Finished

Christmas cake is finished

 Very simple handmade by me,
 I decided the smaller cake did not require a second topper. 

We have had a couple of quiet days at home, Friday I was in need of a restful day, we did walk to the village, and hubby treated us to lunch at Darcy's, but we were home for the rest of the day. Later we watched Gogglebox and The Graham Norton show, both I enjoyed for different reasons.
Saturday it was raining when we got up and I don't think it stopped all day, we did not venture out at all, there were points when the noise of the heavy rain was loud enough to stop us doing things to look out the window. This is not a moan, because believe me compared to the rest of the country, we got off lightly, no ice rain, no snow and very little storm Deidre. We are lucky as we do not have issues with flooding, even the most heavy rain is able to drain away, the garden is looking OK, hubby has been out to refill the bird feeders.
I have wrapped the few gifts we have here, whilst listening to Christmas music, I love all the old songs from the 50's, and adore all the Christmas songs from the sound track of The Gremlins.
We had a Chinese, cooked at home for tea last night as it was party time in our house, just hubby and I, we always have a Strictly final party.  I loved the result, but the standard of the dancing has been brilliant this year, so many people really wanted to make each week memorable. 
I have done loads on my ripple blanket, it's the perfect thing to be doing on a cold day, as I can snuggle as I am working, it's getting huge, I will soon be finished the 4th round of colours, I can't wait for this to be in use on our spare bed.
I have a bit of house work to do, Will is coming over with mummy and daddy later, so I need to ensure there are no cat hairs about.

Feeling festive

Sue asked how I cut the pretty edges of my cards, I use dies, these are just two I have, both purchased online from Wish, both from China and costing less than £3 each. I have purchased loads of dies from Wish, they are cheap, but in each case a £1 postage is added, as any orders are shipped as individual items. 

 Wednesday I went shopping with hubby, this bulb came home with me, we did not purchase many items, but enjoyed a wonder around the shops, plus a nice lunch. I did purchase a new winter coat, exactly what I was looking for and in a pre Christmas sale, but if it last as long as my previous coat I will be happy. 

 Hubby got me this as well

Thursday, youngest daughter picked me up early and we drove to Southampton for a girls shopping day, we found a car park for £5 all day (instead of just a couple hours), neither of us had anything to get, and enjoyed a lovely time together. Daughter looked in loads of clothes shops, I did get 2 pairs of trousers, they were perfect fit. I did get some special chocolates for Christmas day and a lovely tree decoration of an guardsman (hubby was a Welsh Guardsman for 12 years), it's now on our tree, hubby loved it. We had lunch at the German market and got a couple little trinkets.

I am really feeling festive, we get a few Christmas cards arriving, they are always fun to open, all my festive lights look good each evening, most are set to come on about 4ish and then go off just after 10, all the candles lit are the fake ones, so nice and safe here. I love to see all our decorations each year, they are like old friends visiting.
Daughter and I had a good look in John Lewis, but other than the guardsman for hubby, I passed on all the lovely decorations, I am so pleased with how the house looks.
Today we are both at home, no plans, will check all our list to ensure we have not forgotten anything.

Nothing much

Just a couple of my home made cards, I am loving these pretty cut edges, and using the shiny card. All the cards have been posted, I forgot to take photo's, these are just a couple I have left over. 

 Single rose from our garden

 It has opened from a small bud, 

I went to our sign class Christmas nativity yesterday, followed by a lunch made by our teacher, and some fun afterwards, plus a secret Santa. The day was very enjoyable, I don't have any photo's but we have been sent the video of our performance. It's so much fun together, we all have different abilities, but we all work together, Shelia who put us all together is a saint, she makes everything we do fun, and the signs just stick in my mind. We have finished until 8th Jan, with no homework, but I hope to be able to find some time to read my notes.
At home we have very little to do, Christmas list are all in order, most things are sorted, just final shopping for fresh items. Christmas dinner is for 6 people here, so not to huge, but big enough to make it look a feast. I do have the Christmas cake to finish, it should be done next week.
The garden is looking after it's self, the leaves have finished falling, I love to see the bare branches, and the shape of the tree, at this time of year.
Hubby is out this morning, so I am going to walk to our local market, it is tiny, but the village is always busy, won't take long. Late we are going to look for a new bedroom clock, ours has broken, and we do like to see the time when we wake up.
It is lovely to have a couple of days without rain, and I am loving the colder weather, it's now feeling correct for December, we have had crazy weather this year.

Colouring our world.

