Counting time

Total so far, £44.17, which is just above last years total, a reflection on how little cash we use. We do always use cash in the village, but often we are asked if we have correct change, so less is going in the bottle. Again this year it can stay, we don't need to use it, as you can see the bottle is not even a third full, first photo was taken after I had put some of the small change back into bottle.  

This is our important savings, in here we have £128.00 in two pound coins, we actively do not spend two pound coins, on previous years we have had notes as well, often gifted to us, but we now use these saving more when we are on our short breaks. 

Work stopped on our garden,the forecast for Thursday and Friday was dire, plus our landscaper has a bad cold, we asked him to take a couple days off if his schedule allowed, we are his last big job this year. He will be back on Monday,  hopefully feeling much better, the paving stones and other items are on our front drive, so he has everything he requires, we have asked him to put in a concrete post for our gates, so a bit extra work. I would rather it took longer than see him struggle.

I found out my glass bulb holders and managed to get these bulbs at our Wednesday market, reduced which I like, the extra ones have been planted, more flowers to come.

Thursday I took the bus into Portsmouth, heading for Old Portsmouth, a pub on the waters edge, sadly it was a grey wet and stormy day, the ferry's were still sailing, but nothing much happening. I had lunch and a long catch up with a couple old work colleagues, we try and meet up a few times each year. We are lucky the express bus takes 25minutes from home to the bottom of Portsmouth, an easy journey, the heavy rain on the way home was a nightmare,  but with my winter coat on and a warm hat, I stayed warm and dry.

We are again away for the weekend, this time we took the coach to London, normally we would go on the train, when we booked this trip we were fearful of strikes, which happened this week. We are with hubby's ex army friends, we decided not to stay any longer, we did toy with the idea of seeing the lights, but decided against going too far whilst there.

Crafting

I finally am starting to feel less unwell, so Monday I had some fun with needle felting, I have seen loads of these star shaped needle felted Santa's on the net, so I thought I would have a go. My first one is copying what I have seen, it's nice but......

I had a couple more goes, attempts 2 and 3 were very much quicker to make, I wanted to make his hat bigger, and used different softer rovings for his moustache, I think his eyes whilst the same size as number 1, looks the correct proportions on 2 and 3. Attempt number 3, I have gone too far, his hat does not look right, and his eyes are not level, which I did not notice until I saw this photo. 

Simple to make, using a cookie cutter in the shape of a star, then adding a bit extra for his hat, adding his flesh colour for his face and then eyes, and nose. Next was his hat and the white fur and pompom, lastly was his moustache. 

I then decided to finish my 2 completed baubles, the blue one with stars is for my sister Lena, she loves blue, I shall also send to her a Santa, not sure which one yet. The red bauble is for our tree, the tops were easy to make wrapping the coloured roving around the gold loop and then attaching to the bauble. I have 4 others to finish.

Monday we were at home as our landscaper started work, I decided to play with my needle felting and had a great few hours, it was nice to be crafting again, I hope to make a few more Santa's and finish the other 4 baubles, there is no rush and if they don't get done, it won't be an issue. We had to replace two handles on our upstairs windows, these windows are the only ones not replaced in the last couple of years, and now fixed are back to good condition. 

Tuesday we both went out for lunch, it was with my sign group, hubby does enjoy coming, we were in town in a pub the group often uses, we chose not to have the Christmas menu, we travelled by bus and I enjoyed a glass of wine with my meal, first one in ages. It was a very dull grey day again, but without the rain. We swapped secret Santa, the recipient of my gift, opened it, looked up and said thank you to me, pretending not to know what she implied, it was a book for a book worm, I'm glad she liked it, I have a lovely new scarf, so perfect I could have picked it myself. 

Wednesday a day at home, after a bit of house work, more crafting, I have decided to make a few more Santa's, it's fun to have a production line. The landscaper has finished digging out and is now levelling everywhere, ready for the paving and fake grass, he is working on his own and is a true grafter, we just supply him with tea and bacon sarnies. I have started to sew my green cardi together, I have only the button hole band to knit, I can't wait to wear it, as I love the other two I have made..

I have stopped Pilates until the new year, I am just so tired, and the thought of going out at 6pm for a class is to much at the moment. 

