January Days

It's Thursday afternoon and I really should be writing my Sungold CAL post ready for tomorrow, but as you can see I'm here on this page chatting to you instead. My CAL post is patiently waiting in draft-mode because I suddenly really missed writing my normal, every day blogs, you know, the ones that don't really have much substance to them but tell the gentle story of my day to day life.

As it happens, I don't have a huge amount to tell you but I didn't want this brand new month to skitter on by without some sort of acknowledgement. I gathered all my January photos together yesterday and the general overview is a mixture of outdoor views/winter weather and colourful crochet stripes....does kind of sum up my days rather well come to think about it?! 

My white hyacinth is finally in flower on my mantel and it smells so good, a really pretty sweet perfume that lifts my spirits when I get a waft of it. As predicted it didn't flower in time for Christmas, but then maybe having it blooming into a new year month is better than it belonging to the tail end of the old year? 

Two weeks ago we were still in new year holiday mode, but we also had a birthday in the family. It was good timing because J was still on holiday from work so we were able to plan a day out to celebrate Little B's fourteenth birthday. We went on the train to Leeds and it was just the kind of easy outing which ticks so many boxes with a teen. We went clothes shopping with him because he is very minimal when it comes to clothes and wanted to add to his one solitary pair of trousers. We had great success and he managed to find exactly what he was looking for (black, slim fit cargo trousers) - it's such a relief when clothes shopping for the offspring goes well because honestly it can be a very dismal experience otherwise. So yeah, he now has two pairs of trousers instead of just one lonely pair of jeans and I think he's happy about it. A bit hard to tell with Little B, he is very minimal with his words as well as his clothes.

We had a fabulous lunch out at The Alchemist, it's one of Little B's favourite places to go for a drink because they have a good selection of non alcoholic cocktails. I found myself thinking back to when he was born (it's impossible not to reminisce on kids birthdays), and struggling to comprehend how fourteen years can have passed. How do I have this larger than life boy who looks so grown up and asks to go to a cocktail bar for his birthday lunch?

Aside from birthdayish things, January has been all about easing gently back into routine....

.....walking familiar paths....

...and spending time in much loved places that provide a sense of comfort and familiarity. I do really appreciate the gentle routines and habits which I have built over the past few years, the ones that stay the same week after week and yet still feel so good. 

On Wednesday last week my slow stay-home routine was upended because I had a meeting to go to out of town and found myself setting out to commute there by train. I am mighty glad that this happens only once in a blue moon because it hit hard! Setting out at 7.30am when it was still dark, and then the stress of the trains being delayed and connections being missed and getting myself into a such a fluster with it all.

I arrived two hours later in West Yorkshire, the weather misty, grey and damp. You can see in the above photo, over to the left there is a tall chimney and a solid old mill building beside it? That's where I was going, to the home of Stylecraft yarns.

It was a wonderful day, a time to discuss plans for the future (theirs and mine) and get all over giddy about colours. I have been sworn to secrecy so I can't spill the beans and tell you what the yarny future holds (well not yet anyway) but I came away feeling very excited and inspired.

Other than our trip to Leeds and my trip to the Stylecraft Mill, January has been slow, gentle and home-based. I've really been enjoying the simple pleasure of lighting the fire in the afternoon and settling down to hook up some colourful stripes. Having a crochet blanket on the go at this time of year is honestly such a joy and I can't imagine a January without it. I'm looking forward to sharing some more photos with you tomorrow.

We've been in a very wintry cold snap this week with some snow and hard frost - it's been great! I much prefer these cold, clear, crisp winter days to the dreary, wet grey weather that plagued us through December. This is much more my thing, well,  sunshine will always be my thing.

Almost a month since Winter Solstice and I am really starting to notice the extra daylight in the mornings and evenings now. It's glorious to recognise that the real darkness of winter is behind us and we are slowly heading towards longer, lighter days. Happy, happy, happy about that!!! 

It's been lovely to chat - do tell me how your January is looking and what things are making you happy, I'd love to know.

For me - candlelight, floral scent, family time, routine, colour, yarn, crochet, fireside loafing, frothy coffee, crisp winter walks and the glow of sunset.

Simple pleasures xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

Comments

[genna]

best hair salon

[genna]

enjoyed reading it.

