Signs of new life

I know it's still January but I have had enough of
winter. Enough dark mornings and dark evenings
and cold days requiring multiple layers of clothes
and furry boots in the attempt to feel warm.
Somehow everything is harder work in the winter
and I'm definitely ready for sunny Spring days.
Sadly they will not be arriving in the UK anytime
soon but in the meantime - signs of life in the garden
and a couple of trips to sunnier climes are both very
welcome.

Recycled Christmas Tree

Christmas tree branches, bay leaves
from the garden and white tulips make
for a pretty combination and prolong
the lovely piney smell that you miss
when the tree comes down.
Thanks to Martha Stewarts Living
magazine for the idea.

Healthy and tasty

Although the Christmas chocolate still lingers
and the urge to bake remains strong, it really is
time for some healthier options.
having kidded myself last week the lemon tart
met these requirements, delicious but not really
healthy, we had this salad for dinner. made with
cous cous, kidney beans, red peppers, spinach
and cauliflower it definitely fitted the healthy
requirement and both looked and tasted good
too.

New Year, New Knitting

Now that the Christmas knitting is over, time for
some new knitting for a new arrival expected later
this year.

Debbie Bliss pattern, Cotton & bamboo wool.

Snowy Scotland

This was the view from our hire car window
on Saturday morning. N. had to borrow a
shovel from the Travelodge and dig us out
of the car park - didn't look as if we would
be going further than the nearby breakfast
cafe.
However having lived in the south of England
for the last twenty years we had forgotten the
efficiency of the Scots when it comes to snow.
Roads had all been cleared and we were able to
drive North with no problems and some picture
postcard scenery to admire.

Last chance

Last chance for taking pictures of
the tree as today is the day for
taking it all down. This year's tree
was huge 7 feet tall and though I will
miss it, the lounge will definitely
feel bigger when it is gone!
This year the decorations were all
white mirroring the snowy trees we
had at the beginning of December.
Heading to Scotland tomorrow
where it looks like we may be
seeing some more snowy trees as
we drive north.

Tiny trees

Slowly the decorations are coming down and as
there was no time to take photos as we put them
up, I'm trying to snap a few before they all disappear.
These tiny trees are made from old music books.
Cut out tree shapes, layer them up (maybe three
at a time) and stitch down the centre. Fan out the
sheets of paper to form a 3D tree.
These come from a blog I read last Christmas - sorry
can't remember which one!
They have survived two Christmases now which is
pretty good recycling I reckon!

Better late than never

In the busyness of preparing for
Christmas with six weekends away
between mid September & Christmas
day, I first forgot to buy the paper white
bulbs and then having bought them forgot
to plant them. Three weeks before
Christmas they were hurriedly stuck in
water and while we were out on Christmas
day the first flower unfurled. Less than
two weeks later they are looking all
flowering beautifully.

Going going gone part two

As the cookie and cake tins empty so it is
time forthe decorations to disappear too.
These little birds and hearts have decorated
our stairs this Christmas along with some white
fairy lights. We leave the lights there all
year but tonight the birds and hearts have
been taken down ready for packing away
till next year.
I've been reading lots of comments on blogs
today from people who don't like Christmas.
They are, of course completely entitled to
their point of view but in the interests of a
balanced view can I just say I love Christmas
and everything about it from the Nativity
which reminds us what Christmas is really
all about to the decorations, family reunions,
yummy seasonal food.......

Going going gone!

The favourite Christmas cookies this year
were definitely Nigella's Christmas Chocolate
Biscuits.
Basically chocolate shortbread with icing &
sprinkles on the top.
Two tins full - now nearly all gone - though
maybe I should make one more batch for
this weekend's visit to my mother-in-law -
a self confessed chocoholic.
A good excuse if ever I heard one!

A moment of calm

New Year's Day and after all the celebrations
and busyness of Christmas with family reunions,
cooking and eating of many meals, giving and receiving
of many presents, a walk along the (busy) beach
offered this oasis of calm. The remains of the old
pier cut off from the chaotic activity of the city, the
sea calm and this patch of beach temporarily quiet
offered a quiet moment at the start of a New Year.