Happy Christmas

 Our plans have gone a little array, poor Theo has gone done with something and is feeling very under the weather, so they may not come up tonight, but the most important thing is for Theo to feel comfortable and happy in his surroundings. These things happen with little ones, but hopefully if not tonight then we shall see them tomorrow. It´s only a 15 minute drive up so not a long journey

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas with lots of love, health and happiness

take care

xcx

Quick trip

 Wrapped some presents, made some gift tags and finished off the cone christmas tree, Theo started to help and I was astonished at the dexterity he showed after being told the pins were sharp, especially when he added the sequins, alas his attention didn´t last but he did very well.

On a very last minute decision, they decided to pop back to the Uk to see Antoni´s family in Nottingham for a long weekend. Flights were not too much and reasonable times too. They rang on the Saturday whilst waiting for a bus to take them into town, they looked like frozen peas, Theo was Not impressed by the cold and was slightly mollified by the chance of a nice hot chocolate. 

Sunday was the fourth anniversary of Rose´s birthday, I had already given them a card and little pressie to take with them, then lit a candle whilst preparing dinner. 

Yesterday was Chris´s birthday so we all got together for a nice meal, I did a loin of pork with rosemary, garlic breaded crust, along with all the veg. Rebecca and Theo had made some lovely chocolate chip muffins which we had with custard and a couple of birthday candles. Chris didn´t want a fuss so it was a nice way of finishing the meal off.

Few things left to do, but at the same time if it doesn´t happen it doesn´t matter, the joy of being together is the main thing.

I remembered to book a delivery slot early so the main groceries are coming tomorrow, saves time and energy and so worth the little that they charge for delivery. especially up here.

Time for dinner prep

take care

xcx

Christmas decs

 We retrieved the Christmas tree and decorations from the loft all ready for Theo to help. He enjoyed putting the tree together and sorted out all the colour coded branches. His face was an absolute picture as we opened boxes and he found the goodies. He was careful in his selection and very gently placed them on the tree, I suggested a few but no, he had his ideas and rejected them. Lift me up was his cry when he couldn´t reach.

I then gave him a box of baubles or various sizes and a metal stand, he spend ages, quite happily arranging them to his taste, using them all up. At first I thought it a little over the top, but on a second look it was really well put together with the tiny baubles on the outside, really artistic for a 2 year old.

I´ve been making little Suffolk puffs for Theo, I bought a small polystyrene cone with the idea he can use them to decorate it. I´ve made baubles in the past using these and they are quite pretty.

Most of the decorations are hand made over the years, quite satisfying to see them each year. This one is a patchwork star, made several years ago.

Have fun with your decorations

take care

xcx

Advent time

I have mainly been concentrating on making advent drawstring bags for Theo. Everything has come from the stash, I brought all the craft stuff with me when we left the farm years ago, which has proved to be very useful.  I´ve topped up some things like ribbons but all the Christmas material has come into it´s own.

I asked hubby to print out some luggage labels with all the dates on then glued them to red card, I did contemplate making felt ones but decided there wasn´t enough time and I couldn´t be asked lol. Had to lay them all out and divide the gifts so they made an interesting find on opening. Decorated a wooden box with tinsel and wrapped the gifts carefully mixing them up so Theo has to find the right number. Thought it would help with his numbers and also learn patience with only one a day.

I made a special one for the 18th using Christmas Rose material as a remembrance for baby Rose.

I left it on the table ready to take only to find that Sashi had made herself very comfortable in the box, should have taken a photo, but I was more concerned in getting her off.

So yesterday we visited Theo, we explained the concept and he looked in wonder that there were so many bags in there. Last year Rebecca bought a set of advent books, so he was in his element of choosing which wrapped book he wanted, which was read twice at bedtime, then as a treat he was given a little chocolate one, lucky boy with three. 

He has been finding going to nursery a bit of a struggle and we have been trying to uncover why. Last weekend he said "Mummy, I have a problem" aww bless, not even 3 yet. Turns out a new boy is being a bit of a bully and upsetting him. Hopefully the calendars will be a bit of distraction for him.

I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas present too.  The cold temps badly effect the Fibro so to save energy and the fact that trying to bend and do low jobs like wainscoting, edges, mopping etc are very difficult for me, I decided to organise a cleaner to come once a week for a couple of hours. I still find myself thinking, I should be able to do this, but we have 5 reception areas, clockroom and kitchen downstairs, plus 8 cats, so to have some help is going to be marvelous. So instead of beating myself up, I´m thinking of the nice things I can do with the energy saved, grateful that the hard jobs are being done and enjoy a fresh home. Defiantly a Loreal moment, yes I´m worth it. Also the person enjoys cleaning and gives her a little pocket money, win, win.  We have a friend coming to stay at the weekend and she is willing to do the guest room, remake beds so that will be a relief.

Our front bell is ringing which means the groceries have arrived, better go and get that sorted.

take care

xcx

  

Jinxed it

 Hmmm I think I jinxed it, had the log burner going now, our lounge is on the north side so doesn´t get much sun, lovely in the summer but chilly now. It used to be the donkey stable, which was ideal for them, but I like warmth. It´s also on a lower level than the garden, about 5ft, so a sunken patio, so we have cut the shrubs back on the top to allow a little more light. 