All the colours

 2nd ball of each colour

I have finished my 2nd 5th of the blanket, so I have used each colour at least twice, I have used white and black more, as I have extra balls of both. I purchased 2 balls of each colour, I worked out that would be enough, plus I had some left over from the blanket I sold to my sister, in the basket is the last of the yarn from the 1st ball, once these have been used I will start on the 2nd ball in the net bag.
This blanket is again random and different than the last rippled blanket, even thou they are made using the same colours,  I do not plan too many colours in advance, I just decide what colour looks good next to the one finished and work from there, keeping an eye on what I have done so far to ensure I don't repeat myself.
This blanket is getting heavy and with the milder days I am very warm whilst working on it. As it gets colder it won't be any problem.
Both hubby and I love how it looks on our spare bed, it is just the burst of colour I wanted for the room, I have an African theme going on, with loads we have purchased whilst on holiday in Africa, and with the yellow walls and the deep red painted on the window wall, the colours only enhance the look I am wanting.
My cat Grace is a lap cat, but I don't allow her to sit on my work, so I am getting boggy looks from her, but she does have a warm cosy basket to sleep in.
This is a pure form of enjoyment, I can do loads whilst hubby is reading or watching TV, on the downside, I am not reading too much.

Home made Christmas

This card was made in bulk, well 12 cards in all, one for everyone who attends our sign classes, I love the statement A snowflake is a winters butterfly. The message inside the card is Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, using fingerspelling. Each card was slightly different, the snowflakes are different and placed randomly. 

I have decorated the spare room for my brother, this was purchased last year. He will arrive a few days before Christmas.

 I have read a few post where bloggers are sorting their saving pot, our pot is only half full, we don't have so much change as we don't go shopping so much. We have decided to leave this pot until it is full, probably, this time next year.  

I have made more cards, I try and make most of the cards we send, I have enjoyed making each one different, using cards from last year, and my new dies purchased, plus I had the lovely thicker card purchased on Black Friday.
My Christmas cake has the marzipan layer on, I will top ice soon, I have not as yet made the rest of the top decorations, but I do know what I am making.  Daughter took her cake home, she will marzipan her's this weekend.  It is pleasing to see she is interested in using my recipe and following my instructions and has suggested she bake her own next year.
Hubby received again this year £50 of Co-op vouchers from his old company, we are never sure if this will happen every year, but it's a bonus to get them. We recently changed energy supplier and received another £50 of Co-op vouchers as part of the deal, Co-op is not the cheapest place to shop, but it's local for all the fresh items, and shopping in the village is less stressful at this time of year.
We have most of what we require, the freezer is full as is the food cupboards, we are hoping to avoid the mad frenzy of the next few weeks.  Grandsons again this year will have money for them to choose what they want, not the best, but helps us stay within budget, and they love to spend in the January sales.
I am a list maker, and it's pleasing to note most items on the list have a tick beside them, hubby has been helping this year, not sure how much he has enjoyed it, but having his input is good.

Early December

Amaryllis

Our very confused tree, very few leaves left on the branches, 

but loads of buds.

Fabric purchase

 Will's boots which light up as he walks

Monday was fun with Will, he is such a happy little boy, we had two train sets out, he loves them as much as cars. My neighbour gave me loads of wooden track and trains, her grandson has outgrown them. Later we popped outside, Will is very good at picking up leaves, he had time on his sit on truck around the garden as hubby filled all the bird feeders.
The fabric was purchased on Sunday, the hungry caterpillar will be made into a bag for the train sets, the robins I loved but no idea what I will use it for, the cost has been added to my stash list. 
Tuesday was sign class, I am almost there with my lines for the play, just one bit I need to practice, it's fun when we have a project to do. Later we popped to Lidl for a few things, it's close by, hubby loves their fish cakes, plus we got veg for soups.  We managed to get some washing on the line, it was a sunny day after a frosty start, we wanted to make the most of the only dry day forecast.
Today I have the dentist and then a funeral, I'm not going to the wake. I also want to finish my Christmas cards, it's getting to the point where we need to post them.

Christmas has arrived

I am pagan, I love all the mixed berries, ivy and trees, plus loads of candles everywhere, most of the candles are fake, but these days they look so real.
I had to get all my Christmas boxes out myself this year, hubby still not allowed to lift, luckily when our bedroom was built in our attic/loft space they left storage room on the same level, so I only had to pull things through a small door rather than the normal hole in the ceiling. BUT still I have far too  much, I did pass loads to the charity shop a couple of years ago, again this year I have not put everything out. I have 4 sets of tree lights?? why, one set is new purchased last year in the sales, just in case my set refuse to light.
The bottom photo, is me using one of the huge lower branches from the tree, with loads of other silk branches, with lights, makes this corner brighter.
Normally this time of year I do my 12 days of Christmas, where I find 12 items to send to the charity shop, but this year I am changing and my 12 days of Christmas is going to be 12 acts of kindness, all done in December. I will keep a note and list them when all are done.
Will slept over on Saturday night, so the tree was up before he came, he was wide eyed and very excited, but has not touched anything, even our singing Santa on the motorbike, he does ask for him to sing, you can see him here.
Sunday morning we walked to our local community center for their Christmas fayre, where Will found 5 trees, we did not take him to see Santa, mummy and daddy get to do that the 1st time. We are having Will today so every thing is back to normal.
Has it stopped raining where you are, I can't remember the last time we had this much rain, which is very good for our water table, It's so mild as well, nights still feel too warm with our winter quilt on.

