It’s blowing a gale outside as I write. The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning, and travel disruption is expected. But I am staying close to home. If things had been different, I would have travelled to Northamptonshire to spend the holiday with my brother-in-law. He loved Christmas, putting up the decorations each year, and even though he lived on his own for the last few years, he still made himself a proper Christmas dinner. In contrast, I have not put up any decorations. I usually don’t get swept up in the Christmas-tide until it’s nearly time to put the baubles away. Maybe next year.
I understand the desire to have lights and decorations. They cheer us up at the darkest time of the year, joyfully changing our environs. The little rituals around Christmas – carol services, Christmas parties, having the family over, putting up decorations – also take us away from our ordinary habits. As my mother-in-law used to say, “A change is as good as a rest”. There’s some wisdom in that.
This Christmas, I’ll be going to a friend’s house. We plan to eat party food, drink wine, and watch old movies all day. There will just be the two of us. We will not get dressed up; she plans to spend the day in her jammies, I haven’t decided yet. I am looking forward to it.
Last light of day
This time of year is always busy for musical groups, and the handbell ringers are no exception. In past years I haven’t attended any of their bookings as we’ve usually been away. This year I’ve been to every one. Last Saturday, we rang Christmas carols at two nursing homes. At the first facility, we had a small, quiet audience. At the second, they were launching into carols the moment the title was announced. Wednesday night, there was a joint concert with the brass band. It was a full house, which was excellent considering there was another carol concert elsewhere. On Sunday, we performed with the Caithness Orchestra at another carol concert. And finally there’s another booking at a day centre on Monday morning. We’ll have earned our Christmas break!
The Happy Recipient
For all these events, we’re requested to wear Christmas jumpers. I’ve got one, but it’s super huge and not very warm. It got me to thinking, what about a Christmas Gansey? A gansey that could be worn all year, without looking too Christmassy? Obvious motifs would be trees and stars. Today I thought of another –snowmen made from seed stitch diamonds. I doubt I’ll ever make one, but I might brainstorm some charts.
Reasonable progress has been made on the lace jacket. I’ve started change colours by blending from one shade to the next. The yarn is two strands knit together of a fine laceweight wool from Colourmart. To change colours, one strand is swapped out for one of the next colour – going from colour AA to colour AB – and later A is swapped out for another strand of B, giving colour BB.
A happy Christmas/Hanukah/choose your celebration to you all. I have truly appreciated your support over the past year. I’m having a short break for the holidays and will be back in the new year.
Blessongs. And thankyou for sharing travals and travails.
May the bright light of absent loved ones shine on you. Xmeg
Have a lovely quiet Christmas.
I used to ring in a handbell group, we were always busy at Christmas. I remember a Scott Joplin rag being particularly challenging.
Seed stitch snowflakes for your Christmas gansey. I like this idea, I hate tacky Christmas jumpers.
Thanks so much for the picture of the finished gansey being worn by the lucky receiver. I’ve been knitting too here in northern Michigan…you have inspired me!