Advent Calendar Day 3 - Favourite Christmas Recipe

Good evening everyone.
Here I am playing catch up.....
Anyway onto Day 3 of  Julie's Advent Scavenger Hunt.
Today's prompt is
Favourite Christmas Recipe

I love these mince pies....it's the orange peel and zest I add to the pastry that makes them that extra bit special....I'm not sure when I started doing this but I think I got the idea from someone called 'Mary'....Berry that is...

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. 

Advent Calendar Day 2 - Something Handcrafted For Christmas...Catching Up!

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well.
OK...so Yes......I know it's only the third day in and I'm behind already....I haven't had any Internet connection for the last 24 hours so I'm now playing catch-up....Sorry!!!
Yesterday's prompt was...
Something Handcrafted For Christmas

Beaded/cross stitched Santa's....

I have made 5 of these Christmas tree decorations.....I have about 7 others to complete.....maybe next year......

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. 

Advent Calendar Day 1 - Letterbox

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well.
This year I have decided to join in with Julie at Julie's Scrapbook who has organised a Christmas Advent Scavenger Hunt.
The idea is to post a photo/picture each day from the 1st to the 24th December following the prompts given by Julie. 
Today's prompt is...
Letterbox

This is actually a bird house hanging in the wisteria branches in the garden.....and if you look carefully you can see our first snow.....

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. 

The Enchanting Rose - 11th Tea Cup & Mug Exchange

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well.
So It's Time For The Big Reveal....
The lovely Stephanie from The Enchanting Rose hosted the 11th Tea Cup & Mug Exchange and once again I joined in....There were 211 ladies who participated and Stephanie did an amazing job of organisation, as always. 
Thank you so much Stephanie......
....this is such a lovely exchange to be part of....
I was absolutely thrilled with the lovely parcel that I received from Adaline....my parcel came from Gainsborough which isn't far from where I live....and was a delight to unwrap.
Here is what I received from Adaline....
AUTUMN 2017 TEA CUP EXCHANGE
Such wonderful gifts.

Look at the beautiful tea cup and saucer along with a matching side plate.

I love them....they are so pretty and are now in pride of place on my dresser.

Adaline has really spoilt me....

Thank you Adaline for such wonderful gifts and a truly beautiful tea cup and saucer set. I will treasure them and think of my new friend whenever I use them....

We have already been in touch with one another and hope to meet up soon for tea and cake somewhere and maybe a spot of shopping too....

I sent my parcel all the way to Greece to the lovely Tina At Cream Linen....I didn't manage to take a photograph before sending my parcel as I forgot in my rush to get it posted in time for Tina's birthday.....which I am assured did arrive in time!....

This is such a lovely exchange to be part of and such a wonderful way to make new friends.

Don't forget to pop over to Stephanie's blog to see what all the other ladies received in the exchange....

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. 

Meet Monty....

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well.
I'm afraid there hasn't been much crafting done this week....
The reason....
Meet Monty......

He is eight weeks old and he has completely taken over.....
Both our home and our hearts.....

Now isn't he adorable.....

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. 

Little Sheep Virtue - "Hope".

Good afternoon everyone.
I hope you are all well.
Ok....so I have failed again and made another new start on some cross stitching.
It is only a small piece but as there are twelve of them it could run into a bit of a project. No matter I will persevere and try to do them all!!!....
I have started a Little House Needleworks project "Hope"....this is a series of twelve pieces and I have four so far for me to be getting on with....
Little Sheep Virtue - No. 1
"Hope"

So Far So Good....

These little projects are small enough for me to pop into my bags or just pick up as and when I get a bit of time to myself.
I will keep you posted on how I get on.
I have managed to knit all four of my squares for my Blanket Knit Along for September but I can't share anything until the end of the year.....
But I can say that this month I have learnt the Intarsia knitting technique and guess what 'I can do it' and it looks ok.....I'm just a tinsy bit proud of myself too.....
Anyway must go....the family are popping round for Beery Barley Beef Casserole and Apple, Blackberry and Oat Crumble....all this and we've stripped the wallpaper, coving and skirting off in the living room this morning.....plasterer arrives first thing tomorrow.
Ah the joys of renovation.....This week we have started converting the garage into a kennel, storeroom and utility room, ordered our new bathroom suite and had a new wood burner fitted in the living room.....I can't wait until it's all finished and we can relax....only another 18 months or so to go.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.
I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. 

Shawl Knitting......

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well.
 I started learning to knit last year.....I could cast on and off and knit and purl, beyond that I was lost but since I started going to a class I have wanted to knit myself a shawl.....not any old shawl no.....not me.....I decided it had to be a lacy number. 
So I have taken the plunge and bought a rather lovely pattern book and some beautiful wool and I have made a start....knowing full well that if I run into trouble the ladies at the lovely shop where I go will bale me out.....And believe me.....I think I will need a bit of baling now and again.
Wish me luck......

This is my first new start of the year too.....Apart from the blanket KAL I am taking part in. 
I have managed to stick to my New Year's Resolution of no new starts fairly well don't you think.....but I think September is long enough not to have anything new to tackle and I have finished a few projects this year.....

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.