December Yarn Along
Have you ever read a book that you wish you had written? Maybe not exactly, but something along the same lines. Letters from Father Christmas (affiliated link) would most definitely be on my ever growing list. There are wild moments when I think I’d like to take a sabbatical and write a book. One for my children, I think, but hopefully enjoyed by all. It would contain hidden details, which only they would pick up on, and they’d ow and ah when they spotted them. Something only a parent could include. Most importantly it would have stories to entertain and relate to, just as Tolkien did.
Not that I could or would want to compete with Tolkien. I’d have my own stories to tell. Adding my humour, and bringing it up to date. The polar bear would undoubtedly be there, assisting Father Christmas. I’d have my own host of characters to weave into my tales.
It would be written as letters to my children, just as Tolkien did. It would be fun to write. Maybe one day. Oh, and I would ask middle teen to illustrate it. It is just her style.
Not that my children have missed out by my current lack of book writing. They used to receive beautiful letters from Father Christmas each year. The letters stopped a couple of years back, as all his communication does eventually. The style, stories and illustrations were very similar to the ones in Letters from Father Christmas, but slightly more contemporary.
Tied up with a red ribbon, they’d appear by the fireplace on a morning, running up to Christmas Day. Sometimes sent in an envelope covered with eye catching illustrations. I found myself stopping to take in every detail. Each letter has been kept and re-read. No, they have not missed out.
I find myself dipping into Tolkien’s book each year. It has become part of my Christmas tradition, and nudges me nicely into a suitable festive mood. I never read the whole book. And never in the right order. That’s me.
Another tradition that seems to have crept up without much of a to-do, is to knit up another clutch of tree decorations. They are quick and give me something to do in between making presents. Unlike the gifts I make, I am free to post them up here. (In other words, I can’t show you my main knitting project!)
I’ve been working on knitted baubles. Three knitted so far, although one has not made the cut. Less said about that the better! I do like the fair isle pair. They are knitted flat and then the seam is sewn up.
My mother passed the pattern on to me. It’s taken from a Yours magazine. There is no date on it. I’m going to try my own fair isle pattern on the next one.
I’ve stuffed them with wool, but they do lose their shape easily. I’d like to use something, like a polystyrene ball, to give them a firmer structure. I’m on the look out for something suitable that I can recycle rather than buying new.
I’m joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along. Current book and knitting. I’d love to know what you are reading. So, which books are on your stack to read?
Thinking out of the box for the festive season
I have to admit that when one of my children announced, at the table last night, that it was five weeks until Christmas, it caught me out. Really? Woah. That was quick. What happened to November? Oh hang on, it is November, isn’t it? Yes, five weeks.
She was excited. Too right. The thought of no school. Days filled with festive spirit. Presents. Yummy treats. What’s not to like? For a moment, I was swept up in her excitement. I briefly caught the magic. I could almost smell the orange and cloves in the warm air. I caught wisps of music and laughter. Hints of the sparkly lights and tinsel. I remembered. I felt it again. It is such a lovely time of the year.
Then reality eased it’s ample self into a seat beside me. Sigh. I know. Five weeks. Time to buckle up and make this magic happen. That’s my role. Quite frankly, it’s not always easy.
One of my aims this year is to simplify the holidays. Festive without the stress. More time with the family. Less time juggling. A different type of indulge, but no less magical. I guess it helps that as my children grow from small children to teenagers (16, 14 and 11 years old), their expectations have changed. No longer hoping for a conveyor belt of presents to entertain them, but appreciating the thought that went into choosing the gift that shows we know them.
One area I really want to simplify is the gift giving. I love the idea of giving five gifts each to the children: something to read, something to wear, something to do, something to eat and something you need. Then…stop. None of those just-because gifts that creep in as the days run out. I’d like to be done and dusted by the end of November, so I can enjoy the festive spirit in December too.
So the list begins.
(Christmas Eve 2017)
Now, we have a tradition that everyone receives a book on Christmas Eve. An activity book or short stories, with facts, that will stimulate and entertain at the same time. Something to dive into on Christmas Eve or during those slower moments over the festive season and beyond. A pick-up and put-down type of book, where sections are read out and shared.
I’ve started my search for this year’s books. As luck would have it, I was sent a book recently that fits the bill perfectly. How to think like an Absolute Genius. (affiliated link) Over the weekend, we tried out some of the exercises and shared fun facts.
Format is perfect. All three children love reading the snippets of facts and giggling at the cartoons. Me too. I freely admit, I do enjoy a book, aimed at children, which I find packed with easy to digest facts that interest me too.
I love the exercises in this one. They are different to ones I’ve found before. If you like out of the box thinking, then this is the book for you. I mean, your children. Although, I do think this book will be a success in our house as I want to join in too. As a parent, I can bring a book or toy to life that might otherwise be overlooked. This only happens if it appeals to me, as well as the younger members of the family.
