A lovely Christmas...

... here, no colds this year but the tummy was troubled and so I didn't indulge as much as usual. Don't know what it was but I had this pain in the back too which wasn't backache and made me tired. But we had a nice day which started with a walk to the park in the snow.


You can view a series of photos here

Biddle had a brand new ribbon and Grace had a new dress. I did not make it but got a £3 bargain at Matalan.


I had some brilliant gifts all of the were elephant or craft related (or both) including this nice dangle


I can now show gifts that I made. The secret keeper was for my sister and I thought I had photos of her finished but haven't so this is it


She didn't get wrapped with an orange pin in her shawl. I am hoping Angela will be able to send me some other photographs. I made this cat hanging for Libby. I was so pleased with the result. I have had the fabric in my stash for a while


I have posted everything that I have made this year here

The weather has been far too snowy to do any work at the allotment and it does not look too good for the beginning of the new year.

I am not into celebrating on new Year's eve but have a good night if you do.

Many thanks to everyone who has visited over the year especially if you leave a comment.

snow snowmen and Grace's new clothes

I can now show what was up for grabs as my blogoversary gift. Soggibottom has display her winnings beautifully
On Sunday was a special day for John and me. We have now been together for 20 years. It doesn't seem that long and we have done such a lot in that time. He is my best friend and the love of my life and I made him these owls. Originally I made just the large one but then decided to use the rest of the fabric to make the set.

We have had snow since the end of last week

John could do no work on the allotment but took some photos



The birds have needed their food topped up everyday and this blackbird spent about five minutes eating and only left because loads of sparrows turned up.


I bought three little snowmen at the weekend to add to the collection, two are on springs but one of them seems to have his feet on the wrong way. I did not notice at the time because the assistant got him from the stock cupboard but he looks quirky.


Grace is a happy bear she now has a jumper made from her birthday stash


I made her a skirt too


At the moment I am knitting a jumper for Iggy a very cold troll belonging to my sister. And Biddle has requested a red and green jumper. He did realise it would not be ready to wear over Christmas.

Today I will read the final chapter in the final book of the Deverry Series (see side bar) I am reluctant to do it.

This is the final blog before Christmas. Between Christmas and New Year I can reveal the secret sewing I have done.

Happy Christmas to everyone and thanks for stopping by.

wrecked tree ,bad puss

All my tree decorating efforts were wrecked last night by a very naughty puss. She had only just been allowed in the front room. I had the door shut all day and just opened it when John came in from work! No pictures of the tree lying on the ground but here is the debris.



I have had cats for over forty years and none of them have ever pulled the tree over. They are usually content with patting a few baubles. We think Tia must have got a claw caught. Well I have managed to put it all back together again. I did think I would have to start from scratch but once it was put back in place did not look as bad as I first thought so here is the new version.


She looks totally innocent now

sitting on her chair in the kitchen being warmed by the gas fire.

The school term finishes tomorrow, though I haven't worked this week. I am pleased with what I have done and although the future for supply does not look great I have some work coming in next term.

This week again has involved secret making but just to prove I have done something here is an update on Grace's jumper


The weather has stayed cold and we have a few flakes of snow but it looks like the main lots will miss us as usual.

I hope to post again before Christmas but incase I don't I wish you all a Happy Christmas and thank you for coming by.

Busy Biddle

Biddle has been busy this week. He has worked hard with John at the allotment As you can see they now have a defined growing area and we are looking forward to the planting season.





This morning he checked the blogoversary comments and noted that there were seven comments from six people ( one person had commented twice). So he has written the numbers 1-6 on pieces of paper and picked the winner. number and name was allocated in the order they posted


The winner is soggibottom

congratulations. I shall parcel up your little surprise and all I need now is an address to send it too. I will post a picture of the prize when it has been received.

The tree is now decorated and our front room looks very Christmassy



The ceiling daggly bits will be put up at the weekend.

I have had a quiet week, most of my making has been secrets so cannot be shown yet. But I have knitted some of Grace's jumper. I don't know it it will be ready for Christmas Day but Grace usually prefers red.

I have been having a bit of a tidy in the yard. The frost finished off the nasturtiums at the end of November and this is how the have ended up


A cold wet soggy pile! Under the bench needs a bit of work but that is for another day because my fingers were too numb to carry on



There is still a little colour left.


Thank you for stopping by.

December is here again

Where did the year go? Time to get out the tree and decorations once more. We decorate early. This is a tradition that goes back to when my children were small. The rule was that the tree could not go up before Oliver's birthday ( our then cat). He was bought from the pet shop December 6th 1982. Elizabeth was 5 and at school where she discovered some of her friends' trees were up at the end of November. Well this rule has stuck and so this week end I will put up the tree. I love decorating and I am very selfish about it, John gets to climb the ladder and pin up the dangly bits. This year it has a new position in our front room because earlier this year John moved his computer to the tree's traditional spot. I don't think it will mind. The decorations can now look across the room and of the window. I have cheated a bit because the snowmen and textile Santas and angels are out too.



I think the wall over the fireplace looks the same as last year!
Tia has been up to no good! John bought a cat advent calendar at the week end which she discovered and tried to claw open. We have hidden it! Here she is collecting the goodies from day two.


I had a nice surprise earlier in the week when I spotted a wren. She hopped through the bushes and into the wall baskets before flying off. I don't know if she was the same one as last year or even if she is a she. I only saw her the once last December. It's luck really being in the right place at the right time. John and I were discussing this morning how much bird activity there is at the front of our house and if one had the time to sit and watch for an hour how much one would see.

I can now post a picture of the ornament I sent to Milly


I was really pleased with the result and wanted to keep it. How closely did you look at the one I received? Have another look at reindeer's body!

Those stitches are not random. John thought it was very clever.
I should be making a few things for presents but I can't find anything that grabs me which is a nuisance to say the least.
I have finished my 3 afternoon a week sessions tutoring. Which I enjoyed immensely. The good news I am going back after Christmas to work with 6 more children. I have got two more Saturdays before Christmas to do before we break for the Christmas holidays. I have survived another calendar year with not too much work. Although the tutoring doesn't bring in large amounts of monetary gain it is better than nothing and rewarding in other ways.

You will have noticed that I haven't mentioned the allotment. No, it hasn't been abandoned but it was so wet last week end John didn't get any work done. Hopefully this weekend might be different.
Ooooh! Nearly forgot, Moriarty is snug in his new scarf.


I used both yarns from his jumper (which were 4 ply) and knitted them together. he is very pleased.

haven't forgotten the blog draw and have noted down those who commented. I hope to get it together with a small made gift for the winner but if I am delayed I shall prolong the suspense!

Thanks if you have visited