A WI day trip........what could possibly go wrong?

Today was an early start 9very early!!) - in fact we left home at 7:30am to drive into Lincoln to Doddington Hall.  I was a volunteer driver and picked up my chatty three passengers.  The hall was built in late Elizabethan times but has remained rather forgotten unto around 2005 when the current family took over and started to really develop the site.  Today we were having a private tour - but there was also the bauble barn, the coffee shop, the interiors shop,the café and the farm shop to wander around and peruse.









The house had been decorate with the theme of "Fairy Tales" in mind and the large hall was decorated to reflect Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,









whilst the drawing room was decorated as Hansel and Gretel.  Both of these rooms were still in every day use by the family when their relatives come to stay - such as at Christmas.






As we walked up the stairs we were astonished to see this 2 storey depiction of Jack and the beanstalk - with the large boot of the giant emerging at the top - along with the golden goose.  People had really put some thought into the décor!

We even had a dragon paying us a visit!













Upstairs, one bedroom was decorated as "Princess and the Pea",












whilst the second one was "Sleeping Beauty"

and the third one, under the covers of an Egyptian tent, was Aladdin (couldn't you just see the potential for some applique / quilt here?).

But the last room took our breath away - the long room was decorated as The Ice Palace and Jean took the opportunity to dress up as the Ice Queen.







It was a lovely morning, followed by a light lunch and some shopping.  Knowing the weird tastes of my nephew I couldn't leave this on the shelf now could I?

This afternoon we then drove to the new recycling plant in order to be informed and have a tour.  This is the point where it all went wrong.  One wrong turning and we ended up in a VERY run down Biffa yard with the remains of a car in the roundabout with greenery growing around it!  Fortunately, one phone call later, made a hasty exit and found the real place.  It was an excellent talk and tour and we have come away much more knowledgeable about where our waste goes!

I'm on a roll!

What does a girl do with a day in stretching ahead of her?  Why - she sits and sew of course - starting with a splendid sampler block!  The first one was from last night, truthfully, an EPP block.









Next up was this one - which, truthfully I sewed some pieces the wrong away around but I think that I go away with it and am going to leave it.












Then there was this block - which went together well.










Finally there was this block that used curved pieces and is, I feel, just calling out for a house or two to be added.  I have already backed it with weaveline ready to be embroidered / appliqued.

So now that means that there are 13 blocks outstanding (two of which have yet to be released!) if I am going to meet my self imposed deadline.






Otherwise in the big brother house I have made some individual, gluten free, Victoria sandwich cakes to take tonight to our last sewing class before Christmas, wrapped a couple of birthday presents to give to Jean tomorrow, walked the dogs, traced an embroidery for another block and sorted my machine etc. for tonight.   It's a hard life!!

Elsewhere, Wendy's advent present was this yummy Lindt teddy bear - mmmm

Well - who would have thought?

This morning (another good night's sleep since you ask), it was an early (well 9:15am) pop round to the surgery to see the nurse.  It had been a frosty night and so I needed to leave time for the car to clear.  As I turned on the heating to clear the front windscreen and the rear heated window button I noticed steam coming from the wing mirror.  I wound down the window and felt the glass -it was warm.  It would seem that turning on the rear window heater also warms up the wing mirrors - who knew?  I didn't and I have had the car for over a year now!

Once home, it was time to load the dishwasher, tidy around, empty the bins and get ready for the craft group before a light lunch of cheese and biscuits.  At the moment I am playing store cupboard / freezer lottery and eating my way through both - albeit there may well be some unusual combinations ahead!!  However it will make room for those Christmas left overs!!





This afternoon I was working on a birthday present for my cousin (hence the vague photo) and am pleased with the way it is turning out.  So pleased that I may just have to make myself one! 








Jean was making some tree decorations,










Ev was making a log cabin santa,









Carine was making a candle wreath,






whilst Linda was having a problem with her machine so I cleaned it out - there was a fair amount of fluff,







which prompted Carine to open hers up and see the damage!






However, once back home, it was time to walk the dogs (it is cold here still) before settling down for the evening and  some more hand sewing.  I will have finished another Splendid Sampler block tonight but need to complete a few more to get back on schedule!  I also received this month's mystery box from The Bramble Patch with an invite to sign up for a "Block a day" quilt next year - maybe not!  If I can't keep up with two a week then what am I going to do with seven a week!

To paraphrase Meatloaf "997 out of 1000 ain't bad"

Well, after a good nights sleep (around 9 straight hours!) I woke up to a lovely sunny morning full of possibilities.  It's amazing the amount of energy that a good night's sleep can give you isn't it?  First on the agenda was to finish the craft idea that kept me awake yesterday.  By lunchtime all was finished and ready to be wrapped.  Dare I say that I am quite pleased with the final product?





Next up was a Splendid Sampler square (only 17 left now to reach my self imposed target!) - it was supposed to be a rose but I think that the red fabric reminds me more of a poppy so will embroider the "Lest we forget" tonight whilst watching I'm a Celebrity finale (come on Scarlett - I would love to see a non-celebrity win!).




Then it was onto Christmas Cards (or at least the ones that need to be posted) - I am late sending these out and normally post them on the 1st December.  It must be all those presents that I have been making this year!!  Still there's no post in the village on a Sunday so these will get posted tomorrow morning.By now the afternoon was drawing on and it was getting a tad chilly (I have turned the heating off during the day since it has been too warm) so I lit the fire and started that handsewing - with my leg up of course.  I also put "White Christmas" on - I watch it every year at some point in December - its tradition!  will some one tell me why they put the guest of honour - the General - behind a 3 storey cake so that he wouldn't be able to see anything?  I always wonder about that when I watch it!




