Counting and catching up 23 & 24!

Due to circumstances beyond my control (ie catching Youngest's awful lurgy and then being incredibly ill very suddenly) I now present to you (in a weak and feeble state) Numbers 23 (courtesy of Himself and a map) and 24 (again courtesy of Himself while I was languishing at work)

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My head is fuzzy and my brain a lump of porridge, so please excuse me if I don't write anything witty or amusing (what do you mean 'that's normal for me'??). 

Now, bearing in mind it is the 24th and I have a lot still to do I better stop blogging and get a move on. 

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22 (only three more sleeps!!) and a festive knit and (k)natter

What happened to the previous 21 doors?
Are there any more after that one?

We did look and none of the other doors (and we certainly couldn't find any sign of the other 21 ) were numbered. So we will never know.................................

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Tonight we had our last knit and (k)natter for 2010 and to celebrate the season we had a festive one with suitably yummy nibbles and a 'secret-secret' Santa.  This entailed each of us bringing a gift - hand made, without any clue as to whm it was from. As everyone arrived, the gift was then popped into a sack - ably manned by Youngest (correctly attired in a Santa's hat) while Eldest, also sporting a Santa's hat, handed out nibbles and drinks.

The plan had been that once we had all had settled down and had a hot drink and mince pie, that one of Santa's little helpers would take the sack around and we would put our hands in and feel for a gift. This was all agreed upon as being a good idea.

However, we didn't bank on some delicious gooseberry wine or a rather tasty  Chilean Sauvignon appearing so for the non drinkers,  I got out a fruity non alcoholic champagne style wine. This had a rather delightful effect of making one or two rather giggly!

Any way I digress, there followed a rather cheerfully animated debate as to whether we should save our gifts or unwrap them there and then. Suffice to say the general and noisy consensus was to unwrap immediately! Who was I to disagree, especially  I have to say I did really well, I received a beautiful 'mini' patchwork coaster - my description  just does not do it justice.



Of course I had to try it out and it looked so cosy underneath my mug,
just right.


It has been a fun year with the knit and natter girls, I salute them and all their woolly yarns (pun fully intended)

Here's to friendship and fun and a lot more of it in 2011.

Thank you!

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21 and counting - Happy happy Winter Solstice!

Counting again, and today it is the 21st December.

A special day for us, Winter Solstice when we mark the longest night (ergo the shortest day) by lighting candles and eating some of our favourite foods. We usually tell stories or poems, the boys play the piano and if we can persuade Himself enough, he will sing for us.

This year was a little quieter than usual as Youngest is sporting the meanest and snottiest cold he has had in a very long time - poor thing, but he did try nibbling a thing or two before retiring to the settee with a blanket and pillow.

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After work this cold and frosty evening, I came home to a warm and heavenly scented kitchen. This morning I had prepared tonight's meal leaving it for Himself to finish off. And what a wonderful job he had done.  To celebrate, not only the solstice but also a rare lunar eclipse he had decorated the pastry on the salmon pie (another one for my 52 recipes not tried before) with a wonderful image of a smiling sun, earth and moon.  It was such a shame to eat it, but once we'd cut into it, making a wish as we did so, the wonderful aroma of the salmon and leeks just made us all salivate with anticipation. 

We love the idea that from now on it will gently gently start to get lighter in the mornings and stay lighter for longer in the evenings.  Each day nearer to spring. 

Eldest lights one of the candles next to the sun cake.

Mixed red berries, shortcake and Chantilly cream for desert (another new recipe!)

from a certain pukka chef 

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That's all for now, I am very tired and ready for bed. This week as been very long (and it has only been two days so far.......) Glad to share with you our Solstice evening, I now bid you goodnight and wish you a happy and blessed Solstice xx

Nearly there! Counting again 20 (with a little help from my little friends)

Some numbers are everywhere, on packets of tablets, on motorway signs, on cereal boxes while other numbers are elusive, impossible and invisible.

Yesterday - 19 was one such example and today, 20, was almost as difficult. Silly really as there are cautionary speed signs around schools in the local town stipulating a 20 mile an hour speed limit but I keep forgetting to take a picture  So with a bit of help from the boys, I now have a montage of 20s.

