Tired

My 2023 book arrived this week, the printers are always very fast, I got another copy of my older brothers book, his has gone missing, he does look at it, so a replacement should make him happy. I have done loads on my 2024 book, it will be finished soon, I have also started the template for 2025, I do like the cover to match each year, the only different is the date and photo's.  

I popped into Dunelm for lunch and a quick shop and this star fell into my basket, I do love these lights, its not too big and looks good, it did not take me too long to break my 'no new decorations this year' rule, in my defence it was only £12.

I also got this pretty candle from Tesco, I have two, the led lights work when the candle is lit and looks very pretty, Christmas is creeping in here.

It's school photo time, we already have Wills, we have to decide which ones we like of George and Molly, George is easy as he is smiling in one, both of Molly's are lovely. George has finished his antibiotics, yesterday he was much better, more himself, but tired much quicker, hopefully by Monday he will be OK. Molly has announced she is a star in her school Christmas performance, she will shine in her role. Will also has his lines to learn, I'm not sure if he can read them or needs to know them, he is practicing.

I'm having a restful few days, I will put the tree up in hope Lilly will ignore it, and then decorate the following day, my housework was not done, the corners will have to wait until January. It has been a shock getting up and getting out early, all I do once at daughters is sit with George, he has wanted so many huge cuddles, I have seen The Christmas Chronicles movie so many times, thank goodness is a decent film. 

I am planning to marzipan the two smaller cakes, they both need to be finished earlier than normal, our cake is having a final drink of brandy, I will also finish the small individual cakes, I don't want a last minute rush to get things done this year. I have a small gift to get for hubby, still no idea what to get him, and as yet daughter has not given any hints, I have asked her a few times. Monday we will post some cards, not too many the cost of stamps is so high, its a shame, Christmas cards are always a delight to receive.

Real or fake

I got these 3 fake amaryllis blooms for my Christmas display, each year I purchase bulbs to grow, I have two this year, just waiting for the growth to start. These silk flowers will ensure my display looks good for the whole month, and I can keep them out in January. 

The frost has killed all my begonias, they were beautiful this summer, the lobelia at each end is fading, I have moved all the cyclamen in their own pots to the front of this huge tub, it can be seen from our sitting room, so adds colour, later I will add my spring pots as they flower. I sold my metal table and chairs in the summer so whilst the contents of this tub are in hibernation, it becomes my display area. 

I did an undercut of my fleabane daises, they were very heavy, I also cut back just a few of the french marigolds, I really did not want them all to self-seed. I am still picking up leaves mainly from the magnolia tree, they are all going into my black bins. It's looking bare now, I do like to see the branches on the trees, the magnolia trunk is a lovely colour

I do love this author, this book was a very different topic and no-one was murdered, it follows a family of a hoarder how their 'home' affects everyone, it was clever and thought provoking. Book 78 read this year.

Another great book, I do love this author, it follows a police woman on the trail of a serial killer, the plot is about her and her family with her work, it's not gruesome and very clever running three narratives, her another police officer and the killer. There is a huge twist in this plot, I never saw coming, I could not put it down. Book 79 read this year. 

George was poorly on Monday night, after a call to 111 he is now taking antibiotics, which means I am at daughters house every morning,  so he can stay in the warm for the school run, she manages the afternoon school run. I'm sure I have their bugs, daughter is unwell, so we are managing the best we can,  I'm really tired leaving the house at 7.45 am is a shock to me, at that time it takes 40 minutes to drive to her house. 

I have the Christmas tree down, I want to put it up with just the lights for a few days, so I can see how Lilly will behave, she loves to climb the magnolia tree outside, all my decorations are glass, we have a wooden floor, so if she climbs and knocks it over I would lose most of them. I intend to decorate the house over the weekend. 

Hubby made a small batch of mince pies, which were lovely, he is going to make sausage rolls this week, both will be made again a couple of times in December, we both enjoy them, plus lemon drizzle cake this week. We had a good sort out of the freezer, and have pulled out this weeks meals, it was long overdue, we will try and eat most of the bits and pieces in there, making space for the turkey. 

