Attic24

August 2011

Hello!!! It's really good to be back here at my desk catching up with a few things and being still and thoughtful for a while. We came back from our week down in Dorset late on Sunday and my feet don't feel as if they've touched the ground since. We had a lovely time away, a whole mixed bag of weather and activities, mixed emotions too if I'm honest...it wasn't the most relaxing or harmonious family holiday we've ever had!! But yes it was mostly good and I'll be sharing the story with you in a few days.

It suddenly occurred to me this morning that we've all of a sudden reached the last day of August and that tomorrow I'll be turning my calendar pages. I've soooooooooooo enjoyed August and feel like I want to stamp my flip-flopped feet and protest that it simply didn't last for long enough. I want it to be August for at least another three weeks!! Woooooaaaaaaaaaahhhh!! I'm not ready for September, for the onset of Autumn, I really am not ready!

I've LOVED this month. My time spent with the Little People at home this summer has been a true delight, as has time spent hanging about with friends and neighbours. It's been relaxed, easy going and fun. Lots of fun. It's hard to take photos to represent these times spent with friends, I must give that little challenge some thought for the future. The Little People do not remain still enough for photographs these days, they are so active and physical for so much of the time (which is nothing but Good). I was thinking back to a blog post I wrote three summers ago, documenting our summer holiday activities....ahhh how fabulous that I can now look back across Three Whole Years to recall and remember! Summer this year hasn't been very different really. The chalks and bubbles never came out, but scooters and water fights were still very much in evidence. The scootering is faster and more competitive these days,  the water pistol fights are bigger, louder and more strategic. Yes, I'd say the Little People have enjoyed a terrific summer holiday at home, full of play and laughter and activity and friends.

Thinking about bloggy archives has reminded me about this post written two years ago. One of the things that delights me about blogging is the evidence it throws up of Repeat Patterns in ones life. The rhythms and cycles of nature which become inextricably linked to home and family life. The past few weeks we've noticed that "Sugar Stealers" are dancing on the breeze again, and we in turn have been dancing about after them. Capturing, wishing and releasing. Just as we did last year, and the year before that. So precious.

We celebrated a ninth birthday yesterday. Nine. How??? How does nine years pass in the blink of an eye?? Little Man went with J and three of his best street buddies on a day trip out to do Boy Things. It involved gazing at weapons followed by eating spicy things. They returned home at tea time full of excitement, telling tales of samurai swords and hot chili sauces. I laid out a simple party tea for anyone who wanted to come and eat (it was suddenly very busy at number 24 yesterday!) and we had cake with nine candles to blow, it was lovely. We are blessed with a wonderful neighbourhood here, such lovely families, such friendly, good people.

There've been some quiet moments during August too, contented times that I've spent pottering and pootling about in my own little world. I've had such a huge amount of pleasure from my little back yard this summer, it's made me very happy to be able to pick flowers and bring some of the outside in. Some of my pots are looking decidedly past their best now, but the sweet peas are still flowering their sweet little hearts out. I don't want them to end.

Yes, I know. You do indeed see BROWN yarn on my table. Two new balls of Stylecraft have recently been purchased, and with much trepidation I might add. I find it incredibly hard going into a shop to purchase Brown Yarn. On the left you can see the colour Walnut (ehh??) and on the right is Parchment. Pfffffff. That walnut colour is not just mildly brown, but very incredibly brown I think you'll agree.

Want to know what I'm up to with the brown stuff?

Weeeeeellllllll, I'm making a baby blanket, a gift for a very good friend who's baby is due in less than six weeks. So I can't show you too much of it as I know she does peek in here from time to time. It's a ripple blankie, and as you can see the brown is only a small part of what I'm up to colourwise. It's been very, very interesting working the browns into my colour scheme, I can't wait to ta-dah it with you!

This month's Attic Views have been spectacular in their diversity. I've really been aware of the changing light during the past few weeks as summer slips gently towards Autumn.

We've had our share of bad weather this month.

Rain, mist, drizzle. Torrential downpours.

The temperature has dropped too (we had some thoughts of lighting the fire this week, although it never came to pass), and the days are noticeably shortening. Sadly I can really feel the summer slip-sliding away (waaah).

But there have been glorious days full of warmth and summer sunshine in August too. And I am hoping very much that as we move into September we'll be treated to just a little more of Summer. Here's hoping. If I mange to catch a sugar stealer anytime soon, you can guess what my wish will be.

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July 2011

Ahh July, what a sweet month you are turning out to be!

Life has been very full and busy during July but my overall memory of the past three weeks contains much happiness. The weather's been a mixed bag but mostly I recall it's been pretty good around  here really. Warm and summery, sometimes quite humid and thundery, but beautifully warm yes, and plenty of sunshine. We've spent quite a lot of time outdoors taking it all in, appreciating all that these long summer days have to offer. Picnics and barbecues by the river. Impromptu trips to the park. Ice creams. Water fights. The sound of children playing out till well gone 9pm. Chilled white wine with friends. Lots of salad meals that involve No Cooking. Bare arms, flip flops and silver painted toe nails. The smell of high summer in the evening air. Delightful.

At the very beginning of July I went off on a little solo adventure. In an airplane no less. I tootled off to Manchester airport very early one Saturday morning, climbed on that there white metal bird with it's slightly scary propellers and flew down to Southampton, which took all of 45 minutes. It was an amazing flight with clear blue skies and the most fabulous views of the landscape below. At one point we flew right over a hot air balloon, I was quite beside myself with the beauty of it all. When I arrived in Southampton I hopped on a train and travelled a further 100 minutes west to arrive in Dorset by ten am. Wow. Yorkshire to Dorset by ten am! Never done that before!! It was a really great journey and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole business of being on the move. Just me by myself with a small rucksack on my back, making the journey to visit my dear Mum in hospital.

Later that same day after I'd spent all afternoon at the hospital, I got onto a local bus and travelled a further 40 minutes west to get to Bridport where I was staying the night. When I got off the bus, I had a sudden realisation that I had no door keys, and that the house where I was staying would be empty till midnight (everyone was off making merry at a wedding). It was a beautiful early summers evening, so I decided to while away an hour or two by travelling some more. I journeyed on foot this time, a mere 45 minutes tramping south across familiar fields until I reached the blue of the sea.

