A Postcard A Day - Friday 18 December 2020 - Friday Smiles

Hello lovely ladies,

How are you all this morning? I must confess I am rather busy with preparations for our coming trip to Holland. There is lots to do and pack and buy and forms to fill in etc. The Netherlands is in lockdown and there are no shops open except grocery shops. We are going to have to stay in doors (quarantine) for 10 days, but I'm going to stay at my mum's so that was the whole idea. She won't be on her own this Christmas.

Let me show you my postcard for today. It comes from Finland but shows the national costume of the island of Muhu in Estonia.  It is a card from 1973, when Estonia was still a Sovjet republic. The artist is V. Tolli

 The island of Muhu is one of three islands off the coast of Estonia and has an area of 198 km2 (76 sq mi). On the map Muhu is coloured red.

The traditional costume of the island is very pretty:

What I like best are the socks

In present times there is a little cottage industry going with these hand knitted socks.  They also do gloves:

I love those. 

I am going to do some knitting when I am in Holland. I've packed some wool and some needles and I plan to make some socks (nothing as elaborate as these). I like to knit with round needles (magic loop). I did one pair many years ago and I have found those needles again, so they are coming with me to Holland. I might have to go online for a pattern or a tutorial as I have forgotten how to do the heel. I work from the toe up and cast on in the Turkish method. (Watch this space).

And here are the stamps.

The left hand stamp (lily of the valley) is from a series of wild flowers:

 The flowers in this series are: the common hepatica, the lily of the valley, the wild pansy, the harebell, the meadow buttercup, the red clover, the ox-eye daisy and the wood cranesbill. They are designed by Paula Salviander.

Now let me show you what I have been up to this week.  Friday didn't bode well as we overslept and the weather wasn't very good, but I did some baking and in the evening we were invited at our friends' house to help them eat the pizzas. Their youngest son who is a student, is at home as his course is postponed or cancelled or something. He has been able to get himself a job in a pizza factory locally. Hurray! Good boy! To celebrate he brought 6 pizzas home. We came to help them eat them. They are our best friends and they live two streets away, but we only see them once a month.

Did you spot the nativity scene (top right)?

I saw it outside a house on my way to the post office.

I started a new book. The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge. Has anyone read that?

My hubby has had some tummy bug. He decided to not eat at all on Sunday (only drink water).

And it was his birthday on Monday. Luckily he was feeling much better.My cousin's birthday card was really funny (with the fire men as there were so many candles)

On Tuesday we sorted out the craft room, which was in quite a state. It is now tidy and clean. As I said before, I found my knitting needles. I always find something when I tidy up.

On Wednesday my friend and I went on a long walk. I did something like 13000 steps. 

We spotted an abandoned mill. The door was open so we went in. All the equipment is still there. What a shame that it's not being restored.

Here is another picture:

At the top of the next picture you can see that there is a large hole in the roof:

And today (I'm writing this on Thursday night) we went into town to get some last minute things. We have a little cast iron parlor stove  in the craft room (visible in Tuesday's collage), and it's grill on the inside was broken. The bit you rest the logs on. So we went to a shop near us that sells woodburners, chimneys and chimineas and BBQs. They had a replacement.

That was my week. Plenty of highlights and lots of smiles. Do join us at Annie's to share the things you smiled about. And I also join Victoria for Rocking Your Week Friday.

And as per usual I will add some funnies at the end.

Have a lovely weekend,

Hugs,

Lisca