Blogtober 2023 :: Day 6

Blogtober Day 6 :: Friday

Today's Germ Report = bright spells, with sleepy interludes. Feeling a lot better.

I was up early this morning and enjoyed a slow start to my day sitting in bed with a mug of coffee and quiet thinking time with my daylight lamp. I bought this one two years ago after suffering with the seasonal blues for many years and I really do believe it helps me a lot. It's neat enough to have on my bedside table and I religiously spend thirty minutes sitting with it on full power every morning while I sip my coffee and ease into the business of waking up and daylighting my brain.

I head out for my morning walk with J at 7am, and at the moment it's light at that time which I'm grateful for - it won't be long before we're leaving the house in darkness which isn't quite so appealing. This morning it was grey and drizzly, but we've made an agreement that unless it's absolutely chucking it down, we'll pull on rain coats and still walk. I really love to be out in the early morning, it wakes me up and boosts my mood in a way that seems to have a lasting effect all day. The above photo is time stamped 7:39 and we're just about to walk on down and turn the corner to visit the bakery on our way home.

Less than two hours later, Little B is off to school and I'm back out again, this time walking into town to run a quick errand before heading to Coopers Café. I had a little chat on my Facebook page yesterday with a lovely lady from Texas, and she asked to see the humpback bridge that I was standing on yesterday to take my photo of the canal. It's an old bridge which carries the road over the canal, and this morning I remembered to stop and take a quick snap of it. 

On the left is the Royal Shepherd pub which is one of several very old pubs in town - this one dates back to the 17th century. Sometimes I forget just how historic this town is, it's really pretty ancient. The church that you can see in the first photo above is Holy Trinity and dates back the the 12th century, isn't that just a little bit mind blowing?

Walking into the town centre is usually quicker using these tiny cobbled streets - there are a few of them which lead towards the high street from the canal side and pop out right amongst the shops which is very handy. I'd say it takes me less than ten minutes to walk from my house to the main shopping street, it's so easy to be a pedestrian living here and I love my walking lifestyle. I easily clock in my 10-thousand steps every day, my average is 12k  a day which has to be good for overall general health and wellbeing.

Ahhhh, Coopers Café on a Friday morning and there is nowhere else I'd rather be. I absolutely LOVE this part of my week, so much. We were a smallish group today with just eight of us, but it was so much fun and lovely to spend time with these yarny friends who I've known for the  best part of a decade. I was getting happy with my Starbright V's, and the other ladies were busy with a mix of knitting and crochet.

Midway through the morning I had a lovely visitor pop into the café to hand delivery me a little brown box tied with string. Oh, the intrigue!!!

I did know she was coming as we'd had a little conversation about it a few days ago - I was only sorry that she was short on time as when I say she "popped in" she literally did just that. Next time Cathy, we must sit and chat and have a coffee!

Cathy, the lady I'm talking about is none other than the supremely talented  stitcheress who makes the most wonderful things under the name of Dear Emma Designs, do you know her work? If not, do please go and have a peek at her website and I'm certain you will fall in love with her style.....her work really is stunning. I especially love her designs which feature little houses, and you may have seen the blue zipper bag that I always have with me that has my crochet hooks and scissors in? That's one of Cathy's creations and I absolutely adore it.

Anyhow......the little brown box......tied with string.......let me show you what was inside.......

....eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How very, very, very sweet and adorable is this little toadstool? 

Cathy made it herself using air drying clay which she sculpted and painted and look, it even has some moss wrapped around with golden wire.....oh, you do know how much I love moss and all. I can't explain how much I love it, and how I love that Cathy wanted it to come and live here in the Attic. Thank you so much Cathy xxxx

This little 'stool has inspired me to dust off my mantel at the weekend and partake in a little pleasurable autumn faffery. It's time - and I want my toadstool to be at home amongst crochet pumpkins and chinese lanterns and all the Autumn things.

All that excitement made me hungry when I came in all wet and windswept after my walk home from the café, so I made myself a mug of tea and toasted a crumpet. Hot buttered toasted crumpets just hit the spot on a rainy afternoon, don't they?

It's around 2.30 in the afternoon now, and I've settled myself down on the sofa where I was immediately joined by the furball who likes to always be in my business. I thought to myself that I would just sit for a short while and maybe crochet one or two V-stripes while the house was quiet.

Two hours, five stripes and a power-nap later, and I was still situated in a semi-horizontal position with the kitty still in situ.....goodness it was a a beautifully cosy affair. What a lovely way to spend a wet, grey afternoon, I am so lucky that this is what I get to do with my time.

Incidentally, while I was sat stretched out with the kitty, I counted the blankets currently on my sofa. No surprises really, it's a fully laden piece of furniture - six blankets in total, including of course my current Starbright crush. You can never have too many crochet blankets, not ever, there just isn't such a thing.

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Comments

[Penelope Crompton]

I really love it when you do multiple blogs. Your area is so different from mine here in a smallish seaside town in South Australia. I knit, can't crochet and at 84 don't think I ever will but I love seating what you do. Thank you for brightening my day.

[Sally]

Really loving your blogs for this month and all the lovely photos of the gorgeous part of the country you live in.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, where do I start? I know! First, good on you for that restorative afternoon nap. It will go a long way to returning you to your normal self. Take some more! Second, that is quite a lamp, unusual and attractive. I used your link to check it out, then went to the U.S. link to see if it could be purchased here, and it can. It's well made too – the description said iron (NOT plastic). It's so difficult these days to find items worth the money, and so nice when it happens. What a find in Dear Emma Designs (and what a beautiful gift!). She makes such delightfully whimsical stuff. Love the little houses, and also the toadstools and birds. Finally, even on a dreary gray rainy day, your little town still manages to be enchanting. Lucky you.

[Tineke]

Never ever too many blankets. I love to have mine around too, if the kids come to my cold house they cuddle underneath it. It is mindblowing to live in such an old part of the world, we have a castle from the 11th century in eye view. Kitties and naps are a good combination. That little toadstool <3

[Kathleen]

What a lovely cosy post!

[Angela]

Do you find cat hair a nightmare to get out of blankets? I've given up on mine, all of mine are laden with cat hair now 🐈 The hair has an annoying way of working it's way through the fibres! I love seeing pics of the area where you live, you are so lucky to live in such a historical and beautiful town 😍

[Linda Harvey]

I'm so envious of where you live - thank you for sharing it with us. I love how much you appreciate everything.

[Charlotte]

OOh, I do love the look of your little town and it's surroundings...and Friday mornings at Coopers Cafe look such fun...I may have to relocate! But your Blogtober is the next best thing!! Cx

[Louise]

I've finally had the chance to make my way back to beautiful blog land and its Blogtober! How delightful to see photos of the town. Yesterday was my birthday (50 😱) and one of the sweet gifts from my fella was in a little paper bag from Skipton Castle. Inside was a teatowel of 'British Birds'. He knows me so well! It was a wonderful reminder of our visit and how I loved seeing all the beautiful birdlife over there. I have to spend this weekend catching up on your past 5 Blogtober posts and having lots of Starbright blanket appreciation! 💖

[Sue]

Love the toadstool. My daughter and I came over to Yarndale a couple of weeks ago and loved Dear Emma Designs. She chose a lantern for the ‘book room’ in first house that she has just bought. It’s a Christmas present so I have put it away for her for Christmas. I didn’t know her name was Cathy but we had a good chat and her work is amazing. It was my third trip to your part of the country and it really is lovely. So pleased you’re feeling better. Really love reading your posts x