To You All

You do, you really do, and for that I thank you.

Have a truly magical Christmas my lovely friends and I'll see you again very soon.

xxx

Nearly There ...

I thought I'd pop in quickly and say "helloooo".

A week to go!

After a very iffy start to the month, I think I might just go so far as to say that I'm feeling surprisingly organised!  Of course, now that I've made such a smug public declaration, something is bound to go wrong!

I just love this bit.  You know, when most of the major preparations are done and the pace starts to slow down a little.  Other than the food, all that really remains is the wrapping (hate that bit) and delivering (love that bit) of presents.

I've even done most of my pre-Christmas clean.  Not just a waft around with a duster while humming to "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" but a PROPER tops-of-cupboards and move-furniture clean.  I've also had a ruthless yarn sort-out.  I took a large carrier bag full to a local charity shop where an elderly lady customer immediately pounced on it's contents as if it were treasure!

We bought our Christmas tree last weekend from a local farm and it's sitting twinkling in the corner of the lounge.  I let my daughter decorate it.  Honestly, I didn't intervene at all.  Well, perhaps once when she put two baubles of the same colour on neighbouring branches (which I'm sure was just to test me!).

I also couldn't resist buying a large bunch of holly which is now looking so pretty in a festive jug.  It's decked in some beautiful handmade decorations which my lovely friend Cuckoo has just sent.

In non-Christmassy news, I've treated myself to a new book.  Do you see it in the second-to-last photo?  It's the third one I have now from the Japanese Pretty Crochet Color Goods series (bought here) and it's completely and utterly gorgeous.  My mind is positively whirring with inspiration and ideas.  I'm hoping for lots of relaxing hooky-time over the next week or two.  More on that next time.

I hope to be back once more before the 'big day' so, until then, a very happy pre-Christmas to you all.

xxx

Testing 1,2,3

Birthday roses taken with my new birthday camera.

Do they look nice and clear on your screen?

My Canon IXUS point and shoot has served me very well for the last few years but I was starting to get a bit frustrated with it's limitations so D bought me my very first DSLR.  I do love that man.*

Blimey it's complicated though!

I've stroked it a lot.  That I can manage.

I've attached it's strap.

I've found the on/off switch.

I'm not sure whether I will ever truly understand which aperture to use, ISO sensitivity and shutter speeds, but I'm a determined little sausage.

Here's hoping you can teach a 42 year old dog new tricks!

xxx

*Incidentally, we've just realised that we have been together for exactly half my life!

Pink?

"Please will you pass me the ball of pink wool?"

My teenaged son dutifully made his way over to the basket of wool to which I'd gestured, considered it's contents for a moment, made his selection and promptly threw it to at me.  (Teenaged boys do that I've noticed, throw everything.)

"That's not pink!" I said.

"Yes it is."  He said (looking at me as if I was slightly mad).

Guess which one he chose?

The one on the left.

The one that Debbie Bliss has named Peach Melba.

It's not the first time we've had this argument.

It would seem that colours are subjective.

Either that or he's colour blind.

xxx

Winter Means ...

Swaddling in woolly goodness.

Dry skin (and don't get me started on itchy bits!).

An extra blanket.

Comfort food.  Now is not the time to be counting calories.

Extra down time.

Lots of lovely sleep.

xxx

Definitely Not A Selfie

It's really hard to photograph a hat without including your face.

The irony that 'selfie' has today been named as the Oxford English Dictionaries' word of the year is not lost on me.

It's Vanessa's fault!  As soon as I saw her looking so adorable in her woolly red hat, I wanted my very own.

Impatient as ever, I picked up my hook and made it up as I went along!  I wanted a sort of slouchy affair which I decided would be more forgiving than anything too styled.  I started by crocheting a circle and, when it reached approximately six inches in diameter, I continued my rounds without increasing.

It won't win any prizes for hat design but it's deliciously cosy.  Given the sudden drop in temperatures today, that suits me just fine.

Ugh!  I need a haircut!

xxx

Giveaway Result

Number 7, Jacquie!  And, you know what, I couldn't be more delighted!  Jacquie, I'll be in touch

my love.

Thank you so much for your entries.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend you lovely people.  I'm off for a foray into the jungle …*

xxx

*I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here - the only UK reality television programme worth watching, in our opinion!