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.