Getting to know thy neighbours..

 

Today I was cordially invited to the Lummelunda parish sewing circle. I have never, I mean never, attended a sewing circle in my whole life. All kinds of circles, yes, but no way near any with needles and yarn..

 

This was a great opportunity however, I figured, to get to know a bit of your community. These great ladies informed me - tongue in cheek - that the average age in the circle was about 82 years. (Made me feel so young!) I felt quite welcome in this jolly circle in spite of the fact that I hade informed them that I would never ever do any embroidery or sewing efforts whatsoever. I promised however, to do other kinds of charity work like to collect for the maintenance of our pretty church..

..and to help in raising funds for poor people in the Baltic state of Lettland. (One of our neighbouring countries in the Baltic deep in economic crises after the falling of the global financial markets..)

Pretty things they did these ladies..

 

Our parish vicar, Timo Viinikka, in a stylish golden west, paid a visit and helped himself to a piece of the yummy sandwich cake and talked about the forthcoming church auction.

"The porridge makers" ..
Well in time for Christmas - a typical Swedish theme in this piece of hanging tapestry..

A cross-stiched hedgehog - an animal quite common in Gotland. Not the cross-stiched type though.

Gunnel,  who grew up on the farm where I now live and has become a good friend of mine, is admiring a great piece of traditional embroidery on linen.

It was great to get to know these jolly ladies -  many of whom turned out to be related- with such a deep knowledge about their home district to share and I - the newcomer in the community - had a marvellous time - needles or no needles!