Another year over (and older)

So, another year gone, just like that......

2015 seemed to fly by in no time at all, don't you find that the older you get

the faster time goes?  It's scary if you dwell on it too much.

This year wasn't really full of crafty finishes, they were few and far between, I'm not going to list them again now, (if I've stitched it or crocheted it this year it will be on my blog, somewhere).

We did have lots of other things going on, that at times, seemed to take over our whole life, weeks upon weeks of plastering, papering, painting, floor laying, you name it we did it.  Even right up until Christmas Eve.

There are still things to be added here and there, a coffee table, hall table, and some soft furnishings, but the big stuff is done, (well except for the kitchen but we have to feed the piggy bank again before we start this).

Mark has virtually lived in working clothes for the whole year, he's worked like a trooper. 

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The highlight of this year was of course our middle daughter getting married.

Joanne and Gavin are just right for each other.  She was never an easy teenager, and she would agree with me saying that, but I must have done something right along the way because she has grown into a very sensible and hard working woman.  I hope that they will always be as happy as there were that day.

Joanne & Gavin June 4th 2015

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I wonder what 2016 will bring?

I will be starting it a year older.  

My birthday was December 27th, when I turned 54, I don't go in for big celebrations, Mark booked a meal in a nice Italian restaurant that I have been wanting to try for a while, and he booked it all by himself, I was impressed, lol

 He also put some money on a John Lewis card for me because I couldn't make my mind up what I wanted.

There were also some lovely gifts from my 3 daughters, they always spoil their Mother Duckling.

 Thank you to Clare and Julie for thinking of me too, December birthdays are notoriously hard as everyone is already stressed about Christmas so I am always touched when someone remembers.

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One of the things I want to do in 2016 is a monthly mantle decoration.

I've seen this on other blogs and always think it how nice it looks, so now that my (very merger this year), Christmas decorations are down here is my January Mantle, (just a little bit early).

So that's it for 2015.

I hope that 2016 is good to you and wish you health and happiness.

XXX

Merry Christmas

It gets harder each year to seek into Stevie's room and leave her presents without her hearing me.  Yes, I know she's 21 but she still never sees any presents until Christmas morning and I still sneak around the house in the early hours playing Santa. 😀 When she wakes up she will bring her presents into my room and sit in bed with me to open them.  Up until our other girls left home they did this too, my bed used to get very crowded!

So that explains why I'm writing a blog post at 4.30am😉
At least I can have a lie-in later, unlike when they were little.

Just in the nick of time I finished 2 more ornaments, these are Lizzie Kate - Tiny Tidings XIX

I have a couple of smalls kitted up ready to start over Christmas, I have a nice long break,  (not back at work until January 6th), so looking forward to a rest.

That's it for now, except to say

🎅🎅🎅MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎅🎅🎅

XXX

Childhood Books & Gingerbread Men, Well Man, Actually

This last week was a busy one for me, the only night I got to be in home was Friday, and then I was too shattered to do much.  I'm not one for going out so much, I'm more of a home bird, once I get back from work in the afternoon you won't usually get me out of the house again, I'ts not unknown for me to be showered and in my pj's by 4pm, lol

But it is the time to be merry and be sociable, so everyone keeps telling me, so I will make the effort.  

One of this weeks outings was to meet up with the ladies at my book club for a Christmas curry, and It was good to meet and talk about things other than our latests reads.  I'm glad I made the effort.

This Wednesday the Library are having a book club quiz night, so I shall see (most) of them again then.

Saturday was our last meeting of the year, and at this last one Rachel, (the Library attendant who runs the book club) usually wraps different books as presents and we delve into a Christmas sack to pick one.  This time however, after a discussion a few months ago about books we loved as children it was decided that we would each choose a book from our childhood as the exchange.

Initially I thought what on earth am I going to choose!, but actually when you start to look around and think about it it's not that hard, in fact I had so many to choose from in the end!  

After discarding Little Women, Heidi, Stig of The Dump and Milly Molly Mandy, to name but a few, I decided on Black Beauty.  Unfortunately I couldn't find my own copy so had to buy one from a charity shop, not the best copy, never mind.

I also made a little bookmark to wrap with it.

It was one of the younger members that chose my wrapped book.  I chose Rachels.

