Sunday 15 December 2019

December 14th and 15th

Hello my dears.  I'm still here, and still keeping going.  Yes, I'm struggling.  Physically, mentally, emotionally, but I am surviving.  So is Stephen, although his eye is causing him pain, irritation, and anxiety.  We're both getting many licks and cuddles off Finn, which helps immensely.

I hope that you are all managing to keep going, and to find ways of keeping hope, and compassion alive.  I would like to send you all a big virtual hug!



Advent


December 14th



Yesterday, my Advent of Change donation helped:



The Helen Bamber Foundation, who help the survivors of extreme human cruelty, usually refugees and asylum seekers.


Behind the doors, and inside the packets of self-indulgence on the 14th I found:





Lindt - chocolate square

Hotel Chocolat - tiny chocolate slab with Santa Claus on it

Charms - clear faceted crystal stitch marker

Yankee Candles - Candlelit Cabin scented candle

Imperial Candles - white soy wax melt, still no idea of the fragrance

Cath Kidston - Gardener's Club Pink Mint Lemonade Hand Wash

Bird and Blend - Gingerbread Chai

Made by Penguins - the bottom mini-skein, in the colourway "Dusty Orchid", which I absolutely adore!  It's an advent exclusive, so this is all I can ever have of it.  I need to make good use of it!

Vicki Brown - the top mini-skein, in the colourway "Sugar Cookie".

Gamer Crafting - the middle, sparkly mini-skein, in another colourway that immediately made me think of Becky!  Bright pink and purple.





He's just such a good boy!  Even though most of these photos of me giving him his advent treats look exactly the same, I still have to share them, because he's just so cute!



December 15th



Today, my Advent of Change donation has helped:




James' Place, a small organisation who are part of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance.  James' Place work specifically with men who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, as currently in the UK, adult males are the most likely to commit suicide, and the least likely to be offered help.


Behind the doors, and inside the packets of self-indulgence I have found:





Lindt - chocolate square

Hotel Chocolat - tiny chocolate slab with a snowman on it

Charms - decorative cross stitch marker

Yankee Candles - Christmas Cookie scented candle

Imperial Candles - dark pink soy wax melt, I'm not certain which fragrance this is either

Cath Kidston - Christmas Village Cuticle Cream

Bird and Blend - Peppermint Cream oolong tea

Made by Penguins - the bottom mini-skein, in the colourway "Chaos", plus 2 stitch markers, one with rainbow crystals, and the other with a little heart.

Vicki Brown - the top mini-skein, in the colourway "Strawberry Cooler".

Gamer Crafting - the middle, sparkly mini-skein, in a gorgeous plum-purple colourway.




See!?!  So Cute!!!




With the exception of his gradually building Millennium Falcon, these were the contents of Stephen's calendars today.  Obviously, I like the stylised penguin chocolate.



The Regulars


FO's




I've really not got much to show you here, as I've mostly been too exhausted to knit :(  This is the only thing I've finished, a single Christmas bauble in Made by Penguins advent yarn.  I do quite like this photo mind.



WIP's




When I made the blue socks for my eldest niece, I asked my youngest niece if she would like something too.  She said no, but my sister told me that she has a slight obsession with really fluffy things, and might like some fluffy bed socks.  My youngest niece will be 4 on Christmas day.  So I'm making her some fluffy socks. 

My sister also told me that my youngest niece prefers long socks, so I've made these nice and long for a 4 year old.  Yet again though, I'm rather concerned that I'm going to run out of my chosen yarn before I finish, which is why I cast on the second sock before finishing the first.  I'm knitting one pulling from the centre of the ball, and the other unwinding from the outside of the ball, hoping that I'll finish both before the yarn meets in the middle.  You can see how little yarn is left, therefore how unlikely this is.

Sadly, this is a discontinued yarn, and I can't find a spare ball of this colourway for love nor money.  I have managed to track down a couple of balls of a completely different colourway, so I've ordered those just in case.  It's ok if the socks have contrasting toes, as long as they're still super fluffy!



That's all for now my dears, I'll be back in a day or so.

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