Pro's and Con's

Good Morning.....

If you are reading this in the UK...I hope you are not being battered to badly by the stormy weather...its chucking it down here!!

its such a shock to the system after the lovely crispy, frosty mornings...and it got me thinking about the pro's and con's of the winter...as you know I adore the Autumn and Winter...but there are some not so nice bits!...the field which we play ball with Puppy Dog on twice every day...is at the moment like a muddy rugby pitch...she comes home covered in mud from head to toe...but is a very happy puppy as playing ball is everything!!! So she has to be showered each time...she's very good just jumps into the bath...but oh its back breaking, not to mention the muddy wet towels and the mud splashes up the walls when we've been unable to stop a shake....and that got me thinking how much I dislike this part of winter...but when I started thinking what else I didn't like...the list wasn't very long...it really was just dog showering, muddy wet towels and having to have the heating on and using too much power hahaha....the things I love...such as the cold (I quite like being cold and getting snuggly warm again) the frosty mornings, the clear crisp skies, candles lit in the house, a roaring fire, snuggly blankets and my favourite...Christmas on the horizon! I even quite like the trees this time of year...I know they are bare...but the branches are beautiful I think...and they stand so majestic against the wind...and you can see what's been hidden, they tell a little story of who as nested there this year :)

I have been having a little search through my photos and I don't think I shared with you one of favourite purchases during our holidays this year....

not the chicken egg cup you've seen those before...but the egg! I like to use the egg cups as display and used to put fresh eggs in them...but I always forgot to use them up...but whilst on holiday I spied these in the National Trust Shop...I think they were a toy, they are rubber and I think they bounce...but they are so realistic and look just the part on the kitchen counter :)

So what crafty things have I been up to since my last post...

I've finished off a lovely pullover/poncho for the lovely little Freya...I so enjoyed doing this as its the first ever garment I have made...crocheted with chunky wool so its so lovely and warm :)

I've got two blankets on the go at the moment...the one is very boring to do...lots of small squares but I'm getting there 😁

I found this in the charity shop...I wasn't sure what it was at first and they didn't know either...but it was cast iron and only £1.50...so home it came with me 😀 after a bit of an internet search it turns out that its a spice rack...easy to see once you know...it had a little facelift and I've used it as a little seasonal display piece...

My favourite thing I have been doing is this....

I have been so inspired by the pictures on Pinterest of little red trucks in the snow with a tree on the back that I thought I would make some decorations of my own...some trucks from the charity shop...a tin of enamel paint and mini bottle brush Christmas trees and this was the result...I even made some little mini wreaths from clay...

I've now got the bug though....this is the latest convoy in waiting....😆

I'm hopefully going to do something like this with some of them....

I found this image on Pinterest...isn't it just so cute!!

I have another half finished project also...

a pile of wood I hear you say...yep it is at the moment and it has had one coat of paint so far...this is what has inspired me....

I just loved this idea...and it will be perfect to use at Christmas...I have limited counter space for a buffet so this will be perfect! Just hope mine turns out a lovely as this one...

There's a couple more photos from Pinterest which have caught my eye this week...

love this idea...

and a little stocking tree for those who don't have a fireplace or mantle...

So my next post...will be very Christmassy....well I reckon come December Christmas is fair game hahaha...

I received a very lovely parcel in the post this week...my eagerly awaited book which I pre-ordered back in the Summer...

as you may already know I'm a HUGE fan of Chip and JoJo....so looking forward to getting stuck into this book and I'm eagerly awaiting the new season of Fixer Upper too 😁

So I will leave you with my choice of vintage photo for this post...very apt for todays weather...

the Gaberdine Mack! I had a navy blue one for school...did you have one of these??

And the quote for this post....

a good little life plan I think....💖

 Until next time...have a great time...enjoy everything you do xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yuletide Post.... :)

Good Morning....and what a good morning it is...Hubby has gone to work for a little...so Christmas 24 is on the gogglebox :0)...its SUNNY!!!! and its COLDER!!!! at last...as I've said before I do not like this mild weather in Winter!

Christmas has now been and gone and we have the New Year celebrations to look forward too...but we must just have one more post about the Yuletide...

My mom found this little beauty in the charity shop...and knowing my love of rocking horses she couldn't leave him behind...and I'm so glad...he sits perfectly on my tree and I love him...I hope he is happy to be loved again and settled in his new position (I know I wont hurt you...I think everything has a soul...that's why I cant get rid of things ha ha)...

Christmas Eve began the start of the celebrations...cooking...cleaning...last few visits to deliver pressies etc....this is what my mind looked like...thankfully my kitchen didn't look this bad :)

I managed to get well ahead in the food preparation...which was good news as I can get frantic :)

The mince pie was a labour of love this year...cutting out individual leaves to make the lid...but I was really happy with the way it turned out...and with its very boozy mincemeat filling...yummy...

in fact...the last slice has just been smothered in extra thick double cream...and devoured...for my breakfast! ...don't you just love having to use the leftovers....ha ha

and the Pavlova...more fruit (to make it a little healthy!) and chocolate reindeers :)

The Big Day arrived....and who would of thought it...Santa really does read my blog!!!! I had posted earlier in the month that I would really like this watch...from the House of Florrie and look what I found under the tree!

