Almost done

I managed to get mum's hat and scarf finished yesterday, they are popping over tomorrow for coffee and cake and a catch up.

 I have been out with my family today, well almost Lloyd has gone back to work so he was unable to join us. We went for lunch with some friends to celebrate a birthday. I am now totally stuffed and could not eat another morsel.

We are out again this evening visiting our god-daughter and family and then on Sunday we are over to Framlingham to see some friends who we don't get to see often enough but about once or twice a year and then it will be time to get ready for the new years eve party!

I could not say where the past year has gone but it seems to have flown by. I am not sure I am yet ready to say goodbye to it or if I want to hang onto it for a bit longer rather than face what is in store for us next year. Watching the news these past few weeks makes for a sorrowful and a doom and gloom year ahead. I suppose we should be grateful that the world never came to an end as was predicted, but as is change is afoot.

Belts will need to be tightened yet again and care will need to be taken in all that we do. We are such a throw away society, however this need not be, we can make do and mend, we can buy second hand goods without feeling any shame, shop at the cheaper stores but still eat well. There should be no shame or embarrassment that we have to live within our means rather than build up a lifetime of debt and be forever chasing our tails as we try to live up to what society expects and cajoles us to believe in.

It takes a better person to take a step back and see things for what they really are than for one to go along with the flow because it is easier than standing away from the crowd and doing your own thing.  

We made a start this year on cutting back and making saving (ohhhhh I can here the moans and groans already!!!) and We, yes I did say We! shall be expanding on that next year.

I want to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you who have been reading and /or following my blog. I hope you have all had an enjoyable festive season and wish you all a very happy  New Year. Until next time x

Tying up loose ends

As the year of 2012 draws to a close it is time to look back at what was and what wasn't achieved last year on the ever lasting todo list. Looking over the list I feel that we done quite well to get the jobs done that we did, especially as it wasn't until the latter part of the year that we actually got our butts in gear and cracked on with getting jobs done.

There are a few jobs that did not get done and will have to roll over to next year, the painting the exterior front of our house has been rolled over for the past three years. I am determined that this job will be one of the first that gets done once the weather warms and hopefully dries.

As you can see my todo list is at present blank, I have another list, yes I know it is a little quirk of mine I just have to have an abundance of lists on the go! Anyway on the list I am jotting down stuff that I want doing around the home and once I think I have finished I will then write it out in my book in the order of doing them and hopefully we will get through the list this time, however you never know what is going to crop up and throw  a spanner in the works so it is not set in stone that they have to all get done, just as long as we try. Have you managed to get your todo lists completed for 2012?

I have had a few unfinished projects on the go and have been getting some of them done today. I had some shopping bags that I was making out of pillowcases that still needed the handles sewn on, these I got done earlier.

You remember the old curtains that I dyed and was going to make some new cushion covers with? Well I also got them done today. I just made two simple envelope cases so there was no need for zips or buttons. I followed Frugal Queen's simple instructions, but adjusted them slightly to suit my needs. I have spoken of Frugal Queen before she is a great inspiration for all who are living on a budget and is looking for ways to save and also great ideas on making things with a sewing machine.

As you can see in the photo above I also recovered a barrel cushion. I just cut an oblong of fabric and put a hem all the way round and tied the ends with some blue ribbon.

The back of the cushion so you can see the simple envelope opening

As I was given some money for Christmas so I treated myself to some ready made cushions which I found in the sale. There were some lovely cushions but I refused to pay over £10.00 just for a blooming cushion!

I paid £30.00 for four cushions, a little extravagant but they do look nice.

This is my seat!

As I have said before when the boys are all in and the girlfriends are over, trying to get a seat in front of the TV can prove difficult, Mum saw this cushion and bought it for me, it is so very apt. Jay bought me the lamp so I can sit and crochet with the extra light, my perfect little corner.

It has been very wet as has most of the country the past week or so, however yesterday remained quite dry so I went out and cleaned out the girls and had a look around the garden to see how things were going. The girls feathers are growing well and they do not look so threadbare as they did just before Christmas. Matilda seems fine and was busy hurtling up and down the garden trying to take off in flight whilst I cleaned out the coop.  All the garlic had emerged. So far so good as this is the only thing that I have planted to over winter this year. 

I am hoping to get out and down to my potting shed and greenhouse at some point next week  to see what can be sown yet. I have two lidded polystyrene boxes that Jay has gotten fishing bait in before and I kept them thinking they would be great propagators to use in the greenhouse. I am going to hold fire and not try and sow too soon but sow at the later end of the allocated time frame for sowing. More planning and list making.

Well time to get back to finish of some more projects, I am making a hat and scarf for mum, a slightly belated birthday present. My hand had swollen quite a bit and it was too painful to crochet. It is better now that I have rested it for a week so I shall be finishing that off, a bag still needs finishing a about three more hats that just need finishing off. Once these are all done I can then start thinking about some new projects that I have in mind.

Until next time x

Just want to say thanks

Well the big day has been and gone, Jay was a star, he prepared and cooked Christmas dinner with little help from me, I spent the day with my bottom parked on the sofa wearing a pair of new pj's and watching the TV and it was pure bliss. I have had a nasty throat infection for the past week that I have been battling with and I am now left with a dry irritating cough that likes to be a pain during the night and keeps me awake.

Mum and dad came over and we all enjoyed a sumptious feast a big thank you to the wonderful chef Jay.

Merry Christmas!

Well the big day has arrived and I am ready and waiting. The gifts are all wrapped and under the tree

The house is all clean and tidy

Jay has done all the veg

I made the red braised cabbage this morning, it smelt so nice that I had to have a bowlful just to see if it tasted as good as it smelt, and it did!

Well it just leaves me to wish you all a very merry Christmas, until next time x