Last weekend in November

George had his 6th birthday on Saturday, he had a party a few weeks ago, we spent the day with them at their home, as did grandpa and grandma, he is not at all well, coughing, we had loads of cuddles, we stayed late enjoying a Chinese meal with them, both little ones ate well. He loved this remote controlled dog and played with it for ages, sharing with Molly as well.

These white blooms are a new plant this year, so far I have not lost any buds, I have another white one, it has less buds and is a couple of weeks behind. My plant in the bathroom is stunning, I would like it to be somewhere I can see it through the day, I won't move it as that could cause the flowers to drop.

My wicker basket is out, it's filled with all the early bits I need, cards ect, I'm much later than other years, it won't matter, we only have a few cards to send, just family, the cake bands are in here as well, daughter and brother gives them back each year. There are ribbons, string and tissue paper for wrapping gifts, it's a handy place to keep everything.

Saturday morning was hubby's petanque AGM, they had games before, hubby is a good player, he also coaches for the club, this year he won the shield for individual player, the cup was for their charity match, he won both of these last year. The smaller trophy which he keeps was for a monthly melee, he was runner up and the chocolates was his prize. 

The weekend brought less cold air and rain, both days were grey, Saturday we were out all day, George whilst being poorly is fighting the bugs better this year, we always worry as his weak chest can bring him down rapidly, this time he does look much stronger, daughter managed to get him an appointment at her doctors, they have given him anti biotics, he has not need them this time so they can stay in the fridge. Sunday was a stay at home day for me, hubby was out all of the morning, I got a few of my early Christmas task done, I filled our advent bags, just for the two of us, the unused chocolates will go in a dish for later in the month. 

I am still picking up leaves in the garden and I do need to sort my tulips, I am undecided should I pop them into the back of my huge grey pot, where we can see them from the house, or pot them up and place them on the same huge grey pot, it will be sorted the next dry day we have. 

Oh so cold

 Monday we woke up to lovely blue skies, the temperature had dropped, so whilst it looked nice, it was cold, I spent most of the day inside, I am a soft southerner.

It did not warm up throughout the day

It's a bit early but I have got the Christmas mugs out, hubby did not comment, they will be used for 6 weeks this year, its a simple but festive change, they are all years old.

The Christmas cakes have had another soak of brandy, daughters cake won't get a 3rd soak, the children loved my rich fruit cake, so I put less brandy in it. I have started thinking about the final decorations, no decisions yet.

It's been a bit of a nothing week, I did my final proof read of my book 2023, I found a couple little errors, the discount email came through on Thursday, so I've sent it for printing. I'm doing well on 2024, I will make my post from this year 2025 into another book and then stop printing them, all the grandchildren are in school, my post aren't so full of happy photos. 

Our heating failed to work on Tuesday morning, it was cold we had our first frost, we had hot water, so the boiler was working, hubby checked our hive, which would not link to the boiler on the schedule programme so we used the manual settings, he has disconnect and reconnect which seams to have sorted the issue, later we popped to Asda, mainly a stock up with bits we can't get at Lidl, it was horrible, I really dislike those huge stores, we did not buy many Christmas treats, sticking to our view to have less treats. We should now be OK and not require another visit until the new year, we both hate supermarkets in December. 

Wednesday was a day at home, hair cut in morning, she comes to my house, housework was done and a lazy afternoon. Thursday I had an eye test, new glasses have been ordered, it was expected, my eyesight has deteriorate this year, they will be ready in a couple of weeks. Today we were going out, but George is poorly and Will has a day at home, so we will stay home incase we are needed, George's oxygen levels can drop very quickly. 

I've still not done any crafting, I have truly lost my mojo, I have wool, fabrics, needle felting and cross stitch supplies, and a few different ideas, but I just can't get started, I am reading again.