Creativity and a different way of thinking, is a good way to start the day. Any day. For all of us.
We tried Ellis Paul Torrance’s creativity test. Ten minutes to draw anything, so long as the main component was the circle. It was interesting to see that they all came out with different approaches.
I also posted up a serious of questions on paper and chalk boards, for them to provide multiple answers. We did this together for a couple of questions, so that they got the idea. I wrote down everything they suggested. No wrong answers. Although there was one amusing moment when I misheard Gucci socks as goat cheese socks (What is expensive and smells very bad?), and didn’t realise until the end. (Maybe you had to be there.)
Reality shuffles slightly in its chair. Almost imperceivable, muffled cough. Just five weeks. I hear you.
My search continues for our Christmas Eve books, for this year. This one is sitting on our coffee table and filling in a few moments before the festive period swings into full force. I’ll take it along when we visit family and friends over the holidays, with a pad of paper. I’m pretty sure the grandparents will join in too.
Disclaimer: I was gifted a copy of “How to think like an Absolute Genius” from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I always give my true opinion of the product in reviews.
Yarn Along November
We’ve reached the point of the year when the fire is roaring in the wood burner most evenings. Not that it’s nose tingly cold, but it does take the chill off the room. It’s dark early. What a contrast to back in the summer, when I’d be out in the garden till late. Pottering around. Enjoying the extra time. I’d gladly volunteer to pop out in the car, if we needed something, or to drop one of the children off. It seemed no hardship. “It’s OK. I don’t mind. I’ll pick up some more milk, while I’m at it”, as I grabbed my car keys. It was still light.
Now the house is surrounded in darkness by five o’clock and, for all I know, the rest of the world has vanished. No streetlights or car headlights to be seen, as we’re tucked away from it all. The urge to curl up in a chair, with my feet warming by the fire, is undeniable. Maybe a good book or another row of knitting, preferably with a hot chocolate on the table beside me. A marshmallow melting on the top. One thing is for sure, there is no way you’ll catch me venturing forth on a whim. Not on your nelly, Miss Kelly! Not if I can help it.
It does mean I have time to concentrate on other hobbies. A lovely indulgence. It’s the first Wednesday of the month, so I’m sharing my current knit and book with Ginny’s Yarn Along. First up, my knitting roundup for the month.
At the end of October, I finished my purple jumper. I loved knitting it. I’m really happy with the colour. Plus it was proof that knitting a jumper, in a month or two, is perfectly possible for me to do. It was quick. The neckline is pleasing and the sleeve length just right. I’ve worn it a few times now and have felt wonderfully toasty.
I wish I had knitted the body length a couple more inches longer, or maybe shorter, as the hem hits me just in the wrong place. To add insult to injury, the hem has turned out a bit flappy and looser than I’d like. This is most definitely not flattering.
The pattern is Sirdar 8067 pattern and I used Sirdar Harrap Tweed to knit it. I changed the design of the hem, which is where the problem with the flappiness stems from. The wool is gorgeous. It gives a tweedy look to the jumper. Reminds me of the heather on the moors.
I have an idea how I can save this jumper, but it will have to wait until I finish my Christmas knitting. For now I can wear it.
I’m busy knitting for Christmas, so I can’t say too much about it, just in case the intended recipient is reading this, except the wool is Swedish, which doesn’t give much away.
I also knitted a few ghosts for Halloween. Exceedingly quick and satisfying. By the end of Halloween, they were up on the points of our (papier mache) deer head above the inglenook. They looked just the right amount of spooky.
Books. I’ve taken to having two books on the go. One in the car and one in the house. I learnt a lesson a few months ago, when my car broke down and I was stuck for 4 hours, waiting for a tow truck big enough to rescue it. Oh, the joy. I had no book. Ever since, I have kept one in the glove compartment (and changed the car). An easy and light one to pick up and put down. I read it when I’m waiting to pick up the children from their various activities. I chose Rumpole (affiliated link) as it never fails to make me smile. I’ve read it before, but it’s been long enough ago for me not to remember the endings to each of the stories.
I’ve had Salmon Fishing in Yemen (affiliated link) on the bookshelf for a while. I bought it from a charity shop when eldest was reading books from around the world, as a reading challenge. I don’t think she read it. I’ve seen the film and am looking forward to seeing how it differs. Not too far into it yet, so I can’t add much more.
The irony of this post is that I’m actually writing it in the car, waiting for youngest to finish one of his clubs. Trampolining. It’s dark and I want to be home. I’m planning to occupy the seat nearest the fire when I get home, which hopefully one of the family will have lit already, and indulge in just a bit more knitting.
(edited: the fire wasn’t on, but supper was ready as we walked in the door. I did get the seat next to the unlit fire, but promptly fell asleep exhausted, so didn’t miss the fire or get much knitting done! I tell you, people, I live the life.)
How about you? Have you got a knitting project on the go? What are you reading at the moment?
