Here we are, in that strange no-man's-land between Christmas Day and New Years Day. A time of clearing away, finishing off, sales fever, and reflection. I'm sure there will be many blog posts about New Year Resolutions, and reviews of Old Year, and I may or may not go down that route later on, but for now I'll just keep it low-key and local.
Above is a post-Christmas view of our little tree, sans the splendour of all the presents round the base. We don't do 'large and natural' these days, this pretty good artificial has done us proud for a good few years now, and the size s just right.
Christmas cards are, apart from the tree, the sum total of our decorations. Oh, and a wreath on the door.
Oooops! Did you spot the reel of elastic nestling between the cards here? Luckily it is not the knicker variety, I don't know how it found its way here!
The sunny view out of my sewing room window this morning, across the nursery field to where the cattle are chomping at hay bales. It is gorgeous here in West Norfolk, but very cold outside!
The garden in the sunshine looks a bit thread-bare this time of year. Jim spent yesterday afternoon hoovering up the fallen leaves. Well, most of them!
I've done a fair bit of embroidery on the quilt - sometimes in my sewing room listening to audio-books, sometimes in front of the television while we watched a bit of Miss Marple, or a video. Can't say the Christmas tv has been all that spectacular.
Finished the applique on this, ready for stitching into a cushion cover. Need to find a cushion form!
And here is my ready-to-go box for bangle-making; it's handy to just grab the box and bring it into the living room in the evening.
So, are you tuckered out with turkey and trifle, or have you got rid of all the left overs? Planning your New Year Resolutions, or firmly forsaking the very idea? Back at work, or at least back in the old routine, or still enjoying a little peace and quiet before reality kicks back in? I'm pleased I've got back into the swing of blogging, and I shall now go and catch up with what you've been writing on yours. If I don't manage another post before next Thursday, Happy New Year to you all!
Lovely post - I enjoy this week between the Bank Holidays as the diary is empty and I can get on with whatever I like at home. Have been having a clear out and getting rid of "stuff" I swear it breeds if you don't watch it. Love the look of that quilt do show the full Monty sometime won't you? It's been sunny here today but the frost hasn't shifted from the garden all day and now it's getting even colder again. Best wishes for 2014 to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteHi and thanks fr your comment - yes, we had an early frost but it lifted with the sunshine. I WILL show the quilt when I have bound it and finished the odd bit of applique and embroidery - I hate the binding part and am conscious I am putting it off! Hope New Year is good for you and the family. Lxx
DeleteHi I've just found you via another's blog, so pleased I was nosey enough to pop by, what a lovely blog. I love the embroidery and appliqué you're putting on. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm off now to roam over more of your posts whilst waiting for our meal to cook. Clicked to follow by email and joined your followers :)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Peg xx
Hello Peg lovely to meet you and thanks so much for commenting - enjoy the archive! I find it difficult to deal with this 'circle' business as opposed to a straightforward blog - do you have a blogsite I can click straight onto? I'd love to check you out and leave a comment!
DeleteI think you must sew in your sleep! We had a quiet Christmas although spent a good part of Friday with DB in MAU! All ok, just locum doctor being over cautious!
ReplyDeleteOh no! I hope things are ok Dc, as you say, just an over-cautious GP but enough to raise your blood-pressure and lower your mood. Hope things are good now. The stitching is done when I have a moment, and I don't 'watch' tv without something to do as well!
DeleteNo turkey or trifle here... Hugh F-W's lemon sponge, a free range chicken with homemade stuffing and lots of veggies, that was Christmas Day dinner. Leftovers - parsnips, potatoes, stuffing, meat, sprouts, all fried up with fresh chestnuts and a fried egg, frilly and crispy round the edges, perched on top.
DeleteNo New Year Resolutions here either.... I make New Year Intentions, far less stressful than Resolutions... if you resolve to do something then you more or less feel you have to, if you intend to do it, then something more or less important may get in the way but it doesn't matter! Skew whiff thinking or what?
Only a small fartihishal tree here too - we have three to choose from, black, white or green, it was the turn of the white one this year, untraditionally bedecked with baubles of turquoise and purple, with beads to match, the odd tiny fairy tucked in here and there as well as on top. A few cards attached to a large wire heart. A handmade wreath (crocheted a la Lucy in her Attic) on the front door, a more traditional twiggy and berry affair on the back door. Extra fairy lights in the garden, and that was it. I always find New Year more exciting, a whole year and who knows where it will lead, what adventures or mishaps may occur? Will I make any new friends, lose any more old ones (through my own fault, the latter it has to be said, too outspoken!). Ah who knows, but I'm looking forward to it.... ignoring the health issues that may rear their uglies from time to time.
Happy New Year to you as well.
Hi Edwina, a woman after my own heart! To be honest I enjoy the fiddly bits more than the turkey - I could feast quite happily on a plate of chippolatas in bacon, sausage-meat stuffing, bread sauce, roast spuds and parsnips and chestnuts! And I think it might be chicken for us too next year.
DeleteI like the idea of Intentions rather than resolutions, too. And health issues play a larger part as I get older but I refuse to dwell while they aren't too prominent. Lxx
Anothrr request to see your whole quilt! The little peeks are torture!