[Mojo]

I first found your blog when pregnant with my first child (now 15) and remember your pregnancy announcement. How the years have flown! Have so enjoyed rediscovering my love of crochet over those years while enjoying your bloggy inspiration.

[Susan Horton]

I have “accidentally “ dropped into this fabulous site. What an inspiration! So very pleased to have found you. I think I may take up knitting again I already have the wood burner!
Thank you

[Anna]

Goodness, I can’t believe 14 years have passsed since Little B was born. I could only dream of having my own little one at that stage, but thankfully he arrived safely 6 and a half years ago.
Cooking, blanket snuggling and candles are my go to over here, gentle hibernating and planning veg growing for the spring. The more blankets the better!x

[Peggy]

We have been in full renovation mode. Painting walls , fixing things etc. I spend so much time in our home , I wanted to make it cozier. Have a wonderful day.

[Michelle Gladwish]

Happy New Year to you and your lovely family. It is hard watching them grow up. My youngest is 17 this year and I wonder how he grew up so quickly. We've had a similar January to yours but with the added excitement that we are moving house next month. I've been immersing myself in crochet blankets and am currently working on your Cozy Stripe one and its beautiful. I am looking forward to May as I will be attending your Crochet Retreat something in the Diary to look forward to x take care x

[Helen Lou]

Happy new year to you all! Lovely to catch up with you Lucy and sounds like a perfect January to me. Your story about teen shopping has amused me, a mum of 3 boys, the youngest, age 12 exists in joggers and shorts, I bought him a pair of dark jeans to wear over Christmas to look a teeny bit smarter needless to say they’ve not been worn and now hang next to the unworn pair from last year!! Someone will benefit from these new cast offs one day!! My 18 old now loves clothes but shops with his girlfriend now, girlfriends I need to book a shopping and coffee date with him! Crochet keeps me going too, I’ve made a hat and gloves so far this year - now trying my hand at a jumper. Will see how that turns out!

[Kristine S]

Love your images, SOO different from me here in a bushy suburb of Sydney! AND the weather!
Those LUSTROUS colours of yarn❣️‼️❣️ W😲🥳😎 Need sunglasses❣️

[Anna-Karin in Sweden]

Lovely as always to read your thoughts and see your photos from everyday life.
Here in the south of Sweden, we have much snow (for the unusualness) and really cold crisp wheather (a few nights ago it was -19 C degrees here... brrr). Thankfully, I have knitted some "Icelandic sweaters" and socks to keep us warm :)
Wish you a happy weekend, with lots of sun!
:)

[Patricia A]

Happy Birthday to Mr B. 14!
The time has flown. I remember your posts from when you were expecting him. And the little fingers straying into pictures a few years later. :-)
My baby boy is 43! You will get there too, some day.

[Jacqui]

Oh I have missed your lovely posts !
All that sirdar squishyness gorgeous colours!
My family had the dreaded covid and other lurghies so didnt get together at christmas. So my yarn pack isnt here yet but is getting to me via one of my daughters i am informed on saturday. So there will be a lot of sofa surfing and crocheting going on from sunday to catch up sqweeee!
Your boy two pairs of trousers kids are so funny!

[Debbi Robertson]

What makes me happy? Coming here to find a new post from you! I'm in a small community in the Pacific Northwest of the USA where we've had HUNDREDS of big trees come down in the last 2 days. Huge, 160ft plus, 100 year old trees down all around us, because of an Arctic blast that took everyone by surprise. SO scary! And so grateful for no structural damage at our house. I kept coming here, hoping for some gentle Lucy-ness to soothe and cheer me up. This bit of a peek into your Attic has absolutely done the trick. Thanks, Lucy!

[Jackie Farrow]

Lovely as always. My January didn’t start off too well. Shingles hit me, had it before but never the rash. It’s horrible, one night I was crying because of the pain I had all day. Then I developed a reaction to the meds and was bitten by an any on my foot. Still have nerve pain but rash also gone. Up side I was still able to knit and crochet. Because of a family issue from last Feb going into this year, I lost my heart crocheting promised blankets for the grandkids. One only needs the square sew together and the border done. The other two decided to change the patterns, so yesterday I started crocheting a ghostbusters blanket for no.2 grandson. It’s been very hot here in Perth WA, thank god for air con. Anyway, better finish have Christmas decor to put up in loft, been to hot to do before. Take care. Jx

[Kate]

I Agee about simple pleasures. Mine is getting up,in the mornings with a good cup of coffee and knitting socks while I watch the news. Then later I go out to my shop where I can make quilts all day, well, one at a time! Then I spend some time, if it is warm enough outside, to play with my three Labs. It’s a busy yet lazy kind of day and I love it. Sometimes I even manage to clean house and cook dinner for my husband! We are having extremely cold weather here in the state of Indiana, so it is nice to be in a cozy house doing what I love to do.