And the blog title?  Well, drum roll please, I have "finished" the jigsaw a last.  I say "finished" because I appear to be three pieces short.  I have only sorted the edges out on the sofa before working exclusively on the conservatory table.  I have hunted high and low for these three pieces - including moving the sofa (hovering the mess I found underneath) and removing the cushions (you can tell that I am a sewer - I found countless pins, needles, applique thread and a posh embroidery silk) - but to no avail.  So - either Daisy has eaten them or the jigsaw was incomplete when new.  I know that this is unlikely but I might write to Gibsons anyway.






My next jigsaw? -well I quite fancy this school days one!  I wonder why?








Advent wise, my chocolate today was  Lindt snowdrop whilst Wendy's present was a lovely Nottingham Lace pin cushion - all the way from Chatsworth House no less!

"76 trombones led the big parade"

Last night I was tired, went to bed at a reasonable time, watched Graham Norton in bed, laid my head down to sleep ............................. and then was wide awake!  No matter what I tried I just couldn't fall asleep.  No reason - but I will admit to a crafty idea creeping into my brain and whirling around - so much so that I just got up and made a start.  At the time it made sense since I wasn't achieving anything by tossing and turning but I have paid for the lack of sleep all day - I only dropped off around 5:30am!!!  Not only that but, given that the idea is forming nicely and will provide an additional Christmas present or two, I can't even show you the cause of the insomnia!

So today has been a bit of write off - a dog walk, using the new hoover to go round the house, some washing and some crafting - all sandwich between several sessions of 40 winks!  Let's hope that I drop off quickly tonight - but I do think that there could be a link between technology and sleep just as Gary Barlow recently talked about.  I love my ipad, and read books on the kindle app, but have wondered whether the "blue" light is affecting sleeping patterns.

Today's advent present from Wendy was this lovely set of pegs - do you think she's trying to organise me - bless!

And the title of the blog?  This song is from the musical "The Music Man", and it has often been played unexpectedly on the radio - most notably when I had accepted a job over in Lincolnshire, was driving back to Lancashire wondering what on earth I had done, and being reassured  when this rousing tune came on the radio.  This morning the same thing happened just as I stepped out of the shower.  Although I am not facing some sort of large problem, I couldn't help wondering why then?  Why wasn't the song played whilst I was in the shower and couldn't hear it?  Whatever the answer I really enjoyed hearing it again.

The power of a good pair of shoes

Today, after yet another visit to the nurse - this time for a blood test (I swear that I should have shares in that place!) - I nipped into Grimsby to the shoe shop.  Many years ago I had plantar fascilititus (I think that's how you spell it!) and was recommended to go to this particular shoe shop.  It's slightly old fashioned and they fit each pair that you buy - but they also sell good insoles which, given my condition, I need.  So, given that my soles were looking worn and my ankles were hurting, it was time to buy a new pair of shoes.  In addition I also spend a lot of time in my slippers and, this time last year, I bought a pair that would take insoles.  One year on the soles were looking threadbare.
As soon as I got home I put the slippers on - and they felt wonderful!!

A late lunch, an hour lost on the jigsaw, and some more time spent tidying the craft room moving piles from one place to another and the day was soon gone without really achieving much.  Would I have it any other way - nope!!




In my advent calendar today, by the way, I has a Lindt  Napolitan whilst the dogs had a bag of meaty choc treats from Wendy so that they have  chocolate every day as well.  Not real chocolate, obviously since it is poisonous to dogs and my family will remember the time that Millie, as a puppy,  ate a whole box of chocolates one Christmas , wrappers and all, and had to be taken to the vets to have her stomach pumped - lovely!!




BREAKING NEWS

Just as I was about to publish this blog I heard the news - there is an expected sprout shortage this Christmas - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I do live a strange and varied life!

Having not slept well last night - no reason - my mind was just racing about all sorts of little and irrelevant things  - it was an early start.  Wendy had to take her car into the garage to fix something (it should take an hour Ma'am) and we had both been invited to a Coffee Morning in aid of Cancer Research.  So, after a quick Aldi pit stop, I met up with Wendy at the garage and drove to the coffee morning.  Trish , the hostess, had clearly made a huge effort to encourage us to spend money and the event was well attended.  I even bought my first present for Christmas 2017!






After dropping Wendy off, it was then onto the Doctors to get my leg dressed (still healing nicely since you ask), before heading home to start making preparations for tonight's WI meeting.  There are at least 5 people with December birthdays so I sat and wrapped a planted hyacinth bulb each before turning my attention to the competition - a wrapped Christmas present.  I have gone for the simple look!

 


Wendy popped round with a toy for Daisy that we had been talking about at the coffee morning - a babble ball.  When the ball moves it talks!  To say that it completely freaked Daisy out is an understatement - she ran into her bed and refused to come out!!






Today, being December 1st, meant that I could open my advent present and calendar.  I treated myself to a Lindt calendar this year and was delighted to see a mini reindeer behind door number 1.








Wendy and I exchange about 10 advent presents and I was over the moon with her gift to me - isn't this a lovely wall hanging?








I also should report that the English Paper Piecing block that I have been working on is now complete - so that's 18 left to complete now.




Finally I should talk about my sponsored slim (hangs head in shame).  I should report that I did lose weight - just not as much as I hoped for at the beginning.  In the end it was half a stone - which is something I guess - but!!

So - to sum up my day - block, coffee morning, doctors, hyacinth bulb, talking dog toy - what a day!!