Thank you

Botswana (a friend's home made
card)

New followers - hello there.

Helpful comments - I'm going to have to tackle the pumpkin.

Bloggers who joined in with the Sunshine Award.

Everyone who helped with the Bloggy Blanket Chain. It's now back with Peg, who will then send it back to me to add the border. (Unless anyone would like to finish it off and donate it to a good cause.)

xx

Sunshine Award

Thank you to Jo over at Through the Keyhole blog for giving me a Sunshine Award. (This is my 3rd award. Read about the others here.) I'm always happy to accept because the questions are all different each time.

'The Sunshine Award is an award given to those who inspire us and bring sunshine into our lives.'

There are a few simple rules:-

1) Include the award logo in your blog post.

2) Link to the person who nominated you.

3) Answer 10 questions about yourself.

4) Nominate other bloggers.

Jo's 10 questions are as follows:-

1) Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Yes, certainly do.

a. Get up at a reasonable hour, not too early.

b. When the children were small they dragged their bag of presents into our bedroom and we all got to see what Father Christmas had brought.

c. Prepare Christmas lunch, with help from anyone who is at hand, in the morning.

d. Eat at 1pm.

e. Open presents from around the tree after the Christmas meal.

f. Watch the Queen at 3pm.

g. Eat chocolate.

h. Have a turkey sandwich when next hungry.

i. Have a bath and lounge in front of the tele.

2) Do you eat turkey on Christmas day?

Yes, it's always turkey, sprouts, carrots, leeks, cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, roast and mashed potato with gravy. Oh and pigs in blankets. 

3) Christmas pudding, Christmas cake or mince pie, which is your favourite?

Sherry trifle is my favourite.

4) Where do you spend Christmas day?

At home.

5) Approximately, how many people do you buy or make presents for?

DH, DD, her boyfriend and his mum, DS, his wife and her parents and maybe the cats. That's about 8. Oh, and one friend who usually buys us a present even though we tell her not to. Here's a sneak peek of one pressie.

6) What is your favourite Christmas song?

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby. All together now!

7) What is your favourite Christmas film?

I don't have one. I like to see films just once, not over and over again.

8) Do you have a real or fake tree?

Always a real tree but I do have small fake ones here and there. I love the smell of a real Christmas tree and love the tradition of dressing it. (Oh that's another tradition, isn't it.



I also decorate the house with Christmas trimmings and make my own Christmas cards.)

9) What's the best and worst presents you've ever received?

I don't think I have a best or a worst. I always want a 25 Beautiful Homes mag and some Pears soap but they don't always materialise.

Christmas present bag

10) What are you looking forward to most this Christmas?

A houseful of Christmas spirit from all within.

I nominate all those on my Blog list as candidates for this award and anyone who follows this blog regularly. You bring sunshine into my life each evening and you have definitely inspired me to make, bake, sew, crochet and try out many new ideas.

Bring me sunshine in your smile,

Bring me laughter all the while.

In this world where we live there should be more happiness,

So much joy you can give to each brand new bright tomorrow.

Make me happy though the years,

Never bring me any tears.

Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above.

Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love.

Bring me sunshine in your eyes,

Bring me rainbows from the clear blue skies.

Life's too short to be spent having anything but fun,

We can be soon content if we gather little sunbeams.

Be light hearted all day long.

Keep me singing a happy song.

Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above,

Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love.

And here are my 10 questions for anyone who wishes to answer them in one of their posts. I'll keep the questions appropriate to this time of year. Please link back here so I can read your posts.

1. What would be your first thought if you saw the first flakes of snow falling from the sky?

2. Let's suppose you had to dress someone's snowman. What hat would you put on its head?

3. Do you celebrate this season? If so, how?

4. It's cold, wet and blustery and you have to go out. What do you wear on your feet?

5. What game would you recommend for a seasonal party for friends and neighbours?

6. You are going to a seasonal party for friends and neighbours - how would you like to spend the evening?

7. Do you have a favourite decoration for putting out at this time of year? Please describe.

8. Have you written your Christmas cards yet?

9. Are you making or crafting anything seasonal at the moment?

10. There's always something to like about each season. What do you particularly associate with this season?

xx

Getting up to date

As promised a few posts ago, here is my list of "Lovely Blogs". I included the word 'lovely' in comments on these blogs so they formed my list this time.

