When we moved, back in April this year, everyone we knew in “real” life said, “Oh, it’s so cold there. How will you ever cope?” This was said so many times, that I had to pretend that I wasn’t the least bit concerned. The house we bought was already equipped with gas heating, which was a testimony that the temperature was going to plummet. We had been told, and had heard, of the area experiencing snow too (which is something neither of us had seen in decades – and then it was our own choicing to go “to the snow”). I hated the hot, humid summers of where we previously lived, but maybe I’d feel just as hateful toward bitterly cold winters too! Had we replaced one with the other?

As the colder weather settled in around us, we prepared ourselves for something we had never felt before. For the first time, we bought coats and gloves. We also bought thicker socks and jumpers. Not to mention the unmentionables, such as termal underwear. We were prepared for the onslaught on sub-zero weather which, we were told, would freeze our faces off. Charming!

In an effort to do the right thing, I promptly went to the local craft shop and bought everything I’d need to knit this Free Patons Beanie and Scarf Knitting Pattern for G. I dragged him away from the old area and I was determined that he wouldn’t freeze to death on my account. Friday became “knitting day” on the train, but I also knitted faithfully on Sunday nights and some weekday nights. Like everything I do, I’m a slow knitter, but I finished the scarf (which G eyed with suspicion, but wears in my presence) and started on the beanie. I wouldn’t be seen dead in one, because I look like a complete idiot, but that doesn’t mean G has to suffer.

Anyway, the winter passed and spring finally arrived. And we are still waiting for that sub-zero weather. Having said that, it’s just as well that the winter in our new area was nowhere near as bad as everyone made out because I only finished the beanie this morning. Yes, it would have been a bit late to save G’s face if he really needed it, but … as I said before … I wasn’t worried. Not in the least.

Oh, and if you think I’ll be modelling the creations I knit for display on this website…you can think again! I couldn’t think of anything more embarrassing. Well, actually I can, but still…*shakes head and walks away*

The second (new) direction this website will head in, is Craft. I can’t say I’m talented in this area, but there are certain types of craft that I try to accomplish. The main ones are scrapbooking, knitting and some needlework (such as tapestries).

This section of the website will remain small and doesn’t deserve its own tab in the navigation bar at the top of the page, but will be given a category in the sidebar.

I may only upload some photos of what I finish, which means there will be no more than a handful of posts a year. Or, I might decide to post links to resources that I find interesting and inspiring. I haven’t decided yet, so we’ll see what happens.

As a bit of a background, at high school, we had to do a needlework project over a two year period. We had to choose something that would stretch our ability (which made life easy for me, because my ability to was next to nothing). I chose to do a table cloth in Spanish cross-stitch – black stitches on white linen. I chose a pretty design and on the first day, started with enthusiasm. Believe me when I say that there was no flashing needles as I worked. Like everything I do, I was slow and at the end of the two years (two periods a week, plus we were meant to do some at home too) I had only finished the intricate design in the middle of the cloth.

However, not one to let something get the better of me, I continue working on the table cloth (on and off) over the next few years. When my first child was born, I put it aside (with a huge sigh) with the intention of returning to it…one day. That child will be 25 in a couple of months and I never returned to that project in that time. But I still have it and one day I will finish it. By then I’ll be able to hand it down as an heirloom, if the silverfish haven’t had a feast on it in the meantime.

Having said that, there are plenty of other craft projects that I have finished. And I’m hoping there will plenty more in the future. So without promising too much, you’ll see some (or all, if I’m pleased with the outcome) of them right here on this website.