New Years Eve 2011

The last day of December 2011, New Years Eve,where did it all go? I am at home getting over the flu but on the mend now, the family are out celebrating,I am glad they are having a good time at the Sun Inn. To Jen Jon and to Owen my Grandson who are near to Chichester, Happy New Year from all of us. The highlight of my year was the wedding of my son Martin to Laura, who is now my daughter in law.What a fantastic time we all had, there were two weddings this year, theirs and the Royal Wedding, but Martin and Lauras was a family occassion, wonderful and moving in everyway to see them pledge their love for one another in church. I hope the New Year bring them both health, wealth and employment. My saddest moment was when our dog of 15 years died, our beloved sammy,naughty to the end, and much missed, may 2012 bring me another dog to love. Sam was irreplaceable you would never get another one like him!!but there is always room for more love to give away, in doing so you always break your heart, but better to live with a breakable and loving heart than not.
Our Holiday breaks away this year of which there were four, were lovely, we went to The Peak District to Bakewell and Dovedale....to Hereford to see the Mappa Mundi at the Cathedral,the chained library was unforgettable, and the river wye breathtaking, an overnight stay at Ludlow as well, ...we had a wonderful break with Laura and Martin to Stratford upon Avon, where we had a great time splashing about in the river Avon, both with our bare legs and also by rowing boat. In the pubs at night playing games, just a minute speaking game was a good laugh. Laura and i scaring ourselves witless in the dark on the way back to the Travelodge...Such Funn. Listening to live music by the banks of the Avon at night with the swans all around, not forgetting such happiness for laura and martin when they discovered a Harry Potter shop. Joy!!And for Gary and I the butterfly farm was lovely with the sound of the waterfall, and butterflies landing all around.
Then our last break, to Ludlows food and drink festival,held in the castle with top chefs, lots of food to try and ale to taste, always a tremendous time away, lots to see and do.
It was also Jenny our daughters 30th birthday which we celebrated at Frankie and Bennys where i passed onto her my very full silver charm bracelet that i have collected charms for , for over 35 years. which she loved, then the next day we all went bowling to finish off the birthday celebrations.
Also a very good day with Jenny Owen and Jon at the royal wedding street party, which was a great day, Jenny and i watched  Prince William and Kate Middleton get married on the tv at Westminster Abbey ,there was a wipe away of a tear, then outside to join jennys neighbours who had set out tables, everyone came out of their houses with food and drink and it was a nice get together. So may 2012 bring us all many HAPPY memories, to my family that i love HAPPY NEW YEAR , Health, Wealth and Happiness.

Boxing Day 27th December , MONOPOLY TOURNAMENT

SORRY GAZ YOU WOULDNT SPEND YOUR MONEY, HOW COULD YOU WIN!!

WILL IT BE YOU TWO THAT WINS

MY MOM HAS NO CHANCE AND HANGS ON TO HER CASH

OOOOOOOOOh I THINK HE OWES ME MONEY FOR LANDING ON THAT,HEY BIG SPENDER

JON COUNTING HIS MILLIONS, JEN MENTALLY SPENDING IT

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY

hERE IS  OWEN DOING HIS LEN GOODMAN AUDITION, AS THE DICE ROLLS HE SHOUTS OUT LENS CATCHPHRASE NUMBER ....SEVEN
/ANYWAY GOOD GAME GOOD GAME AS BRUCIE WOULD SAY, ME AND JON CALLED IT A DRAW.

Another busy day, first thing a drive over to pick my mum up in the car and bring her over for her Boxing day dinner with us. Another exchange of presents, then it was onto a competitive game of MONOPOLY. Phew some hard core players and cheats abound there, some even make up their own rules, thats me. Here are some pictures.

Its Christmas 2011

Christmas day at last at last, Laura and Martin at home in front of their tree, waiting to go to see Owen, Jenny and Jon with us in the car.

Jennys tree, always decorated beautifully, a nice festive photo to look back on, lots of prettiness.

Well who have we got in the next two photos, not only Jon and Jenny, but the softest cat/kitten you will ever find, his name is socks, and he is so gentle and loved to be cuddled, and also be nosy to what was going on. Who were these people, what is that noise, woken from his slumbers, such a lovely moggy.