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Counting counting 19

Another bitterly cold day. Himself was outside most of the morning sawing wood. As he worked, tendrils of steam curled off his back. Around his feet, the hens inspected his every move. Released from their pen, they have access to the entire garden but choose to linger by the wood pile. Their quick eyes and almost quicker beaks find things to eat. In the woodshed near by, Giddy Dog shivered - not with cold but with excitement as she watched the hens. She knows they are forbidden to her but each scratch, each peck and each step is closely watched.
After lunch the boys wrap up warmly for an afternoon of sledging. I chose to stay behind. Yesterday's walk made me so so cold that my jaw and cheekbone ached for hours afterwards. I having crafting and writing to do, and the lure of the crackling fire and the promise of a mug of tea is enough to keep me home.

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Counting Again - 18 and another one of our Yule-tide traditions

One of our festive traditions is to put aside an afternoon during December and walk around the village delivering cards.  Himself always asks which two addresses are furthest apart then he devises a walk to include not only the village but the surrounding fields too.


This year was no different, only this time we had snow drifts and a bitterly cold wind to contend with.

When we'd gone to bed Friday night, it was clear and starry. The when I awoke early this morning, the light coming through a gap in curtains was eerily grey. I shrugged my dressing gown on, wrapping it tightly around me as I pulled open the drapes. Snow.

So, after lunch, after I'd written the last few cards and added them to the pile for delivery, we donned boots and coats, stepped out and straight back in and added waterproof trousers, scarves, gloves and hats, it was cold out there! The boys took their sledges and I took my camera.

Up hill and down dale we delivered our seasonal cards

Sledging occurred at every opportunity

I think postal work has never been so much fun

We even had time for play, but only a quick game, 

the breeze was cutting and the sun fast sinking behind the hills. 

Whilst shivering, I was reminded that a few short months ago, 

Youngest and Giddy Dog were playing almost in the exact same place

see if you can spot the difference...............!

As we neared the end of our deliveries, 

the sky was a brilliant orange and my fingers a pale blue, 

time to go home and put the kettle on.

Despite being cold, it was a lovely afternoon.

Counting..counting 17 and not so slowly becoming mad

Sitting, waiting for Eldest to come out of school yesterday, I contemplated the complete lack of the number 17 of any shape or size or anything slightly resembling a 17 at all. I had taken to carrying my camera with me for those unexpected opportunities to snap a number, much to the bemusement of Himself.

Pulling my coat closer around me, the warmth of the car quickly fading, I wondered idly about this elusive number and thought on my self-imposed count down. Why do I add unnecessary detail to my already randomly chaotic life.  Movement caught my eye, I looked up to see students were beginning to pour out of the gates in a noisy gaggle of black and green uniforms. No sign of Eldest, he usually appears after the initial escape. I glanced at the clock in the car and it said................15.16.  I sighed. 15.16. A thought slowly trickled into my tundra like brain. 15.16.

WOOHOO!! After 16 comes 17 !!!!!!!!

I fumbled for my camera, my fingers feeling thick and wooden, I glanced up.....phew, still 15.16 - nope, it was now 15.17! I became frantic, the camera case zip was stiff, the strap was in the way, I couldn't get the camera out of it's case, I shook it and pulled it at the same time, I kept looking up, still 16.17.....finally I freed the camera, still 16.17, turn it on, still 16.17......click! Got it! no - no no, it was totally out of focus, in my haste the setting was for macro, flick the setting, quick quick ....get the damn photo! Click! Got it! Argh!! **!//\\!! (and similar foul mouthed thoughts) it was still blurry, quick get it right! C-L-I-C-K!! YES, YES, YES! And on the final YES the clock tripped onto the next number....the moment gone.

Feeling fully chuffed with myself I looked up and saw a rather started Eldest with his friends with mouths slightly agape.

Oops erhem, sorry lads. 

**Funnily enough, having finally obtained a clear clean photo, I proceed to fuzzy it up on photoshop...... method in my madness? Or just plain mad........................

16

It is bitterly cold outside, but we, the cat, dog and I have the fire blazing merrily away and the radio is keeping us company.  

I have just enough time on a Thursday afternoon to do a few things at home before flying off to collect the boys from school.


I keep glancing out of the window and watching the falling snow, it is not sticking so I am not worried, yet, as the forecast for later is grim sounding.

