I’ve had such a lovely afternoon, it was such a treat I will do my best to tell you all about it.

Many moons ago a certain person had me on tenterhooks at our monthly Saturday quilting class when she asked me what I had mumbled about (you see as a woman I had picked up the clues) in a last email to her. And I said, “well I can’t say can I?” and she gave me a smile that said I could and then there was a nudge and then a very broad grin at which point my eyes widened and almost popped out of my eyes and I then said.. “Well, are you?” and I think there might have been a little giggle and a snort from her, and I really can’t remember how she said she was with child. At that point I probably gave her the biggest hug she’s ever had from a female friend and tears literally spurted from my eyes. I was so happy for her, words cannot express the joy that I felt.

Well between you and me, (and the rest of the blogging world) I knew baby making was on the cards and some time earlier I had come across the most perfect of patterns and after much searching I had come across the perfect yarn in the most beautiful of colours for her. (we have knitted and sewn together for long enough to know the colours each of us are attracted to) When I picked up this pack of yarn months before this event whilst hubby was in tow, he had inquired as to why I was buying this and I explained it was for my friend and for what pattern and for why, he had exclaimed, ” but she’s not pregnant yet?” and I replied something along the lines, “my friend will have her baby”

So on this wonderful news I went home and cast on, giddy with excitement. Time went on as it does and slowly her tummy grew, as did my knitting. I was bursting to tell her what I was knitting, but I managed to keep myself to myself, it was tricky.

Then one day, a letter for me came through the post with a beautiful invitation in it, a personally printed card no less, like you have at weddings, and along with that when I opened the envelope there was a beautiful shower of butterflies cascading and dancing as they fell which was to invite me to her baby shower. I knit a little faster.

A baby shower, I’ve never been to a baby shower but I’ve always wanted to be invited to one. I carried on with baby knitting, it was wonderful to knit for a baby, I have really enjoyed it.

Today was the day, I met another knitter I know called Mary and we entered together. There was fun and laughter and games, and I thank Mary because without her knowledge of current people, (she is much younger than I and more knowledgeable) I was completely lost and gone on the game which was naming famous babies. She scored 8 which was a very respectable score, me, I would have scored 0. I laugh, I don’t mind, when my friends were interested in the current pop groups/film stars, I liked Cliff Richard, its probably why I married an older man.

Before that was the opening of presents, which was most entertaining especially when there was almost a full rendition of The Hungry Caterpillar, which I completely enjoyed as it was one of my boys favourite books, who knew that that book was forty years old, along with some beautiful bibs which quickly turned into how bibs often turn orange, mainly through carrot puree. (I may have started that conversation!) and then there was lots of other lovely, lovely presents.

And then I wish I’d taken my camera, because for Mary and I, (the only knitters in the group) we had chosen to knit the very same pattern for Baby Bear’s cardigan. Fortunately we had put our own little twist into the project, I loved how Mary had changed the thread to match the yarn for each button, fortunately we had not chosen the same yarn so Mary’s (whose colours I absolutely adored) was bigger than mine, I think mine might make the first week or so’s outfit of choice, Mary’s will be perfect come a few weeks later when Baby Bear needs a little warmth come the Autumn.

Unfortunately I didn’t take my camera so you only have a quick piccie of mine.

And then because I really wanted my friend to have a baby blanket, I made her this,

It is Apple Tree Baby blanket, made with Rowan RYC Cashsoft Baby DK in colourway Imp (which was such a wonderful name)

There was gorgeous food, home baked cakes and scones with gorgeous Devon clotted cream, it has been a long time since I’ve had that, savouries, wine, extremely nice conversation, it was lovely to meet both grandmothers to be, they seem tickled pink, more cake, we knew there would be cake, and.. which has tickled me the most, a going away present.

There was much laughter about being given a going away present, I said I would open mine in the car. And I did, but then was flummoxed! What on earth was the liquid… Was it gin, that couldn’t be possible it wasn’t that sort of party, was it a sugary syrup that we should drink, I am sure that would be almost illegal and they were mostly lawyers…. and then I opened it… and it was bubbles…

That was such a surprise it made me giggle like nothing on earth.

Thank you so much.

p.s I have had to hold onto the jelly babies, they were almost napped whilst writing this blog post, I shall share with hubby later. What good fun it has been.