & wow, what a great job you did on that pumpkin. Enjoy the lead up to Christmas & stay toasty warm. Our weather is playing very silly with a few hot days, then back to cold, wet & windy....strange. Take care & hugs.
Posted by: Susan | December 10, 2022 at 08:28 PM
It's so good to have you back!Yorkshire was my home county and I do love to see your photos.
Posted by: Jane Halvey | December 10, 2022 at 04:20 PM
Thank you Lucy for opening your window today. I enjoy a glimpse into your creative mind. Yikes, 15,000 steps a day. I only wish I could do that. But with your beautiful town and countryside, the scenery would make the distance fly by. Also, thank you for your beautiful crochet.
Posted by: Katherine Brown | December 10, 2022 at 02:39 PM
It's hard to believe all those wonderful blog posts after so many years. I really appreciate being able to read them and see a part of the world so unlike where I live. Those canal boats alway grab my attention; your pumpkin remind me of the popular Day of the Dead images here in California; I love your socks and wonderful crochet afghans and mats and have made quite a few of each of them. Thank you again for sharing yourself with us.
Posted by: Ann | December 10, 2022 at 01:42 PM
How lovely! I love seeing photos of your village, it looks like such a lovely place to be 😍. I’ve been admiring that sock yarn for a very long time now but have struggled to find it. Maybe it’s time to finally get some now! Thank you for another beautiful post Lucy xx
Posted by: Angela | December 10, 2022 at 07:38 AM
I love seeing your world and what you are up to. I'm on the other side of the world in Queensland Australia. Your village is a delight and so many of the places you visit I would love to see. Thankyou Lucy, for inspiring ing me to crochet, it was your penchant for colour that matched my own and made want to make my own blankets.
Take care of you and yours. Suexx
Posted by: Sue Mason | December 10, 2022 at 04:13 AM
Wonderful post as always. You really brighten my days. Big hugs. X
Posted by: Susan | December 10, 2022 at 04:09 AM
🥰 SOO happy to hear from you & that you're muddling along, like most of us. The seasons' changing really do affect me, & sounds like it does you too (SAD, in name & effect!) Love, as always, seeing your doings & happenings - so different to my solitary life. Love your projects, your musings & your modesty. Stay happy & healthy, hugs xxx Kristine, Sydney ❤️
Posted by: Kristine S | December 10, 2022 at 02:12 AM
Thank you for opening your window! You are quite right not to reproach yourself for missing a few weeks, you always come back to it. And it’s always lovely to see a new post.It’s lovely to share the changing seasons with you too. I saw the Museum of the Moon in Wells Cathedral in Somerset, amazing. There’s another exhibition called Gaia, with the earth being represented.
Enjoy the frosty mornings!
Posted by: Ruthie | December 10, 2022 at 12:35 AM
Hello! I am happy to see you here tonight. I always enjoy visiting your cozy space.
Posted by: BillieJo | December 09, 2022 at 11:36 PM
I have come to enjoy autumn as well, after many years of not really liking it. Winter as well, which I love now. Fantastic job on that pumpkin, it's excellent. I shall look forward to seeing some seaside pictures if you decide to share them, I do love a few coastal shots. Have a lovely weekend Lucy. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | December 09, 2022 at 10:12 PM
It’s amazing to think Little B is not so little anymore, I remember him when he was in your tum! Saw an amazing tutorial for crochet socks on YouTube the other day - they fold together! Glad your feet are toasty and the boots are back out. Lovely photos of autumn, I miss it too - I didn’t get out enough in the lovely weather, but we did get a lot of rain in Leeds mind you!
Posted by: Tsophies | December 09, 2022 at 09:44 PM