November blessings

I always associate November with the first lines of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, where she writes:

'There was no possibility of a taking a walk that day ... since dinner the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further outdoor exercise was out of the question.'

Here the penetrating rain and sombre weather started last night, and I am seriously considering the prospect of not taking outdoor exercise until next March, even though I have the benefit of Gore-Tex and wellies, unknown to our nineteenth-century forebears.

But Ginny at Sweet Myrtle is encouraging us all to find things to be thankful for in this drear month of November, and so I am trying to follow her estimable example.

Like poor Jane Eyre, I am now sitting here looking out on to 'a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub', with 'raw twilight' seeming to start at about 3 o'clock at the moment, but as I arrived home from work our cheerful, if rather soggy, postman presented me with two parcels which cheered me, too. As you might remember from here, I do like presents, even if they are self-donated.

So today I have two people to be grateful to, the first one being Lisa at Lydia's Treasures. I was in luck when she held her Mystery Giveaway a little while ago, and her parcel finally beat its way through the postal delays: it was the loveliest parcel and certainly well worth the wait.

Lisa made me this delightful little bag - exactly my sort of thing, and almost too nice to use. In fact, I remember having spotted it on her blog, and commenting on how much I liked it - blue and red being a particular favourite colour combination.

And this enchanting little number, a rather glamorous version of a hussif, or housewife, which folds out to reveal the sweetest pincushion and needlecase, and little pocketed ends to the flaps - just right for me to carry the tools of my trade around with me. Once again, I love flowery things, and roses in particular. So thank you so much, Lydia.

And the other thing for which I am truly grateful is yarn. Which is what was contained in the second parcel which came from the Skein Queen. And I am also very grateful for her quite astonishingly speedy service which ensured that this yarn was in my hands less than twenty-four hours from ordering it. No need for deferred gratification there! Well, apart from the ball winding that is. I always wonder whether a swift and winder would really make any difference, but for the time being I will stick with knees and hands.

The vividness of this Little Desire yarn in Tipperary shines out in the gloom of my cottage, although I am afraid my camera seems intent on damping down the vibrancy of the colour, which ranges from deepest grass to sea green. I think it would make some great handwarmers, and perhaps I could put some scarlet buttons on them to make them look really festive.

So on this grey November day I am grateful for colour and kindness, and the joy of the handmade.

May your weekend be kind and colourful, too.