1. GTMTC

2. Trudies Cottage

3. The Tightwad Telegraph

4. Shortbread and Ginger

5. Marmalade and Catmint

6. SFT

7. Ungardened Moments

8. Living a Slow and Simple Life

9.  Where Beechmast Falls

10. Frugal Living UK

11. Op Shop Mama

12. Thrifty MummyHen

13. Jo - The Good Life

14. Jo - Through the Keyhole

15. Maple Syrup Mob

And now my 10 questions for the Sunshine Award. I googled '10 personal questions' and found a few there and the rest I just made up myself. It's about time I thought for myself - I'm a big girl now.

1. What do you have on your bedside table?

Telephone, tablets, radio, headphones, light, magazines, book, cat catcher, nail file and notebook and pen. On my hobby room bedside table I've got telephone, books, vase I made when I was 11 containing sweetie wrapper flowers made by DD, light jar, lamp, basket containing crochet hooks, scissors, glasses, pens, nail file and bits and bobs, a pile of granny squares, a candle holder (I threw the bendy candle away when I tidied up.) and various calling cards. Underneath is a basket of fir cones, note books, a knitting bag containing crochet projects and a Shaun the Sheep bag.

2. How old do you feel inside?

16 (Pity I don't look 16 outside.)

3. Do you dream often?

I dream most nights. I heard it said once that if you dream a lot of very interesting dreams at night you must be the most boring person during the day. Hmmm!

4. What is your favourite form of exercise?

Dancing. When I was 7 I was given the choice of having dancing lessons or piano lessons. I wish I could have chosen both but piano won.

5. What do you miss most about being a child?

I could say  - nothing I still am a child. On the other hand I could say - skipping down the street. I can do it but it wouldn't look good!

6. What are you wearing now?

A brown spotted dress - that's it!

7. Where are you now?

Sitting on a bed in 'my' upstairs room with 2 cats sprawled out in front of me and the laptop resting on an upturned basket because it's too hot for my lap. Seagulls are calling outside the window and the sun is streaming in. It's very hot. Also on the bed are 100 crochet squares, a crochet hook, 4 cushions and a phone.

8. What time do you go to bed?

I usually crash out an hour after I've taken my 'restless leg pill'. Yeh, you can get a pill for restless legs!

9. When did you last have a cold?

Should I answer this one or not? OK, touch wood, I can't remember when I last had a cold. Blow your nose every time you go to the loo and do a yoga 'Lion' each day and colds could be a thing of the past for you. (This is not a proven medical opinion.) I should own up and say that I don't do the 'Lion' everyday - for reasons which will become obvious when you view this.



10. What's the one of the best things about retirement?

Being able to wake up when you want and turn over and go back to sleep if you wish.
Doing what you want, when you want.
Smiling a lot.
Not worrying about what other people think.
Going out for 'jollies' with friends.
Not going out at all.
Wearing what I want.
Viewing the world at a slower pace.

Sorry I did more than one there.

I wrote this post last night and I hope I'm up to date now!
PS I love reading all your blogs.
xx
PPS Keep crocheting those squares.
PPS I've had other ideas for my Summer Blanket.
PPPS I'm off to do the washing now.
xx

Bring Me Sunshine

I've been awarded another Sunshine Award, this time from Jo. Thank you, Jo. What a coincidence then that I took these pics today. The sunshine was wonderful all day - cracking the flags! So it was so good to walk in dappled shade.

My original Sunshine post is here and here. I'll post my 10 questions later.

One Lovely Blog Award

Kate from GTMTC has awarded me this One Lovely Blog Award. Ooh lovely!

Award  Criteria

a. Thank the person who nominated you on their blog - Thank you so much, Kate.

b. Tell 7 things about yourself - What do you want to know? I've already told you 7 things about myself here.

OK here's 7 more.

1. I have a very large stash of Lego (from DS's and DD's childhood days) that I'm reluctant to part with. My excuse for not de-cluttering the Lego was "When I retire I'll make all the models again." I did retire and I've not! Yet! I must give you a peep sometime. I love Lego. This lot's quite vintage now.

2. I had a heart attack 5 years ago which makes every day now a day worth living. (Take care of your diet and keep up the exercise.)

3. I like picking scabs! (Better than picking one's nose, I suppose.)

4. I love having a bubble bath.

5. I've still got the tier stands from my wedding cake - we've just had our 38th wedding anniversary.

6. When I fold my arms my left hand shows and when I clasp my hands my right thumb is over the top of my left.

Gosh, this is hard.

