Gifts from Italy

Hi All.
This week is proving to be far more exciting than last week. The dancing queen got to dance at a concert for World Aids Day (too dark in the club to take decent photos). As usual the dancers were really great. On Wednesday, hubby and I went to see the really lovely Jo Brand talk about her Autobiography " Look back in Hunger" which is about her life up until she became a comedienne. It is one of the first events to be held in the recently renovated Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, so it was great to get back in there for a nosey around. Jo Brand herself was very entertaining, she is a great story teller and she is really lovely. I was quite surprised by the audience. I thought that they would be all around my age, but many were much older.

I also received a great Christmas Prezzy from the little ray of Italian sunshine that is Michela .
As well as the lovely necklace, she sent me beauty goodies (how did she know I needed them?!) and Chocolates - which disappeared before the camera came out!!!. She also sent something for the Dancing Queen - which thrilled her to bits!! She thinks that we should adopt Michela so that she can become her older sister!

I really loved the little card that came with my gifts. Many thanks Michela, you made my day!

Ive got a really great weekend planned - I'm taking my camera so I can share.

xxxxxxxx

Christmas Crafting

The first chocolate has been eaten from the Advent Calender, and so I feel comfortable discussing the preparations now. When I was little, our advent calender had no chocolates in it, and we got the same one out year after year - the kids think I had a deprived childhood - especially as my mum still has the chocolates (umbrella shaped ones, very late 50's looking) that were hung on our tree.

Anyway, before he was struck down with a mystery virus, the young man decorated the Gingerbread house. I bought the house flat packed (what else!!) from Ikea for about £2.50. The icing and jelly tots were from Asda. The chimney has slid off, but it is making the house smell lovely. Whilst he was in bed all day yesterday (doctors orders), I made a pack of hounds,

I only had enough black felt for this chap, I need more supplies.

Inspiration and pattern came from here.

This sorry looking fella appealed to my sense of humour - a half eaten felt gingerbread man. Again, I only had enough felt for one, but I have a trip to John Lewis planned for extra supplies.

Inspiration and pattern were found here .
I'm on a bit of a roll now. I have a few more bits n bobs to sew, then the sewing machine is getting packed away for a while.

Brief respite

So finally the torrential rain has stopped, the sun has shone briefley, so I thought I would pull on my wellies and go outside to stop myself going stir crazy.
I spotted plenty of raindrops. Does this one look slightly heart shaped to you?

And I spotted some much needed winter flora about to burst into its full glory.

How on earth these little beauties are hanging on is beyond me.

Ive made the most of this totally dreadful weekend by cleaning the house from top to bottom - its positively sparkling!!! Even the skunk pit that is the teenage girls bedroom!! Ive nursed a poorly boy. We thought it might be swine flu, but its looking more like man flu. I'm thank full for very small mercies.

Its a "man" thing.

My husband is the sort of man who can fix anything - as long as it can be fixed with "Gaffer" tape. It is an essential part of our camping gear, and is used widely around the house and garden. He recently discovered that the father of one of the young man's friends had never owned any, and he now considers him a lesser man! He was thrilled to see it so widely used in Paris (although I think this was parcel tape). Now that's what he calls "fixed".

November

I'm trying to like November, I really am - but its not panning out well. The weather is certainly not helping, and I am not a fan of dark nights at all - the odd one or two are cosy, but whole months of them make me feel "caged" especially when hubby is working late evenings/nights. At least in the summer I can sit in the garden until late. I feel like I live with Jeremy Clarkson (perish the thought). His is the only voice I hear. The young man watches Top Gear and repeats of Top Gear, and repeats of repeats of Top Gear until I can no longer bear it!! I love it after the 21st December when I know that we are headed back in the right direction. Ive also had loads of really boring jobs to do too - ie a Summers worth of housework neglect (when I was "playing out") has taken its toll, and being "caged" forces me to see what needs to be done. We have decorated our bedroom, the kitchen is getting a "makeover" (when it could really do with a refit) and the stairs is also having a lick of paint. Ive been making my mum some new curtains as she has had a new kitchen and bathroom - but that's another story for when you feel your blood pressure needs sending through the roof!! Only my mum could make 2 hours in Dunelm Mills unbearable for me. And so, I decided I need to look forward - and this will keep me going through the next few dark months.

Deep blue, calm seas,


Beach Cafe's and clear blue skies,

Warm Rock pools.

Thats better.

Getting back to the fast approaching festive season, check out this post on Lynne's lovely blog. How I wish I could have a walk around this of a dark evening.

My thoughts this morning are very much with the family of PC Barker - the policeman who lost his life in Cumbria. You send them out to work day and night knowing that they do a very dangerous job, but you never allow yourself to think that they might not come home. God Bless.

Chez Heartshaped

and Harmony reign once more.

Hormonal teenagers, Menopausal Mother and a hubby who needs a shed to retreat to. What a mix.