Look Who Came For A Visit

Hello again, thank you for stopping by,

Hope you're enjoying this week and you've found some peace amidst the chaos that reigns on the run up to Christmas?  For me, this is the best week, the cooking has been done, there's loads (and by that I mean too much) food in the house.  I really don't need to think about what to cook and there's lots of really lovely treats to munch.  The house is clean and reasonably tidy and I don't feel guilty about just sitting down for the afternoon and watching a jolly good film.

The Col and I are doing all the family visits this week.  It's really good to catch up with everyone and actually have time for a chat, find out what nieces and nephews are up to and eat too much wonderful Christmas cake.  Talking of cake, the wonky, booziest cake has gone down very well and tastes good considering I tried to cremate it.

The snow has melted, the temperature has risen and the garden looks green (and brown) again.  I'm actually sorry it's warmed up.  I like the real cold temperatures and snow, although it did almost stop the senior members of the family arriving for Christmas Day.  

We live at the edge of a wood and in the evening we get some special visitors to our garden. Back in the spring we had five of them arrive each night, parents and three babies.  

This is one of the babies, he or she (we haven't quite worked it out yet), is now bigger than his or her parents!  The very cold weather and the snow didn't stop them coming for peanuts.  As the snow has stayed for so long we've been able to see where they come in and out of the garden by following their tracks in the snow.  I know there are mixed opinions about badgers but these are not near any livestock or a main road.  There is no doubt that if cornered, they are fearsome creatures and will be extremely aggressive.  Tilly has to have an escort to the garden after dark, just in case they are around but if they are, they scamper off and come back when it's all gone quiet again.

Until next time.....


Lesley

It's Beginning To Feel Like Christmas

Today is the day that feels like Christmas has arrived.  I've made the first batch of mince pies.  My sister came over for a quick coffee on her way home and to collect her Christmas present and this afternoon I plan to ice the very wonky, (wonky because I had to cut the burnt bits off), booziest cake I've ever made.

The snow has stopped for now, the sun even came out for a few minutes earlier and the whole place just looked wonderful.  I was making the mince pies at the time and didn't get out with the camera or Tilly.  

I have some quilted place mats to finish today, go out with Tilly and have a quick read of Delia's Christmas, the last 36 hours, just to make sure I'm all on track for the big day.   That is, if the snow and ice eases off just a little so the family can actually get here for the big day. 

Thanks for stopping by, until next time........

Lesley

Oops! A Small Disaster

The burnt bits

In all the years I've been making my Christmas cake, I've never burnt it.  This year I excelled myself.  Firstly, I was very late getting around to making it, it is only fourteen days until Christmas.  Normally, I would have got it all sorted in November.  Secondly, I haven't a clue what I was thinking when I put the cake in the oven and put the timer on for four hours.  I never cook it for that long, I have a fan oven, after all.  Nevertheless, I put the timer on and at the four hour point, took a peak expecting it to need yet more time!  It probably cooked to perfection in about three hours but somehow I got it in my head it was going to need more.  I quickly need to add here that The Col and I didn't even smell burnt cake!!!!  I took the cremated cake out of the oven and realised what I'd done.  I've now chopped the burnt bits off and the middle is absolutely fine.  It's going to be a slightly smaller cake than usual but soaked in brandy, it'll be the booziest cake I've ever made.  


On a more successful note, Tilly and I were out in the frosty weather and took the photos below.  I imagine only Narnia is as beautiful.  It was so still and quiet, absolutely fabulous.

Have a brilliant weekend, whatever you're doing.

Thanks for dropping by.  See you soon.

Lesley

Brrrrr - It's Still Cold!

Hello,


Thank you for stopping by.


It's very frosty today and looks beautiful, that is if you don't have to drive anywhere or leave the house.


On Mondays, I go to a quilting workshop at my local quilting emporium.  I'm inspired by the ladies there, everyone is so enthusiastic and helpful when you need some direction.  In the shop, they have over 3000 bolts of fabric to choose from and I normally leave with another project in mind and more fabric.  If only I had more time!  

Here's a project I completed this week.  I bought ready cut  4 inch squares and did the most simple thing by sewing them together.  


I took this photo at the weekend.  That's about all the snow we've had in our spot in Wiltshire.  Tilly would have been happier if there had been lots more.

I
This was a very misty morning last week.

Until next time, keep warm.


Lesley

Quick Update

It's taken me ages but I've managed to upload the Chicken Quilt, so here it is.

Keep warm.

Lesley

Brrrrr - It's Cold!

Gosh it feels cold this morning.  Not complaining too much though, it looks lovely and frosty and the sun is shining.  Tilly and I must get out this morning with my camera.

I've been busy quilting this week.  I'm trying to get a few projects finished before I start a new one.  I am winning so far.  

A couple of weeks ago on Kirsty's Homemade Home, Kirsty made a patchwork cushion, so this week I was inspired to make one too.  This is Tilly helping me photograph the cushion.  I think Kirsty's was all hand sewn, I did mine on my machine.

I started a quilt (The Chicken quilt) a couple of weeks ago that was a kit I had bought in Canada.  It's been sitting in the box for three years. I was slightly overwhelmed by the amount of fabric and of making a mistake in the cutting.  With a little help from a quilting friend, I made a start.  We had to juggle a few pieces as the measurements had been changed on the pattern which I hadn't realised at the time of buying the kit.  I'm happy to say I finished it this week.  I'd show you a photo but for some reason I can't upload that particular photo.  I clearly have so much more to learn!  So instead here's a photo I took while out with Tilly on Tuesday.

The beech trees are still lovely in the woods this week.

Keep warm.

Lesley

PS.  I was thinking I would be the only person in the theatre who wasn't laughing when The Col and I went to see Spamalot.  How wrong I was, it was absolutely hilarious.  Marcus Brigstocke played King Arthur and there was a point when it appeared that the whole cast lost the plot and dissolved into giggles.    

Here We Go

This is my very first blog.  Let me introduce the Tilly in my life.  She's an 8 year Lab. She loves the woods and fields that we go for walks in.  She also loves water (especially the sea) and mud, the muddier the better.  She'll eat almost anything you put in front of her and if she has to have any tablets will only have them if they're disguised in cheese.  Tilly loves soft toys.  She never destroys them, just wanders around with them and will bring me a toy when I come home. 

I always take my camera with me when we go out for a walk, so here are a couple of autumn photos.

It's been such a fabulous autumn I really wanted to share my photos.

The Col (my beloved hubby) and I are off to see Spamalot at the theatre today.  I think I'm the only person in England that just doesn't get Monty Python but The Col says it's brilliant, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Thank you for dropping by, hope to see you again.

Lesley