The Daz & Bertie Show....

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well.
Today I would like to share a few photos of our furry companions taken on Christmas Day.....sadly it was only the boys this year as we had to say 'Goodbye's to our lovely Stella a few days before.....
So here is Daz....sporting his Santa hat.....

And here is Bertie....

(I'm not sure how many toys/chews he can fit in that bed)
Poor Daz looks a tad bewildered....

And I think hysteria has crept in for Bertie....

(I think that this was actually taken more mid-yawn but he looks as though he's having a good laugh to me).....
I have some crafty work on the go but nothing to see as of yet....

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.

Enjoy the rest of your evening. 

Grey Seals At Donna Nook

Good afternoon everyone.
I hope you are all well.
I just wanted to share some photos of this years grey seals at Donna Nook. 
We went a few days before Christmas....it has become a bit of a tradition over the years to brave the cold and visit the beaches here to see this wonderful sight.
I am always in awe of these amazing creatures and feel so lucky to live as close as we do to be able to see them up close.....
Donna Nook Nature Reserve

As of the 21st December 2015 there had been a total of 1,889 pups born.

Just like this little one.

Such a poser....

And very cheeky...

I'm sure they must get rather fed up watching us watching them....

'Do you know they don't even let us bathe in peace'....

Even he enjoys himself.....even if I have to drag him there.
(Caught nattering away to a young pup huddled up against the fence)....a big softy really, but don't tell him I know....!!!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.

Enjoy the rest of your evening. 

Photo Scavenger Hunt ~ December 2015

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well.
I thought I would join in again with the Photo Scavenger Hunt over at Made With Love. 

I really enjoyed taking part last year and I loved to see everyone's different interpretations that the prompt words inspired......
Here are my photos for December....
Joy ~ I spotted this friendly little chap while walking at Falling Foss.

Together ~ Yes I know 'A Family Selfie' Christmas Day.

Tree ~ Our Cream & Gold Tree.

Ornament ~ Mum bought all her grandaughters china angels for the tree....each of the girls has eight of these little beauties....all different too.

Light ~ Twig Tree In The Hall.

Christmas ~ Our log burner in the dining room. It felt very Christmassy in here when it was lit.

Sparkle ~ My Daughter Made This Christmas Cake.

Giving ~ My Gifts From Amy For The 2015 Twelve Days Of Christmas Swap.

Food ~ My Mince Pies.

Red ~ Well Simply Red Actually....I took this photo when we went to see them in Manchester....I love Simply Red and we had a fabulous time....

Kitchen ~ Cosy But A Bit Cluttered....

Whatever You Want ~ My Living Room At Christmas Or The Fireplace At Least...

Thank you to Greenthumb over at Made With Love for hosting the Scavenger Hunt.

I hope you have enjoyed my photographs....I will do my best to join in with the January hunt.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your day.

Beaded Santa....

Good afternoon everyone.
I hope you are all well.
At last I have started a little bit of sewing. I'm keeping all my crafting projects small for the time being and this year I am going to try and work my way through my WIP/UFO's.....so I shall be retired by the time I'm up to date then....!!!
After a rummage through my craft basket(s)....I decided to stitch another Mill Hill Beaded Santa....
Here are the ones I have completed....a few years ago now though I might add....

And here is the one I have just started....

I will keep you updated with my progress....

I wanted to try and take part in Amy's Five On Friday yesterday but didn't get round to it. I plan to try and pop in as and when I can....I also want to try and take part in Friday Night with Friends I missed this too but I will try to join in next month.....

Yesterday, while dropping Brogan in Lincoln for an exam at university I popped into a fabulous soap shop near the castle and met a lovely lady called Jo. We had a really good chat about lots of things, mainly crafty.....Jo was wearing a beautiful necklace which I admired and which she informed me she had made herself....very clever and very pretty....Jo has since looked at my blog and left a lovely comment....

So if your reading Jo....Hello....it was lovely to meet you too.

I drove to Lincoln to see how I would manage driving a longer distance as I have only been doing short trips for the last few weeks....the idea being if I struggled Brogan could take over and I would potter about in Lincoln until after the exam....and she would drive home but I managed ok to drive home by myself but boy was I tired and I'm suffering a bit today but heat pads and pain killers are doing the trick....now!!!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your day.

