My uncle and aunt surprised us on Boxing Day with an amazing nativity from Slovakia.

Up to now we haven’t had a nativity, and I really really love the style of it.

Currently the three wise men are slowly making their way across the side board.

On the 6th we’re planning to Wasail our allotment (with it’s tiny orchard) and the add the three wise men to the nativity for the night.

A fitting end to Christmas for this year.

(This is my favourite figure. I love her spotted headscarf and bread. <3)

We opted to have the small tree again this year – FB is very curious, and into everything and I felt it was better for all of us to keep the living room as toddler friendly as possible.

I love having the mixture of decorations from both my childhood and W’s:

• - the candle figures on the left of the tree are ones that I’ve grown up with
• - the rabbit was on granny’s tree and was my uncles when he was little
• - the santa next to the rabbit was occasionally on the top of the tree when I was small
• - the smaller santa is from W’s mum
• - the winter figures on the right of the tree W grew up with

The tree itself is one that my mum got for me when I was 20 and couldn’t get time off from my retail job to come home for christmas. Oooh and the angel at the top is also a family decoration from W’s side.

A lovely mixture.

(And the hippo card on the far right was designed and illustrated by W’s dad. We have a collection of them. :)

More tomorrow…

I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy christmas!

We’re just settling down to some mulled cider and the Victorian Farm on TV.

I’ll be back in the new year, with lots of things to share.

Best Wishes, and thank you for all your support this year!

xxx

(I was hoping I could post every day this week, since there is alot to write about. But there has been house stuff, and now a water leak, and somehow it’s wednesday and nine days to Christmas…)

However… in the autumn I was busy beavering away on a pattern, and it was released today:

This is Cirrus – for the Winter issue of Petite Purls. It’s knit in Rowan Felted Tweed, which I love.

(Did you know there is Aran and Chunky Felted Tweed now? <3)

Anyway Cirrus is kinda special because the yoke is knit as one piece – even though the sleeves are a different colour from the body. This amuses me a great deal. Also it gives a very neat edge where the colours meet. And because you knit the main part of the sleeves first, that gives you a place to put your yarn when you’re not using it.

This makes me happy.

I don’t think there are enough patterns out there for boys. But the upside of that, is that you get to go out there are make your own, and then share it. I’m hoping to do that again some time. :)

So there you go. And here’s the Ravelry link – since I haven’t put that up yet.

(I feel a bit bashful about this to be honest.)

Generally I try to be positive but Autumn this year has been pretty rubbish. There has been a constant roundabout of illnesses in our house – FB then W, then once W is feeling better, FB is cooking like an oven again.

Currently he is covered in a post viral rash. It doesn’t seem to be bothering him, but it looks uncomfortable.

Add on top of that laptop issues, and un-fun house stuff, and lack of sleep, and freezing cold and – ok I’m just complaining now.

I’m sorry I haven’t been around. I’m genuinely sorry that I’ve been a bit crap lately.

Hopefully the laptop thing should be sorted in a day or two (finally), and no one will get sick for a while, and I’ll try to get back to something resembling normal.

Bring on Winter! I can’t wait.