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

KEEP CALM don't PANIC!!!!

Well Good Morning...yep its still morning...just checked....

Its sunny today!!! I cant tell you how sick and tired I am of this constant rain :(

I'm also a little worried about this warm weather we are having and the effect its going to have on Mother Nature....I've seen posts of blossom trees in full bloom...dandelions...and my honeysuckle is in full leaf again and producing flowers! I really don't like it at all...I like my winters and Christmas to look like this....

(photo taken from Pinterest)

On Friday it suddenly hit me that it was only a week till the big day!...and yes...I did feel VERY panicked....I have never been this laid back....and so not on top of everything...I've normally wrapped all the presents...the cards have all been delivered...food all bought...and list after list of everything else that needs to be done!...this year...the only things I have done are the lists ha ha.....

but I've got my butt into gear...Friday the Christmas cards were posted....yesterday the presents were wrapped....today...well I'm just going to do the shopping list...then watch Christmas Films until Hubby tells me to turn them off (if he dares ha ha)

I made my gift tags on Friday ready for the big wrapping up session....

I am so glad I purchased these little printing blocks earlier in the year...they have been so useful...I love them....

I did another practice run of Pavlova...and someone pinched the bowl off the sink while my back was turned...but she insisted it fell off and she didn't touch it..... :)

no mom I didn't lick the bowl...honest...

Crochet has been slow and steady but my granny square blanket is all finished...I love the colour combination...I'm going to save up my blankets and put them up for sale in my Etsy shop in the New Year....

Now that that blanket is finished...I will be starting on the order for two Patchwork ones...my work basket is brimming with colour...ready and waiting...

I have been looking at Christmas table settings this morning...but I think I have made my mind up what I'm doing already anyway...it will be an Art Deco theme...of course...as its my favourite :) I will hopefully be able to capture a photo of the table before it gets too messy :) I've got new placemats...plates and glasses...cant wait to set it up :)

I'm so glad I have been able to reign myself in a little this year and be a bit more relaxed about everything...this time last year I was quite poorly...in a lot of pain...feeling very low and depressed and wondered how the devil I was going to get through the holiday period...I already knew I had my consultants appointment early in the new year...and prayed that my operation wouldn't be too long after that...I think that was the only thing that got me through...this year has been very different...thankfully :)

This week I just thought I would share a few of my favourite Christmassy pictures from my Pinterest board...because by next week Christmas will be as far away again as it can be...the big day over and we'll be looking forward to New Year Celebrations...so I have to get these in while I've got the chance ha ha

I would so love ittle place as cute and as lovely as this to go and hide away with a snuggly blanket and a cuppa :)

the reindeers....

the cutest little crafted angel...

vintage print of the big guy.... :)

this weeks vintage(y) photo is something from my childhood...which I had one Christmas...but this really made me laugh...as its just how it is these days :))

Well all that's left for me to say this week...is...I hope you have the merriest of times...Santa brings you everything that you wish for...that you are able to relax (ha ha)...and you are surrounded by your loved ones and friends...

So Merry Christmas...I'll see you on the other side...have a great week...enjoy everything you do....xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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