Up early doors

expecting a visit from DD2 and GS this morning, so up and at em. I guess she is coming over to bring presents, so I have their cards etc all ready. Not sure if Little Miss will be with them, I think she may well be at nursery.

I had a bad day sewing yesterday, so gave up. I have just the snow mans head to do. I am more cetain then ever that the one my friend bought was the smaller one. So I am switching to he smaller one, it will be quicker to sew anyway. Then Its Mrs Claus.

We had a coincil meeting last night, so I had to drive in the dark, I have the glasses that screen out the brightness of headlights and the drive was ok. There was just one but where the druver, of what turned out to be a white van, was trying to make me speed up, no way, thankfully he got the message and roared past me at about 60 mph.

Its St Andrews day today, so haggis, neeps and tatties for supper tonight, thats haggis, turnip or swede and mashed potato. 

Its winter

another cold grey day and we are warned the 'the beast from the east' may well bite again. DB says its colder this morning than yesterday. We have a council meeting tonight, so driving in the dark again.

The company I bought the new freezer from called me yesterday to veriify the purchase. It was too costly to replace the thermostat, there was possibly other danage as well so our new freezer arrives on Friday.

I finished the bells yesterday DB ended up in bed for 2 hours in the morning, his vertigo reared its head again, so meals were all out of cinque. We ended up having supper at 6.30pm. I am going to start the two stacked snowmen that were ordered today and then....... its Mrs Claus. That should be fun, there are a lot more bits to her.

Because we are out tonight, we ate eating at lunchtime, smoked haddock and poached egg. I will make sandwiches for supper, either before we go or when we get back.

Sun and blue sky

but its brrrr..... laundry in, will put it on the line, guess it will have to go in the drier to finish it off.

Yesterday, I emptied the kitchen freezer and was able to get all but 2 drawers of the outside freezer in. As I take something out its being replaced by something from the other freezer, we should be able to switch it off on Thursday.

I finshed one set of bells yesterday and started on the next. I am having to finish  working about 3pm, the light in the back bedroom is not so good. I could work on using the table lamps I have, but to be honest by then I have  had enough.

DB may be able to do a bit of clearing in he back garden, the rains has made the weeds grow, so they need to come out.

Supper tonight is beef casserole from the freezer with jelly and icecream for dessert.

Reccy day

This morning we are going down to the Christmas fair at the garden centre to see whats what. Unusual for us to be up early on a Sunday, but needs must.

I have had to order a new freezer, the thermostat has gone one in the shed and it seems to be freezing up all the time. I have had to put out a call and see if anyone in the village has room to store some stuff until I get mine on Friday. I really could have done without the extra expence, it has really made a dent in what I was hoping to put to savings this month. its still looking very sparse after buying my new machine. Hey ho, thats life.

Yesterday was another sewing day, I have almost finished the gold bell, might just get to finish it today and get a head start on the silver ones.

I have taken beef out of the freezer for tonights supper, I plan to enpty the freezer and see just whats in there and what I can use up to make a bit of space for stuff from the outside freezer.

Its fine

Hooray!! no rain, it makes a change. DB says its not quite so cold.

I managed to do two snowmen coasters yesterday so just one to do this morning and then its on to the bells. Phone call last night from a friend, she bought the stacked snowman, she wants two more, so after the bells, the snowmen and then...... Mrs Claus. No pressure........ just amle along at my own pace. Mrs Claus will be more difficult than Santa, she has quite a lot more bits.

I need to do do a freezer audit and see what I have or have not got. Just at the moment I am thinking I may bring stuff in from the outside freezer gradually, defrost it and give it a good clean., then I will do the same with the one in the kitchen.

We will not get our lie in tomorrow, its the day of the fair at the garden centre, so we will get up for breakfast. I need to see what sort of things they have and what extra I will need to make for next year. I have a list of things I hope will sell, although I will take the Santa, it will be by order only and only two.

Supper tonight is all day breakfast. 

We have sun

at least until lunch time, then its to rain again.

