Kenilworth Knit and Natter celebrated their second New Years Party this week. It looked like everyone was having a good time.

It was a nice way to mark the turning of the year with a celebration. There was knitting, fine dining and wonderful conversation, what more could a knitter want.

We have just celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary, how time has flown. I know this is a cliche and when you are younger you just don’t realise quite how quickly the years will pass by. I don’t consider myself as anything older than my mid twenties, and am often shocked by my creaky knees and wrinkles that are growing slowly deeper.

Hubby had booked the day off, which is a good thing as he was deep in sore throat and snuffly nose territory. So any plans were quickly curtailed and it was decided that we would take the day very gently. Although come the afternoon hubby, just as I was engrossed in reading hopped into the car and disappeared. He came back with scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam and some beautiful red roses, all 22 of them. We had a lovely cream tea and then hubby departed up to his bed. Leaving me to gaze at these beautiful roses,

and whilst I was gazing at them and thinking what a daft sod he was to venture forth, I noticed,

that there was one rose that had a double crown,

which made it looked heart shaped! I have never seen anything like that before and it tickled me pink.

Such beautiful roses, we are so lucky to be able to record such beautiful moments, it was only fifty odd years ago that colour film came in for home use and then it was expensive, all hail the digital age.

Whilst making the front door curtain and realising that it was indeed a couple of inches too short many memories came to the front of my mind of my childhood, one which was basically and in a word cold, it wasn’t just me, it was the way it was then, no one or not many had double glazing, or central heating. Perhaps a snake would solve the problem of drafty moments and cold hallways. And I must say this before I start to tell you how our own friendly snake was born, I have never known my study and hallway quite as warm as this. Perhaps this is a little something we should be teaching or making for our offspring or friends, those that live in slightly drafty homes.

Firstly I have befriended local firms that make curtains, soft furnishings and sofa’s. They have given me some of their sample books of which I have been very grateful. So when my thoughts of how to make our snake, I knew exactly where to turn.

Firstly I measured my doorway, and then knowing exactly what measurement I was working to I started with the slithery underside,

and played with the materials available, cutting and sewing to make a stripey effect.

Then, and this I had the most fun with, the colours that I love so dearly love.

reds and golds for the top. And I was very lucky indeed to find a very large sample that would do very nicely for the head.

the two sides together just after pressing.

and then I cut out a snake (well almost) shape.

popped that on top of the underbelly and cut them out again.. And then I realised there was one thing missing…

a forked tongue. Well all snakes have one of those don’t they?, even friendly snakes.

Sewn together and waiting to come alive..

Stuffed, – I’ve been asked about stuffing so although I have some expensive stuffing which is used to stuff childrens and babies toys, hubby and I trundled over to our nearest supermarket that is Very Cheap, that sells pillows and we bought several of them. It worked out much cheaper, I would say half the price for the same amount of stuffing and its light, it has all the required kite marks for fire resistance and we didn’t pay postage. This snake took three pillows worth of stuffing, but he is quite large. On the other hand, if I was giving to a baby I would use (just to be absolutely sure) the stuffing that is safe for babies, one can never be too careful. But again on the other hand babies must sleep on pillows, so it can’t be that bad.

I started to think about eyes, and then,

I blanket stitched them on with a bright green and a saturated teal embroidery thread.

And snake then came alive,

and during his first words he said that he quite liked the name “Snake” probably because I chose that word during his embryonic stage! Snake decided that he would like a little look around,

he slithered down the banister which he completely adored,

wandered around the living room and rested on the buffet,

whilst examining the hall and his nest to be peeked out from under the curtain,

showed me how proud he was of his underbelly,

and finally settled on his home, of which he found he was a perfect fit.

Snake settled for the evening, he has told me he is most happy here.

Good night Snake, happy dreams.

Whilst rummaging through the materials remnant section in John Lewis on Sunday we found a two metre piece that we both liked that would suit our hallway. We looked at each other and confirmed that it would make an ideal curtain for our front door. You see our front door is a wooden stable door which we both adore, its perfect for when you have dogs as it keeps them secure when people come to the door. Even without dogs it adds an extra feeling of security when opening the door to strangers as the bottom half is securely locked. As much as we love this door and would never consider changing it, (unless we were upgrading it for an oak stable door!) it can be a bit drafty depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Before the days of UPVC doors and windows it was common place to have a heavy curtain at the front door along with friendly snakes or sausage dogs at the bottom of external and some internal (notably the living room) doors. Hubby and I had been chatting about the merit of reintroducing some of these ideas during the latest and quite severe cold snap.

