It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Hello folks, another long gap, sorry! Life got very hectic last month with the lady I looked after being hospitalised and eventually taken home to the UK. Since then I have had a stall at a Christmas Fair for two days and then been suffering from a nasty cold I picked up there!

But cards continued to be made for Craft Club

and in the evenings I have making these cute little decorations for my grandson

I was given a new smart phone so of course I had to make a nice cover for it...

and I dragged out a project I started last Christmas, a lovely tablecloth that has four corners to cross stitch.  I have been feeling so rough, some gentle stitching was all I could manage. I have finished the first poinsettia....

and started the bells.....

so relaxing, the minutes just melt away when I'm engrossed in this! The whole thing will not ready to use for this Christmas, but it's not a problem, it's the process that is so enjoyable, more than the finished result for me.

Like many other families this year, we are all short of money so we are giving very small token gifts. I have raided my stash and been making a scarf for my eldest son, something mindless to knit while watching the TV. About 300 stitches on a large circular needle all in garter stitch. It helps with the tension when watching Stictly! I wonder who will go out tonight?

The garden is very bereft at this time of year, but there is a little colour, my crysanthamums from last year flowered again..

and my faithful old Iceberg rose just flowers and flowers....

We had a really cold snap at the beginning of December and Bobo started off hogging my lap blanket...

then progressed to the large furry blanket AND the lap blanket...

Cat's aren't stupid are they? Yes I did take one away from him, my legs get so cold in this old draughty house!

Sophie is content if she has a real bone from a serrano ham joint and often uses my feet as a 'bone platform'!

I am off to the UK on Thursday for a whirlwind of visits to family and friends, cooking Christmas dinner at my sons' house and collapsing back home on New Years day. It will be so good to be with my family this year. It will be worth the musical beds and layers of clothes! The cake and pudding are already wrapped and in the suitcase, the Sainsbury's order done, cards written, nearly all the gifts wrapped so it's roll on Christmas!

I leave you with the sentiment of my favourite card of the season and wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year!

J XXX