West Bay harbour was an absolute picture, the evening light was incredible, and at 6pm it was still very hot. I went to a bar with the above view and sat on the terrace drinking an ice cold beer in the sunshine.

Enjoyable as it was, I was still in a bit of a predicament re getting to my bed for the night. So I decided on one more jaunt on foot, this time an hours journey along the coast to a neighbouring village where the wedding reception was taking place and where my host and hostess would hopefully be found with The Keys to The Door. I walked up over West Cliff....

....and enjoyed some wonderful peaceful time being Me-by-myself on top of the cliffs, gazing out across the bluest of blue seas with the sun on my face and a spring in my step. I have some fabulous memories from this little snippet of time, it was such bliss finding myself quite unexpectedly on a familiar sunny clifftop beside the sea. All By Myself. Just Me. I can't tell you how good it felt, such a rare luxury at this stage in my parenting career to have time so completely to myself.

I did eventually end up at the wedding reception after a lot of huffing and puffing (hugely steep hills in that village don't you know). I felt a little conspicuous walking into the venue wearing my crop jeans and a sweaty teeshirt when everyone else was done up to the nines, but hey, I carried it off with a broad smile.

The next morning I joined a large post-wedding gathering for a spot of brunch in a rather splendid posh local place. An old coaching inn which has been transformed in recent years into a top notch hotel with fine dining and plenty of ambiance. 

Behind the rather grand facade of the hotel lies a rather beautiful rustic courtyard which totally captured my heart. Fabric bunting strung across, casual wooden furniture and lots of vibrant geraniums, it was a little slice of heaven I thought. Perfect for sitting with a mighty fine cappuccino and allowing my  divine "eggs benedict" to settle. I didn't want to leave.

That sweet little Sunday morning courtyard really stuck in my memory, I'm glad I had my camera with me to capture a little of it's atmosphere. It's exactly how I like to think my own small outdoor space should look. Kind of pretty and casual and rustic and homely.

This is a snap of my July back yard. I took the above picture by standing very precariously on my bedroom windowsill and holding the camera out of the top opening window. Since I took this photo a few weeks ago, the geraniums in my wall top pots have really started to flower their hearts out, it's quite lovely if I say so myself. I feel quite proud of it. And I love my windowsill too, I love that our house is made out of old, old stone.

I have a rather amazing hanging basket next to the kitchen door in my back yard, it's chocka block full of my favourite colours. It was given to me as a surprise gift actually, and my goodness, it totally delivers a bolt of pleasure on a daily basis.  I even remember to water it daily and religiously deadhead the flowers, it's very well treated I can tell you.

I wasn't actually around to take my usual first-day-of-the-month photo of the Attic view, but I took a few pics when I remembered on 12th July.

Yes, now I think about it we did have a bit of a cruddy cold, wet spell near the beginning of the month but like I said earlier, July has mostly been bright and beautiful I think.

Something else I did earlier this month was to participate in a fund raising event at a local school. I was asked if I could provide a few hand made items for the craft stall and I was happy to give it a go as I knew I'd be in very good company. One of the things I love  about where I live is the growing number of friendships I have which are connected by The Yarn Thing. Other people who lead a creative life and share similar passions and excitements to my own. Its marrrrrvelous to have those connections with friends, it really is. I like nothing better than a get together over a coffee/glass of vino (depending on the friend in question and the time of day) and a natter about arty-crafty-yarny-handmade type of things.

And if those particular friends happen to live just two streets away, well then, it's all very handy and supportive and creative and jolly! I watched some of the above knitted cupcakes take shape each week at the pub you know (yes, we frequent the local pub on a Monday night to do hooky and knitty things, my friends and I). Aren't they totally scrummy?

These beautiful appliqued and embroidered cushions are made by another friend....I adore them, and you may remember me bringing one home to number 24 last year? I'm the proud owner of a round birdy cushion with colourful felty triangles (scroll down this post and you'll see it second pic from the end...cor isn't it weeeeeird looking at frosty winter pics in high summer???!!!) Anyhow...yes, these cushions are a complete joy to behold, they really are.

The same clever-pants lady who knitted the cupcakes is also a hugely talented stitcher. Her work is un-be-leivable. She makes the most gorgeous patchwork and applique cushions with a homespun, folk-art feel to them. They are true works of art, just lookeee at this.................

...........yay, chickies have landed in the Attic! How could I resist??? I just had to have one of these beautiful cushions for my very own, just had to. The Wanties hit hard.

There's an insane amount of hand stitching going on here, such a labour or love. You can tell this is made by a lady who completely lurrrrrrrrrrves to sit and stitch can't you?! Gorgeous.

So my contribution to the abundant craft stall was rather thin on the ground I have to confess. I simply didn't have the available time to make all that I wanted to make as my daylight hours are mostly filled by a demanding Little B shaped object. I managed to make seven little crocheted and stuffed keyring fobs (pretty colours don't you think?).......

..........and three little rabbits. Ahhh I did LOVE making these rabbits! Two of them hopped off to find new homes, and one remains here in the Attic with me.

The pattern came from Kate's blog Greedy for Colour, of which I am an adoring fan. I love Kate's  work. I practically begged her on bended knees to write up her pattern for these bunnies when I saw her making them last year. And being the kind and obliging soul she is, she did just that. Isn't she a gem? You can find her Flora Rabbit tutorial here look.

Well now.........I think I need to finish up, it's quite late and I've just realised I'm sat alone in the dark whilst the other four-fifths of the family are tucked up in bed. We are in full school holiday mode this week, taking it leisurely day by day with no plans to speak of. Lots of mess, lots of time lounging in pj's, slap dash meals eaten as and when. Mid morning breakfasts. Lots of hooky time too as I'm getting a welcome amount of help entertaining Little B (free child labour, oh how I love school holidays). I've got a huge amount still to share with you and something wonderful and new on the hook already this week. More soon.

Toodle-oo for now!

