Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas

Well, it's that time of the year, again!  The tree is up, the presents are wrapped, and it's promising to be a mild sunny day for Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who has liked and commented on my videos, or subscribed to my channel.  It means a lot to me, and I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas (or Happy Holiday's if you don't celebrate Christmas).  I look forward to making more videos in 2019.

And until I see you guys next time,

Cloak & Dagger Christmas TBR

Hello, my lovelies.  Sorry, but this is just going to be a very short post today.

Yes, I am taking part in the Cloak and Dagger Christmas readalong - and I am sooo excited!  Plus, being a glutton for punishment I am also modifying this TBR for the 12 Days of Cozmas readalong as well.  Thank God everyone decided to do cosy mystery readalongs otherwise I would be royally screwed ;-D

Let me know in the comments if you are going to be participating in either (or both?) readalongs, and what you will be reading.

Thank you for watching, and until I see you next time...

 

Christmas starting early this year

 

Hello my lovelies!

 

This is just going to be a rambling entry as I just can't seem to get myself into a bookish mood.  Still waiting for new things to arrive in the post, but I will show you three of my favourite non-bookish thngs I found this week.  

 

I'm getting into the Christmas Spirit early this year so I wanted to show you all my latest finds.  Firstly, I saw this online and immediately called my mum to see if she could find it in her area (I don't have a K-Mart here!) and yes, she bought it for me ;-D  I love it, and it is sitting on a box beside my computer desk until I decide exactly where I want it.  Then on Saturday I saw this cute Christmas ornaments, a little felt bird, and had to have it, then I remembered I'd seen some sweet hanging mason jars for candles a few days before, so I bought one to go along with the red theme I've got going this year.  I wanted things to decorate my bookshelves with, but they have instead found their way into my bedroom.  I've got the bird hanging from my lacy curtain, and the candle holder is currently on the box next to the ampersand light.

 

On the bookish side of things after the success of last weekend's TBR only reading binge, I just haven't really been feeling like picking up any other books from my massive TBR pile.  Instead I've been spending waaaay too much time on YouTube, and rereading some of my favourite books.  It's become a bit of a problem.

I was planning on doing something about that today, but it's overcast, and quite chilly for November!, so I'm sitting back on the bed, watching YouTube.  There  are plenty of things that really need to get done, but the weather has saved me from laundry duty, however I should have gone to the store this morning for a few groceries, but have decided to put that off until tomorrow so I can bask in the glory that is spending a lazy morning in bed so I can make the most of my favourite weather ;-D

Hoping that the postman delivers a book or two today - I ordered another handful of books, yeah! - and am still debating whether or not I should read the Song of Ice and Fire books before watching the TV series.  Yes, I still haven't read/watched it... and I own the books and seasons 1-4 on Blu-ray! {hmmm, a little off topic there}  So, I've got a myriad of bookish things to get done, read, or watch, but just can't seem to summon the enthusiasm to start any of it.  

Do you feel this way at times?  Let me know down below if you do, and what worked to get you out of your reading funk.

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

Should I give in to temptation?

Saw this gorgeous Frosty the Snowman teapot at a discount store that has popped up at my local shopping centre.  I find he is so cute, and I would love to have a Christmas teapot, however he is $45.

Let me know in the comments whether or not I should buy Frosty and give him a home?

Until next time,

 

Time flies

via Shutterstock

I can't believe it's almost Halloween already!  This year is just flying by.  It seems the older I get, the faster the years seem to speed by.  I wish it would slow down... I wonder, who do I call about that?

Anyway, onto other things.  I've been a very bad bookworm the last few weeks.  I have more than a few books that have arrived in the mail - with a few still left to arrive!  And I get to pick up an armful of books over the next few weeks that I have had on layby at a local store (mostly mine, but a couple for Christmas presents).  Soon it won't be a case of buying a new bookcase or two, but moving into a bigger place so I can fit all the needed bookcases.

