Move

"Move off the table runner while I take a picture, please."

"Nope."

"At last, thank you."

Finally finished. Padding a little too thick, stitching a little too wonky, binding not wide enough and too thick so I had a bit of a wrestling bout sewing it into place - but made from scrap materials (except wadding). It will certainly protect the table from hot dishes ...

... and provide a suitable resting place for puss cats!

xx

Mum's Advent Countdown Calendar

Last year the Christmas countdown was in snowflakes (see the posts in December 2011) and this year I thought I'd do Christmas trees.

You can find out how to make them here. They're very easy. Like last year I will make one a day and at Christmas I shall make them into a garland so I shall have

a Snowflake garland

and at the end of December a

Christmas Tree garland.

You can join me in making one tree a day if you wish as an Advent countdown to Christmas. (What about it Jill?). They are very easy to make and take no time at all. The trees can be any colour you want but I'm going to keep mine green. I'll 'hide' a tree in my posts in December. See if you can spot them.

Next year I think I'll crochet Snowmen. DD has said that she'd like a crocheted snowman. More time is needed in each day, I think. I'll show you my tree granny square in another post. I'm half way through my Christmas blanket now. It may be finished by Christmas, maybe not.
xx

Let there be light ...

... and there was light.

Christmas is coming. I shall crochet Christmas trees for DD's Advent countdown and I shall have a  Christmas tree granny in my Christmas zig zag blanket. I've even made up my own pattern. Whooo!!!!!

xx

It's hard work

I'm currently wrestling with putting a binding on my quilted table runner. I think my wadding is too bulky, my edges too wobbly and my machine too temperamental. It's certainly a challenge. There's bits everywhere, the ironing board is up, I'm running up and downstairs, pins all over the floor. It's not a small space hobby this. I'll keep you posted. And I've had a beer. Oh dear.

xx

IRYPT

I think you are all wonderful. Thank you so much for taking the time to say 'Hello', it's very much appreciated. Following on from the comment from A Load of Old Tat -

IRYPT

If you get this strange foreign word written on your blog, fret not, 'tis only me saying -

I've read your post today.

:)

Question

Did you stop by today to read my post? 411 people popped in yesterday but only 6 lovely bloggers made a comment. It's difficult to comment all the time but isn't it nice to receive a few words about your post. Perhaps we should rename the Comments section to an 'I've read your post today' section. Readers could then let the blogger know that they passed by and called in.

"Hello."
"I'm here today."
"I've read what you have to say."
"Just passing by."
"I agree."
"Hi."

Who is here today reading my post? Thank you for calling by. Make my day and say Hello!

Mind you I could be here all day if 411 people made a comment!

xx

Bliss

This is a sea of softness.

This is a duvet cover from the CS.

This is pretty, practical and just the job for a little bit of relaxation with book, crochet (Christmas blanket) and puss cat.

This was a bargain £2.

:)

Playing again

This one is the space monorail. The large box always took up a lot of room but there's plenty going on when it's all built. Trains and freight moving, little spacemen riding around on space cars, lifts and space buildings. 

I had a really good time with this one!

Brum, brum - let's stop at the depot! Brum, brum. Beam me up, Scottie.

xx

Question

Who changes the toilet roll in your home?

I'm sure it's just me in our house.

xx

Let's play ...

Lego!

"Why do you want to keep all that lot?"

"Because I want to play with them when I retire."

"Do you need that much?"

"Oh yes, I hope to be retired a long time."

"We need to de-clutter."

"Tell you what, I'll play with it then it can go."

Compromise reached.

Playtime assured.

Hours of fun from DS and DD's childhood Lego.

Here's my first 'play'.

Lego Technic 8860 - car chassis.

Whoo, all sorts of moving bits - steering, gears and reclining seats.

Sad, I know - but lots of playtime fun!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear DD,

Happy Birthday to you!

Love you.

xx

Milk Chocolate Cake made from a recipe in the Be Ro Recipe book.

Tea Dance

Not only was there a cup of tea at the Tea Dance but cakes as well.

We also had a neat dance card to fill in for our dances. Now who's for a dance?

Had a pretty active week this week with walking, swimming and dancing. I think I need a rest this weekend.

