You may not have realized it, but what your Saturday night really needs more than anything is a giraffe in a scarf. Actually, a giraffe in two scarves.
I know, I know, never photograph by artificial light. So sue me. Actually, please don’t. This snap won’t win any photographic awards, but it does show off the scarves I crocheted for the Toddler Twinnage. They’re loosely based on this pattern, which I confess that I chose for its simplicity and speed. Yes, I should’ve lovingly knitted intricate stranded colourwork in baby cashmerino for my precious darlings, but they’re toddlers for heaven’s sake – these scarves are going to take a lot of abuse, and I don’t fancy the blood pressure implications of watching cashmerino fairisle being doused in mud and wound round a tree, OK? The colourful yarn is Vanna’s Choice, and the grey is some of the remaining Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed from my knit-and-crochet bag design. The Toddler Twinnage love ’em, which is why I haven’t been able to photograph them until after dark.
And boy does the Toddler Twinnage need scarves in this cold! Whilst I steadfastly maintain my position of active sulking regarding the non-appearance of proper snow, we did at last have a little flurry whilst I was sitting in ward-round at the hospital where I work. Just to make sure that I looked like a complete idiot in the car park that evening, I scraped up a handful from the roof of my car and sat in the driver’s seat photographing it, just to prove that I have touched snow once within the space of two years. (Yes, citizens of the Arctic, feel free to laugh at me.) 
Meanwhile, in order to defeat the cold of our ice-has-been-seen-on-the-inside-of-the-windows home, the Stoic Spouse has been aggressively cooking from a book of sauces so extreme that each one takes a full two days to prepare. Here he is, studying the book, part-way through his sauce-marathon:-
My solution to the cold is somewhat simpler:- 
Finally, I should mention the Yarnstories hat and gloves. They’re done! But I need some daylight to do them justice in a photograph, OK? Stay warm, people.
Concerned by the absence of wine in the final picture (gin and other beverages would have sufficed).
I agree – was the absence of light so extreme perhaps, she could not find the wine barrel?
I am not at all concerned by the two scarves around the neck of the one animal – it makes sense given your icy internals. I thought it was a caring touch! But there are two things that concern me in the first photo. One is that you have a baby giraffe in your house at all and the other is that you appear to be feeding it palm leaves through a slit in the doorway. I don’t think they like palm leaves – but I may be wrong. Bring on the snow! We are having tropical weather here this year, hot, hot, hot, humid and now thunder storms 🙂 Very fun!!
So the contented crafter wants snow – she needs to cross the Atlantic and give me a call – I’ve got more than enough, and will have even more in the next few days – will have snow though April! Meanwhile what’s wrong with a giraffe in the house – with the toddler twinage around you need BIG animals!
Where did you get the giraffe from? My parents are on the lookout for a giraffe to grace their house somewhere (it was going to be half way up the stairs but we don’t have a halfway up the stairs any more)
It goes without saying the scarves are lovely and I understand the need to photograph the snow, but the GIRAFFE ? I think your readers will need a whole blog on the giraffe. What is he/she called, where did you get him, how long have you had him, where in the house does he normally live? I can see you have very high ceilings but (trying not to be rude) but isn’t it a bit odd to have a giraffe in the house?
Just when I think I couldn’t love your blog anymore I see a giraffe identical (albeit a couple of feet taller) to the one sitting in my spare room. Mine is donning my earmuffs at the moment, I think they’d make great friends! 🙂
Now, what your Saturday night needs is more sauciness. Whilst Stoic Spouse looks at sauces, here is something saucy for you. http://www.stitchseekers.com/men-in-knitwear-2014.html aka men/not giraffes in scarves.
In Norway we knit scarfs for our poor cold trees. Scarfs are good ANYWAY and a love you to bits
I truly empathise with you on the lack of snow. It is so unfair to have to endure such cold weather without the beauty of snow to make it worthwhile! I remember in one house having half an inch of ice on the inside of the baby’s bedroom window that didn’t melt for a week! With a fire like that to cosy up to though, I’m sure you’re plenty warm enough. If not, you could always strip the giraffe of his scarves…
Stay warm Phil, love the giraffe. I made a giraffe sitting in a stuff chair. I’ll send you a picture.
The giraffe wears the scarves well. I’m sure the Twinnage will make fine use of them too. Is that a gothic rose window knit I see in the background? If anyone really wants snow, please come to New York. We’re getting ready for another 36 cm. We’re about -12 C.
I’m in New York, too, and all this “wishing for snow” leaves me cold (yuk, yuk–get it?) Your fireside looks warm and inviting; your giraffe looks warm.
Trees and mud are the least of your worries when it comes to scarves Ms Twisted. Think “The dog” + “porridge” and add in a bit of “peanut butter” and that scarf might just need to be bullet proof…by the way, gorgeous peacock throw on the day bed but I am most curious about what is on the mat behind the day bed…its actually almost cold enough to contemplate lighting Brunhilda again but I am steadfastly refusing because “IT IS FEBRUARY THE HOTTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR!” and I am darned well not going to light the fire on the “HOTTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR” even if it is pretty darned cold. Love the sauce man. Got to love a man who dabbles in 2 day sauces. Just be thankful he hasn’t gone over to the dark side and wanted to make his own fish sauce. Now THAT is a “masterpiece” that requires a lot of patience on everyone’s behalf 😉
I have literally no idea what you were talking about in your post, all I remember is a giant giraffe with a scarf. (Have you read “the smartest giant in town”? ) I want a giant giraffe now! How am I going to explain that to my husband? But then in the world of democracy it will be 3 against 1 to get one… 🙂
Yes, the scarves are lovely, not to mention the giraffe, but that throw in the background! Mmmmmm
I love your Giraffe, I too have a Giraffe, time I dressed him up and showed him off to the blogworld. Um, scarves are great too.
Giraffe in a scafe LOVE it!
I got 17 inches of snow this past weekend. Feel free to come get as much as you like.