Countdown begins..........

I always feel that once November the 5th is over we are only a countdown away from that time of year. My days seem to go quicker than everyone else so I start my  countdown in November. The trees are really lovely or they were until the non stop rain we have had since Monday last. I still have some flowers in the garden but all is looking rather sad and bedraggled.
The mantle has changed and all to do with Remembrance this month. We now have rather a simple mantle shelf after the Halloween mayhem'
Here it is now.

The little girl under the tree with the poppies is a new addition, I thought she really looked as if she belonged here.

The two glass pictures are Martins creations , one gives details of my grandfathers brother who died in the first World War and the other is a general remembrance for all those who fought and gave their lives so we may live. 

These will stay for the rest of November.

I am hoping to stitch these ready for my November stitching next year, nothing like getting ahead of yourself is there!

I am also thinking that Martin could make some red poppies to hang from the trees branches , so really the mantle is just a work in progress.Also  next month  it will be full again. 

I  had a little treat last week ,, I know I have one in a million ,this was a wish granted. I thought my scissors were getting a little tired, so he bought me these so the new fob and case will be used for them. Meanwhile they are being looked after by the fob Tina made me , and a case I stitched in 2004 ,11 years ago!

Back view of case.

Inside the Holder.

So there you have it still in use after 11 years,
Of course there are still sheep.
When  we went shopping in our local Sainsburys, I saw this and thought it would look nice on the sofa, for the winter,this was the back that I did not see until I got it home.

So would you like to meet Holly, here he is

They did have a rather nice Scandinavian type throw that he would  look rather nice on. Hmm 

maybe next week.My  friend Julie sent  me a link this week, and I had to order it as it is right up my street, I had not heard of these mysteries before so I , looked at Amazon and of course they had it. I ordered it yesterday and it arrived today.

My pile of books grows. I wonder if the pile will ever go down , I very much doubt it. 

Now onto stitching I have a few finishes to show you. I have firstly finished my second Christmas Cube. I am really liking these too, in fact I may have to get the LOVE ones for Februarys mantle lol

I stitched the flames on the candles with the colour called for but decided they did not show up   enough so I stitched over them with some metallic thread.

Of  course it is only the stitching that is finished. Still have to be made up.Next is one I started a couple of years ago and for some reason I was not enjoying  it so it got put in the box of abandonment. Stitching with Miss Julie on Strictly UFO nights ,it came out to play again and perseverance has paid off . Not sure what to do   with it , I suppose something to do with lavender but what ?,have to go look  in the dusty cupboard for some inspiration. Unless you have an idea of course.

Here is Lavender Hill

Next is Merry Merry that is the 10th in the series Sally and I have  stitched this year ,just 2 more to go and the next one features sheep!! 

Again still to be made up ,next is new starts. The Blackwork Journey has started , I am praying I do not do anything wrong on this as I would never be able to unpick it , can  you imagine  stitching 50 or so of these blocks and then finding you have done something wrong , that box of abandonment would be calling I am sure, but for now I am really enjoying it I am now on block 3 of the 131.

As you look at it the bottom left one has a copper line of pattern and the one on the right the straight lines in the middle of the blocks are half gold and half black it is very interesting ,the one I have just started I think has silver somewhere in it. On Wednesdays in the parlour I am stitching Moonlight and here is where I am at.

A few more trees  and  snow since last week.Last but certainly not least is a picture of our medal winning grandaughter Caitlin. The day after she completed The Great South Run.

 She was well out of her comfort zone doing this, she had done a little training but not as much as she should. She had to stay in a BB  and  share a room (and bed) with the lady she was running with. She had an attack of the jitters the day before when she asked her mum if she would go too. However when the lady turned up off she went. She ran 10 miles in 2hrs 15, She said at first you had to walk as there were so many in front. 24,OOO took part. She was running for charity and they raised over £1000 .We watched the race on tele but did not see her . We are so proud of her. I could not run 10 yards let alone 10miles.

So on that note my post comes to an end ,now I am off to see what I can restart tonight with Miss Julie Mr Stick and the Strictly dancers. Let you know what it is next time. A friend has just been over (so I went missing for a while) she came to show us a scan photo of a golden retriever that is having 6/7 puppies, She has a beautiful boy called Barclay who is 1,they have put their name down for one and she was trying to persuade us to have another . Oh I wish ,need to work on the man of the house. Lyn was solving all our problems about being too old. Like if you cannot walk it we could walk it for you .   If y

,u want a holiday we will have them both. It would give Ollie a new lease of life. Oh dear temptation has kicked in.

Going for real this time. To my new followers and those that kindly left me a comment last time thankyou so  much   , send anyone over  I would be so  pleased to meet them

 Take great care of you and yours and keeeep stitching or whatever.
Hugs
Barb