In other news, I have a few Christmas ideas gelling at the moment.  I want to get back into sewing and quilting (stupid carpal tunnel has prevented me from sewing nearly all year!), but I've found 2 smaller, and quite simple, projects that I will try before attempting something more complicated - and possibly painful.

Speaking of painful, I got in my annual redecorating funk and moved nearly all the furniture and bookcases around 3 weeks ago.  I like the new layout as I can experience morning sunlight in the lounge area once again, and I'm not in a dark corner hiding behind a bookcase when I sit on the sofa.  But I paid for this one-woman-effort with major nerve problems in my wrists.  Thankfully after a day or two the pain subsided - and it was worth it.  I love the open plan look.

Apart from that, not much else has been going on.  I'm waiting to see the surgeon at the hospital to see what they have to say about operating on my wrists (something I'm really not looking forward too), and in the mean time I'm going to try and catch up on some Halloween reading.

Speaking of, I finished the All Souls Trilogy this morning.  Absolutely adore it.  I have re-read the trilogy at least four, perhaps five?, times.  The only problem is that there are so many unanswered questions that I'm hoping Deborah Harkness is planning another book to resolve all the loose threads.  I don't care if it's 10 years in the character's futures... I just need to know! 

{Hmmm... note to self: perhaps a review is in order?}

Anyway, I'd better scoot and get on with my long list of chores.

Until next time,

 

PS - Oh, I forgot to mention that I won my first ever giveaway (online)!  Allen & Unwin were having a spring clean and I won a book on Instagram.  Was so excited.  I had nominated to get the book, Prick, but somehow ended up with Undermajor Domo Minor?  Caused a few minutes of confusion, but the synopsis sounded very intriguing.  Hope to get to it in November.

Unhappy Santa Paws

I think this says it all ;-D

Could have been worse - I could have found a Santa hat ;-D

 

My Little Christmas Helper

Just a quick post today.  I'm in the middle of the Christmas rush, trying to get last minute presents, and get ready for the day, so I thought that I'd post a few of my favourite pics of the past week ;-D

Hope you enjoy!

Wishing you all a

Yes, it's done!

After much procrastinating - and YouTube searching - I finally made myself sit at the sewing machine to finish mum's quilt.  

Just the binding left

After taking yesterday away from the sewing machine, I really had to be strict with myself and sit down to get the quilting done.  As a total novice I stuck to a simple grid pattern.  I think it turned out pretty good!  Just the rustic, handmade  - and occasionally wonky - look I was going for (that's my story and I'm sticking to it ;-D ).

So, keep your fingers crossed for me as tomorrow is the day I attempt to bind my creations.  All I can say is 'Thank God for YouTube tutorials!'

Almost done

I thought I'd try my hand at making all my major gifts this Christmas...

and all I can say to that is that I won't be doing it again!

I've finished the quilted place mat for my uncle (a nice mix of denim and blue fabric), and only have to do the binding on the bed runner for my aunt.  However, I'm just about to quilt my mum's lap rug - and thats before I tackle the binding.  (P.S these are the first items I've ever tried to quilt!)

So, with only 5 more days left before the ceremonial handing over of presents,  I'll be the one slaving over the sewing machine and panicking.  Will I finish them time?  I hope so as I don't have any back up gifts on standby.  My hats off to all you competent quilters out there.  You make it seem so easy!

Keep your finger's crossed for me, won't you ;-D

Chilli Chutney

Just finished cleaning the kitchen after my first attempt at Chilli Chutney (thanks to my new CWA cook book).  It turned out so well that I had to share the recipe with you.

It's so easy to make its a great last minute gift idea.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups finely diced red chillies (remove seeds for a milder flavour)
• 1 onion diced
• 1 1/2 cups of diced cooking apples (or if you can't get your hands on any, 1 x 400g tin of apple pie apples)
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups white vinegar (I used Cornwall's)
• 1 small tsp salt

Method

After finely dicing the apples, chilli's (remember to wear gloves!) and the onion, put them into a pan and start to cook for a minute or two. 

