February 2023

February is the month I like the least, I think it's because it's usually the coldest month, so I'm glad that it's also the shortest month. 

The month started out blustery with some very high winds but we still managed to get out when there was a break in the weather. We had a walk through the ancient woodland at Middleton Park which Archie enjoyed. The lake was very quiet on this particular day though there's usually lots of people fishing.

My crafting mojo has finally returned. I hardly picked up any of the projects I've got on the go last year so I've got a few things which have been languishing. I really want to get them finished off now. I finished the Scrappy Dog Blanket as you'll have seen in an earlier post and I've pulled out my Twelve Days of Christmas cross stitch to continue with. I didn't do any cross stitching at all last year but I've been putting just twenty minutes stitching into it each day and I'm sure that will soon see it completed. I really want to start some new things but I want to get my older projects nearer completion, if not totally finished off, first.

If January was the month of daffodils, February has definitely been the month of tulips. I just love the different look each bunch I return home with brings to the house depending on which colour I choose. I'm like a child in a sweet shop when I stand there trying to decide between each of those jewel tones, it's always such a hard choice. I'm glad I'm not restricted to just one bunch throughout the tulip season and that I can work my way through many of the different colours.

I've read three books this month.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

"Fiercely romantic and hugely influential, The Scarlet Letter is the tale of Hester Prynne, imprisoned, publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet 'A' for committing adultery and bearing an illegitimate child, Pearl. In their small, Puritan village, Hester and her daughter struggle to survive. But in this searing study of the tension between private and public existence, Hester Prynne's inner strength and quiet dignity make her one of the first great heroines of American fiction."

I have to say that I've never heard of Nathaniel Hawthorne, nor had I heard of this book, but as it's included in the Penguin English Library I picked it up. It was published in 1850, though set in the mid seventeenth century in Puritan Boston, Massachusetts. The overall theme is that of sin, redemption and social stigma. I found the writing style quite challenging so I did have to concentrate and perhaps this is why it didn't really hold my interest. It's not the worst book I've read but it definitely wouldn't be among my favourites.

Return to Thrush Green by Miss Read.

"Problems never come singly in Thrush Green.

Joan and Edward Young have to face an illness in the family, while crabby old Albert Piggott is rapidly going downhill without his wife Nelly, and the Curdle's family fair is making a loss.

Loyal Miss Foggarty welcomes an old friend to the village, and Harold Shoosmith catches himself hoping - at the ripe old age of sixty - that his bachelor days are over.

In the expert hands of 'Miss Read', Thrush Green once more springs to life for the reader."

I've been reading one book each month by Miss Read for over two years now and yet each one is so different so there's no chance of becoming bored. I really enjoyed this story of characters returning to Thrush Green, some to stay and another to just up and leave again before the story ends.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

"At First Sight, Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet. He thinks himself surrounded by idiots - neighbours who can't reverse a trailer properly, joggers, shop assistants who talk in code, and the perpetrators of the vicious coup d'etat that ousted him as chairman of the Residents' Association. He will persist in making his daily inspection rounds of the local streets. 

But isn't it rare, these days, to find such old-fashioned clarity of belief and deed? Such unswerving conviction about what the world should be, and a lifelong dedication to making it just so?

In the end, you will see, there is something about Ove that is quite irresistible..."

The book has recently been made into a film called A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks and I've heard of quite a few people taking trips to the cinema to see it. Whilst looking at the Kindle deals I saw the book reduced to just 99p so I downloaded it.

It's an enjoyable story, some sad parts but plenty of humour too and it kept my interest and was entertaining, one of those heart-warming reads. I think we all know people like Ove so it's easy to relate to him. I'd like to see the film. I more often than not think that a film doesn't do a book justice but with Tom Hanks in the starring role, I think this just might be one of those films which is better than the book. What a brilliant actor, Tom Hanks can really bring a character to life and I'm sure he'll be fantastic in the role of Ove/Otto.

