Not such a wuss after all

We had been thinking, all the time we were away and since returning home, that it was cold....decidedly chilly, in fact....and it seems we were right.  The weather statistics up to the end of last month were released and our state has, indeed, seen the coldest start to winter since the mid-1980s.....and who can remember temperatures from that far back?  Can you remember how cold it was on a particular mid-winter day in, say, 1993?  

Neither can I.

This is The Big Green Jumper, a garment which is worth its (not inconsiderable) weight in gold during cold weather.

It is big, it is deep mossy green, and it is warm.  The pure wool yarn came from Bendigo Woollen Mills a very long time ago, and the pattern was bought a few years before that.  In the original design the rope cables outlining the centre and side front panels had bobbles knitted into them but I don't care for bobbles, so they were omitted.  I can't remember when it was finished, but I do remember knitting it while touring New Zealand in a hired motorhome back in late 2000.  It is warm because there are so many cables in the design and every cable is double thickness - because that's how they are made.

Stitches have been knitted on the latest jumper/cardy, whatever it decides it wants to be, although it is leaning towards being another jumper which would fit my clothing style more than a cardy, and guess what...it will have cables on the front!

Some more three-diamond hexagons have been pieced.  Two blocks were made yesterday, BOMs for the quilt group, so they are now caught up.  

The major project during the coming week is to get out the Canadian quilt, and start working on the borders.  The batting needs to be firmly attached inside the borders, then quilting will happen to hold it all in place.  Then binding....we'll be on the homeward stretch, yay!  And, of, course, a label.

Not much plinking has happened, but it will.  

Soup has been made, cauliflower and chorizo soup.  The original recipe called for bacon but one day I happened to have chorizo instead so thought I would give it a whirl, and we found that we prefer its smokey taste.  One it has cooled down it will be smooshed (technical word, that) with the stick blender, and there will be soup for the coming chilly days.  One thing to be said for cold weather - soup makes it easy to get in one's daily serve of veggies, doesn't it?

A couple of days ago we took a heater to a local op shop as we no longer have need for it, and in this cold weather someone else may need it.  While we were there we checked out the goodies for sale and found Just The Very Thing to sit beside my TV/hand work chair, a small square table with one drawer and room for all my paraphenalia on top.  What a useful little table it is, to be sure!  I was using a slightly ricketty folding tray table - this is more stable, and a better height for me.  I have no idea if it was a bedside table or a low hall table, but it makes a handy dandy Jennifer table and was $20 well spent.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"In leaving a ball, it is not necessary to wish the lady of the house a good night.  In leaving a small dance or party, it is civil to do so."

Indeed.  That sounds like the right thing to do, doesn't it?

Enjoy your days!