Finished 4 santas yesterday, going to start snowmen today, see how I get on.

Freezer is still acting up, I am wondering if the motor has gone, although it still seems to keep on freezing. Will have to keep my eye on it, there is about £200 of food in it just now including a turkey crown. I really do not want to have to replace it.

DB is missing his gardening, its just too wet to go out and work except in the green house and there is only so much he can do in there just now.

Usual Friday supper, fish and chips. Icecream for dessert. 

What no rain?

Four little Santas all in a row. Each one takes about an hour to sew.

After raining for most of yesterday, its fine this morning, although DB tells me its to rain this afternoon.

We were going to go in to see our old neighbour today, but her son phoned yesterday to say she is not well, apparently she has a chest infection, so is on medication.

Message from DD2 yesterday she and GS are coming to see us next Wednesday, so I need to sort out cards etc ready. I doubt we will see them again before Christmas.

Yesterday I went out to the outside freezer and discovered that the door was partially open....... fortunately only the stuff in the top was desfrosted, the other drawers were ok, so its been a quick cook up to cook the stewing steak, chicken and pork belly. All cooked in the pressure ninja, and frozen down in the inside freezer.

I made 2 santa coasters yesterday, I can do two in a day, so aim to do 2 more today. I will aim to sell either single ones or a pack of 4.

So tonights supper is chicken with rice and peas. We will have a scoop of icecream for dessert.

We need webbed feet

rain, rain and more rain. Roads flooded, rivers running very high........its time it stopped.

Not a very nice day. Hopefully the chaps are coming to fit the new cistern to the toilet. As they could come anytime between 8am and 5pm, we got up early, true to form, no sign of them. DB is busy filling flasks etc as we will have to turn the water off.

Santa is finished, I now have to tackle the bells that were ordered, one gold, one silver both with red writing on them. I need to iron on some bondaweb, to stiffen the fabric up a bit.

Sausage, mash and beans for supper tonight. We have finished the jelly, so no dessert today.

And again

We had over an inch of rain yesterday and its another grey morning, I really hate these dull wet days......

Yesterday had a bad start, I  read the Santa instructions wrong, and sewed his eyes black, they should have had a whire rim to them...grr spent the rest of the day unpicking.

Scan went well yesterday, nothing abnormal, so I have to make an appointment to see my GP, thats if I can get one.

Nipped into Lidl for a couple of things whilst we were in town.

Supper tonight, cold meat and salad, will do a jacket potato with it. The last of the raspberries in jelly for dessert, with a scoop of ice cream. 

Grey day

again, rain due this afternoon.

Laundry in the washer, it will have to go in the drier, cannot stand wet washing hanging around.

I have an appointment this afternoon so doubt I will get much sewing done today, I would just like to finish the samta and then go on to something else.

The chicken last night was delicious, there is enough left to make chicken mayo sarnies. 

Supper tonight will be egg and chips, we have enough jelly left for dessert.

Late to the table again

Usual lazy Sunday start. Veggies prepped for tonights supper.

Roast chicken, roast spuds etc we have raspberries in jelly for dessert.

I have spent the morning and part of this afternoon sewing another Santa. Have made a couple of mistakes, so it will be ours. Going to look at something different, possibly the bells that are ordered.

I have an appointment for a scan tomorrow afternoon, will have to drive home in the semi dark, not looking forward to that.

Another grey day

Think I must be loosing it, could not remember what day it was. Hardly suprising when each day seems very much the same as the last.

M came round late yesterday afternoon and fitted the foil behind the rads on the outside walls, every little helps, so they say. The heat is on, but very low, it comes on at 7.30am goes off at 9.30am and comes back on at 4.30pm. Goes off for the night an hour before we go to bed.

I finished the larger snowman yesterday and have started on another Santa. I have also got a pattern for a nutcracker, it will be a while before I tackle that, although it seems that you make bits like the legs and arms in twos in the hoop. Should prove interesting. I have made up a list of things that I think will sell at the fair. More sale fabric ordered yesterday. I have a note book I keep a check on of what I have made and what I have sold.