Shrove Tuesday always falls forty seven days before Easter Sunday and so as the date of Easter fluctuates each year, so does Shrove Tuesday. It always falls somewhere between the 3rd of February and the first week of March and this year it fell on the 21st of February. I often made pancakes when Daniel and Eleanor were young, though I don't think that either of them were particularly bothered about them. I don't often make an effort now that they've left home but I thought I would this year. I have lemon and sugar on mine and Mick has gravy, yes, gravy. I've never heard of anyone else having pancakes with gravy, though perhaps it's not all that weird really as it's only the same batter mixture as Yorkshire Puddings.

We've had some glorious sunsets this month. This photo was taken from my craft room window, no filters, this is exactly how the sky looked. Isn't it beautiful.

In my end of month post in January, I mentioned that I wouldn't be writing as many posts as I have done in the past. Some of you commented saying that you hoped I wouldn't be giving up blogging all together. Well, no, I still enjoy blogging, it's just that I'm cutting back on the time I've been spending on it. I shall definitely still be here with one post at the very least each month. Also, I mentioned last month that you can find me on Instagram, just search jothroughthekeyhole, and thank you to those of you who have done just that and who already follow me over there. I do enjoy Instagram but I don't think you get the connection with other people as you do through blogging and that's why you'll still find me here too. 

Mick's got two separate weeks holiday from work in March so we're hoping for fine weather so that we can get out and about a little. I'm hoping for an action packed month.

Air Fryers

With energy prices as expensive as they are at present, many people are looking at ways in which to cut down on their usage. Using an air fryer instead of an electric oven is one way to cut down on costs so it's no surprise that many people have turned to this way of cooking their meals since the energy price hikes in October. In fact, air fryers are so popular at the moment that some models sell out as soon as retailers replenish their stock.

Air fryers aren't a new thing, I bought my first one over eight years ago when I wanted some Crispy Chips. I didn't buy it to cut down on the cost of cooking a meal, more for the health aspect, which is what air fryers were being marketed as at that time, a way to cook food more healthily. Cooking this way was all very new to me at that time but I grew to love my air fryer so when it eventually broke, I didn't hesitate in buying another one. 

The two I've had up to this point have both been Tefal Actifry air fryers and I've been very happy with them. The only downside in my opinion is that they have a paddle to agitate the food being cooked so there is some limitation to what can be cooked in it, unless you buy an additional part. There's a cooking basket which can be popped over whatever you're cooking in the bottom of the pan but we've never bothered with that. 

Both Daniel and Eleanor had air fryers when they went off to university and they both found them really useful too, so much so that they both still use them now.

My second actifry is just starting to go now, we've already replaced one part and I can see that it won't be long until another part gives up the ghost so we've decided to invest in a new air fryer. 

We've gone with a different style of air fryer this time, a Ninja Dual Zone. Having used an air fryer for a long time now, we know what suits us best and I think the two separate drawers in this type of air fryer will be brilliant for cooking whole meals rather than just a part of it, meaning that we'll definitely use the oven less.

The Ninja Dual Zone has six cooking functions. Along with Air Fry there's also Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and Reheat, and because there's two separate drawers which are able to be used independently of each other, it will be easier to cook complete meals

It's quite an expensive outlay but I think we'll recoup at least some of the costs back through not using the oven so much and of course, it's a healthier way to cook too. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

How about you, have you got an air fryer? Have you had one for a while or is it a new purchase? Have you bought it for health or cost reasons? I'd love to know.

Scrappy Dog Blanket

Back in May of 2018, I started a scrappy mitred square blanket with the intention of using some of my leftovers as well as mini skeins in it. When I gave it some more thought, I decided that I only wanted to use hand dyed yarn in the blanket so the following month I started a second blanket to use up the leftovers from my commercial yarn.

I never really got very far with it but after nearly five years it was time to get it off the needles. I've had some of my longer term projects far too long now and I want to clear the decks. When I looked at it, there were a few squares left to knit to square it off, but even then, it wasn't very big, it wouldn't even work as a lap blanket.

I don't like untidy edges so I picked up stitches right the way around it and added a small border, it now measures 75cm by 60cm. It's made up of fifty six squares with just three duplicate colourways which means the blanket is made up of fifty three different yarns, many of which are leftovers from the socks I've made over the years.

