Hello 2022. My brain is having a hard time catching up to the fact that it’s two years since we first heard about The Disease That Shall Not Be Named. It wasn’t last year that my workplace was shut down for 7 weeks, it was two years ago. I feel like 2020 and 2021 have just blended into one long year. A VERY long year!
Anyway let’s focus on the here and now.
Shall we talk about the fact that our winter has been bitterly cold in recent weeks? I think the lowest was -30°C but mostly it was around -17 for quite some time. When it warmed up to -5 the last couple of days it was quite pleasant!
We’ve had lots of snow that’s not had a chance to melt between falls so the roads have been icy and the piles along the sides of the roads and driveways have just got higher.
Mr Fixit is back at work after his week off. Oldest son has had a month off due to his workplace accident but should be back at work tomorrow. Youngest had two weeks off and returned yesterday.
I just had a bonus 4 day stretch – my first New Year’s Day off in 7 years!
Last night three friends came over to knit and drink tea and generally be loud and funny.
The ‘Fuck the Cold’ hat is coming along (pattern is a free download on Ravelry). I cast on on the 1st and I’m halfway through the trees/moose section. Some of my friends are also making this – we are having a knitted colourwork makealong.
And my stashbusting worsted weight granny blanket has grown to 23 inches across in just a few days. My colour order is black/colour/grey/colour. I’m expecting to use up all my random medium weight yarn and hopefully end up with a king size blanket.
As I sit here on the couch writing this before heading down to my sewing room I see snow falling again, the neighbour clearing his drive again, and I’m glad I don’t have to go anywhere today.
Be careful out there!
NICOLA KNITS 
Congrats on having friends over ‘to be loud and funny’ – so envious! I meet a bunch of crafty friends once a week at the moment, we sit outside in a garden, even if it’s only a few degrees – thank goodness we are knitters with hats, scarves and gloves! One friend even tucks a warmed heat bag inside her coat – great idea to pass on – should you need to venture out into the snow. It looks so pretty out there – know it’s not so fab trudging through it though. Happy New Year!
It’s definitely too cold to knit outside here. Our hands would be frozen solid in minutes! Snowy views are very pretty especially when the sun shines but getting down to the compost heap is a major expedition!
Brr! I swerved the crafty get together some friends planned today – which would have involved sitting in a garden – only in favour of a Zoom meeting held once a month for those who can’t get out due to health reasons. Our craft group has one ‘split’ session a month, some Zoom and others still meet up. The other weeks of the month there is only the meet up option. Today there was thick ice first thing ….. I can imagine there was much hot drink holding and knitting/sewing remained in closed bags!