Easter 2024

HeLLOoOoOooooo to you all out there in the world!!! I thought I would pop in for a quick catch up in amongst me being a mad busy thing as I prepare for my first retreat of the year this weekend. We're fully back to work and school this week after the Easter holidays - schools here in North Yorkshire had the Easter weekend in the middle of the two week break and it's honestly been the loveliest time for my little family. We've had the usual mixed bag of weather which included some glorious spring days and some hideously wild, wet and stormy ones too, so we've been out and about whenever we could but also enjoyed our quiet stay-home days too.

As I'm short on time today, I'll try and keep my word count to a reasonable digit, but I do hope you enjoy the visuals. I absolutely LOVE taking photos of everyday life, it's my most favourite type of blog content to create and also to enjoy on other peoples blogs (although there are so few active bloggers left these days).

Eastertide twenty-twenty-four....here are twenty snaps to tell the tale......

1. Laaaaaaambs!!! I'm sure there've been lambs around for a while already, but these were the first ones we saw in the fields close to home. Cute, playful little things they were too.

2. Sunday stroll. This is a walk we do when the fields and footpaths are still too muddy and wet, it's a 4.5 mile circular route which passes through a couple of small villages, then all the way back to town along the canal tow path.

3. Canal boats. Quite a number of people have suggested to me that I should design a blanket inspired by my daily walks along the canal. Of course this creative seed has now been sown and you may or may not be interested to know that it is taking root and sprouting leaves. I've spent the past four months building up a photo gallery of the boats I've walked past and the colours and decorative details are really making me feel the joy. It's not a done deal yet, but I'm beginning to form an idea of how this blanket might look and it's a distinct possibility for the 2025 CAL. Do let me know what you think of this idea by the way, I'm always open to hearing your thoughts. You can look ((here)) if you want to see a little of what's inside my Creative Mind!)

4. The Blobby Tree (!).....well, that's what I call this tree, I've no idea exactly what these blobs are but it tickles me every winter when we walk this way. They are tangled, dense balls of twiggy stems which I think are a parasitic growth (like Mistletoe, but these aren't mistletoe I don't think)

5. Naughty Pancakes. Not mine I might add, no, I've been on a health kick aside from a small daily ration of mini eggs and some Easter biscuit therapy. This plate was in front of Little B, and was an Easter Holiday breakfast treat at the pancake café in town. Triple chocolate American Pancakes, down the hatch in record time and one very happy Little B.

6. Bees and Blossom. My neighbours cherry tree was spectacular this year and I enjoyed it very much in the few weeks while it bloomed. On sunny days it was a buzz with bees which is such a happy sound, easy to miss if you are rushing past but lovely when you happen to slow down and catch it.

7. My hill view. Always a daily delight,  I love the way it connects me to the landscape and the seasons (and the weather).

8. My yarn tribe. We had a lovely get together at Coopers on Good Friday - coffee, crochet and some upbeat chatter, you just can't beat it. I finally finished my Blooming Sungold cushion cover, but it needs some gentle blocking and then the two sides joining together, so it's currently still in the WiP pile until after my retreat.

9. Easter celebrations......one of my favourites of the whole year. I'm not religious, but I do enjoy celebrating the return of the light and the start of spring. This sweet little lamb was a Craftpod project some years ago and I adore it.

10. The Mantel Twigs....how many years old now? I've no idea, but well over a decade (they were in situ in 2011, most likely earlier than that). They have seen many years of Easter and Christmas decorating and even though they are nothing fancy I just love them.

11. Chocolate eggs. I bought the Little People one medium sized boxed egg each this year, and then decided to pretend that I'm still the Mother of Little-Little People and bought a whole load of these egg hunt foil wrapped eggs. No actual egg hunt for us now of course, but it was lovely to have a little stash of egglets to offer as an after dinner treat. The giant Little People approved.

12. Seasonal Colour Inspiration. I pulled together this basket of yarn as I was contemplating colours for a future project, and then realised that I was being heavily influenced by the Eggs. The colour palette wasn't quite right in the end and has been shelved, but it's undeniably pretty.

13. Double daffs. These were on my table over Easter and I really enjoyed watching them slowly open and unfold. Gorgeous things.

14. Wild garlic. I was all intent on going to forage some from the woodland myself, but my good friend has it growing in her abundant woodsy garden and gifted me a generous bag. The scent....oh, how I wish you could smell it!

15. Wild Garlic soup....yummmmmmmmmmmm!! I made it as you would a basic leek and potato soup, wilting in the wild garlic right at the end to keep the green colour and the fresh flavour. It was wonderful, truly a taste of springtime.