7. My stash of wool runs to 2 large drawers full, 2 smaller drawers full and 3 baskets full. Hmmm!

c. Nominate 15 blogs and then tell them of their nomination - This is difficult aswell. Lovely to me? Lovely to look at? Lovely coochy, coochy coo?

All your blogs are lovely. I know - if I put 'lovely' in a comment on your blog please accept a 'One Lovely Blog Award' from me. I'll keep a note of the blogs and then list them later. 

That's another fact about me - I'd rather tackle a job in small steps rather than try to do it all at once. More successes that way.

Sunshine Award List

I've just worked my way down my Blog favourites list and my other longer list which I keep on NetNewsWire. These were blogs that have recently been updated (Monday 2nd July). My list will not stop at 10 and so it shouldn't. I read blogs which interest me even though I don't necessarily follow everyone else's interests. All of these blogs have inspired me in some way. It's comforting to know that other people feel the same way as I do, have some of the same interests as me and are living in the 'real' world. If you are reading this blog of mine 

or are a follower 

or are on my favourites list

or have received a comment from me on your blog

please accept the Sunshine Award from me because you have positively inspired me in some way. If you  are an award free zone please accept a 'very well done' from me and thank you for being there.

Sunshine Award List from my blog reading tonight.

1. Sft - for indirectly giving me the jolt I needed to embrace travel - not that I'm going to make it a hobby!

2. Anne from Ungardened Moments for taking me on a wonderful bloggy tour of Europe.

3. Bunnymummy for inspirational observations of nature and great ideas for crochet and patchwork.

4. Lucy from Attic 24 for inspirational crochet work which spurs my creative endeavours.

5. Vix from Vintage Vixen for inspiring me to be more adventurous in my choice of clothes.

7.  Ladyhawthorne from Canterbury Cottage who has inspired me with this quote on her blog.

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony.

William Henry Channing 1810-1884

 8. Kay and Sime from Just Human Beings. They are so full of life and make inspirational meals packed full of goodness.

9. Froogs of course from Frugal in Cornwall has inspired many of us with her frugal tips and her generosity.

10. And last but not least Jill from Land of the Big Sky. She really makes my day when she posts. Cheers Jill. Have one on me.

The Sunshine Award

Hey, hey, hey - I've been awarded the Sunshine Award by Sandie from Sandie's Patch. 

The Sunshine Award is an orange flower (marigold) that is given by bloggers to "bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere".

Thank you, Sandie. I wonder who else I've inspired?

Here are the things I must do now.

Thank the person who gave the award - done.

Answer 10 questions about yourself - see below. These questions seem to change on different blogs. I've used the majority of Sandie's questions and some of my own.

Pass on the award to 10 other deserving and inspiring bloggers, inform them and link to their blogs. I'm going to inform you here and you will find the links in the side bar or the followers list. It took me ages last time to work through everybody.

Here goes:-

1. What is your favourite animal?

This obviously has to be a cat (or rather 2 cats).

2. What is your favourite number?

I've always liked the number 6 - don't know why. I've never liked the number 4 because when I was little we had a set of playing cards and the 4 of hearts had a smeary, dirty mark on it. (Silly me.) I've not been enamoured by the number 4 since. I've always avoided the number 13 aswell. However this year, as one of my resolutions, I decided to embrace all numbers. eg I can cut up my banana into 13 pieces and not bat an eyelid! I can shave my leg with 13 strokes of the razor and not worry about anything untoward happening - apart from a nick on the leg! I also can spill salt (this is nothing to do with the question, I know) and not throw a little bit over my shoulder to get rid of the devil. How's about that, then!

3. What are your Passions?

I read this question many ways. Here are a few answers.

1. I'm not telling you any of my passions!!!

2. A huge Italian ice-cream fruit sundae I had while on holiday. It had every fruit you could imagine in it with ice-cream and ooh, ooh, ooh frozen banana puree. Each spoonful - after I'd eaten the fruit bowl around the top of the dish - was a deeee-light.

It only looks small but it was
ginormous!

I ate it all up.

3. Enjoying each day.

4. See my Labels

4. Do you enjoy Giving or Getting?

Both - equal satisfaction doing both.

5. What is your Favourite Pattern?

Changing patterns - eg granny squares with different colours or crochet stitches.

