Wednesday 7 January 2015

First Yarn Along of 2015

OK, I know everyone else managed a yarn along last week. I was still in holiday mode. In fact, dragging us all into term-mode is proving a little tricky. It's 10 a.m. and the boys and I are messing about with breakfast in our nightwear in a half-hearted fashion. I did pick up Sausages' swimming bag on my way downstairs in an attempt to have all the kit together more than an hour ahead of his lesson, but all it contained was a cuddly otter, so I abandoned that again. I'll try again after two cups of tea...


Book number 1 of the Bringing up Burns' reading challenge: a book you own but haven't read. We bought Unconditional Parenting when we were going through a challenging time with Sausages. I really wanted Husband to read it, but he started with Playful Parenting and didn't get as far as this one. So far so good, I'm enjoying the mindset of the book, and it's unapologetic forthright style. It's hard to say that you think that what many parents do out of love for their child can be damaging. The messages in this book so far are really reinforcing how Husband and I try to respond when our boys are having a tough time. That's not to say we manage it every time, mind you. Parenting can be difficult, and we're not perfect. Have you read this book? Do let me know what you thought, I'd love to hear.


I popped into the sale in a local discount store and picked up 4 Margery Allingham books on CD. I usually prefer books to dramatisations, but with this author I really like the audio books. The reader is very good, his voice perfectly fits my idea of the main character. Margery Allingham is one of the "big four" female crime fiction writers of her era, along with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, and Ngaio Marsh, and I find their stories a balm, even if they do veer from charmingly dated to alarmingly bigoted at a moment's notice. I guess I should take it as a positive reminder of how far cultural attitudes towards people of different gender, race, and socioeconomic situation have improved over the last century or so.


As for knitting, I'm working on my resolution to complete my WIPs. I have high hopes of finishing this shawl for a friend this week. She gave me the yarn for it 18 months ago when I had a pregnancy yarn aversion, so she's waited long enough! She is a very dear friend who I met at a knitting group when I was expecting Sausages. It turned out we lived around the corner from each other, and she was an invaluable friend to me as a new mother. I do miss my friends in the Fens so much!


This week I managed to find the iron in order to take up a pair of jeans I bought in a charity shop (brand new, £3, but about 8" too long!), and seized the moment of having it out to do something I have always wanted to try: these little melting beads! Mine are not the smart brand, but an own-brand. Sausages loves to sort them into different colours and make pictures, but forbids the ironing of them. He was still asleep so I managed to make a couple. He seems rather taken with them, so maybe I'll get to iron some of his designs soon. I saw that Lucy of Attic24 gets to play with them too. A very creative lady. Anyone have any idea what I should do with them now I have made them? I think I'd like to hang a few up...maybe...undecided...

Don't forget to pop along to Erin's and Ginny's to see what everyone else is crafting and reading this week. What are you up to? I'd love to hear! Have a good week

E


4 comments:

  1. hello elizabeth,
    your shawl looks very pretty!!!!
    blessings,regina

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Regina, I've knit it more than once!

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  2. The shawl looks beautiful and I love the beads that look like a snowflake.

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  3. That wool looks lovely, and the beady creations are very pretty! :)

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