Off to do battle with a carton of mince, mince and tatties for supper tonight. I am also going to make a raspberry jelly for dessert for a change.

Fine

so far. It rained most of yesterday, many roads flooded overnight. Glad we have not got to go out.

Started a slightly bigger snow man, have just his head to do. T took a note of the time I started each piece, the stack takes 4 Hours. I am going to do another santa, will time that too.

Towels in the washer, its fine so far, hoping to get them partly dry on the line.

Usual fish and chips tonight. 

Yuk

Grey skies and drenching rain, there are floods again everywhere.

We are expecting a grocery delivery this morning, DB needs to open the back gate, they bring it round to the kitchen door for us.

Coffee morning yesterday, I did not expect to sell anything, sold the Santa and also the snowman stack, order for a silver and a gold bell as well........so yet more fabric ordered, I am about finished with the stuff I was making, and starting to list what we think will sell at the fair next year.

I have been very bad at not meal planning the last couple of months, I need to get back to it, I also need to get a delivery of ding dinners, there have been times recently when I could have done with them.

No idea whats for supper, will have to do a freezer dive and see what I can find, not much me thinks. I will make a fruit jelly to have for dessert. I need to get rid of the fruit mountain.

 

Coffee morning

at the little chapel. I have sorted out the santa, snowman and bells to take round with me........doubt anyone will order any, the Santa is £30. We will see. I have a wreath to do and also a Mrs Claus. Need to sort fabric for them.

Its a sunny but cold morning. We had rain most of the day yesterday and tomorrow is to be the same.......

Better nights sleep last night, I was shattered.

I have an appointment for a scan on my bladder, see if there is a reason for my infections, I doubt it, but we will have to wait and see.

Supper tonight is braised steak and veggies, we are not eating dessert just now.

No fog

just persistant rain, 2 inches forecast for this morning.

Yesterday I started doing a Christmas bells design, I want to finish them off today. I had a problem with thread and needles breaking, changed the thread and bingo, all went well. I am waiting for more felt to come, I have downloaded the Mrs Santa design, so want to start that. I have a couple of other designs I want to do as well. I plan to sort out what I think will sell at the sale next year. We are going to this years sale to see what stalls they have and what we think will sell.

We were very late getting up this morning, both of us had trouble sleeping last night, it was 9am before I put my foot to the floor so today is going to be a slow day.

Supper tonight is frittata and green salad.

Fog

this morning, its very murky and quite cold.

Yesterday I finished the snow man, so now Santa has a friend. I am on to something new. It will give me an idea of how I have  to work  to amass enough for a table sale this time next year. I have been buying up sales fabric to keep me going for now.

Laindry is on, it will have to go in the dryer, its too damp to put it out on the line.

Supper tomight is sausage and mash. 

Remembrance Sunday

 

Today we remember with gratitude those who died in conflicts around the world. They died that we might live.

Fine and warm

We seem to be having a very mild autumn, the day time temps have been quite high and we have not had rain for 2 days, so hopefully we will get the grass cut sometime this weekend.

I finished the santa yesterday, am so please with it, I would never have drempt of ding anything like that previously. I am now looking at fabric sales and buying Christmas fabric. I plan to start to sew for a fair in the new year. In the meantime I am going to do some coasters of Santa and also like the string of baubles a string of  snowmen.

I have a beef joint in the ninja, its for tomorrow. I like to slice it cold, you can get thinner slices. I will reheat it on top of the veg tomorrow.

Very late getting up this morning, havejust had weetabix and coffee for breakfast we will have poached eggs on toast for lunch. Cooked gammon, jacket spuds and tomato and celery salad for supper.

Christmas is coming

 Santa finished at last, I hope no one asks me to make one, the cost of that one would be £30 and bigger would go up in £10 increments.

Poets day

or it would be if I was still working.

