Advent 2022 - December 15th - December 23rd

Hello again my dears, and I'm sorry for the many days it's taken me to get around to this advent update!  I've been desperately trying to get our house ready for celebrating Christmas, which has involved attempting to unpack the remaining boxes that I hadn't got around to since moving in here over 3 years ago!  I am pleased to report that we now have a clear dining table, yet we still also have a useable spare bedroom!  Honestly, this feels a little bit like a Christmas miracle!

It's now almost midnight on the 23rd.  Tomorrow is a Saturday, and even though it is also Christmas eve, we're still planning on having our usual game day.  Exciting things are happening in our game right now!  Our party is currently pursuing someone, who in extremely simplified terms is an evil sorcerer.  We're about to follow him and his bodyguard into an ancient, abandoned, magically scarred city, and hopefully in tomorrow's session we will finally get to confront him. I am quite determined that I should not be too tired to think properly tomorrow, therefore this update is, I'm afraid, going to be pretty perfunctory.

So, without further ado, here we go:

December 15th

Tempus novo

Advent of Change : My donation this day went to Tempus novo.  "Today you have helped someone coming out of prison to turn their lives around and secure a sustainable job to to support their family."

December 15th advent contents

Lindt : Milk chocolate square, with a squirrel picture on the wrapper.

English Tea Co. : Ghostly Green tea.

Northern Waxes : Mandarin, Lime, and Basil wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : Transparent green and purple D6, with white gothic script. I tried to take a close up of this, but Finn thought it was his advent treat, and tried to nibble it!

Close up of today's D6, and Finn

Cuddlebums yarn : Orange and Peach striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Good boy pose means treatos!"

Lily's Kitchen : 2 Rise and Shine flower shaped treats.

December 16th

National Autistic Society

Advent of Change : The donation this day went to the National Autistic Society.  "Today you have helped to run a social group, providing a space for autistic people to come together, forge friendships, and feel les alone.

December 16th advent contents

Lindt : Small milk and white chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co. : White Wonderland Tea.

Northern Waxes : Gingerbread wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : White pearlised percentile die (10 sided dice that shows numbers 10 to 100, and is rolled alongside a standard 10 sided dice to determine a percentage).

Cuddlebums yarn : Orange and yellow striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"No photo!  Only noms!"

Lily's Kitchen : 3 cheese and apple training treats.

December 17th

The Children's Trust

Advent of Change :  My donation this day went to The Children's Trust.  "Today you have helped a child with a brain injury begin learning how to speak again with music therapy."

December 17th advent contents

Lindt : Small milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co. : Festive Spice tea.

Northern Waxes : Christmas Tree wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : Transparent, sparkly D10 with pink and yellow splashes, and gold numbers.

Cuddlebums yarn : Green and yellow striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Sigh. No treatos today."

Lily's Kitchen : This was last Saturday, so it was game day, and we were playing at our friends' house.  So Finn's treats had to wait a day.  He decided to lie on the back of our friends' sofa and stare mournfully at me.

December 18th

52 Lives

Advent of Change : The donation on this day went to 52 lives. "Today you have sent a special gift and kind message to a child who has been bullied, so they know that they are not alone."

December 18th advent contents

Lindt : Small milk and white chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co. : Winter Warmer tea.

Northern Waxes : Black Opium wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : Transparent pale green D20, with iridescent splashes, and gold numbers.

Cuddlebums yarn : Green and Teal striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Why must you always take photos of the treatos?"

Lily's Kitchen : 2 bedtime biscuits.

December 19th

Dallaglio Rugby Works

Advent of Change : My donation this day went to Dallaglio Rugby Works.  "Today you have funded a mental wellbeing workshop to help a disadvantaged young person who is excluded from education."

December 19th advent contents

Lindt : Milk chocolate square, with snowman picture on the wrapper.

English Tea Co. : Super Star Anise tea.

Northern Waxes : Raspberry and rhubarb wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : Transparent Blue, green, and purple D8, with white gothic script.

Cuddlebums yarn : Cyan and Teal striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Smol person has my treatos?"

Lily's Kitchen : I've no idea what the treats were on this day, as my sister and nieces had come over to visit, and the girls wanted to give Finn his advent treats.  This was a hectic, but lovely day.

December 20th

BBC Children in Need

Advent of Change : This day, my donation went to BBC's Children in Need.  "Today you helped blind and partially sighted children feel more included, by delivering special 'touch to see' books."

