Wick (D Gillies): Week 24, 7 July

(Before this week’s post starts – apologies that last week’s didn’t post.  I was sure I’d done it properly – it’s now up.)

I finally decided it was time to get out the summer clothes this week, not that it’s summery enough to wear them.  It’s been a cool and damp summer, and most days I am glad of my spring/autumn jacket.  In the past, this changeover was put off as long as possible.  It seemed like a lengthy and arduous task.  But one year I realised that it had only taken half an hour.  This year, it was delayed due to forgetfulness.  It’s always a pleasant surprise to find favourite garments that have been forgotten over the winter.

The car has also had some new togs – car mats.  I chose the brightest colours I could find on the internet.  They might not be everyone’s cup of tea – orange heel rest and edge trim on a grey mat – but they make me smile every time I open the car door. 

Blooming weed

Recently, I’ve changed my morning routine by using a moka pot instead of a big bean-to-cup machine.  Gordon loved his coffee, and as a consequence, we’ve had various coffee grinders.  The electric ones never lasted very long, but he also bought some hand-operated grinders.  I’ve been experimenting with these.  One holds about a weeks’ worth of beans, but it takes forever to grind enough for a cup of joe.  The other holds about two cups’ worth of beans, and while needing more effort, grinds much quicker.  It’s a pleasant morning ritual using the moka pot:  the hob is lit, the moka pot is filled with water, the coffee added, and the top clamped down.  When the gurgling stops, it’s ready.  The rest of breakfast is prepped while it’s burbling away.  An advantage over the bean-to-cup machine is that the coffee is hotter.

Busy bee

I’m returning to sewing too, or at least thoughts of sewing.  There are so many tempting fabrics and patterns available on the internet.  But for the next project, instead of buying new, I determined to shop from stash.  There were some treasures found there, fabric buried so far down the piles that I’d forgot them.  Some have notes attached, so their purpose is clear, but for the rest, I’ve no idea what I’d planned.  In one instance, I got out a pattern, then found a length of forgotten fabric with a note to use just that pattern.  And then there was the unopened box, full of fabric bought years ago.  From a US site, I had it sent to my sister’s and planned to carry it home with me.  A couple of trips later I still hadn’t brought it home, so I mailed it, where it has sat for years.  Yesterday I finally cut the packing tape.  The invoice in the box is dated 2007. 

Summer meadow

With the gansey, there’s been good progress. The band on the first sleeve is finished, followed by plain knitting which is speedier to work.  The sleeve band is similar to the one at the start of the yoke, but the diamonds are slightly wider.  From now on, it’s clear sailing down to the cuff.  The end is in sight.