After giving it a soak, it's acquired a lovely drape and it's much softer than it was. Commercial sock yarn can be quite rustic but it usually softens up after a wash.

Although it isn't big enough to do very much with, it's made from wool which is lovely and warm so I shall give it to the Dogs Trust when I next visit. I'm sure it will be just the thing to line a little dog's bed. It will keep it warm and snuggly while it awaits its forever home.

And what became of the original scrappy mitred square blanket that I started you may ask. Well, that's still on the needles. I'm hoping to add some more squares to it and get it finished off at some point. Sooner rather than later I hope.

January 2023

I'm not a fan of the winter months, I hate the cold so I'm always wishing them to whizz by and for spring to come. I have mixed feelings about January though, I find it sad that another year has ended, though on a few occasions I have been glad to see the back of the old year, but I do like the idea of having a whole new year stretching out in front of me and all the possibilities it brings.

Mick and I saw the new year in on our own. Daniel and Jasmine and Eleanor and Jacob were at a friend's party in York, they had a good time. I think they spent New Year's Day recovering but the four of us were invited to Eleanor and Jacob's house the following day for a New Year's meal. It was delicious and a lovely way to start the year off.

We don't visit Lotherton very often over the Christmas period as it gets so busy so it was nice to get back to our regular walks there this month. We go so often that I think Archie must get sick of the same walks but no, he's always excited when the car pulls up and he can't wait to get out.

I've been enjoying vases filled with daffodils throughout the house. I think I'm a bit earlier in buying them this year, I usually wait a while after Christmas before the first vases are filled, but when I saw them in the shops I couldn't resist. At just £1 per bunch they're a cheap and cheerful way to brighten up the house during these cold, dark days.

I've read three books this month.

My Name is Eva by Suzanne Goldring.

"Evelyn Taylor-Clarke sits in her chair at Forest Lawns Care Home in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by residents with minds far less sharp than hers.

It would be easy to dismiss Evelyn as a muddled old woman, but her lipstick is applied perfectly, and her buttons done up correctly. Because Evelyn is a woman with secrets and Evelyn remembers everything. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life: to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it costs her...

When Evelyn's niece Pat opens an old biscuit tin to find a photo of a small girl with a red ball entitled 'Liese, 1951' and a passport in another name, she has some questions for her aunt. And Evelyn is transported back to a place in Germany known as 'The Forbidden Village', where a woman who called herself Eva went where no one else dared, amongst shivering prisoners, to find the man who gambled with her husband's life..."

A great first read of 2023. The story spans the war years right up to 2016 which sees Evelyn now residing in a care home. Her niece and the staff there think she's succumbed to dementia, but Evelyn is still as sharp as ever, she's just playing a very clever game. The book is about love, hatred and revenge, and the promise which Evelyn makes to her Dearest Darling, Hugh. A page turner which kept me wanting to know more, I'd definitely recommend.

Battles at Thrush Green by Miss Read.

"Feelings are running high in the normally sleepy village of Thrush Green.

The rector's suggestion for the neglected churchyard; a clash of personalities at the school; and the village eccentric's return to the road after an absence of fifty years, all threaten to disturb the tranquility of the Cotswold village.

'Miss Read', with her unwavering eye for detail, succeeds in portraying the day-to-day life of a small country community, without distortion or sentimentality."

I'm continuing to read one book from the Thrush Green series by Miss Read each month this year. I thoroughly enjoyed the Fairacre series, which I finished last year, but it's fun getting to know a whole new cast of characters from a new fictional village. Battles at Thrush Green is the fourth book in this series and I've enjoyed every one of them so far.

Animal Farm by George Orwell.

" 'All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.'

Mr Jones of Manor Farm is so lazy and drunken that one day he forgets to feed his livestock. The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organized to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupted, then forgotten. And something new and unexpected emerges..."

This is quite a short book but its impact is huge. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in a day, a real page turner. This is essentially the story of the Russian Revolution, the animals of Manor Farm revolt against Farmer Jones just as the Russian people rebelled against Czar Nicholas II. It's written in such a way that makes it easy to understand and this is probably why this book was taught in schools. I'm not sure whether it still is or not, though neither I nor either of my children studied it. Lots of moral lessons can be taken from the story but I enjoyed it for what it is.

