Just How Much Luck Does One Person Need?

Just went upstairs, went to look out the window and was confronted by this:

I know bird poop on the window is supposed to be lucky - but this is more like a Jackson Pollock!

Anyway, hopefully it bodes well for our workshops, which will be starting shortly.  The first Pitch and Stitch of 2016 will be this coming Tuesday, and then Sandra and I will put our heads together and figure out some exciting stuff! - any requests will be happily considered!

 

Happy New Quilting and Crafting New Year to everyone!

The Twelth Day of Christmas

Today is, I'm sure, the 12th day of Christmas, so I'm pleased to say that, as I said I would, I've finished the Santa figure - Sandra gave me the kit about 5 years ago so it hasn't taken that long:

He's a funny little chap made from an "All Stuffed Up Holiday Felt Friend" kit from the US.  He stands about 2' tall.  Unfortunately he looks a bit cross - not as cross as I got trying to put him together though!!

On the 30th December, I was driving Ben and Victoria back from the airport when we came across a tree that had blown across School lane.  It was about to snap the main electricity wire providing power to East Garston, so the Electricity Board were called.

Within two hours they had sawed it all up without even switching off the electricity!  I don't think people in the village know how close they were to being without electricity!

A Different Point of View!

The other day I received some lovely photos through the post from our German friends Silke and Peter, who have stayed on the CL the last couple of summers - I really hope they call by again this summer.

Well, as we looked through the pictures we realised that a lot of the views around here we take for granted, and that when seen through another's eyes, the familiar can be seen quite differently.

Last Summer I moaned constantly that the garden wasn't doing anything

Actually, it doesn't look too bad.

Jonathan couldn't figure out where this pretty pond was

- it's the one at the bottom of the drive!

This is a view of the farm from across the Valley:

And these two pictures were taken along the old railway line and down the lane by our house - their dog Chack gets along famously with Reuben:

And then we all know Reuben never goes on the Caravan site because he isn't allowed, and also that he can be quite unpredictable with people

 

So what's that all about then?

I know the cattle look lovely as they stroll back and forth across the field:

And I know we get brilliant views of the moon, but I can never take pictures of it:

So thank you very much Silke, for reminding me that I have a lot to be thankful for.

The Fab Four and Liverpool

What an amazing time we had on our day trip to Liverpool!

Of course, it started fairly badly when, due the roadworks at Didcot Station, we missed our first train.  However, the staff were fantastic and re-did our itinerary so, by 12pm, we were rolling into Lime Street station.

Liverpool was everything I didn't expect it to be - clean with beautiful buildings, full of friendly people and so much to see.   First we headed to the Albert Dock

Then, at 1.00pm we hopped onto the Magical Mystery Tour and were taken everywhere - to the Beatles' family homes,

(How could 4 boys who went on to be known world-wide have started life in such ordinary houses?)

as well as to

and

and to see all the other amazing buildings.

Then George spent hours (seemed like - I went off to have a rest) looking round the Beatles Story exhibition.

Then we went to look across the Mersey

Then for a quick peak in the

Then a stroll (which eventually turned into a panic-stricken sprint when we got very lost) through the Christmassy shopping streets back to Lime Street Station for our 6.30 train home:

It was quite an adventure!!

A Fruitless Search for Holy Quail Eggs

So it's finally upon us!  I spent today driving a round trip to Bristol Airport to exchange presents with my sister.  It took me about 6 hours instead of the 3 I expected.  Besides getting lost numerous times and driving through the middle of Bristol, I also stopped at every town on the way home trying to buy Quail eggs.  I wasn't surprised they didn't have them at the service stations but I did expect more from Waitrose.  Although feeling a bit frantic about it (gets like that at Christmas, I find - I tend to get obsessed with details) I finally realised that my own eggs sliced in half would be just as good!

I was very pleased to find, when I finally got home, that Jonathan had made a Christmas corner in the best room!

It doesn't sing or walk around or fly like the stuff I buy,  but I love it!

The last of the 2015 Lorne Hill Farm workshops was held last Wednesday

And Jackie made some lovely felt decorations at Pitch and Stitch.

I haven't managed to finish my Father Christmas, but will do over the next few days.  After tomorrow, when I do my final gift run in the morning and have our friends and neighbours over for a musical evening and buffet (two of whom are from Australia and one from Scotland - so not close neighbours), our Christmas will be the quietest we've had for twenty years! - so I plan to batten down the hatches and not leave our little valley for at least 3 days!

Christmas Wreath-Making

What a lovely, busy day we've had.

Wreath making, with Linda, is always huge fun - and the best bit is: I get to keep her demo!

We've had 16 ladies over the whole day.  This morning as well as Dawn, Toni and Sharon from London, my friends from work came.  I've suffered all week with them going on and on about it - some wishing they had never signed up for it, some worrying they wouldn't be able to do it - but in the end they were all really pleased with their efforts

Some of them have posted pictures of their front doors which is lovely to see:

They look splendid!

Then in the afternoon we had some of the ladies who come back year after year and it's like an annual reunion.  Some of them starting coming in 2009 so it's great to catch up and hear what they've been up to over the last 12 months.

 

And of course, they enjoyed the 48 mince pies I made, and the jugs of hot chocolate, coffee and tea (and squeazy cream - as pre-ordered by Mandy)!

 

I should also mention my little helper, Sophie, who was brilliant at helping serving and I couldn't believe my eyes when I went in the kitchen and saw how she had cleaned everything up  - she was fantastic!

 

A very, very good day - and our second to last workshop of 2015!

Those Naughty Dogs Again.....

Does everyone have a 'guilty' cupboard - the one which is one step away from the rubbish bin; where you put everything that you say may come in handy but in fact will sit in that cupboard for years and years.  Mine had old bubble wrap, used envelopes, plastic things that George has bought over the internet and I don't even know what they are, brochures, old wrapping paper, - a load of old stuff piled up on top of unused plates.

Well, I've found a way of sorting it out.  Leave the dogs at home with your husband and son so they don't get enough exercise, then go out for the evening.

You will come home to this:

Sorted!