Bye, Bye 2008

Well Christmas is over, hope you had a good one. Mine wasn't too bad even though I was ill like so many others, my lurgy got 100% worse as soon as I sat down on Christmas day afternoon. I was shaking with a high temperature and coughing so much it was making me vomit! I am now left with a chesty cough, a cold and a really sore mouth. The annoying thing is I very rarely get ill, I've worked with children for 20 years and never caught their bugs but this is a nasty one! Anyway back to Christmas the children had obviously been good sometime during the year as my house was jam packed full of presents. Lily soon learnt to rip open her parcels unlike last year when it took nearly all day! She is now the proud owner of a Dora keyboard or ' my eeano' as she calls it.

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Yesterday in an attempt to blow away the bugs we went down to St. Ives and took some photos especially for Claire - Summerfete! We drove as far as Lelant Sandings where we then went on the train park and ride. The views along the railway line are stunning.

Although the sea was so blue I wouldn't have wanted to venture in it, it must've been freezing. It was so, so bitterly cold and windy I certainly don't envy those that will be lining the cobbled streets tonight, dressed in their fancy dress! Lily was dressed in many layers -tights, jeans, long sleeved top, hooded cardigan, thick coat, scarf, hat gloves - it was that cold! She didn't care though she loves the seaside.

Porthminster beach.

Tonight Tara will be going to Looe where they also dress up and party in the streets, this year she's going as a bumblebee. Jemma is going out dressed as a fairy and Jodie is going to a friends 16th birthday party dressed as Amy Winehouse. I'll be warm and cosy at home watching Jools's Hootenany! Pics to follow.

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2008 memories etc:

Jemma moved out and eventually took Snakie with her. She started her chartered accountant course.

Tara qualified as a hairdresser although she isn't doing hairdressing! She also passed her driving test.

Jodie completed her Duke of Edinborough award and is now working on her Arts Mark award.

Lily has learnt to sleep at night, is potty trained and now knows how to have spectacular tantrums :-)

We've had a new kitchen, new bathroom and bought a caravan. Now in 2009 we just have to do the rest of the house and pay for the kitchen! And I really must loose the baby weight!

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Happy 2009 everyone, hope it's better than predicted and the credit crunch doesn't bite too hard!

Christmas at Eden

Oh I was so smug thinking that the dreaded lurgy had passed me by, only to succumb to it on Friday evening! It came with avengence not just to me but to Lily too. I had visions of spending Christmas in bed but luckily things are improving for both of us although I do resemble Rudolph with my red nose lol. I decided that some fresh air and a change of scenery was needed so we headed off to Eden so Jodie and her friend could ice skate and we could mooch around the Christmas market.

The ice rink is in the dome in front of the biomes.

This is a huge (see the people standing next to it!) tree made of fabric.

And while they skated we watched a robin singing and Lily duly told him that she had been good, (this was done so that the robin would pass the message on to Santa). You'll have to click on the picture to see the robin.

We saw Santa waving from the top of the biome.

You may see him if you click on the pic!

Lily made a decoration, which she thoroughly enjoyed doing not having used felt tips before.

And then decorated a cookie.

She didn't fancy eating it though!

We had to come away before it got dark as it was cold but I managed to take a few photos, from the top of the hill, as the lights came on.

If my mum was still with us it would've been her 78th birthday yesterday hence the need to get out of the house, she loved ice skating so this was an appropriate way to celebrate for her.

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I received a parcel on Saturday morning, which was just what I needed to cheer me up after being up most of the night with Lily. It was my December shabbychiccafe swap from Viv. Look how lovely it was all wrapped up in gorgeous ribbons.

And inside there was a fabric covered address book and a tissue case both made with gorgeous fabric. Along with some chocolate scented tea lights, my favourite Belgium chocolates and a lovely handmade card. Thankyou Viv it's a lovely swap, very much appreciated. (The address book is strategically placed so you can't see how many chocs I had scoffed before I took the photo!)

