Counting down (up?) day 7

First week down and only 16 shopping days left to go.....

Hmmm.

Better go and find the car keys and shopping list.
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Counting again - 6 and weekend round up

Into the 6th day of December, and the only one fully organised with his gifts, is Youngest. He has made or purchased as well as wrapped presents for all of those he loves. Eldest is disgusted (possibly in awe but refusing to admit it) and we are astounded at his generosity, his planning and sheer determination.

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Today - the number 6 is brought to you by my vitamin B6 box and the book ' Now we are six' by A.A.Milne.

(To be read over the sounds from a certain puppet show from the States which had a rather large yellow bird as one of the presenters!)

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Weekend round up - I love it when the weekend starts on a Friday and this one did with the arrival of my friend from Anglesey. She blew in on a snow storm and immediately made herself at home.

Saturday promised to be fun and it was, it was extremely hectic and too much happened to report so, you will have to be content with photographs and snippets. I still have shiny glittery silver paint on my right thumbnail and despite various attempts of removing it - it stubbornly remains as a cheerful reminder of a fun time.

A selection of wreathes - hearts and circles. Some generously filled, others sparse and wild. Some were faultless while others random, there were traditional reds and golds and modern ice blues and lime greens.

There was such a flurry of foliage and a spraying of silver and sparkles. The hall was filled with a heady mix of pine scent and aerosol spray and the sound of laughter and chat. The day flew by with such surprising speed.

A weather inspired wreath and a hand tied bunch for a kitchen door.

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As ever, it was successful, we were sadly missing a few of our regular 'craftsters' but their spaces were eagerly filled with new ones. And, at the end of the workshop we all triumphantly took our festive treasures home. (Some of us used wheelbarrows because it was a safer bet than driving!)

This year, I didn't have time to finish my Yule log until Sunday. While the boys went out sledging I had the house and the fire to myself and in the gentle silence I finished off my window decoration.

The house now smells of cloves and oranges. Scented foliage and cinnamon sticks - it smells delicious.

Counting again - day 5

Sniff....sniff...cough. excuse me, feeling a bit rough and feeling a bit lazy.

The house is quiet, our weekend guests have gone and the boys are sledging. I am perfecting the art of procrastination by posting my tribute to the 5th day in December instead of clearing away the mess from our festive wreath making thingy.

I blame this silly little cold I have.

I am not responsible.

Oh and I have been crafting..................

......................and cooking - so not all that lazy then.

Counting again - 4

4th day in December - a wonderful day of sprinkles and sparkles. 

Excess of silver and gold spray paints and yards and yards of festive ribbon.

Did I mention yards and yards?  

Of ribbon?

Of the festive variety?

Oh, and glitter, glue and other things pertaining to the making of wreathes and garlands and chrimbly type decorations.

Details later...................................

Counting - 3 .... It's Friday!

Counting again - 3rd day into December.

I am so-ooo looking forward to tomorrow - it is our annual festival wreath making thingy!  We started it in 2003 (hence the plaque in the photo) as a fund raising effort for the village garden festival. Now it has become a firm part of our festive Yule rituals. We all get together and enjoy a day of crafting and creating, a day of friendship and laughter, a day of mock horror at each other's choice of music and a day of feasting and fun.

The lead up to it is usually fairly frantic - well, it is for me as I am never organised! Cutting and collecting of evergreen foliage, sorting out ribbons and glitter. Finding or buying bits, making and baking, but it is always worth it - because by the end of the day we all end up with beautiful wreathes, bowers, garlands, table decorations and it heralds the beginning of the festive season.

And the best of it? For me, it is seeing all the decorated doors and windows and knowing I saw them being created by people I know and have shared a lovely day with!

Counting - 2....snow snow snow

Counting again - 2nd day in December.

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A tap at the office window makes all three of us look up to see my boys. My two boys with smiling rosy cheeked faces. It's time to go home and they'r here to collect me. I wrap up warmly until I think can not possibly bend to put my wellies on. ......Then have to bend to put my wellies on - oof.

The squeaky crunch of frosty snow crystals intrigue me. Each footstep we make has a musical sound to it. We turn from work and instead of heading home, we set off towards town. I have three things I must do, and the boys, ever keen for adventure and spontaneous escapades are happy to join in.

1. My first on the to-do-list  - is to entertain them, so that one is already happily ticked off as they kick snow, find huge icicles and help me look for the 2nd item on my list
2. Find numbers - for my self imposed 'Counting down' initially towards the 12 days of Christmas and then the count down to the new year. We stop and photograph speed signs and light posts, we look high and low and find enough to keep me happy.  
3. And thirdly - I need to pick up a gift or two.

The village is quiet, hardly any cars despite the road being passable. There definitely more walking happening and less driving which is a good thing. We pass several other bulkily wrapped locals and mutually nod a scarf-muffled greeting. 

Mission accomplished we return accompanied by the squeaky crunch foot steps. The kettle is calling and I am ready for that cup of tea!

Snowy views through our village.

Counting - 1 .... first day of December

Counting down - marking time.

The boys - all three, set off early for school and work, Himself has just text me to say the queues are horrendous, poor him - he'll be late for work. The snow is causing all sorts of chaos. And-my-feet-are-cold!

It has been busy at work, and it seems that I am there more than at home at the moment. It is always like this with the lead up to chrimbly time, people seem to panic and often order extra early or order multiple quantities of their prescriptions. Which, if we were shutting for any length of time would be understandable but we only shut for two days.....2 as in one more than one!

Hey ho. (Or to be in keeping with the season - should that read....Ho Ho!?!)

Any hoo, I needed some hooky me-time and despite my eyes feeling like sandpaper last night and having as much oomph as a wet lettuce I started these...........


Little hearts of happiness.

Sorry about the colour, the sun hasn't really got up yet and the snow has made every where feel more dull today. Our house, despite having large windows can feel rather dark on a day like this.

Apple green basket weave scarf coming along slowly - bit disappointed in it though - the balls of yarn felt lovely and squishy and soft, but made up the scarf feels a bit 'firm' a bit 'hard' and I suspect the hook I am using is a too small - I shall probably have to rip rip rip rip it back :(  and start again with a larger hook. On the bright side - winter has started early so I  have a greater incentive to get on and finish!


I've just looked outside .................. and it's snowing again!

Woopee ( I think)