They came today. It's VERY exciting. We are having a real fire fitted, and today the first steps took place. The space is ready and waiting and if things go according to plan. I am going to grafting the toe of my second sock sitting next to a crackly real fire on Friday evening.

Do you think it will be like the advert with the dog and cat cuddled up together in front of the fire? I'm not so sure about that, maybe if they are tied down. But I was at the Country Living Christmas Fair at the weekend and one of my purchases was a lovely long toasting fork. I'll just have to get the wood in.

If I knew you were coming...

Well, it was a rather pleasant day today. Pottering about but more importantly NO must do's. Quick something to chew on then off to the ski lessons for the 2 Ds. I am fully impressed at their ability and the fact that they are both enjoying it. To persuade himself is the mega mission! Too wet and windy to stand outside and watch so I took my knitting, bought a coffee and finished the first on my socks.
So then we came home, plenty provisions in, no need to shop, and No.1 D asked if she could bake a cake. So switched on the oven for her and left her with the good old foolproof recipe...
Weigh 3 large eggs with their shells and then weigh out flour, butter and sugar to the exact same weight, and then cream your butter and sugar, add an egg followed by third of flour, another egg, another third of flour, etc. You add a couple of tblsps of milk at the end to slacken it off but we dont bother with vanilla extract really, relying on good butter for flavour.
Anyway, these are her snaps...

It was absolutely delicious, especially because she had done it all herself. AND washed up and wiped worktops... how fab was that. So we ate it watching The Railway Children. I am so sad I was crying before the "My daddy, my daddy.." bit because I knew it was coming.

And this is a bit of hand sewn log cabin that I am  stitching in between the sock knitting... watch this space, these ones will be for moi. Another 12 logs to put with this, using up some pre-cut 1 1/2" strips I bought, not a Moda J/roll, repro fabrics, really lovely.

They Fit!

So this is them on the feet. Granted when we walked the dog they were slipping down the skinny legs, but that is surely better than leaving a mark because they are too tight. I know you can make sure that you start the socks at the same part of the wool so the stripes are the same - I chose to knit and see what I got.

Finished at last!!

Ok... so this is what No2 D is to come home to. I think I began these socks a year and a bit ago (bleh!). When I say began - I had finished one and got past the heel turning on the other. Then it got put away to make christmas things.. then it got moved from safe place to safe place.. then I completely forgot about it. And THEN I bought a bit more sock yarn and thought "I must finish those other socks first!", and then I couldn't find them.

I knew they were in a bag (not a poly bag - a homemade one), and I found myself asking what in the world was that bag like... and then last weekend as I was searching for something else - as is always the way - I found the bag... and in it the socks and I should probably confess while I am at it that the bag handle is held on with pins!

It took me last night and an hour the other night to finish them, that is a disgrace. But on a positive note, they fit her perfectly and last year they would have been too big. I will admit to watching  how to graft the toe section on YouTube about 16 times. Got there in the end. The tea towel underneath is the swedish shop we all know. Maybe for the dishes, maybe for making into something!

                                                      

And she will appreciate the socks because it is really cold today. Noon time and still frosty where the sun don't shine!

mmm...mm

Well, had a visit to our friendly neighbourhood swedish store for more of the stuffing/pillows and a cosier duvet for the younger D as it's going to be a cold one tonight and the old crisp packet that was once a duvet has died. And look what I picked up to gobble on whilst watching the ski-ing lessons.. mm...mmm.. tasty!

Pottery painting

Thought I would show this. When we were in Haworth in Oct we popped into a cafe for coffee and it turned out to be a pottery cafe. Not like the usual we've been to .. pottery and a coffee. This was coffee and something lovely to eat.. oh and stay longer and paint something. So we did, not done it before, usually watching the smalls having a go. So here is our new mince pie plate. When my "real" fire is fitted I will sit in my cosy seat and watch a lovely film stuffing my face before I nap!! Undisturbed...(yeah right). I will own up to having a complete blank when faced with a plain white dish.. it  does have a Bridgewater look to it but it's the lettering I always used to use in presentations as a student, a "few" years ago..

Pillow Talk

There comes a time when enough is enough. From little acorns, great oaks,,etc. Well, for some time I have admired this type of french, linen cushion with initials on it. They have always been slightly overpriced in my eyes, so I kept a look out on ebay and managed to get the letters for a snip at a couple of pounds including postage.  The linen around the letters - I had, and the back which is white linen-y with red trelllis print was from your friendly local swedish store. That same swedish store sells cheapy cheap pillows which are fab for stuffing, I think they are about £1.25. I love the fact that I poggled together these cushions that are v. pretty and cost v. little. The test is whether the other half can make the bed and put them where they are supposed to sit.
So the enough is enough.
Our youngest D is 9 now, and so I asked if she liked my new cushions. She replied yes, very impressed as they took me no time to put together (media researching)..
so I said - "well then... only people with their initials on this bed are permitted to sleep in it!"
"mmm.. that's not very nice!"
"That's the way it is my lovely". So we will see. A 9 year old is quite a space stealer.

And then Christmas is starting to happen in our house. I haven't requested the boxes start coming down from the attic yet but shortly. For reference only, as I have no memory of what I have made. The snowman here is "Tilda" - completely my favourite books. The bottle bag is "Nancy Halverson" - another fav. The little box I made myself, as with the stocking. Maybe I might set myself a challenge of a "How to..." post. We'll see.

Sugar & Spice

Well, it was almost a no go for the toffee apples but having made them the last number of years it couldn't not happen! Talk about a bust week, but hooray...

and then not a decoration up.... usually the decorations are up several days in preparation and excitement but one thing and another no time. So stealing the blue tack back from the children I managed to stick.....