Please can someone turn the tap off ,up there.

We have a lake in the garden, Ollie the dog is thinking he is a duck. Martin is wet three times a day at the moment ,well 4 if you include the daily shower . I think I should have had boat for Christmas how about you. I know my brother in law in Queensland is rather warm (I wish) ,friends in the U.S. have had the pretty but treacherous white stuff. So I think I will accept the wet stuff and hopefully one of these days we shall have a nice bright cold but crisp day. We shall count our blessings ,which are many. So first of all before I get started , you may need to share tea and cake  with me as I have so  much to share, can I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy and Stitchy full 2013. It was quite interesting counting the books I have read in 2012 and the things I have finished. 28 books read .30 items of stitching done and 7 knitted items . I wonder what the new year will bring. Christmas brought me a kit from my son that for years I have admired and thought one day! Well tomorrow is the day I start it . Here it is for you to see, not as complicated as the HAED ones I see and admire on peoples blogs but I have seen this completed and loved it.

It is a Lanarte kit by Marjorie Balstein. I was asked if I had started it this morning when Graeme phoned. I  

was so spoilt at Christmas by family and friends alike.,but talking of my son and his family we went to them on Christmas day and met Misty the kitten . We decided not to take Ollie , as there were quite a few people popping in and out and it may have become a bit of a war zone with him and the cat . So we decided to let them meet each other another time.

Misty in a box with her new toys. I think she was spoilt too. Very cute and cuddly.She almost got catnapped.

This is my second grandaughter Ella who belongs to Graeme and Sue. . Sue is in the background with her mum .We arrived home in time for Downton Abbey oh dear it was so sad ..........

I am a bit all over the place with this post as I should have told you Christmas Eve we popped out to Kates ,she does not live so far away and also was working Christmas Day until 6. I think Bedlam reigned there on Christmas Day. Alfie woke at midnight and then every few hours , so Kate did not get much sleep. The two younger boys came over to make "stuff" on Christmas Eve whilst Kate did a bit of last minute shopping and I took a pic of them by the tree.This is Alfie and Sam. We were given School photos too and maybe you would like to see my treasures. 

Caitlin ,Alfie and Sam.We have to get some frames for them now. OK talking of frames I had to hot foot it out to get a frame so this could be finished this Christmas.I have been in the Little house Parlour in the country over at Needlecaft Haven and  every week have been working on this . I am so pleased with it I have to admit.

Here it is framed.Sorry about the picture quality,the weather is making everywhere dark and gloomy.

The changes I made were Red- barn door by Country Colours and Blue- Miladys Teal . The Green I changed for dmc 937 . I mention Needlecraft Haven quite a lot and you may or may not know that Julie and Mr Stick (for prodding us when we do not get on with our UFOS whilst strictly come dancing has been on we had a chance to win the Gitterball by stitching every week if poss on our UFO s . I was delighted when the postman came and presented me with this .

Printed on it -2012 Stictly UFO winner congratulations. Along with this came from Mr Stick a box of his friends , Matchmakers chocolate stick mints. Last but not least a little poem which read.

I am afraid it appealed to my sense of humour ,thankyou Miss Julie you did brighten my day.

Now as we are on the subject of Needlecraft Haven today is opening day for the winter exchange and I received this from Angie , a mirror that (if I dare look in it)will come in useful.Lots of stitching and beads and I am truly delighted thank you Angie if you read this. I will show you the exchange I sent to Fee , hope she liked it.I also included a shawl for her.

I have got another stitchy piece to show you , I received this from Cath of the Stitchy  Chicken , totally unprepared for this and it is SHEEP!!!!! Thankyou Cath I loved them.

So how lucky am I . I also had fabric and silk from Christine. Silks and a Floral stitching booklet from Clare. A patchwork rabbit token from Karan and this.