16. Pub life. I'm not a big drinker, but I do enjoy going to our local pubs every so often for a few drinks with J and meeting friends. We have some really lovely local places to drink all within ten minutes walk - in the above photo we are settled into the Narrowboat on Easter Saturday around 5pm, waiting for friends to come and join us. The drink is mine and J's current favourite, it's a Belgian cherry kriek beer served in a lovely half pint glass. Delicious.

17. Easter Sunday walk. We went early to Bolton Abbey to beat the crowds, a gentle stroll up and down the woodland paths, over bridges and along the river bank.

18. Resting.... in the gentle warmth of the sun on this log, wondering as I always do about the quirky history of the money trees at Bolton Abbey. I was waiting for J who'd had to run back to pick up his hat which he left on the bench, what a treat to have hats off and feel warmed by the sun.

19. Slow travel. Oh, how I love love love a bit of slow travel!!! Last week we took a little holiday, travelling from the east coast across the north sea to the continent. We've taken this journey before (I think this was our seventh time) so we knew what to expect, but the excitement of large ship travel and also a night away in a hotel was real.

20. Holiday memories....just the loveliest things to have swimming around in my brain! As you can see, our trip last week was to Amsterdam, and it was fabulous and fun and I hope you're going to be OK about me showing you some visuals next week because I'd really like to share what I saw and how we spent our short time there.

Well, it's been really lovely chatting to you - I hope you all had a great Easter and that April is shaping up to be wonderful wherever you are in the world. Tell me something you're excited for this month, I'd love to know.....

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

EDIT >> Thank you so much to Alison for the intel on the blobby tree! Apparently called "Witches Brooms" (which I LOVE), it's a deformity which creates "a dense mass of shoots  growing from a single point, with the resulting structure resembling a broom or birds nest" . So now the blobby tree is renamed the witches tree..

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Renee Madrigal]

Thank you for sharing your photos and journey's. It transports me to another place and makes me smile. I feel like I’m in that place. We don’t have money to travel but love seeing the world from another’s eyes.
I love to crochet. My grandma taught me when I was 7 years old. Now the young age of 60. My passion is making baby items. My hope in the future is the making of some Charity Bears. Thank you for the pattern.
Are you on Facebook? I would love to follow you. I found you through a link for the pattern.
Thank you! Renee from Illinois, USA

[soso27110]

ahhhh comme votre maison à l'air cosy et si accueillante avec les couleurs flashy qui égayent les journées. et les lieux que vous nous montrez et que vous découvrez en randonnée me transportent. j'adore la nature. je suis moi-même en maison à la campagne en Normandie (France). j'aime découvrir mon village mais aussi ceux aux alentours. je vous souhaite une bonne journée.
Sonia

[Sarah Star]

Yes please, canal boat blanket please!! I have always loved them, we lived by the Grand Union when I was a girl. I have my Houseboat Retirement Fund... (yes, really!). I think you'd come up with something beautiful and PERFECT Lucy x

[Chris Baehr]

It will be a very colorful blanket indeed if it is inspired by tge canal boats. I think it's a wonderful idea! I just caught up on your Dorset posts and enjoyed them immensely. You're doing such a good job supporting your dad and yet not letting yourself get too down. It's such a dreadful thing to watch a loved one go through this.

[My Creative Life]

I love the coloured eggs with their matching yarn. I agree there are less people blogging now, preferring instagram I guess. It's easier and quicker to load photos. I prefer blogging, I've not been on instagram for a while now. It makes my head spin, too much information overload.

[Susan]

You cheer me up love your work . Xx

[Lauren]

I love your posts!

[Brenda Drury]

Hi Lucy delighted to read your latest blog, so pleased that you continue to write it. I always check my iPad to see if you have written again, as I love the peep into your Yorkshire life, when stuck in city life in the Midlands.Look forward to your next blanket idea.

[Madeleine PixieMum]

I would like to start my blog again but as I wrote in 2020 there is no way Blogspot will let me!

I need to start yet again with a new home, let my followers know where I’ve gone and hope they will continue to read my ramblings.

[CJ]

Amsterdam, how wonderful. And I'm with you, I love photos from daily life of bloggers. A canal boat blanket would no doubt be amazing. Your hill view is lovely, I know exactly what you mean about it being grounding. I have a view from the front and back here that I feel like that about. At the back, fields that change colour and sometimes have cows and sometimes don't. At the front, the river with mist and clouds and things. I could stand and stare for hours. CJ xx

[Beverley]

I was a very late joiner to the blog party but I really love being a part of the community. It will be fun to see a Lucy canal boat CAL when ever it arrives. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful Easter pictures and I hope the retreat goes well.

[Sara]

Your so right in the fact it is such a shame that the "blog" world seems to have just fallen off the radar. When I asked people do they prefer social media or written blogs they all said visual as they like to just scroll through!

