Blogtober Day 8 :: Tuesday
It's been a wet, drizzly kind of a grey day today and not particualrly inspiring if I'm honest. J and I were both up early (still on Amsterdam time) so decided to go out for our morning walk despite the gloom and the rain. We are back to our "dark season" route for the next five months as it's not light enough to go into the woods any more. I don't mind it though, we walk along the canal, through the park, then a steepish climb up a long, hilly residential street before gently dropping back down along a leafy road to the top end of town and homewards. It's about 2 miles, with just enough hilly exertion for me to feel like I'm excercising but not in a scary or too-sweaty way.
I went out again mid morning to meet my friend for coffee, walking along the narrow spring branch of the canal as I needed to call in at the butcher on my way.
I thought it was looking suddenly very autumnal, the trees starting to change colour and drop their leaves more and more by the day.
At the top of the town outside the town hall there are some long, curved wooden benches that have planters built into the back rests. It's such a neat design and the planting is always colourful and changes with the seasons. They looked especially lovely today I thought, cheering up the grey weather and bringing some much needed colour to the area. I do really appreciate seeing flowers around the place and it's something I noticed about my time in Amsterdam. That city is full of greenery and flowers - so many huge pots and planters filling pavements, spilling over bridges, clustered in front of buildings and lining the narrow streets, I love it.
Let me see if I can find a few photos to show you....
^^ isn't it lovely? The flowers and plants added such a lot of charm to an already charming city.
I bought myself some flowers today, I wanted something colourful but the choice in the supermaket was limited so I ended up choosing scent over colour. Stocks are really a summer flower aren't they? But there was something about that strong, spicy fragrance that grabbed my attention and felt right for October.
I've enjoyed having them on my table today, they really do smell amazing.
I felt quite tired tthis afternoon and couldn't really settle down to concentrate on anything much. I did a lot of faffing about - mild cleaning in the bathroom, sorting out piles of laundry, dealing with the recycling, paging through recipe books and making a meal plan and shopping list....I don't know, could I call this productive faffery? As opposed to idle faffery?
Mid afternoon, I lit a candle and decided to sit and knit a few rows of my sock to ease my jumbled mind. I'm just starting on the heel flap which is why I'm using the pointy sticks instead of my favourite small circulars. The trouble is, my hands sometimes really ache (arthritis in my knuckle joints) and today was one of those achey days because of the cold, damp weather. I managed 9 short rows and then had to stop, but it was enjoyable if a bit slow and stop-starting.
I cooked a favourite comfort meal for the fam tonight and it was bloomin' delicious I have to say. This recipe is called "Dirty Macaroni" and comes from one of the wonderful Pinch of Nom recipe books. I can highly recommend the PoN recipes, they are healthy and very tasty and we've got a whole collection of go-to family meals from the website and books that we come back to time and again.
This recipe is a pasta bake (from the Quick & Easy book) - lean minced pork and peppers in a tomato sauce which is heavily flavoured with herbs and spices, then cooked macaroni stirred through and a topping made from grated cheese, wholemeal breadcrumbs and fresh parsley. Mmmmm.....so good!
I have to say I do like autumnal cooking with an emphasis on warming, nutritious comfort food...although I can be quite contrary and crave a fresh salad in October too.....it's all about the balance I guess.
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Oh the arthritis! Isn't it the pits? Not so much the pain (which is probably nowhere near as bad as most), but the fact that it's a sign of aging and the possibility that one day it's so bad I won't be able to crochet! That would hurt me more than the physical discomfort. Thanks to the commenters above which some good tips that I'll be investigating as soon as I finish catching up on your posts!
Posted by: Louise | October 10, 2024 at 04:52 AM
That recipe sounds very appetising,I will have to check it out. How lovely to walk to the butchers along the tow path. No wonder the canals give you inspiration for your next project.
I love the way continental towns and cities look so wonderful with their original floral planting. France always has amazing flower beds in their parks. B x
Posted by: Barbara | October 09, 2024 at 08:30 PM
Have you tried compression gloves to help with the arthritis. I have arthritis in my hands and I have found they can help me continue crocheting or knitting for a bit longer when it flairs up. I bought a couple of pair and liked these best. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Developed-Compression-Arthritis-Written-Handbook/dp/B09TL4T1FG?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1
Posted by: Jane | October 09, 2024 at 11:28 AM
It's a bit "dull" when the autumn weather is wet, but I appreciate the sunny autumn days all the more. Here in southern Sweden there are nice autumn colors on the trees now, but I miss the flowers. Most flowers died when the frost came the other night.
Your Amsterdam trip looks amazing! Lovely to be able to sit outside in the sun and drink coffee in October.