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I cannot believe it is now less than 2 days to go!

Today I have to go shopping for veg and cheese, deliver presents, drink Lemsip, wrap more presents, make Nigella's chocolate fruit cake and make some mince pies. Which leaves Christmas eve for cooking ham, sausage rolls, preparing veg doing housework and going to the Christingle service. Then I can relax, well after I've cooked Christmas dinner that is! And before you start thinking that I have all these daughters to help me, it's a myth, at least it is in this house:)

I hope you all have a really wonderful Christmas, get chance to relax a bit and receive lots of lovely presents.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ....

It's been a busy week here, the Christmas panic is setting in and I've been getting up at the crack of dawn! But looking on the positive side the tree, the decorations and the outside lights are all up at last. I've even started to write cards and have wrapped half of the presents.

The lounge.

Tomte village- I got addicted to making these last year.

The kitchen.

My christmas decoration swap has winged it's way to Monique in the Netherlands and I'm eagerly awaiting my parcel. Monique requested white/silver as her colour scheme so I made some decorations from white felt using silver thread and beads to decorate them. I then made an organza gift bag roughly using the tutorial from Penny at sewtakeahike.

I've also sent my December swap to CTC at the shabby chic cafe - some felt ornaments in another organza gift bag, a cinnamon flower fairy sachet, a peg doll fairy, a crochet brooch, my first crochet snowflake (which I forgot to stiffen!) some candles and a chocolate santa.

I've finished my vintage stockings, Tara thinks they're horrible but Lily loves them, lol. I've also done a felt garland but I still haven't finished my wallhanging probably because I keep crocheting different snowflakes! And I did do 2 hours of ironing yesterday so I now have an empty ironing pile, well until tomorrow when the washbaskets will be full again!

I received my prize from the November members draw at Debbie's English Treasures, I was able to choose any cup and saucer from the site and was so pleased with my choice:

And bless her she even added a little something for Lily a rabbit in a basket. Lily is so delighted with it and carries it around like a handbag, thankyou so much Debbie and Alan of course.

Now I'm off to look through these as I have to plan my christmas menus and my grocery shopping for tomorrow.

And then these just in case there's anything else that I must make before Christmas, I don't want to get bored now do I!

And if all else fails I'll just have to crochet some snowflakes while I catch up on a bit of Fanny Craddock's Christmas, I adore this programme the woman is an absolute legend, so so funny!

Things I'm loving right now .....

1-Winning, I seem to be having I winning streak at the moment sadly Tracey it's not happening with the lottery lol. First I won these Tracey's giveaway a set of lovely handmade Christmas tags.

And then two forum giveaways some lovely rose patterned fabric from Annie C.

And two crochet/knitting booklets from Miss_Phish.

So that'll give me something to do in the new year!

Thankyou all of you.
I've also won the November prize draw at Debbie's English Treasures, which I'll show as soon as it arrives.
I have my name entered for a giveaway that finishes next week and I really, really want it so I have all my fingers crossed, all I'm saying is it has something to do with monkeys and it's quite hard to type with crossed fingers!

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2 - Swaps, I received my pink forum swap from Pipkin, lots of goodies; Vintage home polka dot placemats, pastel silicone cupcases, 4 fabric napkins, a tablecloth and some lovely bunting with butterflies, which are a perfect match for Lily's room as I'm making curtains and bedding from a lovely Globatex fabric with butterflies on, thankyou Pipkin it's all really lovely.

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3- This Christmas book that I read about on Funky Monkey's blog so of course I had to have it and I'm so glad as it's fantastic as is the Thrift book which I bought at the same time and have my nose stuck in constantly at the moment! I'd recommend both of these.

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4- Vintage Christmas baubles, my lucky find! I got these for 50p a bag in the charity shop, which made me very happy indeed!

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5 - Lily's Christmas snowman plates. We had great fun making these, what child doesn't love a bit of glitter. I found the tutorial here, I didn't have any plain white plates but they look fine with patterned.

