New year thoughts.

What a lovely Christmas that was. Time spent with family and friends, no rushing about, just relaxed and peaceful. Just the way I like it.

We didn't really 'do' much Christmassy stuff, the boys are adults now and do their own thing, I think it was the first Christmas where I didn't have any Christmas activities booked. The only thing I was missing was some long walks with the hound. Its our first Christmas in about 16 years that we didn't have a dog. I really miss having a hound around but our lives have changed and we are home less so its not fair to have a dog and then leave it on its own for hours whilst we work. There are 2 hounds on the distant  horizon, ( we both know the next hounds we want !) but the times not right, hubs and I are happy to wait.

As the year draws to an end I am excited to see what 2019 will bring, it promises good things and changes are ahead. 2018 felt like a waiting period, I drifted through the year, went off course in many respects and lost myself for a while. But I have pulled myself back in and am setting a course through the coming year. 2019 is set to be a big year, each step will be revealed as each hurdle is jumped, sorry to be secretive but there are lots of things that need to align and I need to keep myself in the moment or I will drift another year away.  The first change for the new year will put into action tomorrow, seems fitting that its new years eve ! 

I'll leave you with probably one of the best friend gifts I have ever received

Meet Harriet the hare.

My friend does mosaics as a hobby! , how blooming fab is this?  Pictures don't do it justice.

I absolutely love it..

Merry Christmas.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas.

I have had the loveliest couple of days just snuggled at home with the family. Yesterday was the first Christmas Eve where we didn’t have anything last minute to get done. It was a bit weird really!

I did the usual Christmas Eve cast on

This will be a pair of plain vanilla socks. The yarn is a gift-a-ball from Rosie’s moments. It’s full of little gifts that you find as you knit your way through the ball. What fun! This will be the first pair of Christmas socks for next Christmas. 

The next few days are all about the wider family, making memories and enjoying the company of others. I’ll jump back into the blog at the end of the week. 

Wishing you all a happy and healthy Christmas.

X

Done.

Had  a lovely evening yesterday when hubs met me from work. We managed to grab gifts that we needed, had a couple of drinks and walked around the Christmas market. It was lovely until we went to get off the bus near home and got drenched!

This morning I’ve done the food shop so now all I need is to get the laundry done and tidy the house and I’m ready for Christmas! We’re off out to friends tonight for dinner which will save me cooking and as they only live a 5 minute walk from us I don’t even need to drive.

I can’t believe I am alll done, I have surpassed myself this year!

Reasons to be cheerful.

1- It’s the winter solstice, blessings to you all ! This means that brighter days are ahead. I know that I’m done with dark days, I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark! 

2- It’s Friday............ Bring on 5pm and then Christmas can begin. Hubs is meeting me from work and we’re off out on a date night Christmas shopping trip, we know how to have fun on a Friday night! 

3- I finished the back of my Cornwallis sweater and have cast on the front, happy days...this sweater makes me happy.

And lastly, can you keep a secret?  I’ve been offered a new job!

Details when all the paperwork is signed, which maybe a while due to the season!

Advent spinning.

Managed to catch up with the advent spinning yesterday. I’m really enjoying this calendar. I’ve not done much spinning over the past few years so it’s getting me back into it. The colours are great, I’m hoping to make a 2ply yarn and will then knit it into a seashell cowl.

Here’s yesterday’s progress.

This is days 12-16 waiting to be spun up and the full bobbin from days 1-11

Still a bit thick and thin in places and the batts have little nubs which I have left in, but I like it. Hoping to get it spun on time to that I can ply it during the Christmas break. 

Here's a close up of the fluff from yesterday.

forgot to take a pick of the first one spun !

As much as Id like to do more spinning today Its off to work I go. New office day, still the same job in the same building, just down a floor to one which has had a makeover, will be interesting.

Advent knitting.

All is quiet here, everyone’s still sleeping. As usual I was awake at stupid o clock but am taking the opportunity to catch up with my advent knitting whilst watching some vlogmas videos. I have a large mug of tea by my side and am snuggled on the sofa. Pretty good start to the day I’d say!

I’ve managed to catch up with the yarn calendar , it’s definitley growing on me. I think I’d have been happier if it had started with the blue green and lilac as there the biggest blocks of colour. Not sure about that red section, but that just my colour preferences. The pattern is really easy to follow and I’m at the point where I know it so don’t need to keep referring back. Here it is with todays yarn included. 

I’m way behind with the fibre one but hope to catch up with that today as well, I’m aiming to finish both calendars on time! Can’t spin yet as it’s s pretty creaky old wheel.  Will update you with the spinning advent at some point. 

Hope you all have s peaceful Sunday doing what ever makes you happy. 

What else to do

On a wet windy Saturday than get the other tree done that’s what! 

I will admit to liking a bit of Chridtmas tat. Whilst we always have a real tree in the main lounge, hubs wouldn’t have it any other way, I bought a white tree a few years back. This one goes in the back room, I sit there alot with a cuppa and my knitting as it looks out onto the garden and I like to watch the birds ! 

I love it! 

The baubles  are fuchsia, turquoise and silver, totally different from the traditional colours on the other tree.I’ve sorted out all the old decorations, broken  and past their sell by date and I’ve not been left with much. I’m tempted to rush out and buy some but I know in a week or so they will all be in the sale, so I’m going to wait it out. Other than the trees we don’t really put much else up other than a few strings of lights here and there. 

Tonight I’m home alone so I’m going to find myself a christmas movie, grab a glass of wine and top up my Christmas spirit. 

Advent calendars.

This year I bought an advent calendar from Rosie’s moments. 24 little skeins and a pattern to follow. I will be honest the first few days I wasn’t sure if I liked it, the colours are not ones I would choose, but it’s a sparkly base so carried on. I am glad I did  it’s growing on me day by day. I’ve surprised my self by keeping up which is pretty amazing for me ! Pretty sure this will be finished by Christmas Day.

It came in lovely gold envelopes that you could hang on a little peg line, I opted out of that and have kept them in the box. There’s also some cute little stitch markers and other small treats popped in every other day.  I’m really enjoying it and love a little knit every night!

I also bought a fibre one from Siobhans crafts. it was mermaid themed so I had to buy it !

The little mini fluffs are gorgeous. There’s Rollags and batts, tips and roving, all in mermaid colours. Love love love it!  And I’m on track with it too!

Pretty dull picture, but I assure you it’s gorgeous! There’s 10 days on this bobbin. Aiming to do a 2 ply and then knit an old shale pattern cowl for chilly beach days! 

Pleased as punch with this years yarn calendars. Also pretty chuffed with myself as this post has been done on my phone! Trying new ways to help me keep on track with blogging. Will need to review how it looks on s pc in the morning and put in links for the suppliers, but this could be a major move in the right direction for blogging !