Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Words, Wool, and Downton Abbey

The Christmas knitting is all finished! I've already forgotten the stress of trying to get everything done on time and am instead thinking of how much I enjoyed it all! Ha ha ha!

This modified version of the Christmas pudding tea cozy made me SO HAPPY this Christmas season. I drank pots and pots of tea from it over Christmas Day and Boxing Day and have continued to do so. I don't think I can use it much past the next week or so which means I must find and start a new tea cozy for it very soon.


I had so much fun knitting these Dickensian Mice by Alan Dart. He has two patterns and I bought both so I could mix and match.


I loved the Christmas pudding and the shawl for this mouse! Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of Emily's mouse who was done in white with a mauve and gray dress and holding a Christmas wreath.


The ladies all received the Dickensian mice and the children all received on of these sweet mice! I simply changed the colors and sizes of yarn to personalize each one. The kids LOVED them!!!


I wrapped the mice up and put them on the Christmas table at each place. Since I had no time to knit the amazing Dickensian men mice, the men in the family received cheese instead.


I know most of us are so eager for the airing of Downton Abbey beginning this coming weekend!!!! YAY!!! Have you heard that there is a Downton Abbey Mystery Knit A Long?! My sister and I are joining in. Can't wait to see what we are making.......

And while we are on the subject of Downton Abbey, you might want to check out my Downton Abbey Reading List which I have continued to update. You may find something you'd like to read during Season 3.


Don't you think some festive food might be in order for watching Downton Abbey Season 3?!! I do! Make it an excuse to get together with a few friends for an afternoon or evening and put together a little tea party. In honor of season 3 I have made my London Summer Tea Book available as a free PDF download. So, take a look and bake something up to celebrate!

As for other reading, I plan to publish my Reading Year in Review sometime in the next week but must share a few I just finished:


Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher turned out to be the Christmas story I had been searching for all month. It had all the elements I wanted: Scotland, a large, cozy house, snow, good food, interesting characters, and even redemption. While I don't agree with everything Pilcher has her characters do, I felt this was a really good story and I loved it! I also found it funny that the same family drama occurred to one of the characters that occurred in our family this year too. Somehow that was comforting.

A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission around the Table (Re: Lit Books) by Tim Chester may just be the best book I read all year. I had a hint I would love the book when one page into the introduction Chester identifies his favorite food writer as Nigel Slater. A kindred spirit! That aside, the message of the book (how important eating with people was to Jesus and should be to us because, really, creation and redemption all took place so that men may eat with God in the final Messianic banquet) spoke so profoundly to me and connected with so much of what I am passionate about and the deepest longings of my heart that I found myself so often in tears just thinking about this whole idea. I've taken copious notes and someday plan to own this book!

And now I better get on with life and cleaning up Christmas.

You can find more ideas for reading and knitting over at Ginny's Yarn Along.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links.

16 comments:

momto5 said...

oh my goodness, those mice are so sweet i can hardly stand it. i mean, wow, super cute. and the tea cozy, so makes tea drinking so much more fun. <3

Unknown said...

The mice are too cute!!! I love them!

HeatherMavis said...

Oh yes , I like these too.
We only see Downton Abbey on Net Flix . Is that where you watching it from too.

HeatherMavis said...

(?)There I go forgetting my punctuation again.

Leslie said...

Precious mice, I want some in my house. I love winter solstice, I listen to it over and over, almost like comfort listening.

Anonymous said...

Heather, your Christmas knitting is splendid! Those mice are works of art. And the tea cosy is so fun!

Wishing you a Very Happy New Year. I hope 2013 brings you and your family many blessings.

We had mixed feelings about the Downton Abbey Christmas Special that aired in the UK. And I am very intrigued by the knitalong!

Lori Ann said...

Just finished Winter Solstice too! Perfect holiday read. Now I am re-reading September by Pilcher as well. Some how this just fits in with the holiday too - set in Scotland! Love the mice!

Unknown said...

The mice are cute!! I'm looking forward to season 3.

My husband bought seasons 1 & 2 on DVD, and my MIL pre ordered season 3 for my birthday. I had not heard of the Jimmy Beans KAL prior to reading this. There's another Downton Abbey KAL-luvinthemommyhood, which I'm planning on participating in, but now I might participate in both. Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

We are die hard Downton Abbey Fans - I'm so happy to have discovered your blog and to see shared enthusiasm. Your mice are darling, what a great project!!!

Reneelynn said...

Your Christmas knitting is wonderful! You are a talented knitter. Speedy as well ;)

karen said...

I LOVE your mice :D They are adorable and so individualistic!!

simona said...

the mice are adorable! i've started crocheting not too long ago and i hope i can make some kind of little animals soon as well.

Laura said...

Love my Mouse.. that was the best surprise at Christmas dinner.. thank you Heather.. you always amaze me!!! I found a book today for you to read... The Guynd, a Scottish Journal, by Belinda Rathbone... have you read it yet?...
Looking forward to Sunday... love you and love your blogs!!!

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Long e-mail will be written soon! I first had Christmas stuff, then this cold, and now working on some Mom Heart changes.

I LOVE the tea cozy, it looks like something from a cozy kitchen in Narnia. ;)

Heidi and Krista said...

I LOVE these mice. I also love your blog...stumbled upon it and read it every day. I'm a Mom with a blog too...SistersDish and our daughter goes to Butler in Indy! Anyway, your blog reminds me to slow down, drink tea and thank God every day. Thank you!!!

reader19 said...

Thank you for sharing your mice with us all! They are a real treat to the eyes! You did such a great job on making them! Very "Dickensian"!!