That is such a shame that we seem to live in such a fast paced world where we can't slow down and enjoy the process. But I have started up my blog again and even if people don't read/comment it is a lovely visual memory to look back on.

My April month is so much fun, I have done a sewing workshop where I made my first project bag. Going to see Staying Relevant tour with Sam Thompson (King of the Jungle) and Pete Wicks with Son. Then I'm doing a natural yarn dyeing workshop and finishing the month a week in Gower and Wonderwool!!!

[Ruthie]

I will look forward to your Canal Boat blanket, hoping it comes to fruition. It’s a shame that there are fewer blogs these days, I guess the lure of instagram has overtaken it. Happy spring and enjoy your retreat x

[gina in alabama]

I love the Canal Boat Blanket idea and the pics you linked to were great especially the boat called "Lucy"! Looking forward to seeing your pics of Amsterdam too. I liked the Easter egg colorway, hope it will emerge one day. I miss the blogosphere, It was a wonderful time and place to be. so glad you are still here!!!

[Esther]

What lovely comments you have received Lucy, hopefully just what you needed after you plea on IG! I thought that was sooo sweet.

I love reading all your blog posts whether they are trips away from home, everyday life with walks, market buys and coffees or creative ideas shared or completions displayed for us all to be inspired - thank you vey much.

We have enjoyed many canal boat holidays with the family and before children came along so I would very much enjoy crocheting a narrowboat/canal inspired blanket. And, the colours you could include, just wow!

I am looking forward to a weekend in London (although I must confess, any city or even town come to that, is not my favourite place to be!) as our son is performing his first solo concert in a London Venue - awesome.
Many thanks, Lucy. Hope you have a FAB retreat. XX

[Lily Davies]

We used to moor up in Skipton Basin when we owned our canal boat and, for us, it was a time of exploration around the area. And we made some good friends whilst there. Absolutely loved seeing some of our favourite places (adored the Narrowboat, such lovely staff!) The idea of Canal Boat blanket is excellent and I’ll be queuing up to join in the CAL 😉

[Cathy Tucker]

With you on the excitement of being on a boat. Xx

[PennyL]

Well that was a lovely treat to find this morning. Our school holidays began on Maundy Thursday so we’re still enjoying freedom! I miss the old blogging days, so am really grateful that you have continued to blog so wonderfully over all these years. Thank you 😊PennyL in Dorset xx

[Charlotte]

OOhh! What a super time you have had. And sunshine!! I must admit to a twinge of envy at that, it has been really grey and wet in the Midlands, although the forecast is improving. I'd settle for simply 'dry' at the moment! Hope your retreat calms and inspires you. Cx

[Anca Moreanu]

You are so inspiring for me! Thank you for all your pics and words! I just love your walks, especially the ones along the Canal, so, of course, the Canal Boat blanket is requiered!!!
Good luck and have the best time to create it!
Anca from Romania

P.S. I will try the garlic soup, you convinced me! Here is called *leurda*, we make salads with it!

[Carol]

It has been so lovely to finally see some sunshine and blue sky during Narch. Your photos are so bright and uplifting 😀

[Dawn]

Thank you for sharing the photos.
Looking forward to finishing a granny square blanket (5 rounds ie 2/2/1) with the Aria colour scheme, then creating a pastel rainbow version. Christmas presents need to be started early for our 4 grandchildren!!
Enjoy your retreat,
Dawn x

[Debbie Tristram]

I love love the idea of a canal colour inspired blanket!
Can't wait to see your Amsterdam pics, as we are going at the end of the month.

[Nora McGrann]

Another feast for the eyes, Lucy

You have a wonderful way with words... Making your blog so appealing..

You really do have such beauty around you...

Thanks as ever for sharing with us all..

Nora 💐💓x

[Angela]

Thank you for sharing your lovely pics! They're always so uplifting and beautiful 😍 I'm so glad spring has sprung in your neck of the woods. I'm glad for you but I'm also glad for me as I can live vicariously through your pics as we enter our colder months. Its blowing a gale outside at the moment! This month, as the weather is getting colder here, I'm looking forward to cosy times at home. I don't mind winter so much. As winter approaches I usually look forward to some hibernation for a while. It's nothing like the excitement of spring and the promise of new beginnings that spring brings with it though 😊

When I left work yesterday it was dark. Our clocks went back the same time that yours went forward last weekend. I'm just lucky that I have a wonderful husband that cooks dinner for me! That will make leaving work in the dark much easier 😊

Thanks so much for keeping your blog going Lucy at a time when blogland is getting smaller and smaller. I always get excited when I see that you have a new blog post up!

All the best to you
Angela 🙂❤️🌻🌸🌼🦋xxx