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Edited to add :: ahhhh fear-ye-not, Snakey-chops is still in residence here! He was on the craft stall purely to serve as colourful eyecandy, although I could have sold him I'm sure, he got loads of attention! Did you also spot my granny buting hanging on the front of the gazebo? Will have to show you that sometime as I realised just now that it never received it's Ta-dah moment. Thanks for all your lovely comments today! ♥

 

 

 

 

 

June 2011

8.38pm and I just this minute legged it up two flights of stairs to go take in the evening light. GORgeous, isn't it just?? My June view is looking lush and green and typically mid-summer after rather a lot of mixed up sunshine-and-rain this month. We've had a lot of wet weather of late. Oodles of it. But today has been bright and golden and gorgeous and I've loved feeling the heat of the sun on my face as I went about my day.

My June calendar has a lot of scribbles on it. Mixed up dates (I keep getting things ludicrously wrong), cancelled appointments and re-scheduled visits, forgotten birthdays. But here we are almost at the end of the month and it's not been so bad really. We've muddled and we've scribbled and we're nearly through. Tweet-tweet-tweet, aren't those little fabric June birds sweet?

My Ideal Home calendar hangs by my desk and I find the images so restful and calming, such a pleasure to gaze at day after day. I look at that picture and I think to myself, oh yes, I remember our last house where we had an expanse of lawn dandelion infested grass, and how lovely it was to set the table for an al fresco Summer meal, to sit and eat whilst feeling the cool twiddle of grass between bare toes. I don't have a lawn any more to twiddle my toes in, but neither do I have to hold heated debates with J over who's turn it is to get the lawn mower out.

 

No lawn then, but oh I am enjoying my weeny walled back yard this year! My pots are looking fuller by the day, the wet weather has certainly been good for growth. I'd still like to have a lot more greenery out here (I'm fancying some big oversized tubs to grow small trees and bushy-leafy things), but for now it does very nicely. Morning coffee, a quick lunch, a glass of something chilled in the late afternoon, I'm really enjoying my time spent out here.

That funny old wall with it's chipped render and green mould has really grown on me this year. I was all for painting it and sprucing it up last year, but am glad now that I left it be.

I've got lots of geraniums on the go at the moment, a mixture of upright ones and trailing ones. The above flower has just bloomed for the first time this week (it's one of the trailers sitting in a pot on top of the wall), and oh my the colour is magnificent.

My sweet peas are a bit slow/late in getting going but that's ok. I'm really looking forward to them, I bought some old fashioned variety that supposedly has amazing scent.

This little blue bench thingy sits right outside my kitchen door and brings me a lot of pleasure I have to say. I've got mint, chives and flat leafed parsley growing here, and I absolutely love love love stepping out with a pair of scissors to snippety-snip a little something to go in the cooking. Today I made sweet potato and smoked mackerel fishcakes, with fresh parsley from right there. They were yum. I had to chuckle to myself, nipping to my desk, firing up my laptop and Googling "Attic24 Fishcakes" in order to find and recall my own recipe. Bloody marvelous thing this blogging you know.

In the sunny part of my back yard I've got thyme and rosemary growing, lovely little snips to go with garlic roasted veggies. I'm trying to eat as healthily as I can at the moment, trying to resist the (alarmingly powerful) urge to combat stress by comfort eating all manner of sickly sweet but hugely desirable foodstuffs. It's working to a point. I'm eating an awful lot of fruit. I really wanted to show you the amazing ripe cherries I bought from the market at the weekend (deep red glossy fruits in a beautiful blue-glazed mexican dish, a fantastic photo opportunity), but by the time I got my camera I realised that I'd eaten nearly all of them. There was rather more mexican bowl than fruit. Only six cherries left actually.

I've been keeping very busy this past week or so, busy doing the things that need doing around here. Taking pleasure in piling, hanging, pegging, un-pegging, folding and re-piling. And sniffing of course. Lots of laundry inhaling been going on, it calms my soul to inhale the scent of sun-dried and freshly laundered cotton articles.

Mid summer, and I dug out my snuggly winter socks last week.  My feet have been feeling cold, especially in the early mornings. And when I say early I really do mean it :: Little B is waking up his bouncy little body shortly before five ay-em most mornings. I went through a spell last week of really wholeheartedly resenting this fact, my-my but I was getting my knickers in a twist over these enforced early starts. Not so this week. I'm taking a different approach this week and am embracing the 4.45am starts, bringing Little B downstairs for some lovely sofa snuggle/playtime before the rest of the family awakes. The ripple blanket has been such a comfort on these mornings, I love it's instant warmth and cosiness, it's quite the perfect blanket to have hanging around the place.

One of the things that has not been happening much in recently weeks is The Tidying. Quite frankly, I simply cannot be bothered to do it at the moment, it's such a thankless task. When I stopped to think about how many times each day I was putting Little B's toys back in that basket there it was mind boggling. I seemed to be continuously stooped over tidying things up, only to find them slung back on the floor minutes later. So now I just leave it, and hope no one trips over and breaks any bones. The upside to this messy existence is that when Little B begins his toddling day at 4.45am, his toys are all ready and waiting for him right where he left them. What a Marvelous Mummy I am!!

Little Man is an early riser too, not quite in Little B's league, but usually around 6am or so. This morning he decided to bake and ice a batch of buns before breakfast. Uh-huh, before breakfast. I don't know if this is freaky-abnormal for an eight year old boy, but I don't much care, I love that it happens. Very much so.

It's been such a long time since any hooky business appeared here in the Attic, and for that I really am sorry. I have been hooking away quietly in the background, but haven't managed to find time to share all that I've been doing. Right now in my bag is a lovely stash of bamboo/cotton yarn and a few little animals. I'm making some crochet toys to sell at a summer fayre in a few weeks time, but so far the sum of my efforts amounts to two finished rabbits plus the head (minus ears) of a third so I'm not doing very well really. I promise I'll share more yarn and pattern details when I can find time to photograph and write, but at the moment I really do need to crack on with the actual making part.

Ahhhhhhhh my cherished Attic View (again)...see how green the hill looks now compared to the beginning of May!! Beautiful. And on that happy note I'm going to have to love you and leave you as my bed is a calling. It's not quite dark yet, but it is 10:10pm and waaaay past my bedtime.