You will have seen the V For Valentine Bed Socks which I posted about. I really want to make some progress this year on the other projects I've got on the go so I've picked up the scrappy blanket that I'm knitting out of commercial sock yarn. I've really had enough of having this hanging around now so I've decided that I want it off the needles, even though it isn't very big. There's still a few squares to knit which will make it eight squares by seven squares and measuring about 60cm by 54cm and then I should really put some kind of border on it. It will be rather small but I'm sure a little dog at the Dogs Trust will be happy to have a warm blanket in its bed.

I've enjoyed watching a few things this month. A couple to note.

Happy Valley.

This is the third and final series of this brilliant crime drama and the finale is on Sunday. It's seven years since series two was broadcast and I, for one, have been waiting patiently for Sally Wainwright, the writer, to release the next chapter in the story. It's definitely been worth the wait. The fantastic Sarah Lancashire and Siobhan Finneran star, and James Norton is back once again to play Tommy Lee Royce. If you haven't watched Happy Valley and you like gritty police dramas then you're in for a treat. Watch from series one though as it's an ongoing storyline which is carried through each series.

Unbelievable.

I watched this on Netflix. The series is based on a true story about a teenager who is charged with lying about having been raped but when two detectives stumble on the fact that there's a serial rapist in the states of Washington and Colorado, they uncover the truth. Starring Kaitlyn Dever, Merritt Wever and Toni Collette. There's eight episodes in the series and I was so hooked that I ended up binge watching. A disturbing story which makes it all the more harrowing because it's based on fact. Another one I'd recommend.

We had a meal out with Daniel and Jasmine. It was only at Pizza Express and really nothing to write home about, but it was nice to spend some time with them. They've been living back in Leeds for a year now and it's lovely to have them living close by so that we can see them often.

Eleanor had a Sunday shift the weekend just gone and as Jacob was working a night shift on Saturday he wasn't at home to take her. The trains don't start running on a Sunday until after the time that her shift starts so it meant she would have to get a bus, which takes absolutely ages to get into Leeds from here, so Mick said he'd take her. We were up early so once he got back we decided to hop in the car and take our first trip of the year to the coast. Scarborough wasn't as cold as we'd anticipated but I made sure that I was well wrapped up in all my woollies. It was quite busy to say it's January, lots of families as well as dog walkers about. Archie had an absolute ball playing with lots of dogs on the beach. It's a good time of year for dog walkers as the dog bans don't come into force until April so they're allowed on all areas of the sand and Archie made sure he had a good run around. Many people stop to give him a stroke and chat to us and they usually ask his age, they can't believe that he'll be thirteen this year, he does seem like a young dog still in many respects, though a trip out like this usually knocks him for six as it did this time and he spends a long time sleeping once we get home. It was a lovely day out and I'm looking forward to more days at the coast again soon just so long as the weather cooperates.

That's January in a nutshell. If you've got to the end of the post then thank you for sticking with it. You'll notice that I'm making a few changes this year, I shan't be writing as many posts as I have done in the past, though I will still keep you updated with all my news, and you can also find me on Instagram, just search jothroughthekeyhole.

V For Valentine Bed Socks

I've had a skein of Cascade Heritage sock yarn in the Butter colourway, as well as some Rowan Kidsilk Haze in the Daffodil colourway in my stash for a long time now. I've been wanting to use them to make a pair of bed socks and I've finally got my act together.

These are the V For Valentine Bed Socks, so named because the pattern is the V For Valentine Socks by Ellie Jones of the Craft House Magic podcast. I altered it only slightly, knitting two complete hearts on the ankles rather than one and a half as the pattern dictates. I wanted a slightly longer leg and this has worked out well. 

I held both yarns together and the Kidsilk Haze has given the socks a fluffy effect. They feel so warm and cosy, and very luxurious.

I used 66g of the Cascade Heritage yarn and they took exactly one 25g ball of the Kidsilk Haze, in fact, I was playing yarn chicken by the end. This is how much I had left to graft the second toe together, leaving a short tail to weave in at the end.

