My little review of 2010

I've noticed that some fellow bloggers have written a review of 2010.  For an excellent one, see Lucy's wonderful review here.  So I have decided to do a little one of my own over the next few days. 

The first thing that stands out for me is my big crochet project of the year, which was a blanket I made for youngest son, as he was going to university in the Frozon North.

I started off by crocheting a few little squares, using Lucy's blog as my teacher and guide.  Before I knew it I had a whole blanket.

This is the best picture of it I could find, you can't really tell from the pic, but it's plenty big enough to cover my son's bed, and it makes his student room look colourful, cosy, homely and hopefully warm.

I used 100% pure merino yarn, one that is still spun in Yorkshire and sold in the Midlands.  Not a terribly expensive yarn, but I bought it bit by bit and never really did the maths (maybe best not to!)

In June, when the blanket was about halfway through, I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Lucy from Attic 24, as we had a family holiday in her very pretty hometown in Yorkshire.  I took my blanket to her weekly knitting group, and I was able to spend a lovely time with Lucy and her darling little boy.

There were other smaller projects on the go, but I have no pictures of those.

If I did make any New Years' resolutions, one would definitely be to do more crochet and knitting.

Currently on my needles are a beanie hat for eldest son and an arm cap for the little sofa in my study.  I knitted the first arm-cap a little while before Christmas, but haven't completed the second one yet.  It's a bit like "the curse of the second sock!"  Knitting the first one is always fun, the second one becomes mildly tedious.

Sometime later this week I will share a little review of my reading for 2010.

Hope your day is good.

A rest on Sunday

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.


Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, Whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God I come.


Just as I am - though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears, within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.


Just as I am - poor, wretched, blind-
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come.


Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.


Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yes, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.


Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come.

I find a place of quiet rest in a loving Heavenly Father who neither slumbers nor sleeps, who is the keeper of my heart.  He keeps my heart;  my hopes, my dreams, joys, sorrows, fears and confusions.... He made me, He knows me, He loves me through and through, just as I am, for who I am.  There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.

Amidst all the doings of my life, it is the be-ing with this One that loves me dearest and best that keeps me, that sustains me, that causes my heart to overflow, with a love that I could never hope to possess on my own. He takes all that I am and am not, and freely gives of Himself.


"If there is anything that is a miniature picture of heaven upon earth, it is a pair of
Christians happily united, whose children grow up in the fear of the Lord, and render
to them increased comfort and joy every day. Oh, how much some of us owe to the
gospel for the happiness of our homes!"  Charles Spurgeon.

Holly Roast

This afternoon we are having a meal with my sister-in-law and her partner, a 30 minute drive away.  I've got a big gammon joint in the oven....

...and I'm making a delicious glaze for it.  (Apologies to any vegetarians!)  The recipe is called Holly Roast, but we eat it all year round.  It was clipped from an advertisement in a free Somerfield magazine, sometime in the mid 1980's, and is just as popular in our home now as ever.

Ingredients:

Danish Bacon Joint

4 tblsp. redcurrant jelly

1 tblsp. soft brown sugar

1 tblsp. wine vinegar

Juice of half an orange.

(Betty's Earl Grey Tea is not strictly required, but you may like to drink it while you cook, as I do!)  Wrap the joint in foil and roast in a pre-heated oven, Gas Mark 5, for about 30 mins per 500g plus 30 mins - I always add a bit more time.

Melt the above ingredients in a saucepan, bring to boil and cook until reduced by half.

40 minutes before the end of cooking time remove joint from the oven, cut off the rind, brush with the glaze and return uncovered to the oven, repeating glaze after 20 minutes.  Then let the joint stand for a little while before carving and serve.

Here is youngest son and sister-in-law enjoying our New Year feast.  We took the holly roast with us, and they very kindly produced a delicious salad to accompany the gammon.

And this is my sister-in-law with her partner.......

 A good time was had by all.  Hope your Sunday has been a good day.

One-One-One-One

Happy New Year!
So today the date is 1-1-11, all the ones, a good day for starting something new. Are you doing something today for the first time? Or maybe you plan to do something this year for the first time?
Here is my 'first', my new jump headlong into blogland.  There are so many of you that cheer and inspire me each day, I look forward to being part of the online community.

Today has been a rather damp day, so we have stayed snuggled inside. Youngest son is currently reading 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot for his English Lit. degree, so I am reading it too, and we are having a little race to see who finishes the book first. I'm not usually too good at races, as they often seem to involve running, but here is one race I may win!  Darling husband (DH) is reading F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Hope your New Year's Day is a relaxing one.