'TIS THE SEASON...

... Or, Not Now with the Bad Back!

I just know you are feeling my pain - although hopefully not in a literal sense.

You know what they say about the best laid plans..?  Well this week was all sorted - Mr W (thankfully on leave from work)  and I were going to prepare the house and all the bits for Christmas in a relaxed and orderly fashion...and then enjoy the time off with the kids.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT MARKET AND OTHERS THINGS ...

... I am Ill-Prepared For.

Aaaah, s'beautiful. 

I am sure I am not alone, but at the moment I am entirely Beneath my list of Things To Do.
On Top Of is something I can only dream about.

I am half way through about a mazillion jobs - including Putting Up the Christmas Decs.  A job I love and usually apply myself diligently to until it is done.   We have already bought and erected our tree - which is somewhat broader in the beam than we realised.  We were well on the way to owning the world's first Spherical Nordmann Fir until some judicious prunage gave us a little more leg room in the lounge.  (I never call it a 'lounge' usually, but 'Living Room' after 'Leg Room' seemed like I was saying 'room' too much.  Something I would never do.)

IT MAY BE NOVEMBER...BUT REMEMBER, REMEMBER...

 

...Or, Well Hallo(we'en) Again!

 

I know, Hallowe'en has been and gone - and, in England at least, most people have moved on to Bonfire Night preparations - but I can't resist dragging it out a little longer.

It's been a busy week with all The Family home, and certainly our most Time-Consuming Project was the Haunted Gingerbread House. 

RANDOM

Well it's been a funny old week, all a bit random.  So, rather than try to ravel each thread into something a bit more cohesive, I am Embracing the Random and posting it all here.

Not strictly speaking a bush, but hedge. 

Bush Feeding Lady
Okay, that could go in all sorts of directions - but here is what happened. 
Walking The Dog the other day , we lingered a-while on the bridge over the river.  We do this a lot as Dog likes to look at the ducks (and I like to look out for any scary looking hounds I may need to hide from).   Only on this particular occasion there was not a single duck to be seen. 
And yet, on the other side of the bridge (the Cyclists side, for shame!) was a lady throwing copious amounts of bread with an impressive over-arm action.
As subtly as I could (turning up the collar of my mac, whistling casually and inwardly cursing that I couldn't remember the theme tune to The Third Man) I sidled over to see what she had found to feed.
Perhaps some early ducklings? I do so love a duckling. 
But no...

ART 'N' CRAFT CLUB

Two posts on the bounce on the theme of Crafting?  Why, surely I am spoiling you . . .(?!)

Yes, after-school Art & Craft Club has started up again (I took a break after Christmas due to family commitments) and our first session was on Tuesday afternoon.

I was quite looking forward to it, a new batch of 6 victims children eager to express themselves through the medium of whatever I bung on the table.

Trouble was, this week turned out to be rather more miss than hit. 
As it was a brand new group, I decided to keep things simple so I could get a feel for the mixed range of abilities.   I had fond memories of drawing with wax candles as a child and then covering it with a wash of paint.  I still think it's epic now, watching the invisible wax drawing come to the fore, as if by magic (it's true, I don't get out much).

So off I went to school, spring in my step, song on my lips, unfeasibly heavy Craft Bag hanging from the crook in my arm...

FEELING A BIT CRAFTY...



http://www.patonsyarns.com

I've always wished I could crochet - ever since Junior school when one of the older girls showed me how to make a chain using just my fingers (and wool, obviously).  This kept me satisfied for a while, but there are only so many things you can do with a long single chain of wool. 
How lovely, I thought, to be able to sit in the evening and make crocheted blankets and throws for family and friends.  (Cue gazing whistfully off into the middle distance).

So last night I decided to stop my whistful thinking - and start learning. 

Luckily I had all the necessary equipment to hand, as Phase 1 of Learning to Crochet was completed some 18 months ago with the procurement of a Glossy Mag entitled 'Learn How to Crochet - It's Really Easy', or something equally misleading.