I'm quite looking forward to re-living a piece of my childhood in this book :-)

I forgot to share this little gingerbread man, I made him a while ago but then put it away for when Oliver put his Christmas tree up.  Jenny has bought him a little Christmas tree that he can decorate with his own things, I'll try and get a photo of it for next time, he was so excited to show me all his decorations today :-)

This was so much easier than I first thought it would be, (I downloaded a template off the internet as I'm no good at drawing), I'm quite pleased with my first hand sewing effort :-)

I think that's it for today, I have a few things on again next week so I'm off for a bath and an early night, while I can!

Have a good week all

-X-

Something to Celebrate

Congratulations to my beautiful daughter on her Graduation.

We are both so proud of you Stevie

x

I find it hard to get an action shot, but I thought It was good that they

threw their hat's up and actually managed to catch them again considering what a windy day it was!

Of course there had to be a selfie for Facebook!

My girls have all grown up, well they think they have, but we mothers all know that they will always be children to us, whatever their age.

I'll be back soon with a crafty related post

-X-

A Couple of Ornament Finishes

Just so that I don't completely loose the will to blog, here are two ornaments that I finished off recently.

The Reindeer one is what Oliver chose himself for his tree, he calls it a stag, he seems to have a thing for stags / reindeer's at the moment, bless him.

they are of course Lizzie Kate

There is lots more going on than I have the energy to talk about at the moment, I just feel out of sorts and don't feel much like doing anything.

Mark is still plugging away at the decorating, onto the hall and stairs now, it's anyone's guess as to whether it will be finished before Christmas, I just don't have the enthusiasm for it though so it's pretty much him doing what he can in between working.

Stevie will be graduating on Wednesday so we are all off to Worcester for the day.

Hopefully that will cheer me up.

-X-

The Annual Scarecrow Festival

Every year at the start of Autumn Belbroughton hosts it's annual Scarecrow Festival.  The weather was beautiful, a perfect day for a walk around this lovely village and see all the hard work.

This year the theme was Icons From History.

Robin Hood

Fryer Tuc

I thin Oliver thought they were real presents, lol

I think this one was the overall winner, I Want To Rake Free :-)

So much thought and effort went into making these scarecrows, I think this was my favourite, 

Jack the Reaper - Wanted Cereal Killer

This one was Interesting

 And finally, nothing at all to do with the scarecrows, but Belbroughton has this really cool phone box which has been de-commissioned and is now owned by the the village I believe.  They have turned it into a place where books are exchanged.

How ingenious! 

Now THATS the sort of village I would like to live in :-)

-X-

London - Lots of Photos!

We are still working away on the downstairs rooms, well Mark is, I'm mainly keeping the refreshments supplied.  We have both had this last week off work, and to be honest he has worked like a trooper!  We are finally approaching the point where the nice stuff will be happening, the fireplaces are in, the flooring is down in one room, by next weekend we might just be ready to paper.

We took a short break last weekend to London, the weather was kind to us and we had a great time, walked our little legs off, but it was fun.  I ticked another couple of places to see off my list, Carnaby Street and Liberty's of London.

Liberty have floor upon floor of wonderful things, most of it without a price tag!

I bought a couple Christmas decorations, lol

We visited Brick Lane again.  

If you have never been to Brick Lane, apart from the atmosphere and the vintage shops and stalls, you are also missing out on some of the most amazing street food!

I couldn't resist trying one of these fruit kebabs and they were delicious  :-)

When the halls get busy and the seating is full people just take it outside and sit wherever

There is a little alleyway that is full of Street Art, some of it is really good.

Caught in the act

We did a fair bit of walking, I just find all the buildings amazing, 

and you get such a different feel at night

The Shard

The firm I work for has installed the sprinkler system on this building and the majority of the various offices / suites within it.

The Walkie Talkie building

Admiralty Arch, which you can read more about the history of here

We also visited the Monument, (to the Great Fire of London) and climbed all 311 steps!!  You can read about it here

I had a certificate to prove my climb but unfortunately I managed to leave it in a pub.....gutted!

The view from the top was amazing, although I don't like heights so I stayed with my back firmly to the building, lol

The Gherkin 

I love this photo with all the cranes around

I can never get enough of London and we are planning to go again around Christmas time, can't wait.

I'll have to update my list of  'things to see in London' for then :-)

-X-