Yesterday was fine all day with quite a bit of sun, but we still  have a strong breeze. Its duller this morning, but DB says its slightly warmer outside. The weather really is mucked up.

I did a bit more of the Santa yesterday, am now on his hat and finishing off bits, so he should be finished today. I have been looking at other things to make, found a wreath and also a stack of santas and a couple of ther things.

Gardener here this afternoon, last visit this year, He will be back in the early spring. He really is a treasure, nothing is too much trouble for him. He just gets on with the job.

Usual fish and chips tonight. Need to have a rake in the freezers and see what we have for next week. Plenty of eggs, so I guess one night will be salad and frittata.

Bright morning

quite warm as well, the heating has switched off.

A very bad night we were both drinking tea at 3am, so slept in this morning, nothing spoiling, nowhere to go, so it really does not matter.

The black felt came yesterday so I have started on the Santa again, its on the bit where I have to keep changing top and bottom threads, so a bit labourious. Will be glad when its finished now. I have a feeling I will not be making it again!!

DB has a couple of small jobs to do outside, the gardener is here for the last time this year tomorrow, so the hedge that belongs to the neighbours at the back needs trimming on our side. The trimmings will be chucked back over the hedge as its not our hedge. We have a running battle with the chap who owns the house, he keeps his side, but does not cut the top.

Supper tonight is belly pork and bean casserole. We are still off desserts, not that it seems to do much good. No visible weight loss!!

Hmmmm

bright morning, wonder how long it will last, last load of laundry in, whites, may be it will dry a bit better than yesterday.

Finish the stack of baubles yesterday, forgot to put the hanger in, so will have to attach it on the outside. Still waiting for Santas belt fabric to come. Bit stuck till it does, do not really want to start anything else  if I can help it.

DB is faffing about in the garden doing 'little jobs' after Friday there will be nothing left for him to do apart from keep an eye on the greenhouse. He is good at what he is good at, but hopeless on eberything else. He drove me nuts Monday trying to put the duvet cover on. My BP was sky high by the time we had finished. His ability to understand what you are asking him to do is fast fading into obscurity.........

Supper tonight is salmon salad, I need to cook the salmon and let it cool, neither of us likes 'hot' salmon.

Reversable bauble string and Christmas tree

 The other side. The next tree I do will be reverasble and the basket at the bottom will be brown, wanted to try the designs out to see how they stitched.

We have sun

Very high winds last night, and cold. Sunny this morning, but there is still quite a high wind, should get laundry dry outside today.

Yesterday it rained on and off all day. The library van came, so we are stocked up with books to read.

I plan to start on a stack of baubles today, the face felt has come but not the black for the belt, so no further forward with Santa. I am going to do the baubles in the 4" x 4" hoop, see how they turn out.

Guess DB will spend a bit of time in the greenhouse this morning, apart from a couple of jobs this week the garden is ready for winter.

Supper tonight chicken and rice. I have got salmon out to do with salad tomorrow night.

Another grey morning

It looks as though there has been rain in the night, the pavement is damp, very grey with a stiffish breeze, hopefully will get the bed linen almost dry on the line. No cleaner she has gone down to Essex, will come Wednesday morning instead, which means that DB is going to have to help me make the bed and put the duvet cover on, not his favourite occupation.

I am stuck with the santa have to wait for more black felt to come, I thought a 9 x 9 square would be enough.......wrong. I plan to do another couple of things whilst I am waiting, will have to use a bigger hoop, the small one has the santa in it, no way am I taking it out.

I cooked the pork steaks yesterday, 20 minutes on air fry, then put them in the bottom of the Ninja in gravy, whilst I roasted the potato's, the meat was delicious.

Have just checked the bank, I am going to have to reign in spending on the stuff for the machine........ Amazon is just too easy to use. November is going to have to be a no spend month whilst I build the account back up. I read somewhere that there is a move afoot to means test the allowence we get, if it is cut back I will have to cut back on the help we have in the house.

Supper tonight will be egg and chips, no joint yesterday so easy supper tonight.

