Oi, there's a wind whipping through the village tonight that'd like to freeze my bones! Thank goodness for my woolen shawl and stockings! I'll need to start wearing my mittens from now on, too. And thank goodness as well for Master Tumunir keeping the wood pile up, so as I don't have to constantly run back and forth to the woodshed. It's awful nice to just walk into the house and get the fire going straight away. A sit by the flames is perfectly delicious when your cheeks are biting cold!
I've near finished all the knitting for Miss Lumina. I've kept everything tidy and in order so I don't lose track of any items. I want to get these things to her quick as I can, since it's become so blimming cold all of a sudden.
It's ten days now, until the supper party by these folks called Wainscot and Willow in the next village over. I've never heard of them, but then again, I'm still somewhat new to Knotwood myself, only having lived here half a year or so. I do think I'm going to go, whether it's alone or not. I think it were good for me to get out and visit Miss Piper's party and meet some new faces. Oi, but it's potluck! Whatever am I going to bring with me?
Oh, lands, you'll never guess what the "surprise" were from Missus Hopmead! Of course, she had to poke and tease me about Jerry a little when I first arrived. I didn't mind, really, as it felt like something a mother or aunt or gran might do, and I do so miss feeling that way. But I set her straight that he were just a friend for now and that's all he were going to be, far as I can tell, unless my heart says different. But that weren't the surprise anyway, here I am, babbling on about the wrong things.
I kept waiting for her to tell me what she'd wanted to see me about, and she kept acting like there weren't nothing to tell me at all. But I could see how much she were enjoying keeping me in suspense, her eyes were all twinkling, I swear on my life! I finally had to tell her I needed to get back home before it got dark, and suddenly she says, "Oh, before you go," and she walks into the pantry behind the kitchen. Then what does she come back out with? Only the tiniest ball of orange and white fluff that I'd ever seen in my life! She just plunked it into my hands and I could hardly breathe or hear what she were saying then. Something about their barn cat had a litter and this were the runt and the farmer's wife said it were too little to be any use catching mice but Missus Hopmead said she knew just the person who could use a little friend. I were so gobsmacked I couldn't talk. All I could think was how small and light and warm and soft it felt in my hands. It wiggled and squirmed and then tried to climb up the front of my dress and burrow under my hair. I noticed then that the little thing didn't seem to have a tail, it were just a little stump. Missus Hopmead said they think a dog or a fox must have gotten it. She said it made her think all the more that I were the right person to take it home, on account of my leg. It was all I could do by then to keep from crying like a baby.
Now I'm sitting here writing at my desk and this critter is curled up on a pillow that I put on the floor near the hearth. It's a girl. But I have no idea what to name her. I'm still in shock. I've hardly ever been given anything that might be called a present. I have the little bottle of gold flakes that Mister Dimheim gave me, but that seemed to be more like another one of his...I don't know what to call them...social convention type things. Not something given from the heart or out of love. Not only is this little kitten a present that was given with love from Missus Hopmead, but it's a living thing! It's not a trinket or something on a shelf, it's a life! Lands, my whole self trembles when I think of it. And she's so blessedly pretty! Half orange and half white. The orange is deep and dark and rich, like...well, I can't even think of what I'd compare it to. And then her little chin and chest and tummy and paws are like snow!
I'm sitting here trying to think of names and I'm fairly buzzing with excitement over it. I have a kitten! A pet! A friend. All mine to look after and love and protect. I won't be alone this winter.