December 20th advent contents

Lindt : Small milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co. : Tropical Lemongrass tea.

Northern Waxes : Orange and cinnamon wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : White pearlised D4, with gold numbers.

Cuddlebums yarn : Cyan and Blue striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Shlurp!"

Lily's Kitchen : No idea again what the treats were this day, as Finn was too impatient, and licked them off my hand before the camera went off!

December 21st

Carers worldwide

Advent of Change : My donation this day went to Carers Worldwide.  "Today you have paid a counsellor's phone bill for a day, enabling them to support 20 mothers of disabled children in Nepal."

December 21st advent contents

Lindt : Small milk and white chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co. : Happy Holiday tea.

Northern Waxes : Black Plum and Rhubarb wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : Transparent, sparkly D4, with pink and yellow splashes, and gold numbers. 

Cuddlebums yarn : Blue and Navy striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Cronch!"

Lily's Kitchen : I think this day was 2 rise and shine flower shaped treats, but I can't be sure...

December 22nd

City Harvest London

Advent of Change : Yesterday my donation went to City Harvest London.  "Today you have delivered a nutritious lunch to four vulnerable people who might otherwise go hungry this Christmas."

December 22nd advent contents

Lindt : Small milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co. : Post-party refresh tea.

Northern Waxes : Blackcurrant and Liquorice wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : Transparent blue, green, and purple D4, with white gothic script.

Cuddlebums yarn : Navy and pink striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Can I nom these yet?"

Lily's Kitchen : 2 bedtime biscuits.

December 23rd

The Cares Family

Advent of Change : Today's donation went to The Cares Family. "Today you have bought the tea and biscuits for a community social club, tackling loneliness by bringing older and younger neighbours together."

December 23rd advent contents

Lindt : Small milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co. : Berry Rooibos tea.

Northern Waxes : Vanilla Buttercream wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice : White pearlised D6, with gold numbers.  This is the second of these dice that I've had from this calendar, so I'm hoping this is just a spare D6, and there isn't another of the white pearl set missing.

Cuddlebums yarn : Purple and Pink striped yarn with rainbow pops.

"Just a little nibble?"

Lily's Kitchen : 3 cheese and apple training treats.

There we are then.  All up to date.  It's just after 1am now, and definitely time for bed.  I suspect that I'll not be back until sometime between Christmas day, and New Year's day now, and that will be with my summary of the year gone by, and plans for 2023.  So, have a very lovely Christmas, or other midwinter festivity of your choice!

Advent 2022 - December 10th - December 14th

Hello again my dears, I hope that you're all managing to keep safe and warm, though if you're in the UK, and anything like us, you'll have been eyeing your smart meter with increasing alarm, as the sub-zero temperatures of the last week combine with the price of fuel right now to take their toll on the heating bill.  I swear ours is double what it was this time last year!

At least being the home of a knitter, we're well equipped with warm socks, woolly jumpers, and plenty of blankets to mitigate at least some of that.  I'm feeling especially bad that I didn't manage to knit hats for the homeless this year though.  I'm certain that they're going to be needed more than ever.

Still, other than a few last minute stocking fillers, and the veg for Christmas dinner, my Christmas shopping is all done.  For a few years now I've made the agreement with the majority of my friends and family to do presents only for my immediate household, and anything left of my Christmas budget once they're sorted is donated to hardship charities, as they're always in particular need at this time of year.  It works for everyone - Nobody is receiving a bunch of tat that they don't need, or possibly even want.  Nobody has to go out of their way to search for presents for us, and we don't need to search for presents for others, or risk offending anyone who didn't "make the grade" to get a gift. It's much easier to control a budget when you don't find yourself forced to spend more than you can afford in order to somehow match the sentiment you feel. On top of all of that, there's a lot less waste when you're not buying for the sake of buying, and wrapping it all up beautifully.  Good for me, good for my friends and family, good for the charities, and the people they support, and good for sustaining an environment on planet Earth that is capable of maintaining human life.  What's not to like?

Right, now for the advent stuff:

December 10th

SHIVIA

Advent of Change: This day's donation went to SHIVIA.  "Today you have bought the feed and medicines for a poultry toolkit, enabling a woman in rural India to work her way out of poverty."

December 10th advent contents

Lindt:  Little milk and white chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co.:  Berry Rooibos tea.