Home made

I adore this cross stitch design, I made it many years ago, hubby got it framed for me, I love to see it out, it always hangs in our hall, next to the kitchen. It's a true spirit of Christmas, much how we now see the season. 

My love of cross stitch shines through in my cushions, the gold patterned one I remade this year, turning 5 small designs into one cushion, the teddies are again years old, finished in 2011,  my tiny tree is a design I played with and the big french tree, I finished last year. 

I made these stockings when our girls were young, so probably early 90's, the girls stockings were nicer, these were made quickly with what fabrics I had at home, one year our daughters wanted us to get a stocking, they were past the age of believing in Santa. We still use them every year, both daughters still have their original ones as well. 

Two years ago, I made new sacks for youngest daughters children, she asked for this shape so books can be popped in them. I am so happy our grandchildren get their excitement on Christmas morning, in something I made for them, no fur as George does love to chew on it.

I have always made things for the tree, whilst our girls were at infant and junior schools, every year a friend and I would knit Christmas puddings, we made loads, they were very cheap and popular with the children, the cat cross stitch was made in 2011, and the glass ornament a couple of years ago. 

I do make cakes each year, I've still to finish them for this year, so no photo's yet, these were from last year, I make for ourselves and our youngest daughter, and a smaller cake for my brother, it's not something I will stop doing yet, everyone enjoys them, so it's worth the effort. 

This is very special to me, back in mid 90's I was a guide leader, and my young leader (helper under the age of 18) made this card for me, it was her first attempt, it's too precious to ever discard, and has it's place in my Santa display. I messaged her a couple of years ago, to say I still had the card, she was surprised and happy to see it. 

I am making needle felting designs, but still not quite finished, you can see them here, most years I am busy with presents to knit and sew, socks for family and toys for the little ones, I'm having a break this year, which is good as these bugs are just not going anywhere, and I'm so tired all the time. I won't finish my Christmas blanket this season, which I'm OK with. 

I have to top ice the cakes, I have already started making the snowflakes, which I will decorate the top with, I do try to make everything edible and no plastic, the ribbon bands around the cake are giving back to me to reuse. 

I love to see these old decorations come out each year, I don't believe in having a different theme each year, as with the baubles on the tree, most of everything we display has a story, it's our history.  

It's arrived.

I've filled my advent bags, which I made last year, loads of lovely treats which both hubby and I love. I'm keeping them in this silk bag, as they are bulky, it would be cheaper to just purchase advent calendars, but this is way more fun. 

It took a couple of days, the tree is up and the decorations are placed, it does feel like Christmas. I was lucky and did not drop anything, our ornaments are all glass and won't bounce on our wooden floor. The lights fill the room at night, and reflect off the patio door. I followed trend this year and instead of wrapping the lights around the tree, I went up and down, much easier.

We had little visitors on Friday, George loves a hat, here stealing my chair, which he finds hilarious. 

Molly also with the Santa hat, she is covered in spots, chickenpox, at least they will be soon gone, both boys have already had it.

We posted our cards this week, less said about the cost the better, both our families are not close to us, so cards are important this time of year, we transfer monies to parents accounts to be added to the grandchildren's cards. We had our first Christmas gift arrive this week, it's now under the tree and have a few cards, it's starting to feel right. 

It was lovely to have both little ones for the day, daughter looked exhausted and we got her to rest, Molly has not been sleeping to well, so a day at home. They both were very good with our tree, George wanted to touch more then Molly, I took both of them into the garden to help pick up the huge Magnolia leaves, they both love helping me, we did not stay out to long, it's dry but really cold. Our village lights were turned on Friday evening, but I was too tired to walk to the village, it lasted for two hours, these bugs are still causing me issues, I'm so tired by mid afternoon.

Saturday was a day at home, hubby put up a small shelf behind the TV, we have so many electronic bits cluttering up behind the TV, it does look much neater with them all out of the way. He has measured the space for a new radiator in the bathroom, the outside wall by the front door is always a damp spot, we have had work done, but it would help if we can double the size of the radiator, so we have chosen a tall one for the small room. It was dry and grey all day. 

It rained overnight and is still raining here, the snow was to our north, its cold, another day at home, I have a crafty plan for today.