Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to me,

Happy Birthday to me,

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday,

Happy Birthday to me!
:)

xx

The time has come

The trimmings are down, slowly, slowly, bit by bit and the last to be put away is the tree. First of all the baubles and tinsel are taken off and finally the lights. Once the tree is completely bare (and thanked for being so wonderful over Christmas) and back to a tree again, it is then recycled into the council compost bin.

The branches are trimmed and the needles hoovered up. Back to simplicity now.

xx

PS I did find some bargain garlands and baubles at the CS and JS so they've been put away for next year.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year and a very warm welcome to my new followers.

Much preparation went into the fancy dress costume for DH. My old slob around dress was cut up,

the Christmas decorations raided,

the CS scoured and the Christmas felt around the tree trimmed.

Bits of material and crepe paper were cut up, sewed, pinned, tucked and battered into submission ...

to produce this ...

and finally - oh no, not yet!

*

*

*

*

*

I had to decide between a New York showgirl, (Hmm, not quite got long enough legs!)

or  Nineteen twenties' flapper type lady. (The beaded dress came from the JS.)

So, decisions made we welcomed in the new year. I hope it will be better than last year.

DH's emu really enjoyed himself!

Pusscat was very struck with the feather and kept having
a quick swipe.

Sparkly, sparkly!

Here's the original emu. Do you remember him?

xx

To have or not to have? - that is the question

And what's that?

New Year Resolutions of course. Last year I took up some resolutions made by other bloggers and here's how I got on.

Fix things - I can't remember fixing anything apart from a few sewing repairs. DH is the main 'fixer' in this house.

Read at least one book a month - done! In fact I read more. You can see them all on my bookshelf at the side.

Have fresh flowers in the house - most weeks I had fresh flowers but not that many picked from the garden.

Don't start new projects until current ones have been completed - I have finished quite a few things - the 2012 blanket that turned into about 4 different blankets, a Tunisian stitch cot blanket, the Advent Calendar, Christmas bells, Poinsettia wreaths, handkerchief case, book mark, handkerchief edging, beer glass cosies, 2 cat baskets, iPod case, a few India cot blankets and a Christmas bauble. Didn't do too badly there but there are still some projects hanging around which may not get finished at all.

I think I'll just have one general resolution this year and that is to

write down, record and plan

in the hopes that those jottings will enable me to be more organised. (I bought myself a Filofax for Christmas.)

Mind you, I don't particularly like being too organised as I enjoy 'going with the flow' which is much more spontaneous, inspiring and creative.

Oh dear, to have or not to have? - that is the question.

Bit by bit

I've started dismantling Christmas. I don't do it all at once but bit by bit so that it's all put away by the 6th. Today was the turn of the cards which were sorted into relevant piles. Most of the cards are everlasting ones which I shall envelope up and put away for next year so saving time next Christmas. The dining room decs will be next and the last to come down will be the  fireplace garlands and the tree. The new year will see a thorough clean of the picture rails and carpet edges (where pine needles hide). I feel I ought to go for the clean and simple no cluttered look in January as a contrast to the December extravaganza.

Cool, calm and collected is the aim but before that we have a fancy dress party to attend on New Year's Eve, with the fancy dress costume to begin with the New Year's Eve initials.

DH thought of going nude with just a fig leaf!!! (nude, nothing on at all).

or what about

putting on any fancy dress and going as 'no idea'!!!

Yogi Bear?

Nelson?

Easter Bunny?

Elvis?

I'm not going as a nymphomaniac!

I've been making DH's costume today and it just needs a little more work on it tomorrow and it will be done. We're still eating through the remnants of the turkey. Yesterday was turkey curry and today was turkey leftovers' pie with chips. The microwave Christmas pudding is half devoured and the Christmas cake broken into. All the mince pies are gone but there may still be a few lurking in the freezer.

Diets all round next year.

xx

They're dangling in the air

Not here - I've just joined them all together with a simple chain. There's a loop at each end and one in the middle for hanging.

My snowman garland is now finished and will be dangling in the air for the next few days.

Now what garland shall I crochet for next Christmas?

xx

Mum's Advent Calendar 25, Days Left 0

Find me

Peace, Joy and Love to all.

Merry Christmas.

Love from Mum

xx