Can I just say before I go that I am tremendously grateful for all the wonderful words and positive thoughts that you've sent my way about my Mum. I really, truly appreciate it. She's doing ok, we are doing ok. One day at a time and all that.

Lots of love....be back soon!

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From April into May

Hello my sweet people, so good to be here! I said to J this morning (in my best don't-mess-with-me voice) that I simply had to steal a patch of time away in the Attic to catch my breath and reconnect with my bloglett. I declared it to be Absolutely Essential, and he had the good grace to understand so here I am. I try not to let it get me down but my goodness I do MISS my bloggin time! I feel the days and weeks slip-sliding through my fingers and the precious memories fading and getting lost and forgotten in the hubbub of busy family life and I begin to feel a kind of mild panic creep in. There is always so much that I want/need to record and remember and preserve for the future, all the little itty-bits of life that make me happy/glad/inspired/thankful. So today I'm going to attempt a very quick catch-up through the past few weeks.....jeez it's been quite crazy around here, although I must stress that it's been an extremely good kind of crazy.

Back we go then, back into the tail end of last month......as most of you know, on Friday 29th April we celebrated a Royal Wedding in the UK. Here in Attic Town it was all looking very jolly indeed with many streets decked out with bunting and flags. Two weeks on and they are still in place, which has pleased me no end! It's been especially nice to hear the sound of a town in celebration :: due to very high winds the flags have been flapping with gusto and it's a sound I really adore. I think some long forgotten childhood memories are tied up with the sound of bunting flapping in the breeze, it makes me feel like skipping when I hear it (I restrained myself in the town centre last week, think a skipping forty two year old would have caused a stir).

Friday 29th April also happened to be a Birthday Day too, as Little Lady became a Seven year old. We celebrated by allowing her to choose the days activities (a family picnic at Bolton Abbey followed by an exhausting stint at a local soft play centre), and so in a way the events of the Royal Wedding kind of passed us by that day. Our Little Lady turning seven was more important, and I think she had a memorable day.

The day after the Royal Wedding and Little Lady's Birthday was the start of our UK "May Day" holiday weekend. This weekend is also the time for our towns annual Waterways festival, which I've come to really look forward to each year. It's a magical time, with lots of extra visitors flocking in to enjoy the festivities. You walk around and feel the party atmosphere in the air. Music plays, people dress up and dance, flags fly, flowers bloom, boats sail in and out and it's all very colourful and happy and upbeat.

I took a few snaps as I was out and about that day, the cheeriness of the dressed-up boats was so lovely!

All the pretty decorative details gave me a huge rush of inspiration actually. Made me determined to plan some prettifying of  my own little back yard space which was sadly neglected last year due to a small baby-shaped somebody who took up all my time and energy.

Ahhhh the delights of coloured bunting flags, such wonderful feel-good eye candy!

So that was April, wwheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, it went so fast! It was a fabulous month, we had amazing weather, a wonderful holiday by the sea, lots of picnics and outdoor jaunts, and Little B took to his feet. Bliss. I also did a lot of hooky in April....I've not had the time to show you much of what I've been up to lately, but I've been having loooads of fun with my hook. Loads I tell ya! I've been working on various decorative bits and bobs, and ooo it's been making me so happy! I don't mean to tease you, I promise faithfully that all WILL be revealed very very soon. I am really looking forward to sharing it with you. But first things first...you'll be getting a dose of Dorset next week before the hooky comes along, if that's OK with you?

May is officially my Most Favouritist Month of the Year. I just squeeeee with excitement when I turn over the pages of my calendars and view May. For me, it's a month of pure happiness....the greening up of the countryside, bluebells, fresh English Asparagus and the first English Strawberries, a month of picnics and time spent outdoors, long light days and warm sunshine.

Hmmmm...not sure why exactly there is a simnel cake on the May calendar page?? I always thought simnel cakes were for Easter, but no matter.....I'm thinking it's an age since I baked a full cake, the kind that can sit proudly on a cake stand and be sliced into with some ceremony. So I think I shall make-it-so in May. I can see a carrot cake in my very near future, oohh I'm smacking my lips at the very thought of it!

We are now two weeks into May and the weather here in my patch has been extraordinary. We had some terrific sunshine early on in the month, the sky was the bluest blue and for a week or so it forgot how to make clouds. There were no clouds for days on end.

But it's been windy, my goodness, even though the sun shone it's little heart out the wind was something else. We've eaten out a lot already this month (picnics-r-us) and our trusty windbreak has seen some hammer. The above photo was taken on the first day of May, we were up in the Dales picnicking beside the river at Hubberholme....

....lots of watery fun for the Little People and hunkering down beneath the windbreak for us Big People.

What else....oh yes, I enjoyed my annual visit to my favourite plant nursery and filled the boot of the car with lots of colourful floral goodness for my back yard. I managed to plant up most of my big pots before a very heavy storm rolled in and stopped play. It was quite spectacular  with great flashes of lightening, rolling thunder and huge ploppy rain drops, and although I fretted over the safety of my newly planted little plantlets, at least I was saved the job of watering them all in.

I've not had chance to take many pics of outside yet, but I'll try and show you my progress on prettifying my back yard. I've got plans you see. For decorative things out there. It's coming on a treat.

Now before I go sink a mug of fresh coffee, let me show you the first-day-of-May view from the Attic window..........

.......it was a glorious, glorious late spring/early summer's day. Blue, blue sky (no clouds) and a magical kind of glowy happy brightness of light. Sigh. I adore this time of year. So much.

♥ see you again soon, I'll be bringing you sea breezes and coastal tales before they fade from my memory xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2011

When I was out in the park gathering twigs for my hooky hearts a little while ago, I ended up with a few too many. Rather than sling them out, I popped them into little water filled glass bottles/jars and dotted them about the house on windowsills. Slowly over the past few weeks, the buds have begun to open and unfurl and I have been amazed. Truly. How wonderful Nature is, its ace!!! The above twig is in the bathroom and is a cherry....ooooooo there are buds, there are buds!! And soon enough there may even be blossom!! My very own Bathroom Blossom!!!!

