All the Thank-You's

I've been thinking about you a lot this past week and wondering how I got lucky enough to have so many beautiful souls in my life. This community that you and I are a part of, the one that has grown and flourished around my Attic window over the years, is absolutely amazing and I couldn't be more thankful for each and every one of you.

After my last post where I had a long chat with you about my recent trip to Dorset and my Dad's health, I was deeply touched by your words which flew in through my window and wrapped me in the biggest virtual hug. (( T h a n k ~ y o u ))....so, so much for every comment both here on my blog and on Facebook too, you've no idea how much it helped me when I was feeling quite raw and worried. Your kindness and empathy was so very much appreciated, but also thank you for the great practical advice too. I made notes, wrote a long list, and have lots of amazing suggestions which I know I can work with to help ease the pathway forward.

I've felt quite a lot brighter this week actually, and for that I'm thankful. I hate feeling so overwhelmed and flattened by worry, it really doesn't suit me one little bit and I usually try and do everything in my power to rise above it.

I generally find that flowers help, and these gorgeous tulips have really brightened my days this week. They were a cheap supermarket buy and worth every penny - I snapped the above image one morning when the sun was streaming in through the window and lighting up the petals, honestly, such a simple moment which made me really happy.

The sun has helped too, when it decided to come out from the grey. Right now as I sit and write at my desk, it is really bloomin' cold, an unwelcome return to single digit winter-like temperatures and grey skies. But during the past week we've had days here and there that have felt like real Spring, not the pretend kind which appears to look like Spring but which still freezes your extremities, no, this was real, genuine warmth and I love love loved it. I even went out without a coat!!

The grass in the park had it's first cut of the season and it looked so good, although the smell of freshly cut grass weirdly wasn't there which was very disappointing. Can you see that line of trees in the above photo that have a very faint pink tint to them?

Well that's the double line of cherry trees which I obsess over every year around about this time. I'm in full on stalker mode, and during the past week I've made all sorts of weird excuses in my day to go and look at them. Need to buy groceries? Lets go the long way to the supermarket via the cherry trees! Need to get some bloomin' work done? Nah.....why not procrastinate BIG TIME and instead of sitting at my laptop, get outside and go see the cherry trees instead! 

But just look ^^^ we are on The Cusp of Bloom! How exciting, and how totally irresistible, I'm sure you can see why these trees call to me every day. You can just call me the Blossom Stalker, and I shall keep you updated on floral developments.

J and I are loving our early morning walks still, and at 7 o'clock we head out the front door to go stretch our legs and enjoy walking these familiar pathways together.

Now that Spring is well under way, the sun is fully up as we walk through the woodland and the bank of wild garlic is growing greener by the day. It's such a pleasure to be out and about this early in the morning and well worth the effort it takes to get out of bed and make it happen.

Book-ending a fresh, sunny spring day with a walk is the loveliest thing - first the morning woods with J, and then out to the meadow in the early evening with my girl. I absolutely love that she'll ask me to go on a walk with her when she feels the need to unwind her mind or talk things through ♥

It's a quarter to seven in the evening in the above photo, and we (Little Lady and me) were walking homewards from the meadow. The blackthorn blossom is at it's peak here in the north of England and it's looking absolutely delicious. We're now into the wild floral season and we've still so much to look forward to - the wild garlic will be flowering soon, the bluebells will be out next month, and then the cow parsley and buttercups will show up. It's no wonder that May is my most favourite month of the year.

Yesterday I finished my sampling and made the final colour adjustments for my next blanket, and it felt SO GOOD! My crojo hasn't really been in full flow the past few months and I've been working on this new design in very stuttery stops and starts. This is going to be a square blanket which will take quite a lot of concentration as I'll be working on a gazillion colour decisions on the fly. But I'm committed to the cause, and more importantly I'm inspired and excited by it too. I'm looking forward to sharing the journey with you, and hopefully by next week I should have made enough progress to put a blog post together to share the inspiration behind the colours.

Well, I feel all talked out now it seems, even though this is a relatively short post. I just wanted to show up here to send you all the thank-you's, and to let you know that I've turned a bit of a corner out of the worry cul-de-sac I was stuck in for a while. Clear roads ahead I hope.

I'll be back soon - J and I went on a date on Monday and I took some photos to document the rare occasion, I'm sure you'll be riveted (!)...........more soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

Comments

[Ernando]

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[dodoshorts]

It was pure luck that we came across you. I'm relieved to hear you're in a better mood. The tulips are stunning. https://dumbwaystodie.io

[My creative life]

I'm glad you're feeling a bit happier and more settled about family concerns. I love all your blooms and yarny news. Take care, Cx

[gina in alabama]

My mother is in a care facility with dementia. It is a long (sad) road. I think of you often, and hope that you are taking time to enjoy life even as everything else happens around you. Spring sounds lovely where you are! Here in the southeast US, it's been off and on again since late February. We are bloomed out for now, just waiting for full-leaved summer. Take care of yourself as well as everyone else.

[BillieJo]

Hello! I read your previous post, and I am very sorry about your father. I know the pain and worry and the sadness of this horrible disease. My father passed from dementia, and my lovely mother is on her journey with Alzheimer's. This is a beautiful place for support, indeed.