I just love it..so pretty and comfy to wear...and it came with a little gift in the box.....

The prettiest lolly...encased inside is a little viola flower and a buttercup...its just to good to eat.... :)

I had lots of lovely presents...candles...scarves...toiletries...gorgeous new mugs...a new mini suitcase for the next holidays...and this cutest little fox to join the shelf....and some new crafty stuff which will be used in the New Year....I have a plan....

Our home is quite small so we don't have a dining table...we have a fold up table which comes out when we dine posh...hence why its against the wall in the photos...we have to pull it out and use the emergency chairs! :)

the best cutlery...new plates and glasses all added to the Christmassy look and the sparkly table runner...I fell in love with that in the shop and just HAD to have it!

Puppy Dog was dressed in her Christmas collar....

and had fun opening her own pressies...of which there were lots...she is so spoilt...not just by us but all the family and friends too :)

These were Hubby's present from me...I had them commissioned by Annabel Burton...they are just the most beautiful watercolour paintings of Puppy Dog and our other very sadly missed babies...the paintings are beautiful and these photos don't do them justice...(as I'm rubbish at photos...ha ha)

My daughter and her family were heading out for their Christmas Lunch...and our two grandsons just looked so cute...I asked permission from my daughter to let me include these photos...I'm sure they will make you smile as much as they did me...

our proper little Northern Boys...ey by gum missus! :))))

I have to say that it has been a busy old time...but lovely...but I have missed my hooky time...I picked up the hook for the first time in ages yesterday...and I much prefer this tin of rosy colours :)

sweetie wrapper colours for one of the new patchwork blankets in the making :)

Well that's the round up of this years Yuletide...I hope you have all had a wonderful time...we now have New Years resolutions to make...and keep...and break.... :)

I will leave you with a vintage photo...which is very apt for me...and hubby...he reckons the scales are broke!

All that's left to do is to wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Loving New Year...enjoy the celebrations with ones you love...see you in 2016! This is going to one of the things I'm taking into the New Year with me....xxxxxxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Home Christmassy Home....

Good Afternoon....a little late again with this weeks diary entry...but its been a busy week and a busy morning....the morning has been spent with my eldest Grandson....as we don't see him over the Christmas holidays he has an early Christmas with us...opens all his presents from us and has roast lunch...lovely :)

This week...as I promised myself last week...has been full of cleaning and then decorating for Christmas...I have absolutely loved...loved...loved this week! I am a great lover of lists...they motivate me...so I wrote my to do list and worked my way through it with gusto...and finally at the end of the week our decorations went up....we are now living in Santa's Grotto!!! ha ha....

The morning of the "going up of the tree"....I baked these....for breakfast....

which were devoured in a flash....in fact I baked six...so one went missing even before I'd managed to take the photo!!

Whilst I was in "domestic Goddess" mode...I also practiced the Pavlova we are having for Christmas lunch...I had never used the carton egg whites before so thought I had better try it out first...and I have to say its fantastic stuff...so much easier and less wasteful than using eggs...and then wondering what to do with yolks...

Now back to the main mission of the week....

a selection of the ornaments on the tree and the little cottage tea light...the crystal angels with Jake and Roxy written on them...are for our beautiful doggies that are now doggy angels sharing Christmas with us still....(sigh) I do so miss them still :(

decorations around the house...the bouncing robin...which Puppy Dog loves to nudge and make him bounce around...glittery stags (stags AND glitter!! can it get any better)...new little red tree...and my homemade floral decoration for the kitchen....

kitchen shelf with gorgeous figgy pudding candles (they smell amazing from Sainsburys)...Christmas cottage tea lights (from Morrisons) and my Cath Kidston salt & pepper dogs....

caught them kissing...no mistletoe either ha ha.....

even the eggs basket gets decorated...

love my new stag and the cut out tree...

even Buddha enters into the spirit of it all.... :)

this is a card I received last year...I loved it so I framed it up...

this photo is not mine (you can probably tell that from the quality...its professional...not at amateurish like mine ha ha) I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was too gorgeous not to share it with you....

On the craft front...I have finished the little dollies blanket and I have also since made a little pillow to match...

it will be winging its way to a certain adorable little miss...along with....a little poncho for her dolly...to match hers...

its just soooo cute!!! and so quick to make.... :)

The granny square blanket is almost joined together....

just three more squares to complete...then the border...which is this afternoons job...cosying with Puppy Dog watching Christmas films...its a dark, rainy, windy day...so nothing is better than that...with all the twinkly fairy lights on of course.... :) 

When this is finished...I will be starting on another two of the Patchwork Blankets that have been ordered....from the lovely lady who purchased from me last week...its been an absolute delight to make a new acquaintance...she sounds "right up my street" as we say around these parts :)...and all from crochet blankets :) I'm so looking forward to making more of these....

Well that's about it for this week....I'm ready for a cuppa...I'll leave you with a vintage photo....Christmas themed...of course!!!

an absolutely gorgeous little picture...made up from vintage pieces of costume jewellery...a really nice way to use up family pieces that have got broken...give them a new lease of life...

This weeks quote....

Have a great week....enjoy everything you do....xxxxxx