These twigs are on my kitchen windowsill, the leaf buds were tight shut when I first put them there, but now they are in full flow and it's like having a mini tree growing indoors. The green of fresh new leaves is sooooooooooooo beautiful, it's wonderfully vibrant and I love it. I'm so glad that here in my patch we are well and truly into the Spring season now, I adore this time of year.

April, April, I could blow you a thousand kisses just for being you!! Isn't the above picture so impossibly pretty? Its from the Ideal Home calendar, beautifully inspiring as ever. I think I will copy this sweet idea and pop some blooms into egg shells this Easter. I've got quite a few egg cups about the place, I'll try and round them up in preparation.

This is the April page on my Laura Ashley calendar, reminding us that Easter time will be coming soon and I for one Cannot Wait. I love Easter. Love decorating for it and celebrating it, but best of all I love that every Easter we jaunt down to visit my folks by the sea. I've missed the sea so much, I'm craving it. I'm writing this and in my head I'm reciting bits of that Sea Poem, you know the one..."I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied..." Yeah, I feel it a-calling for sure. No, not going to deny it either. Take me to it.

I purchased Eggs last week, of the mini speckled chocolate variety, nom-nom I have a huge weakness for these little things. It's marvelous to have a glass jar of these loitering about the place to provide a welcome chocolate hit when the need arises. It's been quite a frequent need this week, I always crave chocolate when the stress levels rise :: by stress I mean the low-grade variety caused by Small People with Very High Temperatures. Little B is coming through a very horrid cold/virussy thing combined with cutting his pre-molars, ouch. He has been utterly miserable, poor mite. Chocolate eggs have been entirely necessary (for me, not him).

Talking of Little B....I am happy to announce that he is now a fully fledged Toddler, complete with the most cutesome little buckle-up boy shoes. He took his first tentative toddling steps about three weeks ago and it has been absolutely joyful for all concerned. We've not walked far outside yet, just up and down our street a bit, with some daily pottering about in the back yard. I've taught him how to handle a sweeping brush and how to stack flower pots and how to pass me pegs as I hang out the laundry, so it's all good. We like pottering outside together, I foresee much of that going on this Spring.

A couple new purchases for April, I do like to treat myself to a wee Supermarket Sweep every so often. I bought a new mug which is almost my Ultimate Favourite Colour of All Time but not quite. It's a bit more duck-egg than Tiffany, but it's spotty and fresh and spring-like and I like it. I also bought some more paper napkins (darn-it I forgot to photo them, they are printed like red n white gingham check, very pretty)....

.....and new light Spring/Summer cotton rosie jammies. I fell in love with these as soon as I saw them, and the love affair has grown ten-fold since I made them mine and brought them home. They make me so happy!! I put them on whenever I can get away with it (erm, yup, have 'em on right now) and they instantly make me feel relaxed and dreamy and content. I have to tell you that wearing them whilst crocheting is almost off the scale of my personal pleasure-o-meter. Seriously.

I don't think I'm writing this April post very well, it's not very Aprilish really is it? I do apologise. How about a bit of an Attic view then??

Taken on 1st April as is my little ritual, it was a bright and blustery day if I remember rightly.

Scuddy clouds, a little threat of rain that didn't come to much. Perfectly right for April I'd say.

I was thinking to myself not so long ago that last month I passed my Blogiversary :: Three Years of Attic24. Three years!! I've written over 500 posts in that time you know. It's quite something to be now into my fourth year of calendar pages/attic views. Lots to look back on. Last year I found it too difficult to write these kinds of posts on time, but previous years I love that all that seasonal pondering is archived. You can read all my "Calendar posts" by clicking on the Calendar word in my category cloud thingy over there to the left. You don't have to. But sometimes I do just that and meander back through the months and seasons, I find it quite soothing and therapeutic.

Pffffffffffffffffffffff...running out of steam.....needing to go to bed shortly, it's been a tough day. Before I go, I want to tease you a little.....show you a snippet of something I worked on last week.......

A pretty little Spring time project, I think you're going to like it. More coming soon.

Been lovely to have you visit, thank you so much for dropping by to listen to my April chatter. I'm off in my rosy pyjamas to the Land of Nod now, I like it there.....see you soon for some hooky floral springtime goodness! ♥

Edited to add :: for those of you in the UK, the rosy pyjamas are from Tesco x

 

March 2011

I think the sight of fresh, bright green shoots pushing up through brown earth is very perfectly March-ish don't you? I bought myself some Muscari bulbs from the supermarket on Monday and popped them out of their plastic pot and into this little broken jug which I keep purely for popping Muscari bulbs in. It's never used for anything else, just for my annual Muscari Appreciation. I have an odd attachment to this little broken jug as I found it in the back yard covered in dirt when we first moved here. I feel it belongs to the house, I wouldn't dream of throwing it away even though it is a bit defunct. Can't wait for the sweet little blue flowers to arrive, but in the meantime the sight of those fresh green stems  on the windowsill is making me feel very happy indeed.

I'm on to my third? fourth? round of hyacinths on the mantel now too, they continue to deliver huge dollops of pleasure on a daily basis. So pretty! And so smelly! I think on balance I much prefer the blue flowers :: these pale pink ones that are scenting the room right now are very lovely but I kind of wish they were brighter that's all.

I'm so happy we are now into the month of March as it means all things Spring-like are right around the corner, yaaaayyyy!!! February was OK I guess but we did seem to be dealing with pesky coughs and colds throughout most of last month, so I'm looking forward to a dose of lighter, brighter and hopefully warmer weather to kick the germs into touch.

My calendar pages have been turned on time (in fact, I turned them a day early, thinking it was March on Monday) and the images made me sigh with gratitude for the Coming Of Spring. Greenery re-appearing. Longer days. Drying laundry outside again. And that certain hard-to-describe feeling of Spring in the air.