Here it was Christmas day had arrived, we were at our daughters for Christmas morning, with our son and his wife, to see our grandson, with all his Christmas presents. This years star present was a DS game. The cat was about to see what was going on, martin fixed up a car track, Jack , Owens friend came around with his toys, lots of noise, festive spirit, and a Happy start to Christmas all round.A cuppa tea a mince pie,a look at the toys, then it was time to go home and see to the dinner, not me you understand, but the chef i call my husband, who always does an absolutely excellent job. Well done Gary, dinner was excellent.

Martin and Laura at Jennys Christmas morning

Gary and I having a hug by our tree

Owen our grandson and jenny and jon pose for a family photo

Martin , here at teatime along with Laura to challenge his dad to a game of football.

It was a lovely if busy Christmas Day, family, food, festivities. A nap in the afternoon, an episode of Coronation street on for an hour, followed by a good period Drama of Downton Abbey. Who could ask for more, than a happy family at Christmastime.

The Night before Christmas

A few computer problems have delayed my blogging this month, but all is back to normality.
A few pictures of the night before Christmas

We were all waiting for Santa to arrive

 The presents were waiting by the tree to be unwrapped on Christmas morning

 Under the tree, all was merry and bright, and itchy fingers were waiting until morning came

Most of all, apart from the baubles, tinsel and tree, it was Christmas eve. The period of Advent and waiting was nearly over and we were ready to celebrate the birth of Christ. I love manger scenes, and this is one i have had for a few years, a symbolic reminder of God that came to earth, and born in a manger.

Painting on silk december 10th

My first ever go at painting on silk at a class at Weston village Hall. What a lovely afternoon spent learning something new and different. Below is a picture of the painted silk, loosely based design on one of rennie mackintoshes roses.

Above is the fabric , the design was first drawn on a sheet of paper, then the silk pre stretched on a canvas was laid on top of the paper and the design traced on with gutta, a type of glue. This was dried with a hairdryer, it allows the fabric to be painted on, yet the die does not reach the part of the design blocked out by the glue.
Next the watercolour dye is applied to the fabric, salt can be added to give a nice effect, or water dropped onto it so that colours overlap or run into each other. When the design is finished , the salt is brushed away, and the silk is dried with an iron.
Then the fabric is removed from the frame, it is rinsed in water and ironed again to make it colour fast, i think i got it in the right order.
Today i so wanted to do something with a small part of it, i decided to make myself a small jewellery box.

Here is the jewellery box that i made with a little bit of the fabric, i appliqued and embroidered some small stitches to the rose on the lid. I did use a glue gun as it was too thin to sew without fraying, i lined it with pink felt.The remainder of the fabric is in the background ready to make a new project, but i havent decided what yet.
I would certainly like another go just to do something more earthy to machine a landscape design onto it, so i await the next lesson. Warning you could get addicted to this.So many people did so many different designs in so many various colours no two the same, I enjoyed it immensely.

Cake and Create December 7th 2011

Last night was cake and create night, zoe couldnt make it, so there was laura , katie and I, while the menfolk sloped off to the PUB.
We all did our own thing tonight, Laura made Harry Potter scarf Bookmarks for presents., she managed to do her second bookmark the same evening, and it looked really good. A nice gift for someone.

Laura working on another Harry Potter bookmark





Cake and creativity

 Here is Katie working on her handmade cards, which are really loveley, in picture one, followed by the finished cards.

Katie and I fashioned a letter F for someones name to go on a key ring, looking good. A nice evening together, watching Kirstie Allsopp crafting away on the Tv as well as us, all exclaiming we've made that, or we could do that. What a creative bunch is cake and create. I must mention although Zoe couldnt make it she did complete a pretty pink and chocolate coloured mug cosy on monday, even making a flower to embellish it. Well done you lot, you keep me going.

Christmas Tree December 5th 2011

I am early in putting up the Christmas Decorations this year, normally i wait till 2 weeks before Christmas, However after attending the Christmas Carol Concert at St Marys Church yesterday, and it being a gloomy day today outside, what could be better than putting up the tree and lights.

