Lazy Sunday

It's been a lovely day today, just pottering around, set off to have a wander in the local garden centre and maybe find some little succulents for my kitchen windowsill. Imogen stayed at home, groaning about why old people like garden centres... cheeky little miss, we're not old people and I've always been rather fond of these places with all their different departments, plants, gifts, small animals, furniture and a place for a nice cup of tea.

It's a lovely drive, there are masses of wildflowers growing in many of the grass verges along the road sides. I've noticed them throughout the city and they're a pleasure to see.

We were surprised when we arrived to see lots of Christmas displays. They are still busy putting more out and there's still quite a bit of space to be filled. We could see where Father Christmas' grotto is going to be and are looking forward to taking Zack a bit closer to Christmas, not that I think it'll really mean anything to him this year.

There were lots of displays and decorations with the theme of pink and white, quite pretty.

I liked these Father Christmas figures and the girls with their long swinging legs.

More trees

I found some baby succulents in tiny little pots, so repotted them for the kitchen when we arrived home just after peeling all the veg and potatoes for our Sunday dinner.

Just the thing for this chilly day, a nice hot roast chicken dinner with steaming hot gravy, it was delicious. After dinner, Imogen filled the dishwasher while Andrew stripped the chicken carcass for the dogs to enjoy their chicken dinner too.

With my cup of tea, I went to sit down with my crochet. I started this a while ago, but it was set aside while I continued with other projects (always so many things on the go). With the turn in the weather it's quite nice to have the weight of the blanket over my knees. I'm enjoying using different colours and stitches. Here it is folded in half.

Oh I shall have so many ends to sew in, I have to face facts, I'll never be a stitching in as I go person.

I'm going to watch the Strictly results now and the last part of Vanity Fair tonight. There's been lots of good dramas on recently, my favourite being Killing Eve. It's showing on BBC1 at the moment, but we watched it on Iplayer, kept up a really good pace, definitely recommend.


Take care
xxx

Post Christmas

I hope everyone was able to enjoy their Christmas and welcome the new year in with joy and happiness. We're still enjoying the school holidays here as the new term doesn't start until Tuesday, but the trees and decorations were safely packed and put away last weekend.

Here's our little Christmas grandson, filling us full of happiness

He looked rather dapper on Christmas day itself although I think he found the whole business rather overwhelming.

I'm trying to get back into my crafting groove, there're so many things I'd like to do. I have a few kits that were gifts with magazines that need to be used. As I'm also trying to declutter (well, a bit), it seemed a good idea to start using things up. Here's a cute doggy keyring.

This one wasn't from a magazine, it's a little feltie bear I've made into a brooch.

We're ready to establish a routine again... helps me remember which day of the week it is... our little charge is back with us again for a full day on Tuesday and it's Andrew's birthday on Wednesday, everything back to normal again.

Hoping everyone is happy and healthy and 2018 is a wonderful year for everyone.


Take care
xxx

Is it Nearly Christmas?

I can't believe we're just a few days away from Christmas, I just don't seem able to find my Christmas Spirit this year. I've been quite organised, cards were written and posted early on, presents are always bought over a few months, but they've all been wrapped for a while. Normally the tree and decorations go up at the beginning of December, but this year we waited a bit, not feeling the excitement we used to. I wonder if it's because Imogen is 15 now, no more putting reindeer food out or excitedly writing lists to Father Christmas?

We do have our first grandchild, which is the most wonderful thing to happen, but at 4 months old, he doesn't know it's Christmas! I'm hoping we'll be spending some time tomorrow with Zackary and Izzy, Izzy is 8 so a lovely age, full of excitement and I'm hoping some will rub off on me.

The tree in the dining room

Imogen has finished school today for the Christmas holiday so that's rather lovely. We're planning to do some baking together tomorrow and I'm sure we'll play some festive music at the same time.

I've finished Zack's quilt. It's very soft and will be just the thing to have under him when he lays on the floor.

The background is brushed cotton, so feels really nice against the skin.

If all that isn't enough to put me in a Christmas mood, I do have this beautiful photo my son sent me... a real life little Christmas elf...

Have a wonderful, safe, happy and healthy Christmas

Take care
xxx

Over 25 Years in the Making!

Hasn't it turned really cold, time to start wearing bed socks on a night time, blanket over my knees in an evening, bit surprised by the snow during the week! We're planning to put the tree up next weekend and Imogen has started  opening her advent calendar (Imogen has a chocolate one and we bought Izzy a lego one). I think I've finished my Christmas present shopping and I just need to get some more paper and do the wrapping up. The television is full of Christmas adverts and Imogen has been doing Christmas parties at work.... there's no escaping it, Christmas is just around the corner...