Welcome to new followers. I see an artist and a photographer. Hop over to Jill's blog at Land of the Big Sky to see another artist and photographer.

The Eleven Tag

Now isn't that funny. I've just been tagged by My Beautiful Life with the Eleven tag. I've already had this post ready to blog for a few weeks as Granny Taught Me to Crochet also tagged me with the Eleven Tag.

On looking back at the history of this tag, I see that it appears to be the Leibster Award, (see my awards label), but the title seemed to have got lost along the way. Never mind - I'll tackle it anyway. Here are the rules according to GTMTC.

The Rules:

Each tagged person must post 11 random facts about themselves.

Answer the 11 questions set by previous blogger.

Create 11 more questions.

Tag 11 more blogs, with less than 200 followers.

Inform the blogs they've been tagged! 


Here are 11 random facts about myself.

1. I'm vertically challenged! I look up to most people.
2. I play the piano.
3. I play with Lego!
4. I like a cup of tea in bed in the morning before I get up.
5. I can't sing in tune.
6. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to embrace the numbers 4 and 13 because I don't particularly like the number 4 and everybody thinks 13 is unlucky. This year I thought I'd face my superstitions so I now don't avoid these numbers. e.g. when cutting up a banana I used to cut it into 12 or 14 but not 13 bits. This year I don't mind 13. I could go on but you might think me ...
7. ... slightly silly!
8. My favourite subject at school was Maths.
9. I had a heart attack about 6 years ago so I now try to keep very active.
10. My cup is always half full rather than half empty.
11. I like to read blogs especially the blogs of followers and commenters. :)
BTW welcome to another new follower.

And here are GTMTC's 11 'questions'.

You have to make a soundtrack to your life. You have 11 songs and they all have a theme. What do you chose and why?

I presumed I had to find a song for each of the categories so here's my interpretation.

1. You - Perhaps I have too rosy an outlook on the world. Imagine by John Lennon

2. Getting ready - The only one I could think of was Putting on my Top Hat. Mine's more of a swirly dress when I go out dancing.

3. Crafting - This one's difficult too. Perhaps I'll throw this one open to readers.

4. Christmas - No Christmas is complete without this playing.  I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

5. Party - I don't party often but when family or friends get together "This is where the party is." I can do it by the Rubettes

6. Family - Everyone jogs along in life at at certain moments come 'next chapters' such as new job, new home etc. Turn, turn, turn

7. Friends - Many friends are made along the way. I've made quite a few while learning my dancing at the ballroom. Other friends have been there for many years, friends from childhood and friends from work. Lean on Me - Bill Withers

8. Old Memory - So many memories when I was 16. I'm not telling you them, though. You're 16 by Ringo Starr or Young Girl by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

9. New Memory - DS and partner are planning to buy a house - a very big step in life's journey. Bless This House

10. Romance - It's Getting Better by Cass Elliot

11. The Future - Who knows? - Enjoy the moment while you can. Melting Pot by Blue Mink

MBL's rules are similar and here are her questions. These are easier to answer.

1. In which month is your birthday?

January

2. What is your favourite colour?

Was red, now green

3. What one thing do you wish you could change in your life?

For me - nose, legs, height, teeth

For others - inequality to equality

4. What is your biggest regret

No regrets really but I would have liked to have had dancing lessons when I was little.

5. What do you feel is your Christmas tradition?

Eating Christmas dinner in the dining room with family, conking out (full) in the lounge and listening to the Queen's speech.

6. Which part of your body do you dislike the most?
See above

7. Which celebrity would you take out for dinner, and why?
I'd stay in for dinner - not the sociable type really.

8. Who was your favourite teacher at school, and why?
I really didn't have a favourite teacher but I, along with others, did fancy the Chemistry teacher. He fancied himself aswell!

9. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Crochet, read, play

10. I'm coming for dinner: What will you cook for us to eat?
Ooh-er - egg, chips and tinned tomatoes with mushrooms followed by lemon meringue pie (I'll have to practice making one of these.)