Oh, and Connievan-ing again yippppeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm hoping, hoping, hoping with all my heart that some time towards the end of the month it might possibly be time. Time to wake Connievan from her Winter slumber and take her on a little outing into the countryside. We need a mild spell, some sunshine and warmth and off we can jaunt. I've been having some very vivid fantasies just recently about revamping Connievans curtains. I told the man in the fabric shop that I had been fantasising about blue and white gingham curtains and I hoped very much that he did indeed sell blue and white gingham because I would be needing some very soon. He told me matter of factly that I'd be best to keep my fantasies to myself. This is a true story. Only in Yorkshire eh.

We had rather a lot of very welcome sunshine at the beginning of the week, and my front garden crocuses went wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and flung open their petals in sheer delight. They looked so beautiful!

And next to the crocuses (is that word right? Seems to sound odd saying crocuses!)...err where was I, yes next to the purple crocus(es) is a resilient little clump of snowdrops. Gosh, I do love these little flowers, they are so humble yet so captivating and beautiful. Lovely.

On Tuesday which was the first day of March, I took a few of my usual snaps from the attic window. Living with this view for over three years now hasn't made it any less special and it continues to fascinate and delight me. I just love to observe the changing light throughout the day, it really does make for happy viewing....

01:03:11 :: three snaps taken at 08:27, 11:30 and 14:31.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the hill "greening up" again, it'll be another few months more before that happens and I can't wait. Ahhh I feel all happy and glowy just thinking green and springlike thoughts!

On that happy note I shall love you and leave you for now....it's 9.50pm here and it's my bedtime. Off to go get my hot water bottle filled to the max and get myself snuggled up under my feather duvet and my wonderful BB. Bliss ♥ !

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February 2011

Wouldn't it be fabulous if you could put your nose close to your computer screen and take a deep long sniff of the above picture??? Well I suppose you could sniff your screen if you wanted to but sadly you wouldn't be able to actually inhale the amazing scent. That is my little personal luxury and it really is amazing, take my word for it.

Actually, I don't need to go anywhere near these flowers to get a whiff of them, their scent fills the whole room. Open the door, walk in, breathe in, ahhhh happy, happy, happy! I don't think I would ever go without hyacinths now, I will have them in my life year after year after year for as long as I live. I know lots of you feel the same and I've been enjoying yours too here and here and here...marvellous little things aren't they?? I usually pick mine up from the supermarket, a pot of three bulbs for £2 or so, and they never fail to deliver. Wonderful.

Anyhow, hyacinths aside, lets talk monthly things shall we? January has been and gone, and already I'm loving that it's February. Cos February contains hearts and pancakes, both of which I am quite potty about. My calendar pages for February are lovely...hearts and lovey-dovey things....

....and pretty utilitarian things. Smashing. Gosh I would love a utility room. Seriously I would. I don't do an awful lot of ironing, but I love the idea of having somewhere pretty and orderly and purposeful to do it in (I actually iron on my bed, which is far from ideal). I'm really looking forward to getting my laundry flapping outside on the line again too, it seems like an age since I last pegged out. As you probably know I am not a very good housekeeper, my methods are very sporadic and slapdash. But I do take a pleasure in getting our clothes clean and dry and I love folding and stacking clean laundry, especially when it's been line dried outdoors. I do a lot of sniffing when I fold and stack laundry. I use eco products to clean our clothes and as they're not overly scented they leave the fabric smelling clean and natural. Mmmmm laundry sniffing :: another one of my secret little pleasures revealed!

February so far has been veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery breezy and very changeable here in my patch. Scudding clouds, gusty winds, at times incredibly wet and stormy, at other times surprisingly sunny and lovely. I took the above photo from the attic window on 1st february around 4pm in the afternoon. The light and colours of the landscape were so lovely that day, very soft and pretty for wintertime I thought.

February is still very much a winter month, and indoor activities are firmly on the agenda. Lots of baking, indoor games, cosy fireside pursuits and reading. The Little People both requested some new reading matter last week and so we treated them to their very own Amazon order. They were SO excited about the idea of having their very own books sent to them through the post, the anticipation was huge. It was very sweet. The parcel arrived yesterday morning, and it was a delight watching them open it together (hooozah, no squabbling over it either which was a minor miracle!) I would love to boast about them being avid little readers, but truthfully neither of them really are. So yes, it was wonderful yesterday to observe them curled up on the sofas amongst crochet cushions and blankies, noses in their books and seemingly enjoying the experience.

Postal delights all round yesterday cos there was also a sturdy flat package that arrived for me, all the way from the other side of the world. The excitement of the Little People over their package was quite huge, but mine was even Huge-er I can tell you!! My purchase came beautifully wrapped in an old map of Australia secured with blue and white string and a paper crane.....oh my, the LP were mega impressed by the paper crane, they could not believe their little eyes. I'm afraid you will have to wait to see what was contained inside the mappage, I'm saving that for another post. It'll be worth the wait I promise.

I've also been occupied with reading these past few days, curled up with blankets and busying myself inside the pages of my favourite magazines. I've had fun! Just had to share the above image with you, gosh my heart went whhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee when I turned onto that page!! It shows the interior of a shop (a strong candidate for The Shop Of My Dreams) called Home Sweet Home, absolutely wonderful. I would love to go there some day, I think I'd make myself right at home beside that fabulous rack of ribbons and refuse to leave.

My blankets are receiving a lot of use and appreciation at the moment, stormy February weather is just made for snuggling. I wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU for all your wonderful comments about my sweet flower granny, I've had a fantastic time reading them all (and yes I promise you I read every single word of every comment, I really do). You are so generous with your words, I appreciate it very very much, thank you.

I have already gleefully moved on to my next project, oh yes. Already flying with it and having an amazing hooky time with myself. I wound my new alpaca/silk yarn into balls just over a week ago and have been busy with it ever since, I am so excited to show you what I'm doing.......

......there look, a sneaky peek before I go, more coming very soon I promise.

And on that warm and woolly note, I shall love you and leave you for now, I'm off to light the fire, make a cup of tea and settle down for a spot of Sunday afternoon hooky. Bliss.

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January 2011

This beautiful rose is sitting right in front of me as I sit at my rather messy dining table tap-tapping on my laptop, it's really beautiful (the rose, not the messy table) and I am happy to be starting the year with a jug of fresh flowers in the house.

