I hope that everyone had a great Christmas, ours has been quiet apart from seeing family i haven't ventured out of the house much; i have given the dreaded sales a miss, i hate the crowds and rummaging through things, most of which is bought in especially for the sale season anyway.

I was hoping to get more stitching done over the holidays but i have managed to finished off 2 ornies today for my December SAL, both are freebie charts, and I'm quite pleased how they have turned out.It's a pity i didn't finish them a little earlier, as they will be packed away until next Christmas in a few days. Usually i take my decorations down on new years day, this time I'm going to leave them up a little longer, somehow i have really enjoyed having the tree and my bits and pieces around this Christmas, it will look a little bare without the tree in my dining room. Guess who was hiding in there today......
...Millie :-) she does get in the strangest of places, she is such a comical cat, much more so than Molly who is really laid back. She loves to be warm and if i don't make the beds real quick in the morning she soon snuggles down in there for the day.
This morning we woke to find that Jack Frost had been to visit us in the night

I noticed this on the washing line this morning, but no sign of it's occupant.


I even thought i saw the start of a little snow flurry, but that may have been wishful thinking, lol.
I'll leave you with one more photo of Millie, this is where she's took to lying if she's cold
Wishing you all a healthy & happy 2009....till then, Tara-a-bit xxx

Finally the painting in the dining room is all finished and my tree is up...yaaaaay it does look a bit bare at the moment though, i couldn't find the little thingies to hang the baubles on with, i will get some tomorrow when I'm out and it should look a bit better then.So, how do you like my red wall?? I have always fancied having a wall in red but never been brave enough to try it, hubby said just go for it, so i did! and I'm so glad:) it warms the room up lovely and i love it. As you can see i even managed to persuade dh about the sofa in the dining room! and it make the room more cosy and usable.

I found the little stars hanging from my light in the local Tesco, also came across these little felt decorations, all at a reduced price and they look great hanging from the cupboard doors.

We bought some chestnuts on Saturday and they are sitting in Santa's sleigh ready to be roasted on the fire over Christmas.

Another bargain picked up at Tesco was this Noel which is sitting on the side board

I actually bought 3 of these, they are so lovely, i have one on the mantle in the sitting room and the other on the fire place in my bedroom. One last bargain buy was this reindeer, star and bell garland on string, it's quite primitive and simple looking

I've done quite well for bargain buys in decorations this year, i have a lovely table cloth for Christmas day from Ikea and some charger plates , but those belong to another post... so for now, tara-a-bit xx

Finally I've found five minutes to sit down, all be it 12 midnight when really i should be in bed as i still have work tomorrow :o All week I've been trying to get the dining room painting finished so that the tree can at last be put up this weekend, I should be able to finish off on Saturday, not tomorrow as it's our staff 'do' tomorrow night, meal and free bar from 5-8pm, not sure to expect from where we are going the reports of the place are not good...we shall see!

My dd#2 is coming home from uni on Monday, so my task for Sunday is to get her room ready, I'm afraid it's become a dumping ground for Christmas presents and wrapping paper over the last couple of weeks. It was her 21st on December 2nd..

Jo with her 21st balloon. All girls together.


It will be my eldest daughters birthday on Monday. December is a very busy month for us, my wedding anniversary is on Saturday, (i ask you, what on earth possessed us to get married this close to Christmas, I swear when we married it didn't seem this close, lol, i remember the sun was shining), we don't usually celebrate our wedding anniversary it's a long story but usually one or both of us usually forget and the date has passed before we realise, too many other things going on i suppose. Then it's my birthday on 27th & my brothers on 28th, phew! at least we get a break on the birthday front until April!.
Just one more photo to share, i heard that Gillie has received the Christmas ornament and goodies i sent her, i really enjoyed stitching this and i achieved a couple of 'firsts' for me, one being my first stitched Santa and the other being the first time i made cording. I hope you like it Gillie
Isn't he cute, i almost wanted to keep him for myself lol, but i know he's gone to a good home :)On that note i will say goodnight, i have to be up at 7am and its 12.30 now, not going to get much beauty sleep tonight!..Tara a bit x