Keep 'em coming!

Hello Dear Readers,

As you know, I'm not one to shy away from birthdays.  Call it middle child syndrome, but I like having a sort of holiday that is non-denominational and a great excuse to celebrate ME, and who doesn't like to have fun?  Yes, another birthday yesterday, and it's been great.  Sunday evening I went to the usual place - 222 Veggie Veg - to have a great vegan night out (I had the oyster mushroom and spinach Raclette, just so I remember next year).

Some of the usual suspects were there, Patrick, the hot house mate Monica, my hilarious friend Jane who we visited in Whitby this spring, though she is back at the museum now.

As a thank you when we went up to stay at her B&B, I gave her some handspun yarn from wool I bought on my birthday LAST year, in Ireland when we went with Adam and Melch.  My how things come full circle.  For you knitters out there that is the hat pattern from the cover of Woolley Wormhead's book Woolley toppers.  And for you long time readers of the blog you'll remember I met Ms. Wormhead at Knit Nation 3 years ago.

 

There was also Patrick and Aurelie from the museum, and Lizzy and Lucy from my knitting group.  I sat myself in the center of the table to try to get in all the gossip.  Here is Chris and I, another year older, another year wiser, and stuffed full of amazing vegan food.

 

Monday I had tea at the Maids of Honour tea shoppe near Kew Gardens with some girls from work, which is always a nice treat, and in the evening we had a Sheep Cake which Chris bought specially for me.

 

Here he is sprinkling on some stray bits that were not quite perfect, and me blowing out the candles.

As usual I got a fantastic array of gifts, which were all perfect in their own way.  To the right are the earrings Auralie picked out for me, tiny balls of yarn (a silk merino blend) with silver knitting needles in them.  Aren't they the best? Doesn't she have the best taste in jewelry? Like pearl earrings but better and for knitters.

Monica gave me some new pj bottoms, which I was sorely in need of, and put on immediately after opening the package.  Not pictured is the Manuka Honey Patrick gave me, which lives at work so that people at home don't chug it down like it's the cheap clover stuff.  (It's going really well in my Tea Pigs Chai tea actually). There was a package from Lush (it's a bad year when I don't get SOME Lush for my b-day) and a new book to read, so Monday night I indulged in a Lush bubble bath and read the book, can it get any better?

Patrick said he saw this knit kit for a bike seat cover over and over last month, different stores, different times and places.  Finally he gave up, listened to the universe and got it for me.  Really, it practically had my name all over it, he HAD to buy it.  Watch out, if you have a bike, you too may soon have a knitted bike seat cozy.  Even if you don't even know me! The girls from work also got me two knitting magazines, which is great because I always pause to look at them at the store, then think, nah, I don't NEED them.  But I do WANT them, and now I've got some to tide me over for this season.

I realized that I've been super busy the last few  months with P90X, Insanity and buying an apartment that I have really missed hanging out with friends.  Therefore, as the Year of Me comes to a spectacular close, I think this year should be the year of all of YOU, where I make a concerted effort to spend more time with my friends.  Of course this will be easier in the new apartment that we just had an offer accepted on!!  And I'm planning to decorate with the paper bird Jane gave me and enhance with the vanilla reed diffuser from my friend Nina!  Nothing is final yet, we are still in the early stages, but dudes, it's looking good.  Really good.  More details to follow.  I may get out of this thing with my soul intact as well as my sanity.  But there will be plenty of room for having people over for tea and over to stay in the luxurious pull out couch in the spacious living room.

Thanks to all of you who sent me birthday wishes. It's been a great year and I hope to see more of you (Skype or otherwise) in this next Year of You.

 

Cheers!