I love this time of year. Love the feeling of optimism and excitement that comes over me when I ponder on a whooooooooole fresh-new-exciting Big Fat Year stretching ahead. So much time! So many possibilities! So much fun to be had! Lots of potential hooky time to be found in three hundred and sixty five days you know.

I tossed out my old calendars a few days ago and with much joy and anticipation I replaced them with my new ones. I'm back to just two (five was a bit excessive last year), and they are both wonderful. I'm really looking forward to sharing them with you as the year unfolds, they bring me such a lot of pleasure. Yes, I'm easily pleased as you well know by now.

So the above image is January from this year's Laura Ashley calendar, this is one amazing calendar folks, I love it! Each of the twelve images is completely made up from intricately cut and collaged fabrics, they are so clever. Makes me want to do careful and clever things with fabric, I do quite miss my sewing from time to time.

And here is January as seen in the ever lovely calendar that comes free each year with Ideal Homes magazine. Gosh, this calendar has never, ever failed to lift my spirits and every month of the past three years has been beeeeeeeutiful in IH-calendar land. The photographs are stunning they really are.

And of course I can't talk seasonal and calendar-ish things without also bringing in the current state of the weather, that would never do. I took the above photo on New Years day, and it's pretty much been like that ever since. The bitter cold, bright icy weather of last month has gone and we've been left with much warmer air but also a lot of dull grey/brown. It is January after all, and we do need to expect a certain kind of wintry dullness at this time of year I guess. My Attic view is still beautiful though, isn't it? It looks peaceful and sleepy to me.

So....today is day five of the New Year and I've already managed to clock up many, many hours of hooky time this year, hooorah! I've had such a happy time this past week or so, sitting in various places (at the dining table, on the sofa, on the other sofa, in the Big Chair, and best of all in bed) hooking my little heart out. My hook has been h*o*t, I've been working like the clappers on my sweet flower granny blanket trying to get somewhere near to The End of it. I really want to finish it so that I can move on to new things, my creative mind is going crazy with new ideas and the stack of Future Projects is worryingly high for the 5th day of the year.

Ok, we need to have some jug appreciation now if you don't mind. Isn't this one an absolute beauty?? A surprise Christmas gift from a good friend, I am very much in love with it. Smitten actually. It's such a  happy little thing! Such good looks, such a colourful personality, bags of charm too. And it looks so at home here on my messy, colourful table.

Oooo what have we here?? A rare photo in my dim kitchen, this is the small area to the left of the sink which is given over to the coffee machine, dishwasher tablets and empty milk bottles. It's not very pretty here in this corner of my kitchen, but it is light because of the little kitchen window and the back door. I've put my newly purchased amaryllis bulb here for the time being, and I'm really excited to have one of these in the house again. It's a whole two years since the last ones were here. Have you ever grown an amaryllis?? The rate at which they shoot skywards is astonishing, a true natural marvel. And then there's the flowers, my goodness, such beauty. Wonderful stuff to start the year with, I can't wait.

Ahh yes, something else we've started the year with, a certain cheeky Little Monkey celebrated his very first birthday today.

We spent the morning with lovely friends and neighbours, a chaotic mixture of Mums, babes, toddlers and Little People, but it was such good fun. Little B being such a sociable wee fella, spent the entire morning crawling about the place with a big beaming grin on his face. He loves a good social gathering. At eleven o'clock we lit his candle and sang him happy birthday, then allowed him to sit and smother his entire face with slices of chocolate caterpillar cake. He was very, very happy with that arrangement.

He is very well loved our Little B, and many friends remembered that today was His Day. He seemed to be genuinely thrilled with all of his gifts, lots of new and delightful things to play with.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww, how wonderful it is to observe a sleeping baby, I never get over the huge lurch of my heart when I gaze at my Littlies as they sleep. This is a very tired Little Birthday Boy taking his afternoon nap, snuggled under his very own granny blanket, do you remember it?

Gosh, it's been an emotional day. I've been reminiscing a lot about the day Little B came into the world, it was not plain sailing I can tell you, and I still remember it as if it were yesterday. This first year has been long and difficult in many ways, but oh my, there has been such incredible joy and happiness along the way too. I'm looking forward to this next year enormously.

Right then, I think I've rambled on quite enough for one evening, there suddenly seemed a lot to say about the start of January didn't there?! I'm off to sit a while on the sofa now and get a little giddy over yarn and hook. I'm working on The Edge you know, and it's a very exciting place to be.

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March 2010

Hello, and welcome to March, the month of Spring Things beginning to happen.

What?

A Little Late you say??

Hahaha, I know, you don't need to tell me, I do of course realise that we're actually into April today and I'm a whole big fat month late with my calender post (again). Kind of funny really, it's how I've been feeling this entire year so far. Like I'm constantly behind the times, clumsily trying to catch up with myself, tripping over the days and weeks as they speed by far too quickly.

But hey-ho, I'm quite ok with this trippy/belated state of affairs, I refuse to get stressy over it. I'll just be doing things in my own sweet slow way for the time being, I'm thinking of it as Attic24-time (ie pretty much a month out of synch with the rest of the world).

So would you like to have a little lookee at my March calendar pages before we allow April to step in?

The above beautiful image is from the Ideal Homes calendar, and is just gorgeous isn't it? Jugs of pretty Spring Blues, very inspiring and uplifting.

Here's The Bossy Calendar telling me to do floral prints and brighter colours :: right-oh then, I shall do my very best with that one. Although thinking about it, tis quite hard for me to go an awful lot brighter than I already do here in the Attic house. It's already pretty bright and breezy within my abode. Could try a bit of floral goodness though, couldn't I? Yes, I might just try that.

The above very pretty image has been hanging in my kitchen and is from the Prima calendar...the crockery up there is  not quite my cup of tea to be truthful, I prefer robust, slightly chunky handmade ceramics over delicate flowery china. Love those roses though.

And lastly this is March on the H&A calendar :: a light and airy room in pretty pinks and blues. A bit too grown up for me perhaps, I prefer my rooms to be a little more eclectic. A bit more messy and homespun.

