Handmade Christmas??

It has been such a long time since I have posted and now I have to try and remember what I have been doing.  Well ............. the main and most important thing is me FLYING to the UK to stay with Vicki and the children for a couple of weeks.  Not so important ???  It is to me because I am absolutely petrified of getting on a plane, but Vicki made a throw-away comment about how she would like me to be there with her while Bill was away and I thought, could I?  I was very lucky in that a friend of mind was returning to the UK so I flew back with her but I came back on my own!!  I am very proud of myself and would I do it again??  Watch this space.

Needless to say I had a wonderful time while I was there and one Saturday when Vicki was working at a Christmas Fair I had the girls to myself so decided that was the day to make the Christmas puddings.  We had great fun and did a lot of stirring and flicking of ingredients all over the place and the kitchen was smelling wonderful.  Of course the best part of making Christmas puddings is stirring and making a wish at the same time.  We did this a few times and then we called Grampie, who was still in France, and William stirred while Grampie made a wish, the girls each had Clare and Kenny, they stirred while they made a wish.  It was left then overnight to soak up all the ale and brandy and then daddy came home and stirred and wished as well, so you never know, next year could be a good year!!  I did some cross-stitch while I was there, I also wrote all my Christmas cards and did most of my present shopping as well, so all in all, a very good visit.

Home now and back to the making of presents.  I am trying to make as many as possible this year and to be honest I am enjoying it.  I made a good start while we were staying with Clare and Kenny in September and since then I have made some more.  Obviously I can't show you all of the things I have made otherwise it won't be a surprise for the recipients!!

2 cheeky little sock monkeys.  One by me, one by Clare

2 little rag dollies, both by me

It's funny isn't, I did one of these dollies while I was staying with Clare and Kenny, it is Clare's pattern and she has the templates but how to make it up was in her head.  While with her, I managed it, but doing one on my own back here was a nightmare, I just had a mental block.  But ........ many phone calls to a very patient daughter later, I finally finished the one on the left today.  Whew!!  I didn't think one of the recipients was going to get one.  Needless to say, I have now written down my version of the instructions and hopefully I will be able to make another one some time, should the need arise.  Don't hold your breath Clare.

The weather here is glorious, very sunny and quite warm, but the mornings and evenings are cold.  Just perfect for autumn.  Both the cats are running about outside and the little one especially is finding his way about.



Is it a dove? Is it a Snowy Owl? No - it's a kitten, pretending to hide on a misty morning!!

 Does he really think they are going to come to the feeders with him sitting there in all his glory?  Bless him, perhaps that's what he wished for when I was mixing the puddings!!

I'm off now to make some biscuits, we are off to church in the morning for the first Sunday in Advent and we are all taking a bring and share lunch.

Take care everyone, will talk again soon.