'Twas the night before Christmas, in the year 2020, and we're still up watching the history of Have I Got News For You.
I'm finally feeling like it's allowed to be Christmas, having failed to finish even half of the projects that I wanted to get done by now. I have however managed to get the house reasonably clean and tidy, and the fridge full to bursting.
The Regulars
FO's
I have finished one gift knit, but as I haven't even posted it yet, I can't show it to you here.
I can show you my Christmas day outfit though.
I love Skeinhead designs, but I hate the neckline of standard fit t-shirts. What's more punk rock than cutting bits off your clothes and modifying them?
As the design is based around crochet, I've done the embellishments in crochet.
As soon as this arrived, and I saw the exact shade of red in the design, I knew exactly which skein of yarn I wanted to use to add to it. It's one of Ring-a-rosie's one of a kind colourways, and I love it!
Stash Acquisition
My Made by Penguins Little Penguin December club made it here before Christmas! Which is a bit of a miracle considering the immense strain that the post office is under right now!
The colourway is called "Christmas in Miami", and I love it.
It is still a 20g mini-skein, and a pretty little progress keeper, it's just that the candy cane is tiny! It makes everything else look bigger than it really is!
Even more of a miracle, my baubles from Third Vault Yarns finally arrived!
Between the post issues, and the fact that I know Lola was having difficulties sourcing the baubles, after her first delivery of them arrived full of cracks, I'm amazed that these arrived in time!
In case it's not clear, what you're looking at there is a small bauble with a full set of gaming dice inside. Depending on how the light hits them, they look pearlised red, or sparkly purple. The enormous bauble that you can only see black tissue paper inside it is full of yarn that has been dyed inspired by the colour of the dice. I'll find out what colour it is tomorrow!
Advent
December 19th
The Advent of Change charity on the 19th was Baby Lifeline, who work to prevent as many injuries and deaths as possible of newborn babies in the UK.
I think Finn was quite comfortable lying there between us...
Made by Penguins - 20g, 4-ply mini-skein in white, and several shades of green, plus a round, black progress keeper.
Mothy and the Squid - 10g, 4-ply mini-skein in white with splashes of blue and dark grey, in a dark blue drawstring bag.
T2 - New York Breakfast Tea.
Lindt - square of milk chocolate.
Just for the amusement value, these are Stephen's advent chocolates from Saturday. He forgets to open his calendar during the week!
December 20th
The Advent of Change charity on the 20th was UpReach, who work with disadvantaged students to help close the privilege gap.
Sunday's are often gaming days. Which is why Finn is sat amongst a pile of his daddy's shoes, and gaming manuals while he waits for his advent treats.
Made by Penguins - 20g, 4-ply, sparkly mini-skein in shades of blue and grey, plus a pale pink square progress keeper.
Mothy and the Squid - 10g, 4-ply mini-skein in cream, with lots of burgundy and brown speckles, in a beige drawstring bag.
T2 - Strawberries and Cream tisane.
Lindt - mini milk chocolate lindor truffle.
December 21st
The advent of change charity on the 21st was Wood Green animal charity, who do everything they can to make sure that every pet has a loving home.
Look at him being such a good boy!!!
Made by Penguins - 20g, 4-ply mini-skein in shades of red and dark pink.
Mothy and the Squid - 10g, 4-ply mini-skein in bright yellow and orange, in an orange drawstring bag.
T2 - Mango Cucumber tisane.
Lindt - mini milk and white chocolate lindor truffle.
December 22nd
The advent of change charity on the 22nd was The Children's Trust, who work with children with brain injuries, or other neurodisabilities.
A lot of the reason that I haven't updated for 5 days is that I've not been feeling too well for several of those days. This is one reason for the general mess and clutter behind Finn in this photo. The other is that Finn is a furry little klepto, and he steals our shoes, and collects them into little piles. On day's when I'm not doing so well, I just can't face following him around and picking up after him.
Made by Penguins - 20g, 4-ply mini-skein in white, with splashes of grey, turquoise, and lime green.
Mothy and the Squid - 10g, 4-ply mini-skein in many shades of green, in a green drawstring bag.
