Catching up at last!!! warning it is a bit long

Here we are another month almost gone and again I am so far behind in catching up with this old blog of mine. I know some of you are going through worrying times you know who you are and thoughts are winging your way, Talking of winging your way I  have just sent off my annual Halloween exchange with Tina (no blog), I will show you what I sent and what I was sent. I put together the things in the verse and wrapped it all separately
Mine to her.

I stitched a Notforgotten Farm design, Of wicks and wax ,and bits of string, and thoughts of Owls on the wing, of cats and crows and spirits high we wish you well this Hallows High. I bought a calico bag and attached the the stitching to it  Tina is hosting a meet up of the Needlecraft Haven ladies at a needlecraft store ,I thought it might come in useful. She will probably need 2  lol.
So I  bought a beanie Owl, and cut up a few bits of string, the white candle has a crow and ghost on it, and the card had the cats on. The trick was the confetti but I took it  out of its wrapping  so it would be a spooky mess lol, the black yankee candle was Witches Brew. I think she liked it.I wrapped it all in spooky napkins.
Will show you a pic of the really nice goodies she sent me later . Thanks Tina for the Halloween Exchange 2015 Here is to next year.
I have had some finishes to show you too. I have started my Christmas cubes this last Monday and here it is .

I  used tiny sequins I had for the bell clapper. The picture does not  show the sparkle.These will replace Mondays Halloween stitching.  Sally who is sal with me , is trying to get her AOTH  Blackbird designs  finished so she  stitches those while I am doing the cubes. On Fridays we stitch  the  CCN ornaments and I have finished 2 since  I last  wrote. At least I do not think I showed you Holly Jolly. 

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Here is the latest one to be  finished , Birdhouse and I am now stitching  Merry Merry ,we are both rather giddy as it is a sheep!!next time.

On Wednesday I was in the parlour at Needlecraft Haven and I finished Louise and Henry. I am going to put it on a bag as  I did with Tina's Halloween one , and use it for keeping my wool in.Do you think that is a plan. So you see Barbara in Orlando, I stitched it ,thankyou for the gift.

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Saturday  I stitched on my Strictly UFO piece, The sheep is now outstanding in its field with a new addition to the flock due this weekend. 

It is very crumpled I am afraid. I got quite excited when doing the sheep so maybe I shall have another finish soon and Miss Julie and Mr Stick who host the ufo nights will give me brownie points towards the glitter ball . 

2 new starts this week for me,  On Sunday whilst watching the rugby I decided to pick up my Blackwork journey,This one will take a while I am sure , just hope my eyes play nicely. This is a large project and I will pick it up as and when . It has 131squares and I have the outline done for 6, Wish me luck.

The other one is to replace Wednesdays L&H, it is Moonlight by LHN and here is where its at ,

We have not been out and about so much as Martin has had his archaeology hat on and has had several courses to go on. More time for me to do my thing wink. He has been busy with his glass too and we now have a pumpkin sitting next to the witch in the window. Have taken a pic for you to see, but it is better when the sun shines through as his mouth and eyes shine an orange red colour like flame.

So all  set for Halloween here, just got to polish the broomstick Just for you here are a few bits and bobs round the lounge.

This is my tin pumpkin bought my son when he went to the U.S.

I have another cauldron with Take one my pretty and a witch on .

I expect you know most of  the designers of the various things.Hope to get more done for next year.

A slight mishap there with alignment. . Ju st have to show you the beanie owl.

So last but certainly not least Tinas  Exchange parcel to  me. It arrived and was opened to reveal.

Inside the orange  piece of felt that was  held together with a purple headed pin.was this ,and I love it love it.

Can you guess what is in  here.

Oh how lovely is this,I had not seen these before. Tina always finds something a little different.

I think this was a little treat but I cannot eat this so the grandchildren ate it for me. Really yummy they said. Alfie the youngest said Can you come to our for Halloween Nannie, and bring all your Halloween stuff , that would be really cool.Hmmmm!!!!

Then I even had a parcel from the cat.

Oh wonder what is in here ,could it be fish, or a mouse no NO NO.Yes you have guessed it's the

RAT .......

Such a lovely exchange ,thanks Tina . I was bought this little trinket when Martin did a craft fair last week.He thought I would like and yes I do.

Also this week I have been reading about Lyn and her shawl so I bit the bullet and sent for this, it is  

sooooo soft.

It even came in this white bag .It is for 2 shawls ,I have started the pink.The other arrival was the latest book from Kate Morton,

I am reading another new one at the moment, Spectacles by Sue Perkins.,I think I have probably got to the end of my missive. Hope you all have a good Halloween as I will probably not get back before. Take good care of yourselves and thanks for any comments , I know how it is , its so good to visit your blogs but then I get sidetracked into looking for things you mention and it simply slips  my mind.  Quite a  lot slips my mind these days , I almost forgot to stop typing. 

Bye for now 

Spooky wishes

Barb