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6- Finishing the advent calender on the 'ahem' 7th! There are 3 others though.

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What I'm not loving - Christmas musical toys all playing at once! They may look quite cute but Lily has decided it is great fun to have them all playing so we have 'O, Christmas tree'; 'Merry Christmas Everybody'; Last Christmas'; Let it Snow'; Jingle Bells'; Baby it's cold outside'; Frosty the snowman'; 12 days of Christmas and 'The night before Christmas'. Luckily the musical ornaments haven't got batteries in yet!

And Lily is not loving Santa, he came to the toddler group party yesterday and she wasn't impressed, she got her present and went as far away as possible to open it!

Well I'm going to put my tree up now, I'm very behind this year I haven't written a card or wrapped a present yet. I wonder if the lure of the computer has anything to do with it!

I'll leave with some pics of what I have done - my dresser, kitchen shelf and my Santa family of Russian dolls, which I painted last year.

Happy Birthday Tara and catching up.

Edited on Thursday 4th to add that Tara has just passed her driving test, first time too! She hadn't even told us she had a test, she likes to keep us on our toes! She's obviously chuffed to bits and told me that she high fived the instructor! Well done Tara!

I am here at last after nearly two weeks without posting and it was Tara's birthday on Sunday, which is when I should have done this post. And the reason for the delay - decorating! Why oh why do I decide to decorate the lounge just before Christmas? Here's a sneeky peak, it is close up, I'll show more when it's finished. I've just wallpapered one wall, the first time I've used wallpaper in 20 years.

And this is my new light fitting, as you can see I haven't trimmed the paper yet.

Because of this I haven't even had time to get my Christmas decorations up yet. But Lily has made a snowman at toddler group. I think he's looking a bit sad as he has no other snowmen to play with!

Time is catching up with me and taking over. See I'm not superwoman lol re my last post, the secret is I get up early 6.30 or earlier, today it was 5. Jodie sorts herself out in the mornings and Lily has taken to staying in bed until 9 ish, I hear her wake up about 7 and then she climbs into my bed and goes back to sleep for a couple of hours. So I do a lot in that time, I also don't drive so I'm stuck at home during the week, the nearest shops are a 15 minute drive away so no gallavanting around for me! All this means I get lots of time to sew etc. It's a hard life!

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Anyway HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY TARA. That's her at the top of this post with the blinking tattoo on her shoulder.
What do you think a 19 year old would do for her birthday .............. go to see Madagascar 2 at the cinema of course. This is right up Tara's street. She also went clubbing on Friday night and again on Monday night of course just to make sure that she celebrated enough! And as she also had to work, cooking roast dinners at the pub, on her birthday we have to have her birthday tea today. It has to be a 'choosy tea' i.e. party food, my children have always called it a choosy as you can choose what to eat. This is how she dressed for work on Sunday, she's the Leprachaun, she made everyone else dress up too!

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Little Gem received her sparkle swap from me, I sent a pink flower pen, some glitter candles, a silver tealight holder and glitter tealight, a bag of vanilla scented sparkles, a sparkly crochet flower brooch and a pink sparkly heart.

I've finished my Chrismas decoration swap for Monique - Thyme and Lavender, but will post the photos when I know that she has received it.

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I must show you this shaving mug that I ordered from Debbie's English Treasures, their customer service is excellent, the parcel was wrapped in lovely floral paper and inside it was wrapped in pink tissue paper with polka dot ribbon and handmade tags.

Then there was a little thankyou for ordering gift inside, again this was all wrapped in tissue and lace with a handmade tag.

It contained ribbons, lace and handmade labels.

I will definately be ordering from them again for those of you who don't know Debbie you can find her here.

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And on the thrifting front I did whizz aound a car boot on Saturday, I say whizz as it was absolutely freezing, which was quite good as the prices were cheap they all wanted to go home! Everything I bought was either 50p or under.

