Two Days....

Two days, both holding two different meanings for me.  Firstly, my first born turned 14.  We opened presents, we gathered the larger family together to have food and celebrate,....

...we ate cake, we laughed, we listened to music...

....we gave him his own door key (thank you Claire for the idea), with a keyring made by the fabulous Pippa.  Go take a peek at her shop ...she can do bespoke items too :o).  As I was in the kitchen for most of the day I also made the Christmas puds.

Second day...the six year anniversary marking the day my Mum died.  I still dwell on the details of the day, even though I know I shouldn't.  I know I would get loads more christmassy things done if I weren't counting down the days until this day, but.... on the actual day (the 21st) I'm actually ok.  I light a candle, my mood lifts, I think of her, I made two lots of soap in preparation for my first craft fairs, I made the cards for the boys and the Hubby...

 ...I finished the chocolate frog earrings (a pair for a lovely friend and a pair for me)...

...I made some hanging snowmen for two other lovely friends from the home ed group.  By the end of the night I was very excited about Christmas again.  I dreamt about her overnight...she came to see me...she's still there, in my heart :o).

Ready?

Well, the tree is up, some of the pressies are wrapped, the food is ordered or in the freezer, the invites are out, but...I don't know, I'm just not really feeling it yet!  Is it really this weekend?  Am I the only one feeling like this?  Maybe its the blooming cold that has been lingering in the background for over a week, that finally decided yesterday that it would rear it's head properly.  Out came the honey, lemon and echinacea again.  Probably a bit late, but when it was just sort of lingering in the background I stopped making it...serves me right really ;o).

(mmmmmm, dumplings...)

So today, I'm waiting for the shopping to arrive, I'm waiting for the courier to pick up a box of milk bottle tops (recycling for charity), I'm preparing for tomorrows birthday (eek a 14 year old), I'm sneezing alot, I'm hoping the glass doors will be back on the painted and filled cupboards so I can show you them, cos I LOVE them, and I'll be trying to find my Christmas zing again.

Beautiful Things

I finally got the doilies in my window (and no, I didn't get round to washing the windows first ;o) ).  They look beautiful and work really well.  Ooh, I meant to take a picture of my money tree plants because they are flowering!  I've had them for years and didn't even know they did that...they have the most beautiful delicate white flowers...has anyone else's flowered?  I'll try and get a piccie later.

I forgot to show you my beautiful needle felted Yule log last week.  Isn't it wonderful?  I got it from the very talented Dawn over at Dawns Woolly World.

Lastly, for now, is the most beautiful white hyacinth flowers that adorn my kitchen table (along with a ton of rubbish!).  Wish I didn't have this snotty nose so I could actually smell them!

Wreaths and cupboards (unimaginative title but brain too tired to think ;o) )

So the cake is finally made (the soaking fruit sat on the side for three days!), and these gorgeous, fabulous kitchen cupboards (upside down and without the glass in the picture) are now on the wall waiting to be painted.  I just love, love, love the 1950s cupboards - my Nan has some on her wall, and now we do too :o). 

I also made this the other night.  It used to be a necklace which was given to me for my birthday.  I didn't really like it as a necklace but didn't want to be ungrateful and get rid, so I changed it into this mini wreath.

Christmas is coming...

...so I thought I better make a start on the cake!  Here's the fruit soaking in brandy and sherry.  I've also made the mincemeat...it looks quite disgusting in this picture but, trust me, it's delicious.  I use Delia Smiths recipes for the puddings, the cake and the mincemeat as I find them very easy to do and I've always had good results from them.   Anyway, back to the mincemeat...it is now packed tightly into jars waiting for me to start on the mince pies in a few weeks.

I'm also drying some apples and oranges.  It's the first time I've dried apples...I forgot to brush them with lemon juice so they've gone a little brown.  There are more oranges still drying as they are taking ages.  Lets hope I don't burn them like I did last year!

Don't forget the give-away over on this enchanted Pixie



Give-away :o)

I'm having a little give-away over at the lovely 'this enchanted Pixie' blog.  Pop over for details on entering, so you'll be in with a chance to win three bars of my lovely soap :o)

Joys

See that lovely dragon up there?  My lovely, lovely friend made this beautiful gift just for me....to congratulate me for passing my driving test.  Isn't it just wonderful....how special for someone to take time out to make something just for me.

While at home ed group we made clementine and clove pomanders and cinnamon bundles ready for christmas and then today we are making lego figure wax crayons.  I think there will be an army by tea time ;o)