I was so pleased with the apple green scarf, that I have started another one in the same style, 

but this one is a gift, so shhhhhhhhh...................................

15 and nearly halfway through December....... and another seasonal 'How-To'

Today's number 15 has been brought to you by an NHS approved medicated cream, please note that there are other creams also available on the market!

I had to resort to lugging my camera to work yesterday in the hope of finding a couple of numbers to add to my collection for this month's self imposed count down (up?).

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And look what I made this morning!

Talk about quick and easy, 

1. Have yourself some nice twiggy sticks, sharp secateurs, silver spray paint, some sparkly sequins, glue and wire
2. Cut twiggy bits into nice sizes and wire into a roundish sort of round, trim off any extra lengths that spoil the look (optional - stop to find plaster to plug hole in thumb where a small piece of wire stabbed it)
3. Spray silver (optional - avoid spraying foot, right hand and side of jeans) 
4. Wait til dry, then spot glue various sparkly things in a random happy sort of jumbly way
5. Add ribbon, hang up and admire handy work whilst wondering if just tossing the jeans into the washing machine will remove the paint and the blood drips from my thumb.....well worth the effort!!

 

Ta daaa!

14 days and counting -

14 - fourteen, 2 weeks, fortnight.

I looked up the word 'fourteen' and found that it originated from middle English and was written as - fourtene or feowertene and and in Anglo-Saxon it was written feowertyne or feowetene. This reminded me that the ancients measured time by nights and winters, so a fortnight came from  fourteen nights - two weeks.

Only one more week to winter solstice, the longest night and then the earth begins to tilt and gently gently we will start getting our days back. Woo hoo getting closer to spring, and as I sit here, feeling cold, that thought is so positive!

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I have already mentioned that I will be running through the 12 days of Christmas, starting from the 25th December but I thought I would just post here Youngest's most recent homework. His task was to reply to 'His True Love' and thank them for all the gifts they had given him and explain to them what he had done with them..........So, below, for your delight and guffaws I have copied out his reply - classic!

Dear friend

The presents that you gave me were delightful but…

I could not catch the partridge in time so it flew away, 

but I planted the pear tree in my garden.

I set the turtle doves and the calling birds free, did you know that they are colly birds- which is the old fashioned name for blackbirds. 

The French hens I have added them to my other six chickens. 

I found out that the rings are chocolate not gold I ate 2 and sold the rest. 

I have bought an allotment for the geese. 

For the milk maids I rang up the dairy factory in Settle and they have got part time jobs. 

The disco divas have gone to see a friend of mine’s mum who is a dance teacher. 

Those lords, well I sent them to train for the Olympics for the long jump, triple jump, high jump, hurdling jump, trampolining, pole vaulting, ski jumping, horse jumping, snowboarding and gymnastics.

For the pipers I sent them to plumbing school to learn about all types of pipes. 

And the drummers they have gone to the coldstream guards military band. 

But I will report you for theft and violation to her majesty herself for stealing seven swans.

from xxxx

     

                           

I laugh out loud every time I read his reply ! What goes on in that little head of his is amazing! 

Counting again - 13 and talk about chuffed to bits!!

13, thirteen, unlucky for some, and as someone who was an incredibly superstitious teenager I still feel the heebie jeebies when I write or say that number.

I am not as bad as I was but thank goodness it's a Monday and not a Friday.....!

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I have finished my apple green basket weave scarf and I am all happy happy about it! It so-so warm and brightens up my day. I put it on this morning and haven't taken it off yet, I love it (but you may have guessed that in my last post about my yummy scarf) love it, love it.

So, I took a few pictures..... I couldn't help it!

Oops, another picture.....

Did I mention it's warm and it's a yummy apple green colour?......... oh may be once or twice!!

12 and counting And a seasonal 'How-To'

Today's number has brought to you by a well known cooking product which has been around since 1840.

A combination of chores and homework has kept us at home today.  Besides it's rather cold and damp outside.

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'How to' - make sparkly tree decorations

1. Feel creative......and indignant at the cost of purchasing similar decorations

2. You will need some chunky pine cones, glue gun,  glitter, wire and  PVA glue

Cut the wire into short lengths and bend at either end - one side will be glued to the pine cone and the other will be used to hook the cone on to the tree.

