The hat has now been (very neatly) stitched up by Mum who is now trying to decide how many feet across the pompom is going to be.  Harrier thinks it may be about the size of a space hopper, I’m going smaller at the size of a football.  Aunty Biscuit meanwhile has cast something unspecified in the hat/jumper yarn, then pulled the stocking stich bit out as she had forgotten to change from 5.5mm needles to 6.5mm at the appropriate point.

Aunty Biscuit is whinging that the rib on the hat she is knitting is 3 and a half inches long (9cm).  Mum pointed out that it could be worse and that the whole thing could be in it.  This went down like a lead balloon.  Stitching up for the hat is going to be subcontracted out to Mum.  I understand that on this particular style the bit that is turned up needs the seam stitching inside out so that the finished article looks right.

Aunty Biscuits jumper has now cast off and is in the process being sewn up and the loose ends dealt with.  It is now clear that the left overs are going to become a hat.  I am also pleased because now the leaves are starting to fall I can indulge in one of my favourite hobbies of snuffling through them whilst around the tree area.  Mum meanwhile has been planting out some winter pansies into a couple of containers which should provide a welcome splash of colour as the year continues.

The pumpkins have started to appear in the supermarkets for Halloween.  After previous years epic fails, I’m not sure whether any will be making an appearance here or at Aunty Biscuits.  Apparently, pumpkins are hollowed out and carved (then the candle lit inside ensuring some cases intricately with a hobby drill the fragrance of pumpkin is released.  The insides can be made into a “beautiful velvety soup enriched by the addition of some sherry.”

Year 1: Experimental pumpkin acquired, insides removed and very basic carving performed as the skin was harder than it looked and the only tool available was a kitchen knife.  The insides were then made into a soup which was by all accounts rank.  The addition of nigh on a bottle of sherry pushed it

Mum has been planting a couple of small trees.  One is a curly hazel tree so with any luck Harrier will have some catkins to photograph in the spring and Aunty Biscuit will have something to draw or paint, although she has just lent her second best set of paint brushes to someone along with some watercolours.  The other tree is an ilex which is some type of holly.  There are various craft activities involving holly around the festive season which can range from a holly wreath, as decoration, a motif on knitting to a theme on Christmas cards or gift tags.  Aunty Viv is a keen card maker, the next time I am barktiming Prudence I will have her check whether there is any evidence of Christmas cards being made.