CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!

When we were on holiday in October we bandied around lots of ideas to improve our home in the new year.

When we got back home, we started looking around, getting more ideas. The chimney sweep came and while he was sweeping and I was nattering on about our plans he recommended someone to change our fire and fire place. We got rather carried away and decided how nice it would be to have the fire in place for christmas so that was the catalyst that started the ball rolling.

Then came the ceilings, ,landing, hallway, lounge and dining room all plastered, followed by the flooring and then in the last couple of weeks, finally painting the walls.

Hence no blog, lots of mess, no furniture in its right place and christmas in orbit.

At one stage I didn't think we'd ever be straight again!

These hats are the only things to have come off my needles, one each for my granddaughters.

Despite making a defiant statement that I wouldn't be making Christmas cakes this year.- I did!

I had 3 little helpers round to decorate the cakes and we enjoyed a morning of icing sugar mayhem!

With the lounge decor in mind we went out the other day to buy a rug and came home with a rug and a new fairy for a tree that at the time was still propped up outside by the garage door.

Would it ever make it inside in time?

Well, yes it did!

And,

with the lounge finally finished we were able to put our fairy and our tree in place.

It's been all rush here this last month or so,  but  so worth it!

As we head towards a new year, I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with my family.

Then after I'll be itching to start something new whether it will be knitting or crochet, I have yet to decide.

Thank you for dropping by my blog this year and reading through my ramblings.

Merry Christmas to you all!

READY OR NOT, CHRISTMAS IS HERE!

The garland is made!

The cakes, decorated!

And the socks, well they are finished too!

Thank you for reading my blog this year.

Happy Christmas to you all!

A FIRST ANNIVERSARY!

I can't believe that a year has passed since these four little ladies made an entrance.

 A year ago the day never brightened, the clouds were grey and heavy and the rain fell continuously. Very much, like yesterday!

Despite the weather, the day was perfect in every way.

The venue was adorned with beautiful decorations and was very festive.

The cake looked and was indeed splendid.

I've included this picture because although we are celebrating a very special anniversary, our very good friend and neighbour who made and decorated the cake passed away during the year, unexpectedly.

She was a very talented lady and I think she would be pleased to know that Peter is now eating the top tier which she made especially for him as he is partial to fruit cake!

So our daughter Kate and her husband Peter celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary today.

Congratulations to them both!

A little ps - I'm still knitting the sock!

A WEEKEND IN THE LIFE OF SUPERGRAN

As the weekend slowly comes to an end, here it has been hectic, full of surprises and great excitement.

The little bridesmaid dolls are finished,  all dressed in their finery and ready to go to the wedding. 

I am so pleased with them and will definitely post another photo on my blog after the wedding. I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Charlotte and Jessica came for a sleepover on Friday night so it was an ideal time for them to decorate their Christmas cake. I really did leave them and the tree cutter to their own creative devices. This is what they came up with, which though I may be biased as I'm their Granny, I think deserves top marks. 

Top marks also for Grandad, I must add, who cleaned up the entire kitchen afterwards while I put both children in the bath to wash off excess icing sugar and green icing.

Saturday after finishing the last of the Christmas shopping Michael and I decorated the tree. I have tried not to buy any new decorations this year in fact, I disposed of quite a few that have been lingering in the loft for a few years. However I did succumb to making one purchase, a new fairy. She looks very elegant and my daughter in law noticed her as soon as she came in today, I was very impressed!

Much excitement today, Charlotte and Jessica were told that they're off to Eurodisney first thing tomorrow for a few days. (They will be back in plenty of time for the wedding!) 

While Grandad is driving them all to a hotel in London for the night, I'm here supposedly finishing off the Christmas present wrapping. 

Just one job to do before they go, print photos of rainbow bear and rosie bear for their passports.

They're off to Eurodisney too!

FEELING FESTIVE

 I've definitely tried today to get into the festive mood!

As I hadn't much to do today I took the opportunity to decorate our christmas tree.

Now having written about the pro's and con's of buying a tree in my last post I felt I must tell you about my own experience.

Heading towards the garden centre last Friday we could see in the distance some most peculiar coloured clouds and  so at the very point of reaching the huge choice of trees, the heavens' opened and we were caught in the middle of a hail storm.

Michael held the first tree up and said "This one?" I shook the hail from my hair and said "Oh no!"

"This one?" he asked as I run for cover. "Oh yes that one looks perfect. Let's get it!"

Not realising until we got home that it's trunk is somewhat deformed and my poor husband had a hell of a job trying to get it in the pot in such a way that it doesn't notice.

Anyway here it is looking very festive.

I've really tried to stick to colour schemes this year, so we have gold in the lounge, silver in the dining room and red in the hall.

So now at 5pm I'm pooped and decorated out. I've been up and done the loft ladder so many times, do I have a need for a gym membership?

Coupled also with the constant drone of the dehumidifier drying my kitchen and the heat its giving off, I really think a cuppa is now the order of the day and then I'll tackle the ironing and cook dinner.

FINDING THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE!

Why is it so hard to choose the perfect christmas tree?

Yesterday as Michael and I stood in our local garden centre surrounded by hundreds of trees I noted the usual conversations between men and women.

Man - "This one?"

Woman - "Too small!"

Man - "This one?"

Woman - "Too big!"

Man - "This one?"

Woman - "Too bushy at the bottom!"

Man - "This one?"

Woman - "Not bushy enough!"

Man - "This one?"

Woman - "No, can't you see it's lopsided!"

Woman - "This one?"

Man - "Too expensive!"

Michael said, "shall we get our tree today?"

I sighed and said, "No, I think it's best we leave it 'till next week, don't you?"

Other than the christmas tree, I have made a good effort this weekend with my christmas preparations. 

I've purchased the marzipan and icing for the cakes. I've made sausage rolls and mince pies, now in the freezer and I've written my first christmas card.

Needed to get myself organised, part of my kitchen is being ripped out tomorrow. However only a small part, hopefully.  I've got everything crossed as I write.

All repair work to the cupboards and flooring will take place in January. 

Joy of joys!!