Christmas Eve

We are close to being ready.
Last night we had a good dollop of festive spirit when we went to the theatre to see A Christmas Carol.
Today there are some presents still to wrap, some mince pies to bake, an ice cream dessert for tomorrow's lunch to assemble and a bit of cleaning and tidying to be done too.

We've just had fun making these tea cake reindeer after finding inspiration at Mrs Thrifty's.
One will be left out for Father Christmas tonight along with a carrot for the reindeer.



One of S's classmates gave her a card wishing her a Mere CroosMoos which I think sounds fabulous, so I want to wish you all a Mere CroosMoos too. Have fun.

No Bake Mini Puds

I made these this afternoon.
There were 40 of them but I had to test a couple!
Melt 100g butter, 25g soft brown sugar, 4 tbsp golden syrup then stir in 3 tbsp cocoa powder, 225g crushed digestive biscuits and 100g raisins. Roll mixture into balls and pop into petit four cases. I have topped half of them with melted white chocolate.

Home Front Christmas

This afternoon I had booked T and S into a free activity at one of the City's museums and learning from past experience I didn't tell them about it until a couple of hours before hand. This is because T moans along the lines of 'mum why do you have to find things for us to do all the time?!' I hoping that when he's older he'll look back and remember these things more fondly! I do appreciate that at 10 he is getting a bit too old for crafty outings such as these but having said all that he did enjoy this afternoon.
Before making the reindeer and card decorations, which you can see G very glamourously modelling above, we had a short talk on WW2. There were original ration books, old magazines, a gas powered iron and even an deactiviated incendiary bomb to look at. I could have spent ages looking at these and wanted to photograph them but unfortunately they got packed away before I was able to have a good nose. We ran out of time and so the reindeer had to come home noseless but I'm sure they'll be something suitable in the button tin.

christmas crafts

Writing out home made Christmas cards for members of our family and adding extra festive drawings as inspiration hits.


Getting icky sticky hands from melted marshamllows as we shape Rice Krispie Christmas trees .

A Sprinkling of Snow

Compared to a lot of people this second lot of snow has been just a sprinkle. We spent the day indoors yesterday but today there was a very strong need for fresh air. After a quick trip to the supermarket we drove on down to the park which was practically deserted, although we did bump into neighbours we live 2 doors away from us who were out with their dogs. Snowballs were thrown and the frisbee made an appearance which got the children running around for a while. Mission accomplished it was home again to the warmth, tea and cake baking.

More Pressies

Here's the magpie haul of charity shop/car boot and jumble sale buys that will make up my sister's Christmas present.
They are sat on a crochet blanket which cost 25p. There are 2 bags at 50p each, a brand new pair of PJ's for 75p, a Christmas patterned mug for 50p. 4 various lotions and potions and soaps totalling £1.29. The clothing which includes a hat, a blouse, a skirt, pair of socks and a jumper total £1.65. There is a little cream bucket and a candle holder decorated with angels and 'Sister' which were 25p each. Another candle holder, this time a glass one and the cheapest buy was 10p A little silver fairy for her tree cost 20p. The most boring (in my opinion) gift is a red plastic shelf, which was 60p, which she'll use in one of her 3 sheds. That's not as bad as it sounds! A Cadbury's jigsaw for £1.00 will keep her busy in the evenings as she listens to her Bobby Darin CD which was 20p. The strangest, but still cute, gift is an unopened tin of plasters decorated with cupcakes for £1.00. The last 2 purchases were made a couple of weeks ago at a local church Christmas fayre and these are the pickled onion jar for 25p (she chose that) and the set of multi coloured mini storage jars which were 75p.

Grand total £10.04. As our allowed spend is £10.00 I have come in just over, not bad!

Thank you for all the kind words on my last post. I'm feeling a bit healthier now. It really cheered me to get all those messages. xx

Feeling sorry for myself

I have a nasty cold.
I've been in bed for the best part of 2 days.
I missed the local traders Christmas festivites yesterday which included a lantern parade and carol singing. Tonight I am missing an all expenses paid meal out with my fellow charity shop workers.
I am fed up and feeling a bit wallowy. Boo Hoo.