All the best! /Anna-Karin
Posted by: Anna-Karin in Sweden | October 09, 2024 at 10:52 AM
Hi Lucy, so many of the points in your blog resonated with me: I love the Pinch of Nom recipe books too, and thanks for alerting me to one we haven't got yet (the All-in-One book). I love all your flower photos, and the tumbling geraniums remind me of window boxes in France. Have you tried turmeric to help your sorely joints? I use it quite a bit in food, and took golden paste every day for a few years but it's not very palatable or enjoyable to take. Recently I started taking it in capsule form and the difference to my knees and hips has been remarkable.
Posted by: Joelle | October 09, 2024 at 10:06 AM
All caught up and ready for day 9. I must spend some time in my cake studio today catching up with admin and prepping for upcoming orders. But I know Flowerpress will be calling to me by lunchtime.... I love the fact that Autumn is a slower time for me business wise so I can spend time on me time creativity. Plus it's an easy time to sit with mum catching up with a TV show.
Posted by: Michele Farrow | October 09, 2024 at 09:09 AM
Dear Lucy, first of all: I love your daily posts and I‘m looking forward to them every day! A few days before you mentioned how nice it is for you to meet your Blogreaders in personal. I loved to hear this! Actually, I convinced my family this summer to spent our holidays in Skipton - mainly because of your blog, which I‘m following for many years. Unfortunately for me, you were in Portugal during our stay 😔 Nevertheless we had the most wonderful time in your hometown and the Dales! We met lovely helpful people, when my daughter was sick at one day and found Skipton in general as nice as you portraited it on your blog (the Tourist Board should pay you for it! 😃)!
We will certainly come again and I hope to meet you that time!
Best wishes for you and your family from the north of Germany 🫶🏻 Eva
Posted by: Eva Meyer | October 09, 2024 at 08:30 AM
Wet and autumnal here in the NYM but as I haven’t to go anywhere I don’t mind it. There is joy in every season for me - I couldn’t live anywhere that didn’t have four seasons! Love the idea of a blast of stock scent as a final reminder of summer gone.
Socks are next on my list of projects I must have a go at, but with two blankets on the go with two in waiting and several pending sewing projects it’s a fair way down my to-do list! Happy Hump Day everyone! X
Posted by: Deb | October 09, 2024 at 07:43 AM
My knuckles are bad too, so I am working quite slowly on your Woodland blanket ( and loving it’s autumnal colours!) to replace the three blankets that my daughter has “borrowed” for her new flat 🥰🥰 Got to love an Attic 24 blanket!!
I think there’s something magical about the colours of the autumn leaves in the rain; they seem to glow through their transparency almost.
Posted by: Gill | October 09, 2024 at 07:18 AM
I love the smell of stocks and their colours are so pretty aren’t they. Your comfort meal looks amazing and sounds sooo delicious. We have had some beautiful sunshiny days here when it’s not been absolutely hammering it down with rain! Always it seems, when I’ve got to go out in it!! 🤣 All this soggy weather does make you feel tired I think, and certainly makes you want to snuggle down inside. Take care Lucy and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s post. Love and hugs xxx 🥰🤗
Posted by: Becki | October 09, 2024 at 06:45 AM
I find it always takes a bit of time to reset after returning from a trip. And a dull grey day just adds to that feeling.
Your bouquet is beautiful and I can almost smell the stocks from afar.
Posted by: Lorrie Orr | October 09, 2024 at 04:47 AM
Productive faffery! Completely acceptable and a perfectly valid use of time👍❤️. Your sock and the yarn are gorgeous.
Thank you for your posts.
Posted by: Vanessa | October 08, 2024 at 11:09 PM
I love your sock wool. I’m on socks atm but using dpn’s as I can’t find a small enough circular! We said the other day that the roads and paths around the dales are looking very autumnal.
I can recommend the refurbished bar at Tarn House for coffeee and cake (£5 to the end of the season). The kitchen is run by Palamino Pizza now and is great. X
Posted by: Gill Appleyard | October 08, 2024 at 10:52 PM
It is such a joy and a treat to read your daily posts again. So glad you're back. Your blog is my go-to comfort website, your beautiful descriptions of your daily surroundings always help me to open my eyes to my own and appreciate them more.
My current favourite is watching kids under chestnut trees in the morning on their way to kindergarten, picking up the shimmery brown chestnuts. Thanks So much for sharing your view on the world.
All the best for you and your loved ones
Posted by: doris | October 08, 2024 at 09:46 PM
You’re ending some slow days to reset and enjoy what colour is left in our autumn. I too did some sock knotting yesterday and today. A small pair in soft alpaca wool for my youngest grandson. Small is quicker so I enjoyed making these. When I find more wool I think I will be making some more.
Sleep well tonight Lucy. Regards Linda x
Posted by: Linda | October 08, 2024 at 09:33 PM
Your autumn is far in advance of ours here on the south coast, but judging by the winds here today there won’t be any leaves left to change colour! I too love seeing flowers out and about and the smell of stocks is just delicious. Enjoy the slowness of some days and any faffing is constructive in my book. I could faff for England some days 😊
Posted by: Sandy | October 08, 2024 at 09:28 PM