countryside · crafts & knitting · winter

Emerging

February is always the time when I feel like I’m emerging from hibernation. Not that I have slept all of January of course, though the temptation was certainly there. I have been busily knitting away and have put together the beginnings of a couple of new patterns. They still need editing, photographing, laying out and testing so it will be a while before they are ready but they will be coming soonish and when they’re a little further along I might give a sneak peek. I’ve also been out and about with my camera a bit, enjoying the quiet of the winter countryside, though never venturing too far from the pull and comfort of home.

Winter this year has been mild, with only a few frosty January mornings. I do love how the frost transforms the dull coloured twigginess of the winter landscape, so couldn’t resist heading out to take some pictures before scurrying back home to curl up with my knitting again.

In the last week there has been a sense of change in the air, especially at daybreak, which throughout December and January has been a silent affair. But now that February is here the dawn chorus is gaining new voices each day, with small birds singing out their territorial boundaries from first light. Spring is waiting in the wings, ready to burst forth with colour and fragrance and celebration of warming and lengthening days. I don’t know about you, but I feel very ready for it.

 

crafts & knitting · general stuff · winter

quiet winter days

โ€œWinter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.โ€
โ€•ย Edith Sitwell

This quote chimes well with my idea of a perfect January – quiet days, spent gently and slowly. Of course life often has other ideas and usually throws up unexpected things to get in the way of peace and relaxation, but there have been some calm and relaxing moments in my January so far…

  • peaceful moments watching the skies at sunrise whilst sipping the first cup of tea of the day, January has the best sunrises,
  • calm moments spent reading and planning for the year ahead, I’m finding these books really helpful – ‘Do Pause’ and ‘Do Breathe’ books from the Do Book Company
  • some weekend morning gentle-paced knitting, accompanied by tea and toast and warm blankets and Volume 3 of Shetland Wool Adventures which is a lovely read,
  • and lots of quiet walks in the countryside, which is currently resting quietly under a wintry sparkle of frost.

 

I hope the new year so far has been kind to you and that you’re finding comfort and calm in some of your favourite things this month too, J x

 

crafts & knitting · general stuff

All I want for Christmas…

The two little animals above have been gifted to friends, the cards are all sent, the tree is up, the presents for the children are wrapped and the larder is full – I’m at last prepared for and looking forward to a few gentle-paced, family-based days. We have a quiet and simple Christmas here, centred around sharing time together, eating and relaxing. There’s nothing I’m hoping for in the way of physical presents, but if my Christmas day includes some of the following then it will be a good one…

  • A crisp, frosty dawn with mother-of pearl coloured clouds high above the rising sun and the song of a robin heralding daybreak from the top of the plum tree as I give the hens their breakfast,
  • A cup of good coffee to warm my fingers after coming in from the cold,
  • Toby and Amy having a long lie in, so I can sit with my soulmate and spend a little time alone together,
  • Christmas carols on the stereo so I can sing along as I peel potatoes and prep for lunch,
  • Hoping that my roast potatoes get crispy and the turkey stays juicy and flavourful, so that I can show my family what they mean to me with a gift of good food,
  • An afternoon family film on the tv so we can all curl up together and feel nostalgic,
  • An evening cosying by the fire with a glass or two of something warming,
  • A bright moon floating in a clear sky studded with stars, so I can send up grateful thanks for a day well lived before heading off to a warm bed.

I’m signing off now but will see you in the new year, I hope your holidays bring you what you are hoping for and a little peace and pleasure and time with those you love most,

J xxx