Northern Waxes:  Plum and Rhubarb wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice:  Transparent sparkly D6, with pink and yellow splashes, and gold numbers.  This die matches those from days 3 and 7.

Lily's Kitchen:  I genuinely don't know what the treats were this day, Stephen cups them in his hands when he opens Finn's calendar, and Finn shoves his schnozz right into Stephens hand, so no glimpse of the treat is evident in any of the many photos I take!  I don't honestly think that Finn cares anyway!

"Is my treato calendar Daddy?"

Stephen's Golden Book Escape Room Calendar:  Some days he finds very easy, some days he finds very frustrating.  Some days take him 5 minutes, some take half an hour, and I end up looking at them too, because my brain sometimes works in different ways to his. He likes the ones that are logic puzzles more than the pattern recognition puzzles.  He's still enjoying it, and thinks we should maybe get a more challenging version for next year.

Stephen doing puzzles

December 11th

Marie Curie Charity

Advent of Change:  This day's donation went to the Marie Curie charity.  "Today you have helped fund the heating of a hospice, making patients comfortable and enabling them to spend time with their families."

December 11th advent contents

Lindt:  Small milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co.:  Spicy Pumpkin tea.

Northern Waxes:  Apple and Cinnamon wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice:  Opaque yellow and grey D20, with white numbers.

Lily's Kitchen:  We were gaming at our friends' house on this day, and out most of the day, so I very quickly opened my calendars in the morning so I could take my teabag with me to drink during the game (we always get through many cups of tea during a gaming session!) but we didn't open Finn's calendar, or do Stephen's escape room until the next day.  This could explain why Finn tried to steal Stephen's slipper (yes, his slippers do resemble tanks), knocking cards from his escape room calendar everywhere when the calendars were brought out on the 12th!

"Where's my treato Daddy? I steal your slipper!"

December 12th

Equally Ours

Advent of Change:  This day my donation went to Equally Ours.  "Today you have helped make sure that everyone's needs and rights are met equally during the current cost of living crisis."

December 12th advent contents

Lindt:  Small milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co.:  Seasonal Siesta tea.

Northern Waxes:  Vanilla Buttercream wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice:  Transparent green, blue, and purple D20, with white gothic script.  This die matches those from days 1, 5, and 8.

Lily's Kitchen:  See what I mean about not being able to tell what the treat was?  Look at that adorable crinkly little schnozz though!

"Cronch!"

December 13th

Henry charity

Advent of Change:  This day's donation went to Henry.  "Today you have helped a vulnerable parent find ways to improve their own wellbeing, so that they're better able to care for their children."

December 13th advent contents

Lindt:  Small milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co.:  Ginger Cranberry tea.  Note - This smells like mulled wine, but tasted fruity!

Northern Waxes:  Christmas Tree wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice:  White pearlised D10, with gold numbers.  This die matches those from days 2, 6, and 9.

Cuddlebums Yarn:  I can finally open the yarn calendar!  Cuddlebums specialises in rainbows, so I expect every micro-skein to include rainbows of some sort.  This one is a pink and white stripe, with rainbow pops. It also had a dark metal snowflake stitch marker attached.

Lily's Kitchen:  All of my photos of Finn with his advent treats this day were blurred.  This is the best one I got, and I think he's eaten them all and is hoping that Stephen has more concealed somewhere...

"Do you have any more Daddy?"

December 14th

Alzheimer's Research UK

Advent of Change:  Today's donation went to Alzheimer's Research UK.  "Today you have contributed towards key lab equipment for scientists working to develop tests that can detect dementia earlier."

December 14th advent contents

Lindt:  Square of milk chocolate, with a teddy bear in a sleigh picture.

English Tea Co.:  Gingerbread Treat tea.

Northern Waxes:  Candycane wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice:  Transparent sparkly D8 with pink and yellow splashes, and gold numbers.  This die matches those from days 3, 7, and 10.

Cuddlebums Yarn:  Pink and peach stripes with rainbow pops.

Lily's Kitchen:  2 Bedtime Biscuits.  

"Eat the treatos, not photograph the treatos!"

FO's

Ribbed beanie hat in green and grey, with pops of pink and purple

I finished Jo's hat in time to give it to her at our game this weekend, and she seems to be really pleased with it.  I love this pattern for a simple and snug winter hat.  The ribbing makes it extra smooshy and cosy.

