Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year to all my blog readers - I wish you and your family a very happy 2014.

 

 

We've just had a lovely few days in France but I don't have any photos to share. Instead I'd like to share again a few of my favourite moments from 2013.

 

My first Drawn Thread for the mantle

 

With Philly in Gloucester on her birthday

 

My Goody Bag from Maggie at
the Nuneaton Meet Up

Ruby in our lovely garden

The gifts I stitched for my colleagues
when I retired from school

My two favourite chaps outside my favourite bar
Le Vieux Port - Etaples



With Hubby cycling in Spain in December

Looking back there are so many lovely moments with my family and friends and many stitching happy dances. 2014 looks like being another busy year and  already have a list of projects to do or to finish.

 

My favourite photo from last year is of me and Philly just before she left for

her summer in Mallorca

 

 

My favourite stitching piece is a simple piece now hung over the staffroom door at school - it's important to remember why we're working so hard and enjoy life.

 

 

2013 has been and gone

with treasured memories still living on

2014 - what will it hold

joy and love for young and old.

 

Happy New Year

 



Christmas Thank You to my family and friends

I hope you have had a fabulous Christmas with your friends and family - it's a time to visit relatives, have drinks with friends, spend time with family and remember loved ones. I've done all of these this Christmas which has made it a lovely festive time.

A huge thank you to my friends and family for some amazing gifts - all very much appreciated and 'just me'

'Kisses' necklace and earrings from DH
Heart bracelet from DD

Wine Opus book (it's massive) from DS
Wine tea towel from a school friend

Owl bag from a close friend

 

Wine making equipment from Mum

Charts from NH friends

A variety of gifts from my NH friends

Tomorrow DH and I are off to Calais in France for 3 nights. Our friends who we went to Spain with are coming too - it should be a great time as we're on a wine mission. I'm sure we'll find a bottle or two.

I have cut my Christmas Cake to take with us - it will be coffee (from the flask) and cake whilst in the car on the train going through the Channel Tunnel. I use the same snowmen candles every year - I love snowmen at Christmas, our house is full of them.

Snowman Cake

I hope you've all had a great Christmas, enjoy the last few days of the year - 2014 is just around the corner.

Merry Christmas

Seasons greetings to all my blog friends http://www.e-cards.com/pickup/?code=ca6417-pp-aimet1

I hope you all have a wonderful time with your friends and families.

I have no new stitching to share but this is on our wall for Christmas - as if we need any encouragement haha

Christmas Calories - Sue Hillis 

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful 2014

Back home

We're home and oh is it chilly - Spain was lovely and warm, well once the sun came up. It was dark until nearly nine and was quite chilly, however it stayed light until nearly six and was very warm in the sun.

Here's a few photos to give you a taste of our time in San Pedro del Pinatar.

fresh prawns and mussels on the terrace

cycling along the causeway at Mar Menor

Murcia Cathedral

Roman Theatre at Cartagena

I have not flown very many times and was quite worried but it was ok - I was also worried about what to take as we only took a cabin bag so had many restrictions including weight, size, toiletries and most importantly scissors/stitching. I took two pieces, one to finish and one to start - but I can't share as the finish will be a Christmas gift and the start is an exchange piece.

However I did spot these beautiful quilted items in one of the Spanish shops.

This year I have not done a tree for the ST Laurence's Church Festival as we were away the setting up day and will be away for the taking down. I have really missed being involved but we managed a quick visit yesterday. The church smelt lovely with over 60 real trees - you can see my photos here - this is the main altar, so beautiful.

 

 

It was lovely going away - Hubby certainly needed the break but I am now rushing around like a ad person getting Christmas sorted, so if I don't blog again until the New Year ( we're off to France on the 27th) I would like to wish you and your family ...

 

 

 



 

 

 



Off to Spain

We're off to Spain tomorrow to stay with our friends who have a holiday home there. It's the first time I've been to Spain and only the fourth time I've flown so I am a little nervous to say the least. I have been very busy sorting out parcels and overseas Christmas cards to post because they will be too late when we're back.

It's all getting very exciting with Christmas coming and today our daughter is coming home from Uni for the night - a chance to go shopping together and the four of us go out for a meal. She is off to Prague for a short break before Christmas with her boyfriend so is also busy - she will be home for Christmas though.

It's very Christmassy on Needlecraft Haven too - lots of new activities and two exchanges happening - Advent Exchange and Ornament Exchange. I took part in the ornament one - opening day was 1st December and it's a secret exchange so we don't know who sent until reveal day - I had this beautiful beaded ornament

and this is the ornament I sent to my partner. I know it was received so can share it but I'm not saying who has it

Finally this is the ornament I have stitched for our friends when we get to Spain. We are all wine and beer lovers - doing many wine fairs together. I thought this appropriate - the saying is suggesting that the bar is always open as 'it's 5 o'clock somewhere' and in Spain it'll be an hour before here at home hee hee

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well - it's a very exciting time of year with so many events happening. Thank you for calling by, see you when we get back from the sun.