“November comes 

And November goes,
With the last red berries 

And the first white snows.
With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket 

And frost by the gate.
The fires burn 

And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest 
Until next spring.”
–  Elizabeth Coatsworth

November has been long. With birthdays, birthday treats, Fireworks and Christmas in sight, how has it felt so very dull and tiresome?
November seemed to only hold darkness from the grey cloud filled sky’s and pouring rain, stodgy leaves, muddy foot prints, self doubt and exhaustion.
How I’ve longed for frost filled morning, as the winter sun rises alighting the beauty that winters brings. Cozy nights under blankets, candles flickering and open fires roaring. The wonderful aroma of mince pies baking, homemade sausage rolls resting, the magical scent of pine trees, fairy lights twinkling and the intoxicating lullaby of Christmas.

Christmas has always been a magical time of the year for me, I’ve always loved everything about it, from picking the perfect presents, decorating the tree, listening to our families favourite Christmas album while wrapping everyone’s presents. 🎁
To the Christmas Eve preparations together as a family, as our home fills with all those wonderful aromas of home cooked delights.
To bowls full of nuts and the trusty nut cracker, matchmakers, chocolate oranges and the chocolate penny’s hidden in the branches of our oversized Christmas Tree.
Christingle, Midnight-mass, Christmas movies and that sneaky turkey sandwich, as the magic Christmas Eve bursts excitedly around us.
Hanging of the stockings, leaving out the mince pies, a naughty drink for Santa and of course carrots for his reindeers.
The restless sleep imagining the perfect Christmas Day, full of beautiful smiles and belly filled laughter, and extremely full up tummies and willing it to snow.❄️
It really is the most magical time of the year.
And it all starts today with the opening of the first door of our advent calendars.

I remember as a child, we all had our own Chocolate calendar as well as, an extra special nativity scene calendar which we all took turns to open. I remember the overwhelming excitement of seeing what was behind that tiny door when my turn rolled around, it was so much more magical than ripping open the chocolate calendar door and stuffing the chocolate in our mouths as quickly as we could. I must say though chocolate for breakfast is always fun.

Although we weren’t really religious, our nativity calendar became such an important part of my childhood Christmas memories.
Along side the visit from Santa to the Cul-de-sac we lived in. How the three of us sat in my sister Kerrys bedroom bay window waiting patiently for the sound of the ho ho ho as the Cul-de-sac filled with music and the patter of children’s feet as they all ran excitedly to greet the magical man on his horse drawn sleigh.
Another special memory was early every Christmas morning, we would hear jingle bells ring and a ho ho ho telling us Father Christmas had been. Mum and Dad made it so magical.
It’s all those wonderful memories that make me love Christmas as much as I do and why I’m always awake first and more excited then my two boys. (All three are humbugs)
It’s sad to think that Christmas traditions are fading and it seems to be one big multi million pound commercial, which is sucking all the magic out of the most magical time of the year.
So I ask you, this year to bring back one of your forgotten Christmas traditions, to put down your phones and connect with your loved ones.
Be present, relight the magic of Christmas past or even start a new tradition that will become a special memory. And please don’t forget t o raise your glass to your lost loved ones. 🥂

🧶 Crochet
Considering crochet is my calming therapy, it’s been causing me a lot, I mean a lot of stress, stress that I brought on myself by setting myself goals that I had no way of keeping up with.
As you may have read last month I was joining in on two Crochet Alongs, FIESTA CAL by Tinna Thórudóttir Thorvaldsdóttir and Rozeta Scheepjes CAL 2019 by Tatsiana Kupryianchyk.

I was also working on, Sacred Space by Helen Shrimpton.

and the Havana Afghan CAL by Tinna Thórudóttir Thorvaldsdóttir.

I had bitten off way more than I could chew and was stressing myself out especially as all over public media, people were smashing out two or three Rozetas in the time it was taking me to do mine.
Something had to give and unfortunately it was all projects apart from the Fiesta Cal.

The FIESTA CAL is pretty damn awesome, I’m absolutely loving it.
You can read all about it here.
I’ve only got 8 more triangles to make, join it all together and it will be ready for its new home in our camper Phillippe.
I’ve have stopped play for a while, while I make a very important Christmas pressie which is top secret until it’s gifted.

I feel awful that I haven’t made any squares for mums “Nuts About DNA Afghan”, so I sneaked in a square which is blocking right now but here’s  a little sneaky peek until I can take photos and find time to write a post all about it. It’s called Ellen Ripley Afghan Square by Diana Krenz.

As for my, “Rozeta Scheepjes CAL 2019” , I put it aside after finishing part 3. In true honesty I did start part 4 but I wasn’t at all happy with it so I frogged it, ready to pick up again when life isn’t so crazy and I’ve got over my self doubt which hit like a ton of bricks from taking on to much.

🍫Diabetes
I suck, I suck, I suck.

🚍Phillippe
Phillippe is half the van it use to be with rip out in full swing. Pop back this week to read what Mark has been up to.

Have a magical December and don’t forget to pop back soon to see what my “November Crochet Crush” is. It’s pretty. 😊

Until next time,
Too-da-loo.

❄️❄️❄️