 I also put up the Christmas wreath Gary and i made, with old Christmas Tree ornaments we couldnt bear to part with, so we glue gunned them to a wreath, and made this little beauty, so now we will always have them .
Cards are arriving, it will all soon be here,Presents to unwrap, family to see,Christmas dinner, a nice nap in the afternoon, a bit of telly, aaaaaaaah nothing like the old British christmas.

St Marys Church Xmas Tree and carols Concert Dec 4th 2011

 On Sunday we attended the Xmas Tree festival and Victorian Christmas Carol Service at St Marys Church. So many trees to look at, , my favourite was the Pelo Christmas Tree , decorated by the hairdressers. There were craft stalls, cups of tea to be had  and after the Xmas Tree festival a lovely Carol Service. So worth going too, put ,us in the Festive Spirit. It was nice that our friend Katie came along with us too. A good time had by all, the church was so packed with people hardly a seat to be had. We sang all the old Hymns, such as O little Town of Bethlehem, and In the bleak midwinter, my particular favourite carol.
The rendition of songs by Yarlet School choir was beautiful, they were in red surpluses, behnd them was the brass band, it  made quite a picture.
Then there were readings by a couple in Victorian Costume, very entertaining. Followed by prayers and a final chorus of We wish you a Merry Christmas by Yarlet Hall School again. Pictures below are of some of the decorated trees. The picture above is my favourite by Pelo.

Paperwhite Narcissi in November 2011

 Paper white Narcisii, can be grown in water with a bed of fine gravel or teeny stones to brighten up the dreary days of Winter. These were bought me for my birthday in August. I planted them out about 5 weeks ago, bought them in when they were about six inches in height and just showing a bud.

These are so beautiful

They have grown so tall

Within the week these flowering daffodills had grown another five or six inches and now have 40 small individual heads, some ten to one stem. The smell is wonderful. There are more buds to bloom along the stem, this is the first year I have grown them, but now I shall grow them every year they are so lovely. Thankyou Zoe, for the lovely gift.

Sunday walk on Beacon Hill 2011

 Sunday walk to Beacon Hill started off here , up the lane past the farm, and onto the public footpath.

So many rabbit holes under the hedgerows in the bank

View from the top of the hill looking towards pye green tower

We made our way around the Wood facing Hopton

Long afternoon shadows of the two of us

around the hill almost facing stafford

Over the stile to the side of the gate



So lovely i ran down the hill



Back to where we started

Sunday walk took us to the top of Beacon Hill, with a flask of brandy laced tea,, it was so cold  and Blustery we sheltered out of the wind and  it warmed us up nicely.We were out for at least an hour and a half thats about 3 miles we covered. Starting at the top of Beacon Farm, up to the top of Beacon Hill, keeping to the edge od the fields we made our way around the hill. Good views of Stafford, the Chase, the Wrekin .We had warmed up now, the wind had dropped a little and it was lovely to take photos of our walk. Nice to get out, such nice walks right on the doorstep, if only we make an effort. Always worth it.

Town Lights with Naked Sunday November 2011

Off to Town to see the Christmas lights , but mainly to see Naked Sunday playing on stage in front of a good sized crowd, who all seemed to enjoy it as did we. They played a good set, starting with Rocka doodle do, and their Christmas single on C D Tinseltown tonight. For the first time katie Teitge joined in with the vocals on stage, and the duo sound sounded really good. The single is to raise money for research into spina bifida, and also for the local St Katherines hospice.

                                                        Once again Naked Sunday make the papers

                                                         Naked Sunday at Town lights

 The crowd await the band, Tim Wedgewood is the compere from radio stoke on screen

                                          The creative streak in Martin comes out in this great hat

                                                 Mr and Mrs Stanyer playing about with the hat

Martin creatively made a most superb hat, well done martin on always coming up with something different, and this last picture shows the baby who all the cds and hats have been made in memory of. My lovely baby Elizabeth Fay Stanyer who died aged five weeks and one day with spina bifida.Not forgetting Lynne , Dans mum and my friend and Katherine Hospice.