Post 514 Just about organised...

Our final WES meeting for the year was full of friendship, shared experiences, engagement and interest. Several people brought along things they, or their mothers, had knitted. The non-knitters were just as engaged, with memories and stories. Margaret and I shared some background in Shetland knitting and a good number stayed for shared food. We also agreed on our 2024 program.

The angel was a gift from Lee. It is about 7cm tall and looks lovely in the light.

The NZ fantail continues to shine.

On Thursday, after Pilates, I made a batch of gingerbread biscuits, using Anthony’s honey, which worked brilliantly. I gave most of the biscuits away before taking a photo, so these are the seconds I kept for myself. I had almost run out of ginger, so they are a bit light on, but nicely crisp with a bit of a kick.

Following the plan I devised with my doctor, I have been a bit abstemious in what I eat, but I have at least tried a tree of two.

By Friday the rain had stopped, so I did two loads of washing, the first in 15 days. I hung one load out and the second on Saturday. I only have line space for one load. 

Before going out to buy more ginger,  I prepared and posted the last packages I’m hoping will be delivered by Christmas and, on a bit of a roll, put together the Christmas crackers, using the reusable cloths and cardboard rolls from last year. Each has a snap, a couple of jokes and a small gift. The hats don’t fit in the crackers, so are separate.

Still on a roll on Saturday morning, I booked a return flight to Canberra for a few days in January, went to Norwood to pick up an art work, to the Jam Factory to pick up something a daughter had ordered, then back home to organise all my Christmas presents, make a couple of extra bags and check my list. 

On Sunday  I made a set of small bags for the hats. So both the crackers and the hats are a lucky dip. The fabrics have memories. A couple are from a shirt of Jim's - he would want to be part of it- and a number were liberty fabrics given to me by my cousin David and his partner Susan for my birthday in 2017. A connection.

That is pretty much me organised. 

Nevertheless, I indulged in an experiment to convert Santas into trees.  I discussed some  improvements to the design with Niamh and Veronica, and have now started work on version 2.  Then I'll stop  knitting hats for a while.

Fionn was working but Riley took his place at our last Monday dinner for the year, before he and Brigid took the girls to Lobethal to see the lights. Peking flavoured duck was easy with help from LuvADuck. The fried rice took a bit more time and effort to make, but makes it an easy meal rounded off with ice creams and gingerbread.

The wool for my blanket indulgence arrived, along with the second book I ordered on the Evil Eye. The wool is lovely (photographed here through a plastic bag). I've vowed to return to a couple of embroidery projects before I indulge. I now have a discouraging pile of books to read. My plan is to prioritise Mexican embroidery for the February WES meeting. We'll see.

Today was swimming, I picked up my new orthotics, the last print run of my Christmas cards (these with no printed news inside) arrived along with a fairly strange knitting book I had ordered from the Quaker shop in Kendal in the Lake District - out of curiosity more than anything.  

I was pretty unimpressed when I first opened it. The jokey and, to my mind, somewhat smart-alecky style, put me off. However, a closer look raised my interest. The first pattern, called The Body Snatcher, by Casey Rich and Alice O Beltran, explains how to measure for, and make, a cowl-neck tunic, adjusting for your personal tension, and size. It is very clever. The book has a lot of stuff that doesn't interest me, but I do want to try the tunic. It also has a useful explanation of how to design and knit a beanie which might have helped a few weeks ago. I would like to know what my granddaughters think of the writing style.

The orthotics feel really good, with a little more support on the inner arch. The orthotic moulds are in the bottom of my wardrobe, where they will stay for when next needed. There, I've put it in writing!

It's lovely to be getting a steady stream of cards and email messages from friends, watched over by the angels and Magi on my fly screen.

I still have a couple of lunches, Pilates and two medical appointments this week, so Christmas still seems a bit distant.  My next post, however, will be on Boxing Day, so  I wish all readers a safe,  peaceful and happy Christmas. 

I hope the angels sing for you.