Brrr

dull and cold...brrrrr..... will be staying in, although DB will be out to the greenhouse for a while, we have plants in there which are going to need fleece over them as the weather gets colder.

I ran out of felt for Santas belt yesterday, so its on the back burner for now, will have to use one of the bigger hoops until the felt arrives. I am also having a problem downloading a file, cannot get the  wretched thing to open........grrrrr.

Roast pork steaks for supper, veggies done ready, need to go and clean up the sewing room its a right mess. 

Yesterday

was one of 'those' days. I was otherwise engaged in the morning and after lunch was working on the Santa, cutting away fabric when everything shot out the hoop. I tried for ages to line it up and in the end was so frustrated that it went in the bin. I will have to unpick the black felt for Santas belt as I am running short. Plenty of the red and white and silver for the belt buckle. My back was also telling me I did too much on Thursday, so gave in gracefully.

The gardener has cleaned out all the pots that were standing just with old compost in, the weeds in the bin the rest has all gone in the the beds in the front garden.

It was very cold in the night, I pulled the quilt up, it will soon be time to put the winter duvet on. This morning, its cold and trying to rain. so shut the doors and keep warm.

Supper tonight is all day breakfast.

Late

Got a bit carried away and forgot to post, not that there is a lot going on. DB has his MOT and the consultant will speak to him again next year.

I tired myself out yesterday, paying for it today, painkillers to the fore.

The chap made a good job of the solar panels, no more bird mess or moss.

Fish and chips for supper. 

Out again

meeting DD2 in town at lunch time. We have a grocery delivery this morning, then off to meet her. Taking the opportunity to go to Wilko's for bits we need and aslo to Aldi for a couple of things I cannot get at Morrison. I have a loaf of bread to bake as well, will put it on about 10am, it will be finished by 3pm. I also need to fill the car up with fuel.

Its a dull morning, yesterday was a day of high winds and rain, but it seems to have calmed down this morning.

DB had his phone appointment with the consultant, all is well, the medication is not affecting his liver or kidneys, so he will speak to him in 12 months time..........he is referring him back to his GP for some medication to help his vertigo.

I started the Santa yesterday, managed to break a needle and had thread problems, hope thats not a fortaste of things to come!! I did manage to get it working again, but left what I was doing and walked away. May not get at it this afternoon either, so it ill have to wait till tomorrow.

Ham salad for supper with salad.

All packed up

Its coffee morning at the little chapel round the corner. I have bagged up some apples, there are too many for us to eat. The orders are packed ready.

We went to see our old neighbour yesterday, she was 93 yesterday, its 12 months since she moved and although she misses the close she admits she would not have been able to cope had she still been in the bungalow. On the way home, we decided to go to our favourite place to eat, its at least 2 months since we last went, I was asked if I wanted a table at the annual craft fair they do.  I had to turn it down. Do not have enough time to make up a stock of things. Its a shame, if they had mentioned it earlier it would not have been so bad. Never mind there is always next year.

We are forceast heavy rain again today, DB is going nuts because he wants the grass cutting, he is obsessed about it, keeps going on. I lost my cool this morning and told him to shut up and walked off. We had 2 inches of torrential rain yesterday, the ground is just soaking it up.

Supper tonight is sausage mash and the remains of the baked beans from last night.

Pinch an' a punch

First of November, where has this year gone???? It just seems to have wizzed by.

We are off to see our neighbour, its her birthday, I think she is 94..... its a while since we went to see her, the sewing machine intervened, we went up to Sheffield several times.

I have towles in the washer, the laundry mostly dried outside yesterday, hoping for the same today. We are also expecting DB's medication to come, hopefully before we set off for Melton. We will also be going in on Thursday to meet DD2 for coffee. I have some stuff for the charity shop as well.

I started on the Christmas tree yesterday, it has gone together quite well, just the top and the star to go. I may well do a green one as well, will see. I need to find some ribbon for a hanger.

Supper tonight, sausage mash and beans.