Walk With Me

I have things on the go (eternally on the go, it would seem, sine not much is getting done) but nothing finished to post about. So come for a walk with me instead. Little R and I go every day. It is a shame to have a day without a walk, and by the same token, if all we “get done” in a day is to go for a walk, then it’s all good. I can’t get enough of this landscape.

Crochet Circles: Snowflake Garland

A week ago I was given two bags full of white crochet circles made by a great-great relation. It was a “they’ll just get thrown out” kind of thing, and I jumped at the opportunity. To me these little circles have “Christmas Crafting” written all over them. Can’t you see it?

That very day I sat down and sewed together a line of them to make a snowflake garland. Not only is it beautiful but it took exactly as much time as I have to devote to crafting; a few minutes!

You have not seen the end of these. I intend to take full advantage, and slap them on everything, so I’m sure they’ll show up in another post soon. And though it may seem like cutting corners, there is something lovely about being able to put these little ones to use, and realize their potential. I feel like it connects me, in a creative way, to another set of “making hands”.

On Gloves…and Guilt

Exactly one month and one day after Christmas, I have finally finished Gary’s Christmas gloves. Now, I must add, just so you don’t think I am really horrible, the gloves were in no way his main present, more of an after thought. What is really pathetic though, was that the gloves were nearly done in time. All but one finger and a thumb. In fact, I gave Gary one glove and promise that the other was almost ready. *sigh* So theoretically, I could have quickly finished up in a session, or maybe two for weaving in ends. But did I? Noooo. Christmas seemed rather hectic this year and I it was pretty “down to the wire” when it came to preparation. So by boxing day I needed a break….and that break stretched itself out. From time to time I would think of the gloves and chastise myself for not working on them. Gary never bothered me about them and would always say “don’t worry”  if I brought it up. GUILT. As they became later and later I felt so guilty about them that I couldn’t look at them, and the thought of picking them up to work on them just made me feel worse, so I put them out of my mind. Well, finally I have finished. At least it’s still winter, that’s all I can say. The pattern is Gloves for Service Men but I cast on fewer stitches. (Those service men must have gigantic hands.) Somewhere I have the notes about how this fewer number of stitches works for the fingers but of course I can’t find them because it was SO LONG AGO. I used Cascade 220 in a very dull green colour, which seemed fitting as they were meant to be very functional, non-fancy gloves. So now I can hand them over, make my apologies, and move on. I’d like to promise that this sort of delayed Christmas present knitting won’t happen again but I think that would be unwise…. I’ll just say “It’s like Christmas… in January!” Sheepish smile.

Fireside

Outside it is cold and snowy; perfect weather for sitting inside by the fire. Reading, knitting or just allowing ourselves to be mesmerized by the ever-changing dance of the flames. Recently our favourite ingredients for an evening are a cheerful fire and a board game. So far it’s been Scrabble, Mastermind and Mancala (with an improvised board). This evening it looks like it will be Chess. Oh, and we eat our dinner picnic style on the floor where we will be warm and toasty. Nothing fancy but I’m loving this good thing we’ve got going.

A Little Snowy Walk

Christmas has happened. All the preparation, the gift making, the decorating, the cooking, the eating and celebrating. And I have found that I took pictures of pretty much nothing! We have just returned from visiting family in the valley, where I should have been taking photos left and right of the beautiful houses, the cookie decorating and the joyful  (if a bit cacophonous) music making. Not to mention the beautiful winter landscape. I was constantly eyeing the way the yellow tufts of grass stuck up through the snow, the dark purple of the mountain backdrop, the intricate tangle of bare branches….. But alas these things will just have to live inside my head!

This morning we woke up in my aunt and uncles beautiful “Christmas house”, and I at least managed to pull out my camera as went for a little snowy walk down to the river before heading back to the city.

Simple Snowflakes

Sometimes simple decorations are the best.  Paper snowflakes are so basic, and yet there is always that little feeling of marvel when the snowflake is unfolded and your random scissor cuts are transformed into meaning and design. Besides, who can tire of the endless snowflake possibilities?