March here in Lucy Land has been pretty good. We've had some jolly nice weather, almost spring-like at times. Many mornings have found me coming home from the school run and sitting outside in my little back yard, drinking coffee and eating something naughty-but-nice. I've just enough space to wheel the pushchair into the yard, manoeuvring the wheels between my big pots of Dead Things. Its been lovely to sit and breathe in the fresh early spring air with Little B sleeping beside me as I sip and munch.

I've been love-love-loving the Spring Issue magazines that were out during March, I think this is my favourite season in Magazine Wonderland. Such beautiful, inspiring, joyful images and subject matter, I just want to dive right into almost every page and skip about in the Springtime. I was reading this particular magazine (April issue of Country Homes) whilst milk tankering one quiet, sunny afternoon, I remember it well. I remember stroking those little feet (my boy is always kicking his little socks off) and ooohhing and aaahhing over the gorgeousness of the pages. Not a bad way to spend a gentle half hour.

Oh those little toes!! I thought you might like to see them again, personally speaking I just can't get enough of them.

March was the month for my clump of front garden snowdrops to do their thing. It was wonderful to watch them grow day after day, they gave me so much pleasure.

So pretty. All gone now mind you, their show is over for another year but they were much appreciated while they were here.

I bought some seeds a few weeks ago in a fit of early March Excitement. Not planted yet, as is my usual annual habit of buying them, admiring them, loving the packets, popping them into a bowl in the kitchen and forgetting about them until June. In fact, right now I couldn't for the life of me think where I have actually put these three packets, cos I don't think I've seen them in the kitchen anywhere. Ho hum, some things never change, despite such Good Intentions.

This was my Attic window view, taken On Time (yeeehaawww!) on the first day of March. I remember it being a lovely day :: bright and breezy with skuddy grey clouds and weak (but welcome) sunshine. Above photo in the Morning Light....

 

....and then again in the Afternoon Light.

I wonder how many pictures I've taken of this view in the two-point-three years that I've lived here? I never tire of it, it remains as magical now as it did when I first clapped eyes on it.

So March is no more, but it was a Good Month for me all in all. 

And do you know what?

I think April is going to be EVen Better.

Bring it on.

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edited to add :: the top picture of the pretty piggies is the March page on my Laura Ashley Kitchen Calendar, its my main "writing on" calendar which helps me try to remember not to forget!

February 2010

I feel bad that my calendar posts are so flippin late this year, that I just cannot seem to fathom how to keep up with the passing time at the moment. I've been trying to write this post for an age it seems. The photos have been sitting here in Draft Status looking all pretty and Februaryish since day six of the month. Patiently waiting for me to find time and head space to write some seasonal words to accompany them. But the time and head-space did not materialise :: the days and weeks rolled by and all of a sudden it was no longer February. But OH!! Wait a minute!! March can't possibly begin cos I've not yet written my February post!! I felt truly, stupidly distraught on Monday when I realised that February had been and gone. Just like that :: gone. How?????? I want it to come back!!!! I've not yet written my February Post!!!! Waaahhhhh!!!!!! I think possibly I overreacted a little within my own silly little world here in the Attic. I think lack of sleep combined with such incy-wincy-teeny-weeny snippets of me-time tend to make me feel all dramatic and overwrought when things Don't Get Done.

But that was Monday and now it's Wednesday and I have given myself a good talking to in between then and now. Told myself that this is My Blog and noone expects it to be perfect and that it's not the end of the world if things don't happen on time. That I can write a February post in March if I so choose. So that is what I am doing. In fact, the calendar pages all around the house are still showing their February pages anyways, so I don't really think it'll actually be March at Attic24 for a day or two yet.

So shall we commence with a little February Calendar Appreciation then??

Above is the Bossy Calendar and quite perfectly sums up what took place here at Attic24 through much of last month. We Obeyed Orders, yes-sireee! There was indeed a good many days when we snuggled up by the fire and did cosy blankety things. Quite a lot of toe warming and fireside loveliness. I love our fire. Love love love it. In our last house (with it's rather lame modern gas fire) we dreamt of one day living in a house with a Real Fire. And now that we have what we dreamt of we enjoy it enormously, especially in February.

That's the Ideal Homes calendar above, so pretty in it's simplicity. I really like that little wire-and-glass candle holder, don't you?

Pretty snowdrops in a pretty-pretty cup on the February page of the H&A calendar. Just like this time last year I've been watching the little clump of snowdrops pushing their way skywards in our front garden during the past couple of weeks. In fact I photographed them this morning when I noticed how pretty they looked sitting in a patch of morning sunlight, but I'm saving that to show you when I write my March post (which'll probably be in April).

And lastly the Prima calendar which has been brightening my kitchen this past month with the above colourful and beautiful image. Love those colours. Love them lots. Mmmmmm-mmmmmm.

And the monthly view from the Attic then? This photo was taken on the first day of February when the sun shone briefly. The weather has been quite lousy recently here in Yorkshire :: mostly grey, damp, cold. Lots of low cloud and fog. Low light levels. Quite a bit of ice and snow too.

So that's February done and dusted then. I've been sat here writing this post and thinking back over the month that has just passed. And I'm thinking to myself hmmmmm.....it was quite an ok month really, all things considered. A bit blurry, a bit tetchy, a bit down right worn out, but pretty ok on the whole.

I forgot a whole lot of things in February. Forgot to buy Valentines gifts. Forgot to make pancakes. Forgot various things that J was always telling me Not to Forget (book my car in for a service, cancel the dental appointment, ring the electricity people, post those Important Letters etc etc). I also would have forgotten Non-School-Uniform-Day and parents evening, but luckily my Little Man has started reading the parents letters that he gets sent home with and then telling me (time and again) what I need to remember, bless him.

But as well as the forgetting, I also tried to remember things too. Remembered to look up and notice the colour of the sky. Remembered the joys of baking in a warm kitchen. Remembered the scent of full-blown hyacinths in flower. Remembered to kiss those little baby fingers and toes. Remembered how much joy and pleasure I can always find when I spend time with hook and yarn.

I like to think that the Remembering is faaaaaaar more important than the Forgetting. Well in my topsy-turvy little world it is.

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