11. What are you planning for your garden next year?
I was planning to lawn it over and put in a pond because we didn't have much of a harvest this year but I'm sure we'll have veggies again. Can't have 2 rotten seasons, can we?
I'm altering the rules here seeing as GTMTC altered them. First of all I'm going to call this tag by a new name.

Elevensies.

Here are my 'Elevensies' to tag anyone who follows this blog.

The Rules

Each tagged person must list and expand upon the 11 items suggested by the tagger then tag the followers of their blog with their own 'Elevensies'.

Here are my Elevensies. 

Pick 11 items in your home which are precious to you and tell us why - the second bit is not compulsory.  You don't need to write anything personal, just a picture will suffice.

Accept the tag if you wish and come back with a comment so I can read your post.

If you don't have elevensies in your country here's a definition.

New idea

Quick, quick, quick - I must get it started now while the excitement is still there.

A crocheted Christmas chain garland.

Yep, yep, yep. I've found a pattern here and I shall use the coloured wool from my Summer Blanket.

So now I'll have a second garland at Christmas. (Last year's was a snowflake garland which doubled as an Advent calendar aswell. Here it is.)

Yeah!!!!

Welcome to my two new followers. Enjoy your visits.
xx

Question

Why is it that once a kitchen floor is mopped everyone who lives in the house, including pets, have to walk across it immediately?

xx

Welcome to my new follower. I hope you enjoy your visits.

Bloggy Blanket Chain update

Great news - MummyHen has been extremely busy and added to the Bloggy Blanket. Click on the Bloggy Blanket Chain page to see. Now, is there a wonderful person out there in Bloggy Land who would be willing to add one or more squares to the blanket?

It could be you!

Please form an orderly queue whilst waiting to 'sign up'!

xx

PS You don't have to be brilliant at crochet or add a million squares. One square would be wonderful before passing the blanket on.

Number 11

This will be the last India cot blanket for a while as I've run out of squares. It's a motley selection of colours but I've managed to make quite a large blanket with these left overs.

I've succumbed and ordered some wool for a Christmas Ripple Blanket. (Call it a Christmas present to me.) I've a few ideas buzzing in my head and just guessed the number of balls of yarn I would need. Red, white and green will be the colours for this blanket which certainly won't be finished by Christmas. I still have one shepherd to complete for my crochet Nativity and I'm plodding along with my Summer blanket squares, adding more colours to the original 17. I'll just keep the squares coming until I've finished the wool.

Swimming tomorrow as part of my fitness regime! I wonder how many lengths I'll be able to do! It's been a long time since I've been to the swimming baths.

xx

Guided tour - part 3

The shelves needed 'doing' again so I cleared out the Lego and put it under the bed (another no go zone!) and managed to empty one cubby hole. This one is a work in progress.

Granny squares for MY blanket plus Ladybird books.

This one is 'done'. 

Basket of ribbons, Pythagorean cup, air raid whistle, stone, building bricks

Basket of teddies plus some old keys.

I know - I can't let go! I've got 5 baskets like this one containing card making stuff, sewing stuff, cross stitch stuff and more Ladybird books. I'm going to have to get rid of these soon.

Oh, baskets again - granny rose squares plus small balls of wool.

This tie is made out of Tetra Pak boxes.

In the above pic are tubs of rubber stamps, some nail ornaments - my right and left hands on display here, my money box and an award given to me by an ex pupil. It is engraved 'Thank you for the music.'

The other cubbies are yet to be tidied. The trouble is that these shelves are always a WIP because they are used frequently.

I know, I know - I can't let go - yet!!!!

Up and down sort of day

Oh, Mum from Simply Living Blog

She had a sudden whim (To find Nicky Nook - my parents took me and my best friend  there when I was little and I wanted to walk there again and see the 'Black Mountain'. I had A friend kindly showed me the way.)

To climb right up to the top of the hill (Wonderful views from the top.)

And to climb right down again.

And when she was up, she was up, (Still up here.)

And when she was down, she was down, (That's where we're headed.)

(Here's down. Grizedale brook.)

And when she was only half way up ...

... she tripped over her boots and landed sprawled out on the muddy grass!

The 'mountain' we climbed.

Down in the valley

A very 'interesting' tree

Lovely scenery.

More information here.