I finished Izzy's bunting, I quite enjoyed sitting and hand stitching her name on it. Just needs to be wrapped up now.

I've sewn pompom ribbon down the sides of the first and last pieces, but it's hard to see from the photo.

I've also started sewing together some decorations I've die cut from felt, this one's from some sparkly red felt I had.

I should explain the reason for the title of this post. I started making my son (who is now 29) this little latch hook dinosaur rug when he was only a toddler. I don't know what happened, he was probably too old for it when I picked it up after leaving it for a while. Anyway, it's been aired out and finished off and as Adam is perhaps a bit too old for it now, I shall give to to my grandson, Adam's son instead so it may have taken over 25 years to finish off, but will at least be going to a good home now!

Are you getting in the Christmas spirit or has it crept up on you too (doesn't seem that long since last Christmas)?


Take care
xxx

Ben Hur and Doggie Treats

We had a lovely relaxing weekend and I think we're now coming through the other side of this horrible cough/virus that has knocked us both (and I believe much of the country) sideways for the last couple of weeks. When I spoke to Adam (my lovely son) during the week, we recommended he didn't come for dinner this weekend. I do really look forward to seeing him every week and we'd cancelled last week too, but we didn't want to pass our nasty germs to him and his pregnant girlfriend.
Imogen had made plans with friends so it left just the 2 of us and we decided to settle down and watch a film together.

I'm a great fan of the 1959 Ben Hur film, I've been brought up on it (I believe it's shown on TV at least once a year if not more) and it stars the rather fabulous Charlton Heston who I always thought was rather lovely.

When I heard the film was being remade, I wasn't very enthusiastic, why fix something that isn't broken, could it be any better? Then when the film was released in the summer, the critics were not really very complimentary and I think it was a bit of a flop at the box office.

We were going to give it a miss, but it was a quiet Sunday afternoon and we wanted something to watch that wouldn't take a lot of thought. So, with no expectations we sat back with some chocolates left from Christmas and I have to say...  thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon!

I would definitely recommend it. I don't know the original story only, as I mentioned, the earlier film, but it seemed to tell it's story just as well with some of the more drawn out parts being omitted. I felt we got to know the main characters and could empathise with them. The famous chariot scenes were still there

I had no complaints about the acting and felt the overall story had a message about forgiveness that wasn't in the earlier film.

I understand that one of the reasons the film flopped was because it didn't really attract the under 25 bracket. I think that's a shame, it was full of action with a good story and even a message. It felt very different from the Heston film and I think needs to be seen as something different. When it finished, Andy and I both felt we'd just watched a good film... one to recommend!

While we kicked back and had our lazy Sunday afternoon, our 3 dogs kicked back with us enjoying a nice treat before curling up in the warm for a cosy sleep.

Are you looking at me?

Take care
xxx

12 Days of Christmas Swap

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments on my last post, it's so wonderful to be able to share this special news and my excitement with you all.

Unfortunately I'm still ill and now my poor husband has caught it too. We sound like a right pair coughing and groaning, I'm expecting someone to ring a bell outside while shouting 'unclean, unclean'. I'm pleased say that our sweet daughter has recovered after bringing these germs into the house and is back at school. This is the second time that Imogen has been ill in the school holidays and passed it on. It always seems to knock me for six so I've told her I plan to wear face masks during her next illness!

I took part in Jo's (Through the Keyhole) 12 days of Christmas swap again this year. I was paired with Jo from Angel Jem's City Cottage. I already read Jo's blog so it was fun to go and look for swap presents for her and to make some too.

I made Jo a felt angel and a couple of brooches

I tried to use angels and hygge as my inspiration.

In return, Jo sent me a lovely parcel, which was put away to help me resist any temptation so I could enjoy opening a gift each evening. So many lovely things...

My daughter has claimed the Snowbites!

We love playing family games, so this card quiz was a hit

Such cute little salt and pepper dogs, I love them, some cross stitch to keep me busy and a lovely Christmas embroidery by Jo.

What a cute scrubbing brush! I love, love, love the coaster, what a thoughtful gift.

Thank you Jo for the lovely gifts, I really enjoyed opening them. Thank you to Through the Keyhole Jo for organising this brilliant swap again.

Take care
xxx