Blogmas, day 18

Morning, all.  Still feeling rough but that is all I am saying about it.   Positivity rules, OK?  :-)

We've had a fair bit of rain overnight and I gather there's more to come today.   What has it been like your way?

I did quite a lot of crochet yesterday (what a surprise, eh?).

Poinsettia.

Holly.

Reindeer.

This was a pig of a pattern - it's weird how some YouTube tutorials are so much easier to follow than others.

Three efforts went in the bin before I cottoned on to what I was doing wrong - and it was me, not the pattern.

And then I realised I had one extra picture (two really because I did two of each) as I hadn't planned in the holly.  So I looked at them all and out went the robin!  Poor old Robin!

And here we are, all laid out apart from the central one.  There may be some black involved in that so I am waiting for daylight - Rudolph's antlers, worked in black, were nearly as much of a nightmare as the actual head.  

I have started the joining though and you know what - when they are joined, it is so much neater and it's starting to look better.  Neater and coordinated.

Still pondering on the grannies, maybe a circular centre might look really good another time - a bit like Kandinsky's 'Concentric Circles'.  

Oh, now that's an idea . . .  I have so much stash again.

I think I must see if Beth could use her super whizz sewing machine and make me a tape that says 'Christmas 2025' or something similar.

Here's today's advent stuff.  The tin, the candle, the tea bag (turmeric, ginger and lemongrass), the Jo Malone freebie (peony and blush suede handwash), some really cure earrings and a bath bomb - a nice little cluster of cheapies!

The Advent of Change supports Winston's Wish, a charity that gives hope to grieving children.  

Today you have funded a memory box, helping a grieving child treasure the special memories of someone they love.

https://winstonswish.org/about-us/

And while on this subject, I mentioned Kazza, whose vlogs I watched.  Sadly, she passed away yesterday afternoon.  Please, spare some thoughts and/or prayers for her husband, Warren, and her three boys, McKenzie, Jaxon and Dexter.  It's never a good time but it is so close to Christmas . . .

I saw a couple of people yesterday, proper saw them, I mean.  It was nice after isolation (apart from the show, that is).  In the afternoon, Lindsey was in the neighbourhood taking a class so she popped round to pick up her loaf and her little gift from me.

Then in the evening, Beth came in on her way to the girls' meal to drop off her gift and to pick up my gifts for everyone.
I'll show you what she gave me in another blog.

Today will start with an online chat with Chris and then the day's my own.  I plan to make Beth's loaf - not sourdough - and, perhaps, some mince pies as I have an unopened jar of mincemeat and Beth has put some on my list.  Pastry is not my strong point, but I can try, can't I?

And it would be nice if I could get all the joining done - there's no ends to sew in as I do all that as I go and the joining doesn't actually take that long, you just have to make sure corners match and, with this pretty inexpensive yarn, that you don't split the stitches as it would really show.

I need a coffee so I will love you and leave you.  Have a lovely day, whatever you have on your Little List!  Bye.  xx

Advent music calendar, day 18

Today I have chosen Sir John Rutter's lovely 'Star Carol'.

Enjoy.  xx