I'm so pleased with these socks, they've turned out exactly how I imagined and are perfect for keeping my feet toasty warm in the cold weather we're having just now.

Twelve Days Of Christmas 2022

As is now the norm, my lovely friend, Lisa, and I swapped twelve little gifts again, one to be opened on each of the twelve days of Christmas. This is the ninth year we've done this, it's become quite the tradition. I thought you'd like to see what each of us opened.

These are the gifts I received from Lisa.

Here's a closer look at them.

A Cath Kidston storage bag which will be so handy to store away the winter clothes once spring is here. Some Christmas microfibre cloths, cute gonks, they'll make me smile when I'm doing the dreaded cleaning at Christmastime. A bar of spiced apple soap in a tin, it smells delicious, almost good enough to eat. A shopping pad, two Christmas pencils and a foldable shopping bag. So handy as I always forget something when I go shopping, I really must get into the habit of writing a list.

A pack of 15 red berries Christmas scented tealights, I should imagine they'll make the house smell very festive. Two packs of notecards. Lisa knows I'm a letter writer so they'll come in very handy. A make your own pumpkin decorations kit, I'm really looking forward to getting started on these, though I think I'll wait until nearer pumpkin season before I do. A mini cross stitch kit. I didn't do any cross stitch at all last year but I want to get back to it again this year so this cute design will ease me in.

There's usually a book amongst the gifts and this year it's A Merry Little Christmas by Julia Williams. I haven't read anything by this author before. I got a few Christmas books as gifts this year, I may just keep them until next Christmas as they'll really get me in the Christmas spirit then. Some yummy all butter mini shortbread trees, I love shortbread so they'll go down a treat with a cup of tea. Some Galaxy Fusions dark chocolate with raspberry meringue, I look forward to trying that, it sounds delicious. Last but not least, a can of Percy Pig phizzy fruit juice drink and a packet of Santa straws, what fun, I can't wait to try that.

As usual, some wonderful gifts, I feel very spoilt. Thank you Lisa, it's been a fun swap again and it's now part of my Christmas traditions.

Here's what I sent to Lisa.

And a closer look.

It's all about keeping warm this year so I sent Lisa a cosy hot water bottle with a fluffy cover as well as two pairs of thermal socks. I just loved the colour of this scarf when I saw it so that was a done deal, I thought it would suit Lisa. And you can't beat a bit of pampering so there's also some lemon and clary sage bath soak and a sheet mask.

I think I've put a Christmas themed book in every parcel I've sent and this year is no exception. I went with Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin. I wouldn't have minded having a go at the felt animal kit myself, I chose a cat for Lisa as she has two cats of her own. There's nail varnish in two different colours and a compact mirror and cosmetic sharpener, I thought they might come in handy.

We usually exchange some sweet treats too. I thought these Thorntons salted caramel squares looked tasty and I sent some German inspired mini cinnamon speculatius, I haven't seen these before. I'm sure the milk chocolate spoons will be delicious, each in a different flavour, peppermint, orange and caramel. There's marshmallows with them too. And just for a bit of fun, a gin jigsaw. I know that Lisa is a fan of jigsaws so I hope she likes this one.

Didn't we do well. This swap is such a fun thing to do and it extends the Christmas festivities right into January. Thanks again, Lisa.

Advent Calendar 2022

I posted previously about My Advent Calendar For 2022, I think it's the first year that I've had just one advent calendar to open as I hadn't signed up for any swaps this time. I went with the Charity Advent which Helen at Giddy Yarns put together and I thought I'd show you what I received.

This year, Helen went bigger and better. Not only did she organise the twenty four day advent but she also organised a twelve day countdown box too. She had thirty five dyers involved, including herself, and they each dyed up a mini skein to be added to one of the boxes (Helen dyed a mini skein herself for each box), so you didn't actually know whose yarn would be in which box. I was very pleased with what I received, a 10g mini skein from twenty four different dyers. 