I absolutely adore this sheep he sits on my fridge , he /she apparently came from the Lake District where Karan was taking her hols in the summer.Wonder how you all know I like sheep a little bit. Ok I will admit it my name is Barb and I love ,adore, worship , SHEEP!!!
Even my daughter succumbed to this , she was out with her friend before Christmas and her friend and her looked at each other and said , "Mum!"
Oh dear the secret addiction is out now.
I do have an awful sad bit of news for you my sil mother was in a very nasty accident just before Christmas , she was driving through Weymouth , we all heard it on the news , she had fallen ill at the wheel of her car. A passing bus with nurses on, ran to help her, a dr that had a surgery near by had been called. They had her on the road and were doing CPR. To no avail the paramedics arrived and she was pronounced dead. Everyone was talking about it and it being the main artery into the town a major  traffic jam formed.
 Although she went into a Mercedes in front of her and that shunted another as they were at traffic lights no one else was hurt. It is thought she had a massive heart attack. Although we felt very sad for the lady we
did not realise  it was Martins brothers wifes Mum. dreadful shock for them and right on top of Christmas.
Funeral next week.
Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned that but life has an awful way of dealing bad cards sometimes . So please remember those who have lost loved ones and if someone doesn't smile back when you smile,they may me experiencing bad times and your smile may be the only bright thing in their day .So the one thing to do is keep smiling.
WELL if you have got this far with me thanks,I did have goodies from Family, mainly my man who bought me a Samsung Galaxy Tablet,which I am still trying to work out how to use. He also bought me some rather lovely perfume. He also got me an Andre Rieu Cd and dvd.
The grandchildren apart from Alfie made me something , Caitlin gave me a heart shaped box with a pic of her when she was little.Ella made me fudge brownies to her own special recipe and it is deeelicious. Sam had sewn a tray cloth with Bondaweb olympic torches on. Jack bought me a present but also gave me the candle holder he made with Grandad. All very touching and made themselves.
Well folks all I can now say is .HAPPY NEW YEAR  .!!!!!!!!
I shall try and keep up more often next year and here is to a book, stitching and knitting full 2013
Please keep commenting we all need a little brightness and those little notes you write do brighten my day
Hugs n much love
Barb,x

and God Bless us everyone

Thought I had better do a catch up or you would be thinking I had fallen down the deep pit of despair. I have been a little low of late and had medication altered . I am not going to bore with you with details as I am feeling brighter and pain is less .

So here we are and only 7 more sleeps until the man in red arrives are you excited. !!!!!

I think I told you I was taking part in the Christmas Ornament exchanges here is the exchange I had from Ursh , isnt it lovely. It is sitting on my twiggy tree..

This is the one I sent to Angi who was my partner.

This was free design from The Little House Needleworks.

I am pleased to say that Angi was delighted with it and using is using it to protect her chocolate snowmen on her tree from her grandchildrens little fingers ,the bells rings when you touch it.

Talking of grandchildren this is my grandson Jack ,who was 18 a couple of weeks ago, this was taken on his birthday he had popped in with his girlfriend for lunch on his birthday.

He also passed his driving test the first time this last week , we are very proud of the young man he is becoming.

Caitlin his sister phoned last night to tell us she is doing the Ten Tors as part of the DOE award. The Ten Tors Challenge hosted on Dartmoor in Devon features 400 teams of 6 taking on a hike over 2 days of 35 miles for her age group. Rather her than me thank goodness.I shall be a nervous wreck until she gets back.

I also have been strictly stitching with Miss Julie over on the UFO stitching at Needlecraft Haven and this is how far I have got with Quaker Diamonds.

This big one is taking a while but it is clickable so you can see how detailed it is. Another one I can show you is the Country Cottage Needlework Vintage Christmas. I am stitching this on Wednesdays in the Parlour over at The Little house in the Country on Needlecraft Haven forum. If you would like to join us we are a very friendly bunch..

Scuse the hoop mark and wrinkled look of fabric. 

My Wordplays are coming along.. Here is February

I have only just started December , Sally has decided these are not for her so I am stitching these while she does something else, still stitching along together on a Monday and have so much fun (virtually).

So there you have it my stitching up to date. I had Martin unravelling wool the other evening as I thought I would try some knitting. We got in such a tangle with it , he has an awful lot of patience but we gave up after half an hour. So a job for another day.

Well my dears sorry this is not so long , I think my brain has become very slow (not that it was quick before lol) but since the change of medication I feel very withdrawn. So I am now going to wish all my followers and my dear stitching friends ,you know who you are, a very happy Christmas and a healthy and stitchyfull new year. We are off to Graemes hopefully on Christmas day so you may get some pics of a kittencat, still not sure about taking Ollie.

Take care all and as the title says God Bless us everyone.

Oh before I go so far I have watched Miracle on 34th Street 3 times this year, and there are so many showings of A Christmas Carol I will be watching,have you any favourites that have become a tradition? 

Thanks for continuing to read my ramblings and for commenting if you can.

Hugs and Christmassy mwahs 

Barb xl