Mince Pies To Be Proud Of....

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are all well.
I'm trying to get back into the swing of things as I want to try and go back to work at the end of the month...so last night I went back to the WI meetings....
It was lovely to see familiar faces and to catch up with everyone. Our speaker for the night was the lovely Kate who owns our beautiful 'and local' knitting shop where I go once a month for a knitting club...well I had stopped going there too but am going to return this month and I will see how I get on.
Kate talked about knitting and crocheting and then everyone had a go....those that could knit or crochet helped those that couldn't....there was a lot of chatter and laughter and frivolity and it seems there may be a blanket in progress....all knitting/crocheting squares....to be made up when finished....mmm I don't envy the person who will put this little project together as I noted everyone's tension was different...
Anyway we had a lot of fun and it was good to be back... 
My neck and shoulder continue to give me quite a bit of discomfort but I need to see what I can do....so I plan to be sensible and take my time with everything and slow down a bit...doing a little at a time with my hobbies and interests is better than nothing at all......
I am amazed at all the things I stopped doing last year or rather had to stop doing due to pain and discomfort....including baking.
Before Christmas I had a bash at mince pies....I normally love baking and I hate shop bought mince pies and have always made them myself....I didn't go over board, I took my time and 'Thank you' to my trusty Mary Berry recipe....
This was the result...

They were lovely and went down a treat....and they look even better on my lovely vintage glass cake stand...although they didn't stay there long....I think the secret to these mince pies is the orange rind and the icing sugar in the pastry......

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your day.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas...

Good afternoon everyone.
I hope you are all well.
This year/last year I took part in a 'Twelve Days Of Christmas Swap'. The wonderful and amazingly organised Jo at Through The Keyhole hosted the swap and I was partnered with the lovely Amy at Love Made My Home.
So Amy and I emailed a little bit and looked over each others blogs for inspiration and then swapped parcels....and boy was it hard not to open this fabulous treasure trove of gifts in one go on Christmas Day.

 I popped them in a bowl on my landing, outside my bedroom door and each day opened my gift with my first cup of tea....always brought to me in bed by my other half.....Bless Him. I know I'm very spoilt....

I think both Gareth and Brogan were equally excited after a couple of days to see what my gift was....

Here are my beautiful gifts from Amy....

A 2016 diary....perfect for keeping me organised throughout the year.

Now how did Amy know I would love these.

Two very pretty pens....

Four very pretty and beautifully crocheted coasters...I think made by Amy. I love them and the colours are so me.

  I will enjoy these...very indulgent.

A beautiful crocheted brooch which I will pop on my scarf and two packets of seeds....I just adore Sweet Peas too....

Gardening gloves....Amy must have known I needed a new pair...aren't they pretty!!!

A note pad...it matches the pens. I make lists...lots of lists....

Delicious Tea...I'm a bit of a tea freak...all teas....all times. My answer to everything....TEA!!!

A super mug...how pretty is this lovely piece of china...and it will be in constant use.

Craft tapes...I use these a lot in my crafting projects and have lots of different designs...but not these.

And finally this lovely wooden plaque that is now safely perched on one of my craft room shelves which reminds me to 'Wish Upon A Star'...and I will...!!!

And all my lovely gifts together.

I love each and every every gift and Amy has been so thoughtful to pick such wonderful gifts for me. I will use and treasure them all and think of Amy often....I am thrilled to bits and feel very lucky to receive such lovely things.

Thank you Amy for making my Christmas that little bit more special with your kind and thoughtful generosity....

And 'Thank you' to Jo for organising this lovely swap...

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your day.

The Christmas Cake...

Good afternoon everyone.
I hope you are all well.
Today I would like to share the fabulous giant Christmas cupcake that my very talented daughter made for her friend at Christmas....

Before Brogan went off to university she baked alot and she made quite a few of these beauties some of which she has shared on her blog The Happy Little Cupcake. Although her blog is now somewhat neglected due to being so busy, she still likes to bake when she gets the chance.
The only thing she didn't make was the snowflakes but the flowers and everything else are her own work...
Even Grandad was impressed.....!!!
And I'm a very proud mum....

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your evening.