I am Lily - stitcher and part time bookseller. Mother to my gorgeous girl, Abigail and wife to Julian. I make time each day to let my imagination potter and add quirky prettiness and handmade comfort to our home and lives. You can email me at lily(at)blockaday(dot)com
orange … amongst other things
I love orange. So often, when I’m choosing fabric, or wool, or clothes, I find myself thinking oh look, there’s orange, I love orange and never choose it. This happens so often, that when I fossick through the stash, look through my wardrobe, there’s a lot of orange.
Julian and I have fallen into the habit of going to bed very late - frequently after midnight - setting the alarm for 6am and then being utterly incapable of waking up properly. We bump that “10 more minutes button” over and over and finally stagger out to the kitchen at 7 to participate in a frantic rush to school and work. Yes, it’s a cheerful, frantic rush with plenty of love and laughter, but it’s so contrary to how we should be starting our day - refreshed!
In an effort to improve, Julian and I went to bed last night at a nice and early 9.15pm. Yeah, I might miss out on a couple of hours of possible needlework but usually, after the clock has struck 9.30pm, I am slumped prone and tired on the sofa, watching something on the television or browsing the internet. They are not fruitful hours. So to bed - we chatted, we read and then drifted off to sleep. And when that alarm went off at 6am, I sat up in bed, awake, energised and ready for the day. Oh it felt good! I made Abby and I our morning cup of tea and we didn’t have to gulp it. We ate our breakfast slowly and with pleasure. I ironed everybody’s clothes for the day and made the lunches. Julian and Abby left for school and work and I still had two hours before I had to catch the tram to work. Two glorious hours.
It was a cold morning so I put the kettle back on, savoured a cup of Ecco (peculiar Italian cereal beverage that I have loved for many years) and finally finished my scarf.
I knitted it last year in Brisbane, but frankly, it was never cold enough to wear it, and thus I had never woven the ends in. Well this morning I did.
And wore it to work ’cause it was darn chilly. I swear the wind gusting in from the south west was express from the Antarctic!
Ah it was such a good morning. Slow, peaceful, happy and productive and full of my favourite orange. It’s amazing what a few extra hours of needed sleep can provide.
10 March, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Love that scarf!
10 March, 2010 at 2:28 pm
What a beautiful way to start the day!! I love the scarf. Where can i get the pattern?Colors do make sucha difference in our world.
10 March, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Beautiful scarf! Beautiful orange! I’ve been going to bed about 9:15 this week because by then I am darn tired for some reason (usually with an ear ache, poor me). Waking up feel like I’ve been hit with a hammer. But at least I had a good night’s sleep. :-)
10 March, 2010 at 11:09 pm
isn’t it amazing what a difference a good night of sleep makes!
love all your orange. i’m the same way with purple…i just can’t resist it!!!
11 March, 2010 at 5:16 am
With me, it’s GREEN! Love every color of green (well, except mint pastel!) I notice you wear blue with your orange–you like complementary colors. Me too–that’s why red is my next favorite color…
Sleep, amazing, mysterious sleep. Glad you’re getting more of it! Nothing’s more crabby inducing than waking up tired.
11 March, 2010 at 2:39 pm
You are right about orange. I am working an a quilt with lots of orange in it right now! Love that scarf - I used that pattern to make mine (you shared last winter!) and it was fun to work on. Yours is beautiful. ~karen
11 March, 2010 at 6:46 pm
What lovely slippers and knits!
You are so right about sleep. My husband and I do the same. Every morning we hit the snooze button and then before we know it it’s 7. The truth is that I cherish those quiet hours where I get to read, write or craft. I can’t imagine my life without them!
13 March, 2010 at 2:24 am
Lily,
Beautiful colors!!! Your knitting project looks pretty…
I can definitely empathize with you on the subject of sleeping! :)
15 March, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Hiya!! Small blog world! I looked on the Farmama blog as y7ou suggested last thursday night and it led me back to you!!! beautiful blog– and gorgeous felt slippers!! See you thursday!!