Amazon have now released the Kindle DX globally!    Anyone making out birthday present lists for me – take note!!!

serves 4

1kg mixed fruit

2 cups fruit juice

2 cups organic self raising flour

preheat oven to 125 degrees Celsius.  soak fruits in juice for at least 2 hours. stir flour into soaked fruit and mix well.  put into a 22cm paper lined cake tin.  bake in the bottom of your oven for 2 to 2 and a half hours.  remove and leave to cool.  put into a container or wrap in foil.  keep for 2-3 days before cutting.

optional – drop some walnuts into the fruit mix or add 1 tablespoon of sherry, cointreau or grand marnier to the juice.

Today, while I was pining for my yarn to finish my shawl, I started crying for my friend whose husband of just 5 short weeks, passed away. While I was busying myself with my crochet hook… she was flying out of the country to lay him to rest. Today, I understood what a prayer shawl is all about. This one will be for you Ange, my friend, with all my hopes and prayers wrapped in every fiber, every stitch.
While my mind turned over events of this past Christmas I realized how much comfort I could bring. Sure I got some disturbing news about my health, others suffered too. My shawls could be wrapped around my friends amd family and those in need, like my arms, warm and sturdy. Prayer Shawls really do say a lot. When I spun wool for my socks I would spin hopes and dreams into the yarn, a little piece of me for all who wear my creations… now the shawls I make can do the same.
I am off to weave another spell, another prayer into a garment. Yarn and love… It is what it is all about.

My goodness, how time flies when you are crafting. I spent the last month crocheting birthdya gifts for my family and friends. So many birthdays around Christmas so little time. I managed 3 shawls and one was even hairpin lace crochet which I had never done. I have to make a mental note that crochet uses more yarn (except the hairpin lace). On Christmas day I started a shawl for myself. Again, I mis-calculated yardage and am short a ball. I am hoping the woolen mills are at least sending from their office as I can’t wait for February for the factory shop to open. I only have about 7 rows to go as well so it is a shame to put it in my UFO stack.
The animals out back have adjusted to their haircuts. I plan to make some alpaca felted lace scarves this coming year. I just have to find my hand carders. What I thought was the bag with the carders turned out to be a bag with the drum carder… although it would make short work of the fleece, I think the hand carders would be more fun.
I will put this down so I can finish the scarf from ‘Knitted Gifts’ I think Fairy God Child number one would like it…Knit in Peace and take time to appreciate the finer yarns, I mean things, in life!

Thank you to John for your help adding the pictures.
Yes, poor Ozzie was down for the count after spitting
on both the shearer and John. I also hear he is still
grumbling up the back of the yard. I think it is a good
thing I was not there… I may have been reduced to
tears…
The crochet is going well, almost finished the tie front
wrap… then to a well earned pair of socks… Christmas
in nigh and I stil have a heap to complete. I am in
search of lavender in bloom to make a couple lavender
spears to sell at a craft fete next month, then back to
knitting. I do not know why I do this to myself each
Christmas… I guess, deep down, I really do like it.

I go away for a few days and look what has happened. Oh dear… well, the last post, as you can tell, is not me. on a lighter note… I finished the slippers, making changes where I just know there are errors in the pattern. I am still having issues with yarn weight conversion. I wonder why all the U.S. patterns use such a heavy weight yarn for summer garments… let alone other garments. I have found what I think is the closest yarns from Bendigo Woolen Mills but I still do not get my desired outcome. Not to worry… a tweek here and there and it should all be fine. I am working on another Christmas project… an easy tie wrap from Crochet! magazine… Very pretty pattern in the colour Java… I am already addicted to making it… having toruble putting it down… crafts really are my passion… especially yarn crafts.