Out and About

Mid April, and the season is balanced with one foot  leaping into spring, and the other (booted) foot still planted firmly in winter. I am absolutely loving these lengthening days though, especially since the clocks went forward into BST at the end of March and we have light evenings back again. All these extra hours of daylight are making me really happy and it goes a long way towards balancing out the high levels of rain and very cold winter temperatures that we're still putting up with.

This morning it was zero degrees when we set out to walk, a gorgeously still and quiet morning with a hard frost dancing over the landscape. It's Springfrost time, and the gentle muted colours keep reminding me of last year's blanket...colour really does have the amazing ability to evoke memories and emotions, don't you think?

I huffed my way up these wooden steps this morning, climbing through the trees all the way up without stopping. It's a great workout and my heart is always dancing a fast jig when I reach the top, reminding me that I'm alive and reasonably fit and well. Good health is pretty high up on my list of priorities these days, and not something I take for granted.

Yesterday morning was also freezing, but honestly I'm not complaining - the clear skies were very welcome and the sun definitely more than made up for the cold. Ahh, sunny-sun......do please stay for a while.

Doesn't the Blackthorn blossom look stunning? It's so pretty and always blooms abundantly, I don't think I've ever met a half hearted blackthorn hedge. The delicate little flowers erupt in an exuberant cloud and I really love it for that. More is more when it comes to flowers, always.

So I was away from home over the weekend, spending three nights in the wilds of West Yorkshire on a crochet retreat. It was my first Stitchtopia retreat of 2024 (I'm doing five in total this year) and after a busy week preparing for it I was really looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing the new project I'd designed.

The country house hotel where we stayed was lovely, quite old fashioned but in a way that immediately welcomed you in and made you feel relaxed and at ease. These retreats are a pleasure to do, mainly because I get to meet and spend time with the loveliest ladies. In the above photo to the right of the magnolia tree, that's the huge window of the "Blue Room" where we spent two days hooking and chatting away. I designed a really pretty wreath with some new flower and leaf designs, and it was loads of fun to see my design brought to life. I'm keeping my photos offline for the time being as I'll be teaching the same retreat again in May and June* and don't want to spoil the surprise for those who are coming along then.

To round out the retreat, we had a visit to Stylecraft at their historic mill building on Monday morning. We were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour giving a fantastic insight into the history and workings of the mill as well as getting to see the design studio and learning about the creative development of their yarns and patterns. 

Of course I'm no stranger to the workings of Stylecraft and have been to the mill many times over the years, but it was such a great experience being a part of this very enthusiastic group of crocheters.....the excitement was real!

Enjoying cake and yarn on a Monday morning....I think we all felt very happy with life at that point in time.

*June 2024 - a little note to say that due to an unexpected cancellation, there is now one place available on my Yorkshire retreat in June (Mon 3rd- Thurs 6th) if you fancy it, details are ((here))

I've spent the past couple of days recharging my batteries after the retreat. I love teaching, but I do find the very full days of socializing take a lot out of me (I am a very introverted person used to spending a lot of time in my own company).

I've enjoyed being out and about in sunny Atticland (blue skies! sunshine!), pottering around, catching up with errands, food  shopping and generally recalibrating after being away.

I took myself out for coffee yesterday morning. It felt like a luxury to sit in the quiet of this café where it was just me on my own for a while, basking in the sun and sipping my chocolate dusted frothy cap. Bliss.

At the start of last week before I got mad busy preparing for the retreat, J and I went out onto the countryside for a walk. It's funny that I had totally forgotten about it until today when I was looking through my photos to see what April was looking like so far. Thank goodness for the Me that always takes photographs every single day, I am grateful for these images that capture and preserve my days, weeks, months and years when my memory is not up to the job.

As you can see, it was very, very grey and damp out there with low cloud swirling just above our heads as we walked across the windswept moorland.

 We saw lots of frogs out and about, they seemed very at home in the damp wet grass minding their own business, or in pairs getting happy with each other ('tis the season!)

This circular walk is just under five miles I think, and during the whole time we were out we only saw one other person (a runner), a fair few grouse and a whole lot of frogs - it was incredibly peaceful even though in all honesty it felt a little bit bleak at times.

This is a walk I love to do in late summer when the purple heather is in flower, but there is a quiet beauty at this time of year which I can appreciate.

As we were walking the last mile, the weather rapidly changed and the clouds lifted and shifted to allow the sun to peek through. What a difference it made to the the landscape, it was like seeing an old sepia photo translated into full colour. Beautiful.

I really love a country walk for blowing the cobwebs away, it always leaves me feeling energised and full of gratitude for our open landscapes and public footpaths. We are very lucky indeed.