I've been tagged 4 times in the past fortnight so I'll do the first couple now and the others next time.

Firstly 7 Favourite Albums tag from Sandie -Dancing on a blade of grass.

THE RULES 1. Post your list of the seven best albums, the seven bloggers you will tag, a copy of these rules, and a link back here. 2. Each person tagged will put a URL to their Blogger Album Project post along with a list of the seven best albums in the comment section here.3. Feel free to post the “I Contributed to the Blogger Album Project” Award Graphic (found here) on your sidebar.4. Post a link back to the blogger who tagged you.

It's quite hard to narrow it down to just seven as I like a very wide range of music except for country and western. So here goes all these make me happy, my list of feelgood albums.

1- Insomnia -Faithless.

2- Viva La Vida - Coldplay.

3- Best of Mpeople.

4- Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani.

5- Hits - The very best of Erasure.

6- Ultimate Dirty Dancing.

7- Staring at the sea the singles - The Cure.

I could go on.

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I've also been tagged about homemaking by Sharie from view to the hill

A - Z of Homemaking
A is for Aprons - yes/no? If yes, what’s your favourite?

Yes but very rarely worn they look nice hanging up! Cath Kidstonesque.
B is for Baking - favourite thing to bake?
Cakes and biscuits.
C is for Clothesline - do you have one?

I have 2 a long one and a rotary.
D is for Doughnuts - have you ever made them?

Yes I have a doughnut maker.
E is for Every Day - one homemaking task you do every day.

Clean the bathroom and kitchen.
F is for Freezer - do you have a separate deep freeze?

Yes an upright one and I'm about to buy a chest one aswell as I need more freezer space.

G is for Garbage Disposal Unit - do you have one?

Only a dog.
H is for Handbook - what’s your favourite homemaking resource?

Internet.
I is for Ironing - love or hate it?

hate it but it has to be done.
J is for Junk Draw - yes/no? If yes, where is it?

Yes in the kitchen.
K is for Kitchen - colour and decorating scheme?

White units, black worktops, green dresser, bit of red, some pastels alot of vintage china.
L is for Love - what’s your favourite part of homemaking?
Cooking.

M is for mop - do you have one?
Kind of, I have a Bissel floor cleaner that cleans hard floors as well as carpets.

N is for Nylons - machine or hand wash?

Rarely wear but everything goes in the machine.
O is for Oven - do you use a window or open the oven door to check?

Window as long as you can see through it!
P is for Pizza - what do you put on yours?

Pepparami or ham and pineapple.
Q is for quiet - what do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?

I wish!
R is for Recipe Card Box - yes/no? If yes, what does it look like?

I have lots of notebooks books that I write recipes in.
S is Style of House - what style is your house?

Sadly it is a 1960's terrace, which is all we can afford in the area that we live in. Shabby chic, country style as far removed from minimalist as you can get! It has 3 bedrooms, bathroom, lounge, kitchen/dining room, extra kitchen, utility room and downstairs loo, very small gardens front and back but we are surrounded by countryside and the moors.
T is for Tablecloths - do you use them?

Yes occasionally, I have lots of vintage ones.
U is for Under The Kitchen Sink - organised or toxic wasteland?

New kitchen so quite organised at the moment.
V is for Vacuum - how many times a week?

Everyday downstairs, twice a week upstairs.
W is for Wash - how many loads of washing do you do each week?

At least 5.
X’s - Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?

Sometimes when I'm being efficient.
Y is for Yard - who does what?

I do most things as I'm at home all day except for chopping wood for the fire, my axe skills aren't too good!
Zzzz’s - what’s the last homemaking task you do before bed in the evening?

Straighten cushions and flush the loo.

Gosh that was a mammoth task!
Help yourself if you fancy doing either of these tags.

I couldn't resist buying this at the weekend but do you think any of it will be adhered too?

As I write this they are saying, on the news, that it's snowing. There's none here if you have any please blow some this way, Lily is at that age where she thinks snow and Christmas come hand in hand.