Natural patterns - eg found on pine cones, vegetables and plants. Just type Fibonacci into Google to find out more.

I do have a few stripey T shirts and jumpers.

6. What is your Favourite Day of the Week?

Used to be Saturday and Sunday when I worked. Now I've retired it could be any day.

"What day is it?" asked Pooh.

"It's today, "squeaked Piglet.

"My favourite day," said Pooh.

- A. A. Milne

7. What is your Favourite Flower?

Depends on the season. 

Snowdrop - white, simple and innocent

Bluebell - A herald of Spring

Rose - beautiful perfume

But if you look closely every flower is beautiful.

8. What is your Favourite Country?

It has to be the country where I live but I'm sure where you live is equally as good. Just like the flowers each country has its own share of wonderful places. I really enjoyed travelling around Europe with Anne. England is my favourite country because it is my home.

9. What is your Favourite Colour?

Green

We have more than our fair share of green carpets, green painted walls in the Sun room and a green painted house.

10. What is your Favourite Meal?

Egg, chips and tinned tomatoes with 2 slices of bread to mop up. 

I'm going to read blogs now and make my list which I'll post later on in the week. I know I've been inspired creatively by many of you. Thank you for being out there and sharing your talents.

Another blogger tried to trace the origin of this award and landed here. The person they received the award from now has a private blog so we can't go back any further but if you read the post there is no mention of answering any questions. Perhaps I should make an award of my own to offer to other bloggers. Hmm now there's a thought.

Thank you

Thank you to Anne of Marmalade and Catmint who has awarded me the Leibster Blog Award for blogs with less than 200 followers. When I was first awarded this it was for blogs with less than 100 followers. It's rather like the Chinese Whispers game, where the message becomes distorted as it travels through more and more people. What I have to do now is - 

Copy and Paste the award on to my blog. (Now I did this last time but I put the award picture in the post itself. Der!)

Thank the giver and link back to them. (Done.) Thank you again, Anne.

Reveal my top 5 blog picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blogs. (Please see my 5 choices from last time and then check out these next 5.)

1. Anne at Azza's Blather

2. Jill at Land of the Big Sky

3. Claire at The Little Pom

4. Anne at Ungardened Moments

Oh, I can't choose, I can't choose. So ...

5. For my fifth choice I'd like to recommend all the blogs in my blog list who have less than 200 followers. I know that some of them already have the Leibster Award but, hey, have another one and let's have a good visit of each other's blogs. (I will get around to leaving a comment on your blogs to let you know if you haven't already read this!)

I know I haven't fitted in with all the rules for this award but I'm putting my own take on them. I could add more blog names as I have more bookmarked but I'll leave those for when I get another award to pass on. Happy Blogging.

I always smile when I go to the Dashboard and see a comment in red to be moderated or see a new follower to the blog. This blog was just somewhere where I could jot down things that simply give me pleasure now that I've retired. I didn't intend to show it off in public. I also like to visit other blogs where I find other people with some of my interests. I always lurked in the background of these blogs. One day I plucked up the courage to make a comment and then become a follower of a blog. This escalated (as it does) and then I got my first comment, with my first follower a little while later. I got loads of smiles today when I went to Custardino's website as she has awarded me my first blog award. Thank you - I'm chuffed to little mintballs.

The Liebster Blog is awarded to blogs with less than 100 followers. I think I've got a long way to go to reach 100. Now I'm going to pass the award along to blogs that I have been reading.

The first is the Tightwad Gazette. I follow this blog as Mrs. Tightwad's interests are very similar to mine. She also has another blog Amkitty International. This blog is wonderful if you're a knitter. Her output is amazing and the quality of her knitting is superb. I'm sure this award can go to this second blog aswell.

My third award goes to ... (This sounds like the Oscars doesn't it?) ... Isobel from The Cosy Corner. I loved reading about her visit to Cornwall.

Next one to The Vintage Knitter who enjoys (obviously!) knitting and also delights in other crafts.

Shirl from The White House enjoys the 'abundance of life on a shoe string'. I couldn't agree more - so do I.

I enjoy reading The House of Jones. I don't know how many followers follow this blog but I'd like to include her in my list. This lady lives 'in a crafty world' and also blogs about her flowers and plants.

I think I'd better stop there and thank you again Custardino - my first 'follower' and my first 'blog awarder'. 

Whoopeee!!!