Add the sugar, vinegar and salt.

Bring to the boil, then turn down heat until you have a gentle simmer.  Stir periodically until the sauce thickens.  This should take about 1 1/2 - 2 hours. 

Bottle into hot sterilized jars, and if you want to, add  piece of glad wrap before sealing the jars.

Keep in cool, dark place.  Refrigerate after opening.

Best with ...

a sharp vintage cheese - with or without crackers - or on a cold meat sandwich.

Quilting for Xmas

I don't know about anyone else, but I made the mistake of telling my mother that I'd started quilting.  Now I have to make her a lap rug for Christmas - and she'd already picked out the material!

After much debate, I finally got myself psyched up enough on Sunday to I get out the charm pack - Moda Printemps - but then I had to  figure out exactly how I was going to do with it.  Complicated was out.  My sewing machine should have an L plate for all the experience I've had!  After much YouTube surfing I finally settled on the Disappearing 9 Patch (wonderful tutorial by the Missouri Star Quilt Co.).  I was confident that I could manage it.

So, to cut a long story short, after a couple of hours - and a few unpicked rows - I had a cute central piece for mum's quilt.  Now I just have to add some white around it and decide on a binding, not to mention the backing.  I might just squeak this in in time for Christmas ;-D

PS - I have to do a bed footer for my aunt too!

Christmas Greetings



 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas full of magical moments, love and laughter.

Let the Christmas Chaos begin!

Oh God, it's that time of year again!  Wish me luck!

Salt Dough Ornaments, Part 2

 

Just thought I'd post a pic of my salt dough decorations.  I blogged about making them over a month ago, and they are finally on the tree.

The snowflakes came out the best I think, but they all stayed a nice off white.  Very rustic, and perfect for the basic colour scheme I was going for.  Red and white, with the only read colour coming from the multicoloured lights.  Now all I've got to do is find a fabulous tree topper.

Beautiful Xmas Tree Shadow

No, I'm not kidding.

I just turned on my Christmas tree lights for the very first time and discovered the most amazing byproduct... a trippy, hippy, psychedelic shadow that's being cast on the wall behind!

What do you think of this? Weirdly beautiful isn't it.

Cooking up a Gingerbread Army

Today was such a tiring day!

I'm editing the final draft of my assignment.  So after staring at the screen for an hour getting nowhere I decide to bake, hoping to relieve my stress...

Yeah, right.

I had bought a packet mix so there I was... I kneaded, and floured, and rolled and cut.  My benches looked like Frosty the Snowman had burst!  Then I had the little darlings in the oven, watching them rise.  Ah, it was all fun and frosting till I saw the washing up... oh boy

Anyhow, next year I'll use my old recipe.  These ones aren't very flavour-some.  A tiny bit of ginger, and no dark brown sugar I suspect.  Next year I'll kick butt with a dark sugar, rich and flavour packed Gingerbread.

In the meantime, I hope all your gingerbread turns out fabulously this Christmas.

Post M.I.A

I've been blogging from my phone recently {yeah me!} and noticed a most annoying quirk.  I'd finished making the cushions I'd been talking about in an earlier blog, New Xmas Project, Nov 18, and when I published it, it failed of course - it always does on the first try if I'm uploading an image as well.  When I published it again, it sort of got stuck in 'publishing' mode.  And it hasn't changed since!

Now it isn't accessible from either mobile phone, or on the blog page.  It's been over a week and I'm getting very frustrated since I can't remember quite what I'd put in the post.  Grrrrrr!

Does anyone know how to retrieve it?  Has it happened to you?

Gingerbread cookies

Just found a good recipe for some Gingerbread cookies - thank God - as I want to make some for presents this year.  I have some festive cookie cutters, and will decorate them with Christmas cheer.

Fingers crossed that they turn out, and if this works... who knows, perhaps there's a gingerbread house in my future?