Christmas Journal

I challenged myself to finish my journal in January and blog the finished pages, only just made it!

I really enjoyed the whole experience this year from receiving Shimelle's Christmas box of goodies, the emails with videos of her work in progress and making the pages myself. I have been taking part in this class for several years now and find it a lovely way to record the season.
Thank you Shimelle

short stories

Wait patiently, Daddy hasn't forgotten you!

joining in with Miriam

memorandum Monday

We had a lovely Sunday visiting family with a yummy roast dinner followed by playing board games. I can't think of a better way to spend a winter's afternoon. I had to get my camera out secretly though  to take this photo as I have learnt this week that the grandchildren are growing up and their parents are doing a very good job. I didn't go anywhere near the washing up, bliss!

waving to Sian and all my blog friends on a lovely sunny morning.

planning ahead

This year yet again I've told myself to make cards when the mood takes me and not in a mad panic the day before the event. So I got out a favourite stamp set, mama elephant freestyle florals and made three cards. I used some Inktense pencils for two of them and dusted off a set of water colours for the third and really enjoyed the process. I can happily tick off three birthdays as done.

 I now have to challenge myself to make three cards for the men in my life.

Short stories

Be patient, you will be rewarded

Joining in with Miriam's in six words

Memorandum Monday

With Christmas knitting finished I pulled out my crochet blanket determined to get on with it, after all I managed one last year. Fourteen squares had been completed and I was ready to join up the first panel. Wanting to follow attic24 's pattern I started to match up the squares when I nearly had a meltdown, somehow I had done every square wrong, the colours didn't match at all. Feeling very annoyed with myself and also a bit worried, I decided the only thing to do was to start again and that's when it hit me, as I cast on the first colour, I should be looking at the pattern from the inside out.

My lesson for this week then is quite a sad one, I am definitely getting old!

Waving to Sian and everyone else joining in memorandum Monday this week.

Short stories

always find time for a walk

Miriam is hosting a meme on her blog called six word story, I'm hoping to join in this year. This week's word is always

 Do go over to her blog and check it out.

Memorandum Monday

Half a  celariac left over from Christmas needed to be used up so soup seemed to be the answer.

Cream of celeriac soup

25g butter
400g celeriac peeled and roughly chopped
125g potatoes peeled and roughly chopped
1 crushed garlic clove
570ml vegetable stock
1 tbs fresh lemon juice
275ml milk

Melt butter in saucepan, add celeriac, potatoes and garlic, then cook for 5mins
Add stock and lemon juice, then bring to boil. Simmer gently for 30mins until veg are tender.
Blend with milk until smooth
Season, reheat gently for 3 mins and serve

Taken from Covent Garden soup book

A new recipe tried and enjoyed, will definitely make again.

Waving to Sian and all my blog friends on another dreary , wet, January morning.

Winter photography hunt

The weather is lovely today so I took my camera out on my walk.

9.   A tree that has lost all its leaves

7.   Berries and/or nuts

8.   A wreath
5.   A snowman

I was tempted with the robin as well but I know I will have more opportunities to get that!

joining in with Eileen and Joy who are hosting this challenge

Christmas

Christmas has come and gone in a flash and all I have left are memories of all the family together enjoying ourselves!

memorandum Monday

Hi to Sian who has a fun new idea for this year, do go over to her blog and have a look.

I've had a busy time with all the family and today I'm trying to get back into my normal routine. I did want to share this little story which really touched me and has made me learn something new,  my mum can still surprise me.

We had a lovely time with her this year although her memory doesn't get any better. For years she has given me money for Christmas as she is too old to sort out presents for everyone now. She did come to us with a gift bag though which I opened on Christmas Day, a lovely box of biscuits for everyone. I was talking to my sister yesterday however who asked me if I had a necklace from mum, she had received one with the biscuits. Fortunately I hadn't thrown the bag away so I quickly got it out and had a look. There at the bottom of the bag was a little gift I hadn't noticed, a necklace with a crystal heart. Mum had gone out and bought three as a surprise for her daughters. It was lovely that she had thought of doing that and I shall always cherish this necklace. It makes me smile though to think she was sitting next to me when I looked in the bag on Christmas Day and had completely forgotten what she had done!