haekelmonster

In November, seven out of 125 ninth graders were offered the opportunity to spend four weeks in Spain on a high school exchange program. Seven out of 125 … As the son has caught the travel bug, he really wanted to apply. Hence, he filled out the questionnaire, accurate and complete – no allergies, math as his favorite subject, basketball seven days the week – and handed it in.

I told him that there was only a slim chance they would choose him with all that basketball and then we waited. But not for long.

Three days later we received an email from Spain and in early January he took off for Valencia. A very nice family, a new friend, even school seems to be cool, and outside 18°C / 65°F (quick reminder: Berlin -7°C/20°F). It could have been worse …

When he was gone, I thought that a month wouldn’t be all that long (wrong), that time would fly (wrong), and that finally I’d be able to do all the things I had meant to do for so long (wrong).

At least, I started and finished some “knitting on demand” that I am not (yet) allowed to show (except for the yarn).

Then, my nieces came to visit. Again, I cannot show pictures (because they do not want me to), except for this one of my older niece in a café.

I have finished a second polka dot wrap – almost identical to the red one I had made last summer – but haven’t taken decent pictures yet. So far, only a detail in lamplight. Heaven knows why those blue dots look like squares.

What else? A sixth Garter Ear Flap Hat came into being. Just because I needed some mindless (and small) knitting to go.

Last but not least, tackling the Birkin is high up on my list again. I have frogged the fourth attempt (see picture above). Even though I had done it without half of the flowers, it would not work out. I kept knitting nonetheless – ripping it was painful but a relief.

All this was done in late summer. I cannot believe I never blogged about it. Version N°5: I am starting over. For the last time. Different yarn, different approach, different colors. same flowers. Looking good so far. Let’s see how this will go.

In short: I have been busy, however all these piles (filing, sorting, discarding) are not much smaller than they were. Tomorrow, I will start to catch up.

Tomorrow, the son will be back 😍.

How come that December is always so much shorter than any other month? At least, that is what it feels like. Didn’t we just start advent and – bam! – Christmas is over?! Crazy!

Luckily, we were gone for a few days to spent time with family. And finally, the minute we arrived at the holiday flat, we started feeling christmassy. We had rented the flat close to my mother-in-law’s, to have a “retreat” whenever needed. Because, no matter how much the world would have us believe every year that family gatherings around the holidays are a warm, glittering dream awash with cheer and goodwill to all – the truth is: they’re not. At least not with us. This is why we decided  this year, to rent a flat, to go “home” at night and return for breakfast in a happy mood to see everyone. And it worked out perfectly.

The flat was not only large and full of light, but beautifully decorated by our landlady: sparkling little stars, fairy lights, luminous deer, nut-crackers and chocolate, even DIY books for me to read – it was all there! Then again … it wasn’t only for the decorations. Our landlord too had his share in making Christmas happen for us. It was him after all who managed to open the front door after we locked ourselves out on Christmas Eve (leaving the only key at the door lock inside …😬).

Both of them did whatever they could to make us feel comfortable. So nice! We loved the Melitta coffee pot and its matching porcelain filter for breakfast, Maria and the baby above the dinner table. Lots of countryside and silence all around us. No internet.

And we enjoyed family: the poker games at night, the talks and dinners. Somehow, along the way, I started knitting another wrap (forget WIPs and resolutions). It is growing fast – thanks to the help of a little angel that my neighbors gave me for Christmas.

In short: four days of too much food, lots of fun, quite a bit of knitting, presents (of course) and quiet sleep. We loved it!

Back in Berlin, the husband’s eldest son took off for Copenhagen, our youngest (surprise!) is back to basketball. The man and I are off work for another few days, see friends, sleep in. I wouldn’t mind if things stayed that way. Life is good.

All my hopes, all my thoughts and all my dreams for a happy and peaceful New Year for all of us!