3. I used a glue gun to spot-glue the end of the wire in between the scales

4. All the cones now with their hooks, ready for a bit of slap and glitter!

(optional step - stop to make lunch for the three ravenous males in the household)

5. Daub the ends of each scale with PVA glue 

6. Now for the best part - sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle away!

7. Tap off any excess glitter

8. Some of the sparkle-cones drying before the final step.

9. Hang the cones on the tree, stand back and admire your handiwork.

Ta daaaaaa!

Counting - 11

The snow has all gone, suddenly overnight on Thursday and now it is damp and cold rather than icy cold - not sure which is better.......


The house is filled with the smells of baking, Eldest has been baking mince pies, and apart from my help when I took them out of the oven for him, he has done himself - Well done!  Himself is suitably impressed and has sampled quite a few already.




I, with the help of the boys, have made our sun cake. We have used this recipe from a certain television programme we've been watching. The smell of the orangey-lemon scented fruit cake is gorgeous, so so delicious...yum. The amount it made was far too much for our largest cake tin (what a shame) so I have put the excess in a loaf tin - to sample you understand erhem.   As usual I have adapted the recipe to suit our tastes and what was in the baking cupboard! (this will be another of my 52 things not cooked before)







I started soaking the fruit with all the spices last night. The boys thought we were going to start the cake, and when I explained that it had to soak first they were disappointed until I promised a bit of tree decorating - the excitement was incredible!! I thought that as they grew older, the delight would be lessen, but this year they (particularly Youngest) have almost reached fever pitch and we still have nearly two weeks to go!!

As I type, I can smell the cake. It is ready, and looking good. And once tipped out of it's tin it looks quite dark and fruity......yum.  Tomorrow I will decorate it.

Also on my to-do list for tomorrow:
finish writing cards
deliver cards around the village
go to a 'living advent' hosted by a friend
start wrapping gifts
Get on with gifts I am crocheting/sewing/making

Counting still...10. This self imposed count down - not as easy as it looks!

Yesterday I searched urgently whilst I was driving. My eyes darting across the road and up lanes as I  carefully manoeuvred through the still snowy streets.  I was on my way to collect the boys from school and I had two critical deadlines. Firstly I had to get to the school in good time to find parking and more importantly (I jest) I had to find a number 10!

I looked at road signs, I looked for speed signs, I looked at road way numbering, I even contemplated looking at house numbers but knew that it would be frowned on if I suddenly stopped outside a house and grabbed my camera and started taking photographs of somebody's front door.

In exasperation and completely '10-less' I  slotted the car into what appeared to be the last parking space at the school. I turned off the engine, released the seatbelt, glanced at the dashboard clock and saw I had about 10 (ha - the irony) minutes to spare, so decided to do a bit of in-car-entertainment (that's crochet to you and me.....) while I waited for the boys.

A little while later, 

I casually looked up 

and saw 

this....

I.was.parked.right.alongside.the.

previously.scarlet.pimpernel.like.

number.10. 

?Quirk of fate?

Counting again .... 9

Spotted by my eagle eyed boys - today's number 9 is a creation of snow embedded into a telegraph pole registration number.




When I typed the words 'eagle eyed' I was instantly taken back to when Youngest was a lot lot younger, and in innocence, said something to a teacher which made us curl up in parental horror!


He was only 4 ½ - 5 years old and had lost a book and his rather stern and unforgiving teacher said to him something on the lines of.... 

'you have to have the eyes of an eagle like me'

to which our dearest and sweetest and most precious  (lil monster....) Youngest replied....

Yes, you have the eyes of an eagle

legs of a chicken

breath of a buzzard

Apparently there was a deathly hush and a rather pained expression on said teacher, who with pursed lips sent him back to his seat.

Where, you might ask, did he get such pretty little ditty.....

.......Ask his father.....

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It must be something to do with the weather. All this coldness, whiteness, snowiness and total lack of verdant colour has made me yearn for things green.

My basket weave apple green scarf

Did I mention it's a deliciously appley green?

I love it

love it

love

green

I love the way it drapes, 

I love its spring-like green apple colour

One more, promise last one today......... 

...... Although I will probably post more pictures when it is finished!!