Pumpkins, spice and all things nice
A(nother) seasonal Five on Friday
This morning was the first proper ‘scrape the ice off the car’ morning and I seem to have been hit by an urge to bake, make crumble and generally create a happy cinnamon scented fug in the house.
The only problem is that with just me in the house (husband is away for work) I am baking way more than I can actually eat. Who am I kidding - of course I can eat it - whether I should eat it is an entirely different matter 🤣
It did mean that I had plenty of flapjack to sustain me though when I took myself off on a day trip to a knitting show yesterday - the Knitting and Stitching Show at London’s Alexandra Palace, known affectionately as Ally Pally.
In previous years they haven’t always had a great abundance of yarn (with more fabric and other crafts in evidence) but this year had quite a good selection of yarn vendors and a pleasing array of crochet-based kits as well. I managed to resist temptation - having made a few woolly purchases recently but I did stock up on some new Lykke sock needles (seriously, where do all my small 2.5mm circs go to?)
Alexandra Palace is a fantastic venue in any case and always worth a visit - sited just 6 miles from central London but atop a hill with fabulous views over the city. In case you don’t know the history of the building - which dates from the late 1800s there’s a fascinating summary here and I even took a photo of the blue plaque which commemorates the first TV broadcast from the site in 1936.
What’s making me smile this week
🍁 Got lots of swatches saved up from previous projects? Check out this inspirational post from
🍁 I’m trying to cut down on my sugar intake as my perimenopausal sweet tooth seems to have kicked into high gear. A friend recommended this recipe site for some great reduced-sugar baking ideas. So far I’ve tried the Pumpkin Spice Bread and it was really nice, so I’ll definitely be trying a few more of these over the winter.
🍁 If you aren’t looking forward to the colder months - this wonderful piece from
will have you feeling a lot more positive.🍁 And yes - I did buy the book that Laura mentioned: Self Care for Winter by
🍁The Everyday Knitter Gift Swap for 2024. We are gearing up for the cosy season as only knitters can - with a fun, relaxed yarn swap. If you would like to become a member of my paid community and join in with this seasonal yarn swap you would be very welcome indeed.
this is so good! :)
Ahhh I live a stone’s throw from Ally Pally and spend a great deal of time there in some shape or form, from soft play to playground to lake to garden centre to the actual venue itself (and the restored theatre is absolutely magical!). It is a wonderful place, glad you had a great time at the show, I should have thought you would be there, let me know if you are there again, it would be wonderful to grab a coffee next time! xx