Monday 28 December 2009

Still Stuffing!


Christmas trifle. Anyone fancy a dollop?
We went to see St Trinians 2 today because we all loved the first one AND David Tenant is in it (and Colin Firth)! I'm afraid we were a little disappointed. Isn't it always the way when you are really looking forward to something? It was good, but not really good, like the first one. The acting was good, it was the script that let it down, we felt.
Anyway, how are we going to persuade Marathon Runner to go to the cinema again to see Sherlock Holmes?

Sunday 27 December 2009

50 Posts and Counting!

Well I never, this is my 50th post!

Many thanks to those of you who pop in. Having read so many superb blogs like Attic24, The Vintage Magpie and Sal's Snippets, I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to read my witterings but felt compelled to try something new. I'm at that age, you know.

In these few days of reviews and resolutions, I am trying to re-organise my life to include more time for crafting and blogging. My girls are growing up and much as I want to spend every minute with them, the feeling really isn't mutual!!

The resolutions I made in July have been mainly achieved, so far anyway, so here's to achieving some more!

Happy blogging people!

Saturday 26 December 2009

Sweeties

Anyone fancy a sweetie? Mad Child needed some 'focus' today so we made some Christmas truffles (with rum), peppermint creams and ginger truffles (with whisky). Hic!
We tarted up some old chocolate boxes

and hey presto, we had a couple of presents! One for our neighbours, who help us out such a lot with those technical things that Marathon Runner doesn't quite understand, and one for a hamper for my Godmother, who we went to see this afternoon.


I wasn't planning on doing a whole hamper; it just sort of escalated from the sweets. Bet she'd like a jar of your marmalade! What about some of that pickle? And those chillies we dried in the summer! The only thing we included not homemade was a small bottle of wine which had been bought for something none of us can remember!

Anyway, it looked lovely, even if I say so myself!
Hope you're all having a well deserved rest!

Friday 25 December 2009

Feeling Stuffed!

We opted for a big chicken this year as there was only the four of us.
Fancy a bite?Nom nom nom!

Hope you've had a merry Christmas!

Thursday 24 December 2009

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas!

Presents are wrapped and all is well with the world (that might have something to do with the mulled wine and Irish coffee consumed!).


I hope you all have a lovely day!

Monday 21 December 2009

Merry Midwinter!

Merry Midwinter to you all! Although looking very wintery here in East Devon, it is very icy, rather than snowy, much to Mad One's digust. She did laugh when she heard I fell over going to work this morning though! Humph! Many jokes about tremors and aftershocks were not politely received!
Decorations mostly up, thank goodness! All the cards posted at the last minute, as usual, and now I'm going to sit down in front of the fire with a sore bottom! (and maybe something medicinal to drink)
Hope your Winter Solstice was a happy one!




Friday 18 December 2009

So long, Tel, and thanks for all the laughs!



This post is just a loving tribute to Sir Terry Wogan, who retires today from the Breakfast Show on Radio 2, so apologies to you non-Togs out there; you won't know what I'm talking about!


Marathon Runner has written a poem:


The Jabberingwoge

Twas brillig and the slithy Togs
Did gripe and grumble with the Woge
All mimsy was the Boggymarsh
And the morning rants outgrabe

Beware the Jabberingwoge my Son
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch
Beware the Grubgrub bird, and shun
The frumious Barrelansnatch

He ate his vittles, fork in hand
Long time the Clarkish pies he sought
So rested he by the Blanketyblank Tree
And stood awhile in Splot

And, as in toggish thought he stood
The Jabberingwoge, with eyes all red
Came wittering through the early morn
And burbled all the same

One, two, one, two, rehearsing through and through
This dashing blade had a snorker-snack
He left one for Deadly and with his head
He carried on guzzling back

And hast they slain the Jabberingwoge?
Not bleedin' likely, I'm an Irish boy!
I'm on a Sunday! Callooh! Callay!
He chortled in his joy

Twas brillig and the Togs all love
Old Boggy, Deadly and the Woge
Dear Franny and the girl from Splot
And the morns won't sound the same







Sir Tel read it out on Wednesday and said it was "wonderful".

There's no living with Marathon Runner now!

Good Luck Sir Terry! How I will miss you!

Thursday 17 December 2009

Cobwebs

As I was up to my elbows in mince pies and rum truffles yesterday, in comes Marathon Runner, please as punch at what he had found in the shed: some of my old toys. There were lots of dolls clothes I had made:

two of the dolls themselves (Pippa dolls, does anyone else remember them?), a bed made out of matchboxes,

a handkerchief that somehow reminds me of Sal's Snippets (!),


some small plastic 'things' (I've seen the sword used as a cocktail stick but what the devil are the rest of them for?),


and an old box,




containing my very first sewing machine!!!!!!!



This is all very well and interesting and all that, but now I have a kitchen full of TAT!
If you get a mince pie from me with a little bit of cobweb in, you won't mind, will you?




Thursday 10 December 2009

P-P-P-Pick Up a Penguin

My Mad Daughter LOVES penguins, along with her two best friends; Giggly Girl and The Actor. I happened across some wind-up torches in the shape of penguins and so I snapped them up.

However, recently I have been fascinated by amigurumi animals and so I searched on Ravelry and came up with this (I think you will need to be a Ravelry Member to access this page). These animals are really rather addictive, once you get going!

So we have a black one for Mad Child, a purple sparkly one (doesn't show very well on the photo I'm afraid) for Giggly Girl and an orange one for The Actor.

Now I just have to think of an exciting way to wrap them. To be continued ...

Sunday 6 December 2009

What I've Been Up To

I know I haven't seen much of you lately but I have been busy, honest! There's been a bit of this:




which, as we all know, creates a bit of an upheaval!




Marathon Runner was a bit concerned you might laugh at his socks and sandals! No, surely not.








Well, what do you think about the colour? Bright enough for you? Might need to find my sunglasses.

Scary and Mad love it but I think Marathon Runner may need a bit of persuading.

We're going for a bit of a makeover for Christmas but I'm not holding my breath that we'll finish everything.

The previous orange tablecloth didn't go with it at all so a change was in order. I had a red flat sheet that I have bought by mistake (thinking it was fitted) so that came in handy.




Of course, the table is a very odd shape, life isn't that kind to me, so it took a little working out what size to make it. I got there in the end but there was a certain amount of head scratching in the process!









Finally, a picture of Scary's knickers!!! She loves the design on them, so I'm having fun trying to think of something to make her for Christmas with a similar feel (!). Not good choice of words but I hope you know what I mean!











Lots more going on, but will post this now, otherwise you will all think that I have died!