Terrific Thursday

Afternoon tea at a Spa day

 Hot tub outside

I was asked by hubby to keep Thursday clear, we were going out, I have no problems with that. Wednesday evening I was told I had to be at daughters by 9am  Thursday morning, on my own, so not a nice meal with hubby. I arrived at my daughters, she asked if I had my costume, nope, so I borrowed one of her's. Daughter drove us to Hilton Hotel, next to Ageas Bowl cricket ground, near Southampton. Hubby had paid for both of us to have a spa day as a thank you for our love and care of him.
So whilst most of the country struggled with horrible weather yesterday, daughter and I were in luxury, the spa is one of the best I have been to (in our price range), we both had a back, shoulder and neck massage, without any issues for me, I have a nut allergy and can't use loads of the oils they have, not an issue for them. Lunch was afternoon tea with prosecco.
Hubby had a quiet day at home, cooked a simple lovely meal for dinner, just a perfect day.
I finished reading another book in the Roy Grace series, Dead if you don't, the opening chapter was suggesting it might be a bit gory for me, I kept going and it was another great book.

Just a perfect day 

November round up

I'm happy with this total, buying the card last week  took it much higher than expected, but I don't like making flimsy cards. 

My stash spending this year is much higher than previous years, but on checking, most of the extra spend has been on yarn, which is a hobby I am doing more this year.
I purchased some trousers this month, I am fed up with wearing jeans everyday, whilst at home they are OK, but it's nice to dress smarter when out. I also got a nice pair for Christmas day, these purchases bring my total spend on clothes to £102.75, which should be the total for this year, as I have no plans or requirement to purchase anything else. Another month with any footwear purchased, I am on target to go the whole year without any new footwear.
My Christmas dec's total so far is £17.98, again I don't expect to purchase anything else, the 4 items I got were just too pretty for me to not get them.

 My book arrived, for the 1st time no cross stitch on the cover. 

8 books from my blog

Another month and I am pleased with my spending, I have no intention to save money, it's just interesting to know where mine is going. The shoe and clothes target, was necessary as I still have far to many of both, but at the same time, purchasing my new trousers this month, brought back the real enjoyment of adding something to my wardrobe, rather than just seeing something and wanting it. I will be setting myself low spends for both next year.
I do need a new winter warm coat, my long coat was purchased in 2010 and my red jacket is older than that, but I will only replace them if I can find good quality in the styles I like in January sales. 
I am really pleased with my 2017 book, I have read through it and as always I have found one tiny issue, just a silly thing I missed, it has happened in almost every one of my books.

Sunny day outside

Amaryllis time again

 Unexpected flowers on this African violet,
lives on my kitchen window sill

 Still loads of colour in the garden 

 Greenhouse cacti and succulents 

 Carnivorous plants loving the sunshine
these work well in the greenhouse.

 Almost done with the leaves

These photo's were taken on Monday, before the rains came, I spent an hour outside enjoying the sunshine. I am pleased to see so much colour in the garden, my geraniums planted in the back bed has flowered for months, the bright pink is an extra bonus to see each day.  I have a few extra pots on the decking, filled with my birthday bulbs, once these  have flowered in the spring I will add them to my side garden, I would rather grow them this way than try and plant into hard ground in November.
An hour in the greenhouse, where it's really warm, I have not added any coverings to plants as I want them to have as much sunshine as possible, and this is the sunniest spot in my garden.
The bird feeders are now the busiest part of our garden, we both love to watch the different birds who visit to feed. We have managed to keep the huge wood pigeons away, they can clear a feeder very quickly, we do throw seed onto the garage roof for them. We regularly see two squirrels at their nut feeder, they too stay away from the bird feeders, so a happy balance. Hubby has put bait boxes back down in the back corner, not sure what is coming into our garden, but our cat Purdy is down that end watching all the time, a sure sign something is coming into our garden. 
Daughter did not have time to pop in for making Santa on Tuesday, so we have agreed to make them on Friday. Sign class was good, we are doing our own version of a Christmas nativity, it is helping us put together longer sentences, each one has a twist in which is funny, plus we are going to wear costumes and be videoed.

