On the move

We've had some good news over the past couple of days; Rachel and Darren and baby Lily have found themselves a house to rent and the good news is that it's only five minutes down the road from us so visiting won't be too bad.

Rachel moved back home to live with us before Lily was born as she and Lily's dad didn't get on anymore so we had to rearrange the whole house to accomadate her and her new arrival, not to mention the three cats that she brought home with her. To say that space has been on the tight side would be an understatement as me and her dad moved downstairs to sleep so that Rachel could have the little room next to ours for Lily's nursery.

It has been a struggle as our house isn't very big to begin with and with Kim still at home and Rachel having Darren her new partner to stay over, it's been a bit of a tight squeeze.

They get the keys on the 19th and they want to move in before Christmas and as it's a new house I think they'll manage to do it.

I'd like to think that I could move all my furniture back upstairs and have the dining table up and running again before Christmas Eve; I think I'll be pushing my luck, but I'm certainly going to have a damn good try.

It will be so good to go upstairs to bed again although it's been easier on the old knees but I've never felt quite right sleeping in the front room.

Apart from being really cold with this frosty weather, there's nothing much else to report. I've finished all the stitching that I needed to do for Christmas, I do have a picture to show but until it's arrived I won't post a pic of it yet just in case the friend who it's going to sees it.

Off to my bed now as my fingers are seizing up with the cold, a nice cup of tea, a good book and a warm bed are all calling me................

Gift of Friendship.

I received my GOF from Chris (http://alwayssmiling24.blogspot.com/) I wish I knew how to do a link properly but I don't. It was a lovely Christmas biscornu in the reds and greens that I had chosen and it's truly beautiful.

She also sent a Lizzie Kate pattern, some buttons which will come in handy for Lily's cardigan and a lovely Kath Kidson tin of pins so I feel quite spoilt.

I sent to Sally in Canada and she said that she loved the biscornu that I had made for her though she isn't a big chocolate eater so the selection box that I sent might last her for a while.

I've really enjoyed doing this exchange and I am now looking forward to opening my cards on January 1st for my birthday thread exchange. I've been in it for three years now I think and I love the little surprises that are sometimes tucked away with the cards and thread.

I was naughty last week and splurged out on six LHN charts from ebay. They were a bargain so I had to have them and they only cost me £7, a small price to keep me busy during winter............

Clearing out

I had a good old sort through my bits and pieces the other day and found a couple of UFOs that have been lurking at the bottom of a drawer for ages. When I saw this little chap I thought how sad he looked so I decided that I'd try and finish him before I start on anything else. He's been too long tucked away out of sight.

I can't remember when I first started stitching on this but it must have been a few years ago. He shouldn't take long to finish, it's just the outside window frame that's going to be boring but at least with one colour it should be quick.

Another sunny day today but still a bit too cold to venture far. Hope that it keeps fine for tomorrow, there's still a lot of clearing to do in the garden which needs to be done before the frosts hit.

There's Christmas cards to make too so that should keep me out of mischief for a couple of days at least.

Saturday

Well, it's a wet miserable day here in Derbyshire, not helped by the fact that the cat woke me three times in the night, I think the wind must have scared him. If it ever stops raining I need to get out in the garden and see if the fish in the pond are still alive as there's leaves everywhere

There's plenty to do if I can't get out, like all the washing and ironing and there's still the bathroom to finish off properly. We started it last Christmas when we had a new suite in but it's never been finished off so maybe todays the day to do it. The only problem is finding a time when no one's in there, it seems to be permanently occupied.

I finished my biscornu and I'm quite proud of my first effort.

It should now be winging it's way over to Canada for Sally.

I think before I do anything else I'll pop the kettle on and then do a bit of baking, nothing like the smell of homemade bread and cakes to cheer the house up......

I'm so glad today's over

I shouldn't really moan, but today has been one of those days where you want to scream at anything and everything but you know that even if you did it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference.

As much as I love having Rachel and her daughter Lily living with us, I'm finding it hard to get a little bit of space for just me; it can't last for ever though can it?

This is what the little monster was up to earlier.

She was supposed to be kissing her grandad goodnight, but the door shut on her so she thought that she'd do it through the glass.

Is it any wonder that I'm always cleaning on the days that I don't look after her?