Thank you by the way, for all the lovely comments you wrote on my last post, I do so love to read them and hear a little bit about your days and also to find out what you enjoy about your visits here to the Attic. Often I think my posts are verging on the mundane, and yet I do really enjoy creating them for you (and for me to read back and remember things too) so I keep going. Photos stack up and then the words flow around them, it's a rhythm that is very familiar to me now after sixteen years of cultivating it.

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ps. in case you were wondering, I've not forgotten about Amsterdam.....I'll be working on sharing my trip soon before it fades into the rearview. 

pps. there is one single place now available on my Portugal retreat this summer following a cancellation....want to come with me?? Details ((here)) 

ppps. canal boats are still on my mind, they have taken up permanent residence. More on that soon x

 

 

Comments

[sue mason]

Hi Lucy,
just want to tell you that you are missed. However, if the weight is too much for you at present and I understand how that can be, we will still be here when you need your bloggie friends. If it hadn't been for your blog and a re-established love of crochet I think I would still be curled in my little depressed ball. So we are here when you need us
Sue from Qld Australia

[Kate]

We are worried about you, Lucy. Hope all is well and you are just taking a break.

[Jane]

Hello Lucy
I hope all is well. I am really missing your blogs.
I hope you are enjoying the sunshine.
Sending love up to Yorkshire.
Love Jane

[Jan Hilliker]

Hi Lucy,

Just thinking about you and wanted to send you lots of love from New Zealand. Thank you for all the joy you have given to the Attic24 Community over the years. I really, really miss you! Kindest Regards

[Beverley]

Joining with the rest of Attic 24 friends to say I am thinking of you Lucy and sending my very best wishes to you x

[Mary Ann]

Hi Lucy,
Missing your posts...expect that you are busy...hope all is well.
I'm crocheting but "cooking" in the 98F degree heat in New Jersey, USA!
Sending best wishes,
Mary Ann

[Jill]

I come here every day to see if you're about. You're not. But that's okay. Just so you know it's always worth the wait. Hope you'll be around soon. Take care. X

[Elena]

Summer solstice today and I cannot forget how much you appreciate this day, dear Lucy.I pray all is well with you.Best wishes from Greece.

[Lacey]

Hope you are doing okay Lucy, we are all missing you.

-Currently knitting Crikey! Socks for my brother.

[Femke]

I hope you and your family are okay. Much love from the Netherlands

[Trish]

Popping in to say hello and send you much love.

[Sue Woodhouse]

Hi hope all is well with you and your familyreally missing your blog. XSue

[hayley]

Sorry, typo last comment: hayleylewis_swimrun

[Hayley Taylor]

Hi all Attic24 followers, I hope wherever you are around the world you are doing well. I was thinking we should start a Attic24 follower group perhaps seeing there's probably a stack of us who look up Lucy's blog on the daily to see if she's posted. I'd love to know where you all live, what are your current crochet/ knitting/craft projects.

I'm currently crocheting my thousandth granny square quilt (just so calming/soothing). I'm using a 5mm needle and using a mix of NORO and Abbey Road yarn. Would love to meet you all!! My personal instagram is: hayeylerwis_swimrun but I have a little shop located in Brisbane Australia and the insta is: cominguprosesbalmoral

If this was a silly idea, then let's just hope Lucy is well and will be back soon, Hayley.

[Melody Elzy.]

Thanks so much for sharing your days with us. It really is lovely to read about your escapedes. And your quiet time.

[Rebecca]

Hoping all is well. We are missing you!

[Ruth]

Dear Lucy
Thinking of you and hoping to see you soon xxxx

[Angela]

Thinking of you Lucy 🩷

[Ruth]

Hope you and family are ok. I miss your posts but take care of yourself.

[Debbie]

Hi from Philadelphia Lucy. Your wonderful blog got me through some of the toughest times in my life. I offer you my prayers, positive vibes and LOVE for whatever you are going through now.

[Kate]

Dear Lucy, we're all missing you terribly and sending love.

[Naomi Gates]

Thinking of you Lucy and sending much love. Hope you were able to get out and enjoy all the May blossom and bird song. 🙏 you can soak up the lengthening June evenings and find a midsummer fire to dance around. Cx

[Peggy I Traeg]

Do send out emails?

Peggy

[Cheryl]

Lucy,
I always enjoy reading about your adventures. One day I hope to make a pilgrimage of sorts to Yorkshire. Some of my ancestors emigrated from Yorkshire to the States. From Wigglesworth. Just up the road from you. Your photos and commentary help me see the country from whence they came. Thank you for sharing with us so much of yourself.

[Claire]

Dear Lucy, I hope all is well with you and yours and your absence from attic land since April is because you have been busy in a positive and enjoyable way.

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures and wishing you all the very best.