So we happily purchased material and thermal liner as well as all the necessary bits and pieces and set off back home. During the journey, I said to hubby “You do realise as per my New Years resolutions, I won’t be able to start this until about March, I can’t start any new projects” His reply, “Its not a project, its a chore” Which made me giggle and gave me the loop hole I required.

Now I have never made lined curtains before, I have made curtains and liners and put them together so that if necessary the liner was easily removable. But not lined curtains, so I studied a few in John Lewis before I left.

Right sides together I pinned and sewed one length, having first made sure your top of the material is straight.

Next I pinned and sewed the other side. But you have to wiggle the liner across as it is smaller than the material which is just what I wanted.

Before turning clip into the edges every so often to prevent the curtain from twisting, which will allow it to hang straight. (I do love the internet)

Turn inside out so the right side can be seen and wiggle the curtain around until you have equal amounts of material on both edges and press a seam into it.

Header in place and sewn. I hand sewed the hem at the bottom, making sure it was straight.

and hubby came home and fixed the rail in place. The curtain is slightly shorter than we would have liked, but that has a bonus in that doggy paw prints or muddy shoes shouldn’t make it filthy at the bottom.

But it has left me with another chore to do, *grin* I can hear him hissing as we speak.

During one of our many chats on Facebook whilst temperatures were absolutely freezing, son no.2 asked me if I would knit something to completely cover his head as his morning walks to uni were leaving him frost bitten around his face. I should clarify that his halls are about two miles from uni and in the first week he waited hopefully for a bus, which just sailed by without stopping as they were full, so after discussion as to what the best course of action was, whether he should leg it to the next main road which runs parallel and has buses which go in the same direction or should he bite the bullet and walk it. He decided after a couple of trial runs that he would walk. But this decision was made in the autumn. Come the sudden drop in temperature he started to feel the cold and when the snow and ice mixed together to form minus ten Celsius, he moaned ever more loudly for a balaclava.

I understood his pain as I remember the very cold winters of my childhood, when ice was on the inside of our single glazed windows an inch thick, until March. I particularly remember one hedonist winter where my nan had knitted me a black balaclava which I absolutely adored as I was so warm whilst trotting down the road to Junior school – she made me some bottle green gloves too! Such pleasures I still dream of.

I finished son no.2’s balaclava just under the wire, it was more knitting than I had imagined and he has taken it with him as he’s gone back to uni today.

The pattern was written by Bonnie Lang called a helmet liner which she has kindly donated to Citizen SAM. As the US forces are no longer accepting knitted helmet liners as the military have started to issue their own I don’t feel guilty about using this pattern for my own son.

I used Rowan Pure Wool Aran in Grey and used nearly two balls. I lengthened the neck ribbing from 6 inches to 8 inches as I wanted it to have enough length especially when it was being used to cover his face.

And it seems to be a nice fit for him.

He rather liked this idea until he quickly realised that his glasses steamed up,

so he went for this look instead. I think he rather likes it. I’ve had to advise him to take it off before entering a building so as not to scare people in case they think he is a criminal or perhaps a member of SWAT.

And I hope he’s not going to be pulled over by the police and searched, that they will understand its just a boy wearing a hand knitted garment over flowing with love from his mother. (such is the world we live in that you have worries like this!)

Son no.2 was recounting a blog that he reads, well he was trying to tell us but was laughing that heartily he couldn’t get his words out. So he decided to show me, and I have to tell you that this blog is quite hysterical. Hyperbole and a half One blog post tells the tale of how intelligent her dogs are. Years ago I can remember different ways that people used to test Gun dog puppies to see if they would make the grade in the field., so we thought we would give it a go. Although I knew it was a forgone conclusion that Charlie – golden retriever extraordinaire would beat paws down Pip the lurcher who you can hear the wind whistling between his ears.

First test, throw a blanket over your dog and see how long it takes for the dog to remove itself.

Pip, shook himself free within 25 seconds. Charlie will be quicker than that I thought.

But no, Charlie just stood still, whilst gently wagging his tail. He was not troubled, we’ve played silly games before, he trusts us – it is not because he is a dog of no brain. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, seconds passed,.. the boys started laughing triumphantly,,,, I was squeaking “he’s brighter than that lurcher, come on Charlie!” Eventually, 44, 45, 46, Charlie free’s himself to much applause.