The reason I went with this advent calendar rather than one of the vast array of others on offer was a number of reasons. It was very reasonable compared to the cost of some others, I enjoy trying yarn from lots of different dyers, I prefer an advent calendar with random colours rather than colours which coordinate with each other which some dyers offer in their advent calendars such as fades or rainbows, and the main factor, Helen donates money raised from these advent calendars and countdown boxes to three different charities, Shelter, Action for Children and Reengage. I know it must be a lot of extra work for Helen putting these boxes together at what is an extremely busy time for any business, but it's important to support charities which need all the help they can get, and I'm very happy to support Helen in her endeavour.

Now to think of which projects I'm going to use all these lovely mini skeins in.

Looking Back At 2022

It's been a busy year for us. A house move and a wedding to organise, they've taken up a lot of our time. Let's take a look at what else happened over the last twelve months.

The year got off to a good start with Daniel and Jasmine finally Coming Home. They'd been living down south for over five years and what with the distance and the pandemic during the previous two years, we hadn't seen much of them. They've been renting a flat very close to where we live but they're now looking to buy a house somewhere close by. It will be lovely to have them put down roots here.

We were Engaging With Nature at Lotherton in February. It's one of our favourite places to walk Archie and he loves it there too, so we visit throughout the year. You tend to really take notice of the changes in the seasons when you see the same place on a regular basis. Lotherton was just starting to wake up from its winter slumber, there were snowdrops to see and the promise of daffodils to come.

Mick took some time off work in March, and along with trips on the weekends, we got out and about. One of the places we visited was Worsbrough Mill And Country Park. It's a really interesting place, there's a working water mill which you're able to look round, along with 240 acres of parkland and a reservoir. The weather was gorgeous too.

In April, we were Moving House. We'd lived in our old house for over twenty eight years so it was a big decision to move, but we absolutely love our new house and we're glad we took the plunge. We're all settled in now and it feels as though we've lived here for years.

I took a bit of a break from blogging during May whilst we got sorted out in our new home, but we did go to see the Willow Sculptures At Lotherton. There are quite a few of these willow animals, and a willow archer too, dotted around the estate, though we still haven't come across the squirrels.

In June, I wrote about Eleanor getting Another New Job. She'd had a couple of jobs in quick succession after she finished her degree but she seems really settled where she is now and she's loving her job. She's been working weekends but in the new year she'll be starting shifts, which entails night work. I think her and Jacob will be like ships passing in the night as Jacob works shifts already. We'll have to see how that goes.

We had lots of lovely, sunny days this year with temperatures at one point breaking records. We don't always have such summery days so we have to make the most of them when we do. We visited Beck Wood in July, being beside water is perfect when the weather's so good, and though this particular day wasn't hot, it was pleasant.

Eleanor's Hen Weekend was held in August. I, along with some of the other oldies, was invited to afternoon tea at the Sky Lounge in Leeds, before the hens headed off for the weekend to Manchester. Everyone had a lovely time and it was the perfect start to the wedding celebrations.

In September, I celebrated My Birthday In Filey. Although we visit many seaside towns on the east coast, Filey is one that we've never really explored. We were actually pleasantly surprised, we really liked what we saw and we shall definitely go back to see more.

Eleanor and Jacob's Wedding Day wasn't just the highlight of October, it was the highlight of the year. It was a fantastic day from start to finish, everyone really enjoyed it and Eleanor and Jacob had huge smiles on their faces all day long. They've now settled down to married life together, though they both say that they don't really feel any different.

We went to see our small town's Christmas Lights switched on at the end of November. It's quite a big event for such a small place with roads closed, a market installed for the day and a stage set up for the entertainment. There was a fantastic firework display to watch too. We enjoyed it and might even go again next year.

Many things were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 owing to the pandemic and one of them was the show we'd booked to see at Leeds Grand Theatre. Les Miserables is Mick's, Eleanor's and my favourite musical so we booked right back in 2019 to see it in 2020 but it got postponed twice. We finally got to see it earlier this month after a three year wait, we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

So that's 2022 wrapped up in a nutshell. Of course, there's been much more to my year than is shown in this highlight post and you can take a look back through my previous posts if you'd like to read more. 

Thank you, as always, to everyone who visits my blog and especially those who leave a comment to let me know you've passed by, I appreciate this so very much. Wishing you all a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.