T2 - Green Rose Tea.
Lindt - mini milk chocolate lindor truffle.
When my body decides to flop, everything non-essential gets abandoned. This includes making tea as well as writing blog posts. So I confess that we do have a little pile of unused tea sachets sat next to the kettle, and the tea in these cups is from the 20th, as it was quite late by the time we got around to settling down to drink it, and we didn't want one of the caffeinated brews.
December 23rd
The advent of change charity yesterday was Re-Engage, who provide social contact for older people who aren't able to get out on their own. This is something even more necessary than ever in current times.
Finn trying to decide if ear scritches off daddy are more important than sitting in good boy pose for treatos!
Made by Penguins - 20g, 4-ply mini-skein in white, mint green, and turquoise.
Mothy and the Squid - 10g, 4-ply mini-skein in white with splashes of blue, and lots of plum purple speckles.
T2 - Sleep Tight herbal tea.
Lindt - mini milk chocolate lindor truffle.
December 24th/Christmas Eve
Today's Advent of Change charity is Emmaus, who provide a place to live, work, training, and support for people who are homeless.
This photo was taken after I'd separated my own advent calendars into their various different materials for recycling, but before I'd started tidying and cleaning. Finn is looking a little concerned because he was worried I'd forgotten about his advent treat when I didn't immediately open his calendar after mine. Also, when I start doing stuff like making a pile of carboard boxes, he knows he's in for a day of me tidying, which he doesn't like. He doesn't like it because it means he isn't getting constant attention, and also because 50% of what I say to him on these days is "Fiiinn! stop getting under my feet, or you'll keep getting trod on!" Often, less politely than that.
At least Stephen was kind enough to take Finn for his walk today, so that I could do the vacuuming without having to stress the poor pupper.
Made by Penguins - 2 x 20g, 4-ply, sparkly mini-skeins in subtle, speckled pinks and purples. One skein is slightly more pink, and the other slightly more purple.
Mothy and the Squid - 10g, 4-ply mini-skein in deep red with black speckles, in a red drawstring bag.
T2 - Christmas Breakfast Tea - saving this for the morning!
Lindt - chocolate Santa Claus.
This is the Mango Cucumber tea, and although is sounds really weird, I actually really like it! I can't describe how it tastes, it's too unusual, but it's good!
Also, Christmas Eve traditional mini sausage rolls for late night supper. When I was a teenager Davie (our step-dad) would have put these in the oven for us just as my sister, our mam, our friend Krissy, and I were returning from Midnight Mass, so when we got home we were greeted with hot drinks and snacks. Obviously, we can't attend midnight Mass with Finn, and we wouldn't dream of leaving him at home on his own in the middle of the night, plus this year, there is no midnight mass at our local church because of covid anyway. So we put these in the oven just before taking Finn out for his last walk of the day. It's only a short walk around the village so that he has a chance to relieve himself before bed, he gets his exercise much earlier in the day. By the time we got back, and boiled the kettle, the sausage rolls were ready.
It's spectacularly cold and icy out there. If it were to precipitate, then we could have a white Christmas tomorrow. All reports suggest that is unlikely though.
Made by Penguins Advent Yarns:
Not in the order they appeared, instead I've put them in the order that I think I might arrange them in my Advent Sweater, but here are all 25 mini-skeins from the 2020 Made by Penguins advent calendar.
In the morning, I also have a little bag with a 50g skein in it to open.
Mothy and the Squid Advent Yarns:
Also not in order, these are all the yarns from the Mothy and the Squid 2020 advent calendar. The first 12 balls have already been used to knit a single square each of my Mitred Squares Blanket, which is why they're slightly smaller than the other 8 balls. If I get a few spare minutes when I'm not cooking tomorrow, then I'll wind the remaining 4 skeins into balls too.
That is it for now then. I'll be back in about a week to do a round up of the year, and talk about some plans for next year. Until then, have a very Happy Christmas, Happy Yule, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Saturnalia, or indeed, Happy secular midwinter festivities, or other religious observance that I am shamefully unaware of.
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