We have had some lovely play days, but poor Theo succumbed to yet another tummy bug on Friday, with Antoni doing a viral presentation in the afternoon to about 65 people he was unable to do child care, so Rebecca had to ask, very nicely, to take a half day holiday to be able to care for Theo. Oh gosh, I really wanted to help, but these tummy bugs get me 100% so in the view of self preservation I had to honestly say I couldn´t help. Rebecca insisted she wouldn´t have asked me anyway, but I still feel mean. Luckily by late Saturday all was well.

Theo has suddenly been taken with his little kitchen, using his play food to cook pizza and cookies, he so enjoys his stints in the kitchen making muffins, pancakes and biscuits, I think this has spurred him on to use his imagination. So I decided to get all my felt out and make him some additions to his fun food. Some were really easy, some were a little challenging, but he was so pleased and identified all the food, even though Yayo struggled on the tomato slices lol.

I did expand it making different pepper slices, more carrots and would you believe I was actually dreaming of how to make Oreos. Made several more of the tomatoes, it will keep him going for a bit. When they came up on Sunday he was thrilled with them.

I made felt Christmas tree shapes and kept all the little cut offs from the food, and we had fun gluing all the bits together making a picture.

Chris decided to paint a picture of our original girls, Tammy and Lucy, he doesn´t have a dedicated studio, just up in the Naya, so is exposed the the weather conditions, although under cover, too warm and the paint dries on the brush, too windy and it blows the pollen and dust, plus the furries want to help too, any way here is his latest picture

Just taken our car down for its ITV, (MOT) Rebecca kindly collected Chris to bring him home and will do the return to pick up. Quite strange to be without transport up here but there we are, collection Wednesday, hopefully.

Time for dinner

take care xcx

Jungle

It´s been very warm and mild here, haven´t even thought about needing to light the log burner, probably jinxed it now. Managed to get out into the jungle for a while each day, so it´s gradually getting clear again. We will have to wait until there has been substantial rainfall before the town hall will issue a burning license.

The Moroccan holiday wasn´t quite what was expected, mainly French spoken, they were on the second floor without a lift, which made it quite hard with Theo. Rebecca had a couple of massages which she enjoyed and although the water was quite cold the various pools were tried and enjoyed. They did a couple of excursions which they enjoyed, one to a crocodile park and another to a little place that produced Argan oil. They had a go at  grinding, all done by hand and hard work. No wonder the oil is so expensive, but the moisturizer had a wonderful texture and absorbed very quickly. They brought us back a little gift which was so thoughtful, a hand painted scene, painted on stretched goat skin and a couple of pretty coasters.

  

They had a trip to the local market but found it to be too pushy and expensive, they purchased some spices but realised they were being ripped off when the stall holder tried to charge them 70e for not very much, and got cross when they refused the amounts he was pushing and settled for a much smaller amount. Took the fun out of it. They did enjoy all the different tagines though.

First week of November nearly gone so I must crack on with the advent calendar I want to make for Theo, little drawstring bags to pop in a little gift, they can be used over the years then. Although it´s quite hard thinking of  so many items that will fit.

Right, out into the wilderness again

take care

xcx

Blue Peter

At last we have taken delivery of our new back/lounge door, we ordered this in June, it´s taken so long, I know every thing stops for August, but even so. Then we were given an installation date with the warning if we had to rearrange it would be another 4-6 weeks before another appointment. Really! This door was beyond repair, it was so ill fitting with an inch gap at the top and the rest deteriorating day by day. It was single glazed and let the elements in. Now double glazed, snug, triple locks and doing its job.

I painted the kitchen door today after the repairs , needs another coat, but so much better, on the hunt for the right paint hubby found the wood preserver for our double front door, so that was applied. The sun and wind dries everything out so much. So nice to get these little jobs out of the way and preserve what we have.

We were given an old drinks trolley which I think I mentioned, but now its finished so Theo can use it as an outside kitchen/work area. A good dose of Blue Peter, as in sticky back plastic for the storage bottles and the tops.

Mentioning Blue Peter, I actually appeared on the show in the mid 70´s, we were interviewed by John Knokes, who kept fluffing his lines, but I was part of a girls weight training team, we rehearsed, then went to recording, eventually we got there. On our way to our coach we met Dick Emery, who immediately went into his acting mode of Mr Lampwick playing with our weights and causing great fun, hilarious. I then met John Knokes again when we visited the ponds at Elstead in Surrey and he was walking his dogs, very nice, cheerful man. Many years earlier I was sent a Blue Peter badge as our guinea pig had given birth to 8 babies and I asked if it was a record, they couldn´t confirm but that was my first badge.

Continuing on with the blanket and here are the little stockings I´m working on.

More to do, 

Rebecca took some amazing photos of the decor in Morocco, I´m hoping at some stage they will provide some inspiration.....you can always hope lol

Dinner prep now

take care

xcx