We have a second game. This time you hide food inside an upturned beaker. And the dog that is most intelligent will be the first to turn the beaker over to eat it.

On your marks, get set, Go !!!

And what does my highly intelligent (honestly, he is)retriever Do… He lays down and looks at it, because he is a dog of manners and has been taught not to snaffle food on the ground. The boys were in hysterics as the dog of no brains, but is cheeky where food is concerned, stole the food right under my golden boys nose.

All I can say is humph!

What was the year of 2010 like for us. To be honest it was pretty miserable at one stage, but the second half was much brighter.

I did knit though.

And I made lots of socks, scarfs, shawls and hats, a baby cardigan and baby blanket, a thick winter cardi come coat and a summer top for me. I finished knitting the lizard ridge squares – I have to sew the ends in. I learnt to crochet!!! – and promptly made a baby cardigan. And I have sewn just a little.

And I became a Godmother to the adorable Kitty. Who really is quite the sweetest baby and it will be an absolute pleasure to help bring her to adult hood. Actually I am just looking forward to playing with childrens toys again, although I might give the roller skates a miss this time! But you know those huge trampolines that are popular these days – I’m in!!!!

I have taken to casting on something beautiful for me on New Years Eve, and this time it is a beautiful cardigan for spring. I think this will become a tradition for me. Why am I telling you this small detail, well, its because of my New Years resolution of which there is only one.

From the 1st (which is today) is not to cast on anything new and only finish projects until they are all finished! No excuses…. (apart from that I have already booked to start a block a month for this year – but as its in the same colourway as last year, well, I think we can sneak that one in)

Lets see how long I can last before a sock that is soothing to the soul is cast on.

I have lots of beautiful projects that are half way through, and I really need to get some of them finished.

Happy New Year Everyone.

I’d just like to wish everyone a happy Christmas, we have had a lovely morning. There was the present unwrapping, of which I must have been a very lucky girl this year. Hubby bought me an ipad, (which was given a week early) I’ve been listening to Christmas carols and the seventies and eighties Christmas songs along with watching films, generally surfing and my very first audio book, The adventures of Tom Sawyer, which my father used to read to us as very young children, I have been giggling about the episode where Tom is white washing Aunt Polly’s fence on a very hot day and persuades his friends that this is a fun thing to be doing. I am looking forward to downloading the Tales of Brer Rabbit, as my father used to put his all into the various characters as reading them. You must remember in those days, my father would sit in a very cold bedroom whilst we were tucked up in our beds, with woolen blankets and hot water bottles, with ice on the inside of the windows, nearly in the dark, listening avidly to every word until the sandman slowly took us off to dream of rabbits stuck in bramble patches.

Its been fun.

A project was finished and was able to be used for the first time.

Remember this, the Christmas tree skirt. I eventually decided that simplicity was better than over decorating it.

The tree itself. Which son no.2 decorated, he moans but seems to enjoy it. Although I do sometimes have to insist that even though there are decorations that are a little bit scruffy, that are old and might not sparkle as they did and might not appeal to him, they mean a lot to me and do need to be hung on the tree. I think he did a lovely job. I’ll come back to the tree in a moment.

My how they have grown. Our two boys unwrapping their presents.

A camera each to record their escapades! You can video for an hour on it as well! Oh what fun I shall have reading their facebook accounts…

And I must share this with you all, because it is the most delightful of presents. Can you see it nestling in the tree?

Given to me by my most treasured God Daughter. You need a closer look?

Tears sprang to my eyes as I unwrapped it.

Such tiny paws. It will be fun watching her grow, (and if anything like her parents, she will grow and she will grow and she will grow! – they are nicely tall)

But I must tell you the tale of when delivering my God Daughters present because Santa had inadvertently left it at our house – how remiss of him! I had noticed a very similar bauble on Miss Kitty’s tree. Out of all of the baubles it sprang out and I inquired about it. Where upon Carie gave it to me to admire and I cooed and was quite smitten with it whilst exclaiming that I had never seen anything like it before and how wonderful it was. And inside, but of course I would never say it, I thought, ‘I would love something like that, with Miss Kitty’s tiny fingers and toes to remember’ and was just a little bit sad when it went back on the tree, but also thinking how lucky there were to always have such a reminder of these precious days. Which is why I leaked when I opened it. I will treasure it always.

