EMBRACE THE INEVITABLE.

That's what I'm trying to do ! Today I am...50 !
I had no qualms about turning 40. 45 was no problem at all. For some reason 50 seems quite an emotional hurdle. I've even had my first bit of life insurance for those aged 50 to 85 junk mail ! A miscalculation on their part. Sending such advertising to coincide with said birthday means I will never avail myself of their services !
Anyway, I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that, in society's eyes, I am now old. I don't feel old. I don't think I look it, although I must admit that, on occasion, I catch sight of this hagard, grey haired, jowly old bag when I glance at the mirror. Before I've had a chance to gather up my face !
Oh well. I had best look to Oliver to keep me young.


As you can see, he enjoyed the snow day he had off school. We rarely get snow that settles here, by the sea, so it was a novelty. Started to wear thin though, after a couple of weeks. Too cold, grey and miserable.
Just before Christmas I took part in a secret santa exchange. I wonderful package included some beautifully handspun yarn from Silmiriel [She uses the same name on Ravelry]. It was spun from some of Lime Green Jelly's wonderfully dyed Blue Faced Leicester roving.
I've knitted myself some lovely mitts, loosely based on the Susie's Reading Mitts pattern.


At the beginning of the year [not that long ago !] the Purlescence sale started. I indulged in some half price Art Yarns Beaded Rhapsody. Even with the discount it was expensive. An indulgence. For a fifty year old woman.

All good wishes most gratefully received !

OUR CHRISTMAS.

The presents were put under the tree on Christmas Eve, after our usual last minute rush to wrap them ! The fire was banked up with coal [smokeless, of course].

The present opening could start. We take our time, each taking it in turn to open a gift.

Oliver is always so pleased with whatever he gets, large or small.


It's such a pleasure to see him smile. The thing he really wanted, The Mario Winter Olympics for his Wii, made him very happy indeed. The Ice Dance and skating are his favourite games.

~

I'll show you my wooly gifts. Not to brag or, hopefully, not to mortify with embarrassment my generous friends. Just to say how thrilled I am to have such wonderful gifts from such thoughtful friends.
I was so, so thrilled to open my gift from Polly and see the shawl I had so admired [after the package had already arrived here !] on her blog.

It's a stunning merino / kid mohair / cashmere blend yarn, so very soft, in a gorgeous shade of red. That goes rather well with our sofa ! I, as Polly has said to me, rarely knit for myself these days. I'm not too sure why. It means so much to me to have someone knit me something so special. It's also incredibly warm and lightweight. Perfect for the winter cold.
My dear friend Heather made a fab label for my gift.

Which included beautiful yarn

and fab stitch markers from Andsewtoknit.

Tracey found me a fabulous sewing needle case, which I was in desperate need of.

Beautifully made by a friend of her's at Frippery. There's some fab stuff there.
Kay gave me a Herdy mug. I've been meaning to get one of these for ages. Perfect colour. Sheepy tea. Fab !

So I had a wonderful time really ! We have enough chocolate in the house to last us months. In fact Oliver's chocolate and sweet stash is very impressive. He may need some help with it...
Great books, the Best Bette from the boys, along with the complete boxed set of ER DVDs, plus other, personal, stuff. Should keep me quiet for a while.

~

I'd love to start the New Year without a cold ! I am now able to breathe through my nose, most of the time, for the first time in a month, and am getting back my sense of smell. The boys seem better too. The doctor told us that everyone seems to have this one ! Winter, eh ?!
Wrap up warm to greet the New Year, wherever you may be. I wish everyone the best of everything for 2010. The past year has been, for many of my friends and, in a small way, for me, pretty craptastic. It's about time things got better. So, that's what I hope for. That things will be better in 2010, especially for two very dear and beloved friends.

~~~ HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE ! ~~~

HAPPIEST OF MIDWINTER FESTIVALS TO YOU ALL !

I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow, whatever you may or may not celebrate and regardless of your belief systems. For us it is an injection of colour, light and love during the dark cold days of winter. A bit of happiness to carry us through the dark, dreary days ahead. So, despite all three of us having yet another cold, we shall eat turkey with all our favourite things, exchange gifts imbued with love and have some fun.
Here are this year's addition to the bauble collection, handblown glass from here.

Season's Greetings everyone.