The pattern is Basic Ribbed Beanie, by Kessa Tay Anlin, and the yarn is a DK by Black Elephant, in the colourway "Arlabdrift".

WIPs

In Progress blanket made of different coloured squares

The yarn advent calendar is open, so the Mitred Squares Blanket has been brought out of its summer hibernation, and is gaining a few more squares each day.  Both of the yarns I've had so far are knit up in this photo; top left, and the furthest right of the current "row".  Most of the other squares I'm knitting right now are made up of yarn left over from projects I've been working on throughout the year.  Once I've done at least one square with each of those, and one with this years advent yarns, I'll start on my vast selection of mini-skeins.  I'll probably keep working on this until the weather gets warmer again in about April.

The pattern for this is Mitred Squares Blanket, by LuAnn Krug, and the yarns are literally hundreds of different colours of wool 4-ply.

Other than this, I have done a little more on the socks I've been knitting, but not really enough to be worth showing you again just yet.

No more new stash, and no more new penguins to report, so it's bed time for me now.

Sweet dreams my dears, I'll be back in a few days.

Advent 2022 - December 7th - December 9th

Hello again my dears, I am back, as promised, to show you the lovely things I've had in my advent calendars in the last few days.

December 7th

Willow charity

Advent of Change: My donation on this day went to the Willow Foundation. "Today you have contributed to a family trip for a young mum living with serious illness, so she can make special memories with her children."

December 8th advent contents

Lindt: Little milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co.:  Tropical Lemongrass tea.

Northern Waxes:  Lime, basil, and mandarin wax melt

Mint and Mustard Dice:  Transparent D20 with glitter, yellow and purple colour splashes, and gold numbers.

This 20-sided die

Lily's Kitchen:  2 Bedtime Biscuits.

"They smell tasty!"

December 8th

Project Harar

Advent of Change:  My donation this day went to Project Harar.  "Today you have helped a child in Ethiopia with cleft lip and palate access the treatment they need to eat, speak, and smile."

December 8th advent contents

Lindt:  Little milk chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co.:  Happy Holiday tea.

Northern Waxes:  Raspberry and Rhubarb wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice:  Transparent Green, blue, and purple percentile die, with white gothic script.  This dice matches those from days 1 and 5.

Lily's Kitchen:  3 cheese and apple training treats.

"Is this my advent treato daddy?"

December 9th

Resurgo charity

Advent of Change:  Today's advent donation went to Resurgo.  "Today you have helped an unemployed young person get back into work, by contributing towards an expert coaching session."

December 9th advent contents

Lindt:  Little milk and white chocolate truffle.

English Tea Co.:  Post-party Refresh tea.

Northern Waxes:  Orange and Cinnamon wax melt.

Mint and Mustard Dice:  Pearlised white D12, with gold numbers.  This die matches those from days 2 and 6.

Lily's Kitchen:  2 Rise and Shine flower shaped treats.

"I loves you mummy, you're my favourite."

"Wait, what's daddy up to?"

"You has treatos daddy?  You're my favourite!"

"Nom!"

Regular Stuff

WIP's

My lovely friend Jo, who is part of our regular table top gaming group, asked if I might be able to make her a really simple hat.  So I immediately put everything else down, and wound the yarn for this:

Partially completed ribbed beanie hat

I absolutely love the way that this yarn is working up in this pattern, it's perfect!  I hope that Jo likes it too!  I've just started the decreases for the crown, so I should have it finished in time for our next game day.

The pattern is Basic Ribbed Beanie, by Kessa Tay Anlin, and the yarn is Black Elephant's DK, in the colourway "Arlabdrift".

Stash Acquisition

Made by Penguins mini-skeins

These arrived in the post yesterday.  I'm completely confused about where we're at with my Made by Penguins Yarnologist subscription boxes now!  I was sure I'd already had yarn for November, but apparently I was wrong!  These are clearly labelled as Novembers colours.  They're called "You're a Peach" and "Wild Spices".  The russet colours of the Wild Spices is especially gorgeous.

Penguins!

Black stone penguin ornament

We found him!  He was indeed in the back of Stephen's car, in a bag of things we bought in Conwy.  He was the only penguin in among a lot of other stone animals, so I thought I should bring him home to join my colony.

That's all for now, we're up to date for another few days.  Have a lovely weekend my dears!