And then my Christmas knitting. My adult sized toes are snuggled up in these jewel like socks, the yarn was a present from my hubby when we visited Socktopus many moons ago, Indigo Moon fingering weight in Starlight. I find this colourway extremely beautiful and it has been a pleasure to knit and one I will be unlikely to ever find again in this country.

And then Eric would like to say happy Christmas to you all.

And now hubby is cooking the Christmas dinner for me, how lucky can a girl get?!

The last knitting group before Christmas,

Even though the snow and ice had taken hold of us who are snuggled in the deepest of Warwickshire, some of us ventured out to the knitting group. Firstly, there were the Secret Santa presents which were laid out on the table along with a bowl full of hand made chocolates by Cynthia, such a wonderful gift, most unexpected, of which we were all very grateful, they were absolutely delicious.

There was a quick snap of the group, and then….

Ronnie took a photo of two nutters! or should we say Santa -moi and Rudolf. (S) I love the fact that I have my very own Rudolf!, I am pretending to hold the reins which are two knitting needles… We were quite hysterical at this point. It was and is the highlight of my day, I knew just as soon as I saw those reindeer horns that we were going to have a good time…

Happy Christmas Everybody,

xx

Sometime at the end of November I bought this.

Yep, one of Delia’s Christmas Cake packs from Waitrose. I was quite giddy about it as I have been making Delia’s Christmas Cake recipe for 23?! years. So I popped it in my basket, told some of my friends how wonderful it would be not to chase around for ingredients and promptly forgot about it. That is, until last week. When I realised that I would still need to do a certain amount of coordinating of ingredients. I say coordinating of ingredients rather than shopping because son no.2 is home from Uni and it is incredibly difficult to save five eggs. I have been shopping for eggs three times in the last week. Even to the point that as he went out sledging this morning, I asked him if he had had something to eat and his reply was a casual “oh yes, I’ve had some eggs”, just as the front door closed behind him. I rushed to the kitchen and I could feel the beads of sweat beginning to form on my forehead and a rather colourful expletive was on the tip of my tongue, but fortunately he hadn’t cleaned me out.

I must also say thank you to Diane, who could see that I was flailing at having to make the Christmas cake because I’ve been fighting off a persistent little virus for the last two weeks. I begged her to remind me to make the cake and true to her word she messaged me yesterday to ask if I’d made it. It was just the mental jog that I needed. That and that the kitchen had warmed up slightly, I think the fridge was warmer than our kitchen at one stage.

So this is what the kit looks like. I put the black treacle in a mug of hot water to warm up to make it easier to pour out. I liked the idea of the kit, I really liked it, but, my nuts would have been more chunky as would my glace cherries. And, I realise just how much I add a few more nuts or just a few more cherries, maybe an extra splash of brandy. But I stayed true to the package!

I mixed up the cake with the help of the ancient Kenwood and King’s College Choir singing carols in the background.

And soon we had this, I couldn’t find my brown paper so newspaper was the next best thing to insulate my tin with.

Four and a quarter hours later on a very low light, we had this.

Which smelt lovely, it was allowed to cool for a few hours with intermittent splashes of brandy poured over it – I actually finished the bottle so it had a couple more tablespoons than I would otherwise have given it.

Hubby helped to roll out the Marzipan whilst I brushed the apricot jam on.

I then I mixed some icing, again with the help of the Kenwood. (one can only wonder how long she will last, she has been in continuous service since 1953 and on her last legs for the last 10!)

Then strewed a few silver balls over and the cake was finished.

I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone that have been in contact with me over the last few days. It was like watching pigeons in wartime coming in with important messages, messages came by fair means or foul. Through Ravelry, through Facebook, via personal messenger, text or email. It was wonderful.

I think I have had some very good advice from such wonderful people as yourselves and it has cleared the fog that was preventing me from being able to manage the next stage. I shall clear away the synthetic wigs and put them up on ebay later on next year. I shall store the beautiful wigs just in case of a wig emergency and not think about it again until I am ready to send them on to their next owner. Which may take one year it may take ten, who knows, but I feel so much calmer and at peace about it all now.

Thank you so much for helping me through something that I had been stagnating in for quite a while. I really appreciated it. Your all Stars!

love to you all,

xx