ReplyDeleteHello Lynda, thanks for popping by and leaving a comment! Well, I think you will have to be patient a little longer ..... when I've finished it I will take some full length photos, I promise!
Deletewe got married in the gap between Xmas and the New year, hence it is our anniversary today. As we eloped to Gretna, we thought no-one would notice if we slipped away! so these days between the 2 holidays are special to us.
ReplyDeleteYour textile is delightful, I love the colours and stitching. Happy new Year Lynne.
How wonderful, Kath, and how romantic! you will be enjoying your celebration as I type - my congratulations to you both.
DeleteI will get this quilt finished as soon as I can, it has taken years constantly being put on the back burner. enjoy your anniversary, and a very Happy New Year to you and yours.Lxxx
Lynne, your quilt oh your quilt. I am desperate to see it all and feel like running my hands and eyes over each and every precious stitch. It is going to be an absolute beauty. You have always been so lovely in visiting and sending your wise words my way via my blog. Its an absolute pleasure to "know" you and here is to a very joyful and healthy new year xox Penny
ReplyDeletePenny I think we really are Bloggy-Friends by now, eh? I do enjoy your blog and your comments on mine. Creatures of similar tastes I think. I promise to hurry and finish the quilt and then I will post the photographs ! Happy New Year.Lxxx
DeleteLove the colours of your post Lynne !
ReplyDeleteThe christmas tree stands in the garden (in a big pot) and came in
just before christmas day, with help of daughter, for I was no good in
helping Man .... The others took the decorations from the attic, and
I just picked some red balls and some felted little things to put in it.
In other years I make a wreath or big piece to hang outside : nothing
this year (I was just glad I could stand on my own two feet again when
the Christmas Craft Fair started ....)
No resolutions for me either ... what for ! I think I'm doing quite well ;-))
Have a funny and warm New Years Eve with your loved ones, Lynne, and
"see" you next year !
You will have had lovely youngsters at your Christmas celebrations, Els, how lovely for you. And so glad that you are "on your own two feet" again!! Happy New Year and look forward to speaking again in2014! Lxxxx
DeleteLynne your house looks beautiful with the cards strung up, just right. We still have lots of leftovers to eat, although it's getting a bit monotonous now! We rather over did the food shopping! Back to work today and tomorrow for us so we need to get back to normal.
ReplyDeleteHi JAy, thank you - we don't go mad these days with decorations but we have to have these! Still have a bit of ham left and some biscuits and chocs but that's about it. Fell very lucky we neither f us have to get back t work - I have done my fair share of early shifts on cold, wet, dark icy mornings so I don't feel in the least embarrassed! Lx
DeleteHi Lynne,
ReplyDeleteI like your tree and I just love your house photos. Lots of books! Your embroidery is gorgeous, I am looking forward to seeing your quilt finished!!
I look forward to sewing next year.
Have a Happy New Year!
Dorothy
Hello Dorothy thank you for your comment, and a very happy new year to you and yours.And do enjoy your sewing, as i am loving mine. Lx
DeleteHiya Lynne
ReplyDeleteRegarding the pin interest pin on my blog, I just googled a pininterest symbol on google images, copied and pasted it and linked my pin board to the icon on the side...not sure if that makes sense, I am pants at explaining IT stuff. Sorry, hope that helps? x P
I think its the linking my pinboard to the icon on the side bit that will defeat me! I am pants at doing it!! But thanks. Lx
DeleteI have enjoyed being "inside" your cheery charming house at Christmas-time. I would just love to wrap up in your gorgeous appliquéd plaid quilt. West Norfolk looks stunning, so very green. I bet it's colder here. Currently it's minus 17 C and probably dropping 4 or 5 degrees over night. We will put a fire in the fireplace and drink something bubbly tomorrow evening, staying right at home and falling asleep before 2014 comes in. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, thank you, yes, we are a bit warmer here than you in Minnesota! Happy New Year!
Deleteyour house looks lovely!!!! we just had fairy lights and cards up this year - partly because we have been away AND i'm itching to take the cards down - the fairy lights can stay up all year as far as i'm concerned!!!! happy new year to you and yours and i will look forward to hearing more of your news next year xxxx
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours Lynne! I hope to get a post together but you never know! And we will be taking down our cards pretty soon I should think - I'm getting a bit claustrophobic!Lxx
DeleteHappy New Year Lynne, Lucky you being able to sew through Christmas, I was 'forced' to tidy up and put my sewing machine away :(
ReplyDeleteWith a family of 6, with boyfriends, girlfriends and friends nothing much is leftover in this house!
That quilts looks tantalisingly close to being finished, maybe it's one of those projects that you want to last forever and don't actually want to finish?
SueXxx
Hi Sue, Happy New Year! Well you have had a lovely family Christmas, haven't you? We only had Christmas lunch as a big family, and mum here on Boxing Day and New Years Day so to be honest we have had plenty of time to ourselves for pottering and self-indulgence. Yes, actually I have just to put the binding on the quilt - putting it off I must confess it is my worst part of quilt making! And between you and me, I have just started another one, I have been thinking about it and planning it, and have just started to make some of the applique motifs. I am on a roll! Catch you soon. Lxxxx
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