Weekend

This is the first 5th of this blanket, I am truly happy with the size, it will cover this bed as I wanted. I have enough yarn to repeat these colours another four times. I have put all the balls of yarn from my bag back in the basket to use them again.

 Up close

I love this yarn, it feels good to use, it drapes well and is soo soft. 

Saturday I took both Josh and Sam out for a pub lunch, just the 3 of us, we then drove to Lee-on-Sea, but is was wet, so they used all my spare cash in the amusement arcade, younger brother Sam won loads on one machine, shared his winning with Josh and enjoyed their gaming time. Later the boys enjoyed ice-cream, whilst I had a coffee. A really wonderful afternoon. 

Sunday was a sunny day, so after my morning pop into blogland, I wrapped up warm and spent time in the garden, I picked up all the huge leaves, another big bag, then a quick tidy around, I'm now pleased everywhere looks good.
PS, leaves everywhere again this morning, I will pick them up later, the best thing is our tree is almost empty.
Later we finished our shopping list for Asda, we already have most of the chocolates and biscuits we require, I have been picking them up when I see them on offer and hiding them away. Soon we will drive to a huge out of town branch to walk around. We do not intent to visit another huge supermarket this year.

Rudolf

My 1st attempt of a sugar reindeer

 With daughters reindeer

 Santa to make

Thursday was fun making the above reindeer, both younger daughter and I enjoyed the session, we plan to make santa here next Tuesday. The rest of the day I sat with my crochet hook and rippled, whilst hubby watched a movie.
Friday we had another lazy morning, I did a bit of housework, again just cleaning the middle of the rooms, and laundry was done, so I have a pile of ironing, which I am ignoring.
Late morning daughter and Will came over, we walked to the local village and had lunch at Darcy's, a nice treat, Will enjoyed a toasted ham and cheese sandwich, and waved at everyone in the bistro.  After a quick walk around the precinct we started to walk home, the Turkish barber hubby uses was empty, so we popped in and Will had his 1st hair cut, only the back and sides which had got long, for his 1st time in the big chair he was really good, and hubby's barber was so good with him, no tears and Will was given his 1st every lollypop for being a good boy. The barber would not take payment, he said the 1st haircut is always free, how wonderful, Will's daddy was so pleased all went well, the previous weekend they took him to a children's barber, but it was chaos in there so they came away.  Will managed to walk the whole way home, another 1st, going to the village without a pushchair.
After daughter and Will went home, I did more to make my Christmas cards, I have 10 to make for the sign class, I wanted them to reflect sign language, so on the inside page I have printed the greeting in BSL finger spelling.
I did make another purchase for Black Friday, my good quality card stock is getting low on some colours, so I went on Create and Craft and purchased 3 packs, they were on special 3 for 2, and the postage was capped at £2.99, I was good and did not look at their other offers.
Today it is dull and wet, I am off out to lunch later, just me, hubby is staying in the warm.  No plans for later, just an evening in together, my ripple blanket is growing huge and it's very warm over my lap whilst I am making it.
Tomorrow I have the biggest pile of leaves to pick up, the tree is almost empty, and I have not been out there since Monday, but the weather is promised to be dry, which is enough for me, nothing much else to do, I don't cut back the plants in my side bed, I leave them for the birds. I can always sppend an hour in my greenhouse.

Normal things

I just had to share this image of Will, 

such a happy face on a recent day out with mummy and daddy. 

Will's first nursery photo

 More sock yarn

Tuesday I got the email for Black Friday discounts from Blurb, 50% off, so my book has been ordered, I always have a good hardback cover with pictures printed on the front, heavy duty photo quality pages and white first and last pages, all these cost extra, but with the discount, I still pay less than the basic book. Now I wait for it to arrive and I import 2018 onto my book template on my computer. 
Sign class went well, we have learnt how to sign The 12 days of Christmas, which is huge fun, a few years ago I sat and watched a group signing to Christmas songs in our local shopping center, I was really moved by the sight and from that point I knew I wanted to learn sign language. 
Wednesday my yarn order arrived, with added sock yarn, I wanted more shades I could use for simple socks, another pair for hubby if he likes his first pair, it's a brand I have not used before, but it does feel so soft. So if I have worked everything out correct, I now have enough to finish my bigger ripple blanket
This week feels so calm and normal, just a simple build to Christmas, we have purchased the few presents we give, and are building a shopping list for Asda next week. 
I have been to a class to learn how to make sugar icing toppers for our Christmas cake, I will post photo's next time, it was fun daughter and I finished a reindeer and have a santa to make.