[CJ]

So glad that you are feeling a little less worried and yes, you have a lovely community here. I'm a bit blossom obsessed as well, I spend far too long examining the apple blossom every year. Also checking regularly to make sure bees are visiting. I think we would both like going to Japan to see the cherry blossom. The bluebells are out here, so yours probably won't be far behind. I'm glad you're feeling enthused about the next blanket, it's such a lovely feeling to feel happy about a project isn't it. Sending you hugs, CJ xx

[Sue Nutley]

I’ve been there with my late mum and now my uncle who I’m very close too. He remembers most of us at the moment, if not by name by face. Crocheting is one my greatest pleasures and I love your blog, your stories and photographs Lucy. I took a trip with husband and dogs to Hebden Bridge and also visited Skipton. What a lovely place! I can’t believe I’ve lived in Yorkshire for 30 years and only just visited there! Doing the fireside blanket at the moment and loving the cosiness of it. Can’t wait to finish it! Take care Lucy. You’re not alone xx

[Rina]

I have been there with my father. Nature heals the soul. So grateful that you share your thoughts and the beauties of the seasonal blossom.

[Kerridwen Niner]

Im a blossom stalker too, i love it although alot of it is already over here in the midlands, i think some of the strong wind blew it all away. I admire it while i'm driving wanting to jump out and photograph every tree i see lol or perch under it. As a youngster there was a blossom tree outside my friends house and i always said i wanted to get married under one, instead we went to Paphos and got married in a registry office lol

[Louise]

I've been known to be a bit of a blossom stalker myself. My all time favourites are crabapple blossoms. Soft pink but chubby like babies cheeks. They always flower in October here in Kangarooland. I made it my No.1 priority to plant one in the back yard when we moved in to this house 6 years ago. Hopefully those cherry trees of yours will hold their blooms so I can see them myself in a couple of weeks! 😁🌸 hugs xox

[Angela]

So glad you are feeling better! Thank you for this lovely post and pics and by the way there's nothing wrong with blossom stalkers! 😂

It's exciting to see the new blanket colours! Take care of yourself. Angela 🙂❤️

[Sheila]

Thank you for your post. It’s good to hear you are doing ok under the circumstances. Just take care of yourself too x

[Susan]

Thank you Lucy for being you & able to share sadness as well as your creativity. Loving the Spring photos of my favourite county & look forward to seeing what you are working on. Take care & hugs.

[Sylvia meads]

So very pleased, you're feeling Lucy, you're an inspiration to all of us, that crochet, warmer days are coming, and blossom, and spring flower, are a relief to us all bless you 💝💐

[Claire Hayden]

Dear Lucy, I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better and you have found help amongst the wonderful community you created.
I wanted to 'Thank you' as you inspired me to take a holiday in your beloved Skipton. My OH and I have been here almost a week. I was sooo excited to visit and go on some of the walks you have described over the years. They have all blown me away. I have fallen head over heels in love with the place and the surrounding area. We will be returning in the future as there is so much more to explore. Thank you once again with love and best wishes xx

[Susan]

Glad to hear your spirits have lifted. Xx

[Christine Whiting]

It's a wonder what nature will do for your spirits, I live in a built up area but we do have parks and every year I look for a patch of purple crocus and I am quite possessive of them in case they are picked or trodden on! X

[Gill]

…
Now of my three score years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
AE Houseman

[Barbara]

Good to hear you are feeling brighter.Barbarax

[Tracy]

Lucy, I too have an elderly parent with dementia. I’m not my mother’s primary caregiver but the worry and the grief are real and raw. I appreciated your share so much. We’re just not meant to carry it all alone and we don’t have to. Spring here in the southeastern United States is fully steaming ahead. Meanwhile I am steeping in the colors of the Cosy Stripe, the Dahlia, and the Aria blankets. You share so much with the world: it’s no wonder the love comes back to you so bountifully! Thank you for all the goodness.🙏🏻💙

[Maypole]

We were lucky to find you too! Glad you are feeling more cheerful. Tulips are gorgeous.

[Charlotte]

Great to hear you are feeling a bit better, Lucy! And doesn't the lovely sunshine we have been having help? Bloom is well underway down here in the Midlands (Kidderminster); the bluebells are just coming out and the dandelions are amazing! I went into the garden to remove them, but saw how the bees were enjoying them, so now am watching out for when they are going to seed. Don't hold my breath that I will get them all!

[Jean]

From a fellow Blossom Stalker: the city hall in Muskegon MI is surrounded by very old cherry and apple trees (some of which have gone to the great tree graveyard in the garden). In the spring I am apt to change my route to encircle city hall, just in case the trees are blooming, but this year THERE IS ROAD CONSTRUCTION all around, and I haven't been able to see if the blooms are beautiful. How dare they try to improve the road? xox

[Linda from Boston]

Dear Blossom Stalker: glad you’re feeling better. It’s hard to shake off those down feelings, but we must carry on. I ordered some Stylecraft yarn from Wool Warehouse which should be here today or tomorrow. Tracking shows it’s in Boston!! I’m just working on the Neat Wave pattern in random colors and the Seashell pattern. I go back and forth cuz I have to mix things up!! Trying to keep my sanity!! ♥️