Be thankful

I am having a lazy day.  I was up later than normal because Simon overslept. I have done a bit of housework and a show and tell blog.  While I was cleaning the kitchen floor I had the TV on.  It was Jeremy Kyle.  I have seen his show before but today's show was different.  It was Christmas surprises for some very special people and to raise money for some charities.

It has had me in tears.  The stories of those people are inspirational.  I cannot begin to imagine how those families have coped with the stuff life has thrown at them.   It is a very timely reminder at this time of year to think about my numerous blessings and to be thankful for them.

It is impossible to even begin to list the ways in which I have been blessed. I had a wonderful childhood with loving parents.  I have led a life of privilege surrounded by people that I love and who love me. I have my health.  I'm not sure what else there is.  If you have all of those things then you want for nothing.

Yes, I have problems and I get annoyed and upset regularly but nothing in my life is insurmountable.  Nothing is life threatening.

You know I have long maintained that money can't buy happiness and I truly believe that.  Yes it can buy comforts but that is all.  What really brings happiness is to be content with what you have and to be thankful for it every day of your life.

Always look for the good.

Over the coming months when you here me whinging and moaning perhaps you could remind me of this!

I wish each and every one of you  happiness over the holiday period and on into 2013.

The final show and tell of the year

I have a few bits and pieces to show you in this last show and tell for 2012.  The most exciting is the finished baby quilt.  The photo isn't great but hopefully you can see that it has turned out quite well.  It isn't perfect but I am proud of it and I don't suppose the baby will be too fussed.

I have also made another ribbon taggie square which is to go in our snowman for the baby.  Do you remember our snowman?  He comes out every year and he has a small gift inside him for every member of the family.  Simon gets them out and the grandchildren take them to each person in turn.  It is one of our traditions.  My Mum used to have a snowman  years ago.  Underneath the taggie is a photo of the snowman.  I made him a few years back from chicken wire covered in layers and layers of paper maiche and then cotton wool.

I made another bum bag which I am keeping for the craft show next year.  Remember that the Dog rescue do a dog show in the summer and my aim is to make enough stuff to be able to have a craft stall for them.  I already have about 50 little brooches, a make up pouch and a jewellery roll.  I have a whole list of things to get started on in the new year which will include, bum bags, shopping bags, aprons, cushions, brooches, cases for ipads and kindles, glasses cases, sock monkeys, peg bags, wall hangings maybe some teddies.  In fact anything that I can think of that won't cost too much to make and can be sold relatively cheaply.

This small Stanley dog is also for the craft show, not best happy with his ears.

This cat door stop was made from a design printed on fabric that I got for 69p ages ago.  I actually made it ages ago but only just sewed on the button eyes this week.  Not happy about his ears either.  It will also go for the craft show.

I have been attempting to make hair clips as I think they could be a good cheap seller along with head bands. This looks OK but the glue on the back shows.  I used a glue gun for good strong glue but I can't sell it as it is because of the glue showing on the underside.  It looks messy.  Need to work out a way of doing it so that doesn't happen.  I want to get some cheap head bands to see what I can do with them.  Did glue a small one of my flower brooches to a head band for Ellie last year and that worked quite well.   My idea is that I need to have lots of things that will appeal to children and only cost a pound or two and then the adults will buy them.

These are the birthday cards that I have made for the last few birthdays this year.

And then there are brooches.  Oh yes more brooches.  These have sold well on EBay but I shall be keeping them now for the craft stall.

I also made another gift this week but as it has yet to reach it's destination I can't show it to you.  Next time.  I  am now going to go and get a bit of house work done before starting work on my third bum bag.  This time made with owl fabric.

This is for one of my bloggy friends.  Eeevee, a special lady who has recently started to do volunteer work at a raptor centre near where she lives.

Thursday 20th December

OK so I have been bad at blogging again but you know it is nearly Christmas and I have been busy.  This is just a quick catch up on a few things.

Firstly my Alfie.  He is doing OK. We have had one week on the prescription diet and so far so good. He seems to like it and he isn't missing out on treats as I give him a few morsels of the food when he would normally have a treat.   He is managing to "wee" a bit better.  It is sort of spurts rather than drips.  So far we have not had any more trouble with leakage so I am only mopping the floor once a day. We have lots of waterproof bedding thingies now but so far they have not been needed.  Simon will collect more food, antibiotics and pain killers from the vet tomorrow to see us over Christmas.  I spoke to the vet today and she is pleased with progress so far and will see him after Christmas.

I am sitting typing this with half an eye on the news. They are predicting more rain and floods across the country.  It is appalling. It has rained here very heavily all day.  The garage is partially flooded again. It is coming in from the back corner and we think it is because the guttering which drains into a water butt simply cannot cope.  Thank goodness our house is safe.  It must be truly awful to have your house flood.

It has been another busy week here.  I have been sewing some last minute bits and pieces for Christmas.  I am really pleased that I have made about 95% of  our gifts this year.

On Tuesday Simon and I went to Stamford, a town about 15 miles away.  He was collecting some wood from a wood yard. We had a quick whizz around the shops there and I got lots of little bits and pieces for a stocking for Saskia.  We gave up doing the Christmas stockings a few years back but as Saskia will actually be here and waking up in our house on Christmas morning I thought it would be nice.  We won't tell her, we will just hang it on her door when she goes to bed so that she can find it in the morning.  We shall tell her that it is her job to get up and bring us coffee and biscuits in bed and then she can open it in our room just like they all used to when they were little. I miss those days.  I have made her a little stocking from Christmas fabric.

When we got home on Tuesday it was to a freezing cold house.  The heating was not on.  Simon checked the pilot light which was fine.  We both had a fiddle around with the timer and the thermostat....nothing.  It was freezing and I do not do cold. Simon phoned a plumber who came out on Wednesday and said we need a new pump.  Strangely, overnight on Tuesday the heating restarted but the plumber said it can do that.  It has been OK since but did go off for a while this morning.  I hope it doesn't give up all together as he can't do the work until the 8th of January.

Yesterday I  did a bit of the Christmas food shopping.  I went to Tesco in Bourne on the 4.50pm bus and Simon picked me up on his way home.  It meant that I didn't leave Alfie for too long.  It wasn't a bad idea but it was very cold waiting for the bus and I also got soaking wet as of course it was  raining.  I still have more to do which I will probably do either tomorrow afternoon once Simon gets home or possibly on Sunday.  Simon will be home early tomorrow as it is the last day of term and they finish an hour or so earlier than normal.

On Saturday I shall  be helping at the dog rescue kennels as normal. Simon is collecting Saskia from Stamford station at lunch time and they will come to pick me up and drop of her cat at the same time. She couldn't find anywhere in Leicester to take her cat so it is going in the cattery here.   Saturday afternoon we have all 4 grandchildren coming to make paper chains which should be fun.  Not sure yet what is happening on Sunday or Christmas eve.

Oh, just remembered something, I keep meaning to tell you all that Coralie raised £327 for the Three Counties dog rescue with her sponsored ride.  Here she is after it was over with her friend Les who also did the . Thanks to everyone who kindly sponsored her.  The doggies will be very grateful.

OK, I'm out of here now. Time to make some hot chocolate and snuggle in bed. I have some magazines waiting to be read.