[Sarah]

So enjoyed reading this. Just home from meeting friends and enjoying a lovely meal together. -2 is chilly but the clear star-lit skies are beautiful ⭐️

[Andrea S.]

I love seeing your January! It's been exceptionally cold here in North Texas, U.S.A. When not working I am happily crocheting a blanket with 100% cotton yarn in all bright and sunny colors. The yarn carries happy memories as I bought it on a fantastic trip to Mexico City last year.

[Charlotte]

It's so good to have a gentle routine (and that magical array of colours) to see us through the dark days of January. Good, too, to have a quieter time of year, to slow down and reflect...'little' B 14? I've just been reading Katherine May's 'Wintering', about the 'down' times of life. It's not at all dismal, but a lovely read. I think you would like it. I've also pulled lots of boxes of wool down from the loft...playing with all the colours and textures always makes me feel happy...I probably spend more time playing than knitting! Cx

[Sue]

Lovely to read your blog Lucy. My January has been similar, time at home, crocheting, knitting and cooking with some cold crisp walks thrown in. I also have been out bird watching with a group I belong to, you definitely have a wrap up warm for that. This morning the bird bath was completely frozen but as soon as I put out fresh water down came the goldfinch and blue tits for a drink.

[ChrisG]

It’s been freezing cold down south in Surrey too (-3’ prob isn’t as fierce as you though!) but soooo glorious to see vivid blue skies and sunshine after dreary grey with rain and floods! And that meant a glorious sunset on my way home. My big boy is 37 today so dropped his present off and my day has unfolded with some hooky rows & some sock KAL rows, my daily yoga and a jog on the Downs at lunchtime. I’m loving the promise of lighter days but for now the small pleasures of a warm cafe and friends, a blazing fire and some music on the stereo with one of my (all grown up) sons, a day of colouring with grandkids and cooking comfort food like chilli and stew interspersed with the occasional foray into de-cluttering are a perfect match with this time of year.

[Jeanne]

How wonderful to hear about your son's birthday and the trip to Leeds! Someday, I would love to visit and see all the places you hold dear. Thank you for sharing your home with all of us, scattered across the world. I know I appreciate you so very much, especially this month. My family and I have just recovered from a two-week bout with Covid. Yes, the dreaded virus finally laid us low. Reading your posts and working on the Dune blanket has really helped with my recovery. I plan to begin the Sungold after I complete Dune. It makes me happy just looking at all the colorful photos! Winter is upon us in the southern USA and we have been in the midst of a very uncomfortable arctic plunge! I look forward as always to your next post. Take care.

[Tsophies]

Fourteen years!! I think that’s about as long as I’ve been reading your blog, vividly remember devouring your lovely crochet pages when I was at University in 2010 and you were getting ready to welcome him!

Lots of love to him on his birthday, and always lovely to see you popping into our Leeds. I live in one of its suburbs and I promise it changes loads everytime I pop in as well!! 🤣

[Veronica]

How fantastic to visit the Stylecraft warehouse and see all those beautiful colours enough to make the brain fizz with inspiration. I’m also glad that the weather is properly wintery now as it’s certainly easier to feel better than in the gloom.

[Joelle]

What a lovely glimpse into your January! Thank you for the beautiful photos. You ask what makes us happy - well, for me crochet has been a solace, comfort and distraction this month as I've had this looooong cold/flu thing and haven't felt well at all. I've had a play with the Sungold pattern and had to order a 3.75mm hook to get the right tension, so haven't made a start yet. I'm planning to use my Summer Ripple pack (Christmas pressie) as I've already done a Ripple in your beautiful Cottage colours. I've really enjoyed the planning and thinking and trying out stage of this project, but am now feeling envious of everyone who's following the CAL and is already 33 stripes in! I'm with you for the RAL (read along) of the blog every week :)