In-between days

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying these in-between days between Christmas and New Year.  As I mentioned yesterday, these are some of my favourite days of the entire year, so I thought I would just share some moments from them.

On Sunday we celebrated my Darling Mum's birthday, she was 89 years young.  We usually put on a slap up meal at our house, but this year, with the ice and snow on the ground, the biting below zero winds, coupled with the fact she has been quite poorly on and off since September, we decided to take the meal to her.  DD baked a beautiful Andalusian lemon cake...

It is made with olive oil instead of butter, and has the zest and juice of two lemons, it is so fresh and light and fluffy...

 

We had a lovely meal and had a great time together, laughing and reminiscing...she is an amazing lady and very much loved by us all.

 

It has been lovely to have some time just to "be".  For example, sitting and taking time to look at Christmas decorations...

 

 

 

Loving the flowers that DH bought for me just a day or so before Christmas...

 

Aren't the glittery pinecones lovely?



 

And having time to crochet...

 

 



Now, this was no ordinary crochet project, oh no.  This was the finishing touches of my 2014 challenge:

Way back on 3rd January 2014 I decided to join in with the blanket challenge that many folks were getting into.  And today I have finally finished it!!!!  Sadly the light now is not good so will have to take a photo and post about it another day, but I am so thrilled that it is completed, and that I stuck with the project throughout the year.  It is the largest blanket I have ever made, and I am already feeling wistful and a bit sad that the challenge is over, so might well have to start another one in the New Year!  I really feel like using a palette of greys and parchment this time.  We shall see!

Well, hopefully back tomorrow with what has become a bit of a blog tradition for me, the review of 2014.

In the meantime, make the most of the holiday!

Helenxx

In-between days

Hello everyone, hope you are continuing to enjoy the festive period.  I love these in-between days,  relaxing, doing what-I-like-when-I-like-how-I-like!! Not too many of those opportunities present themselves to me during the year, but the time between Christmas and New Year is a time to make the most of winding down, reflecting, spending time with loved ones, and of course some crafting usually comes into it as well.

So just a few random photos captured during this period.

Merry and Bright:

Further baking reinforcements:

Sunshine and shadow:

During these in-between days we celebrated the birthday of my Darling Mum who turned 88 years young.  This cake was served in her honour:

Do you like my lovely new spotty tablecloth?  Darling Mum included this in one of my presents.  It really cheers up my dining room table!  We rounded off the evening by watching the Italian Job on TV (the original) which she loved, especially the car chases.  And of course she thought
Mr. Caine was a good bit of eye candy in his younger years!  Although she has never driven a car, she loves watching motor sport, especially Formula 1, the whole family loves this sport, even DH has been converted to it (having originally said it was boring).  At this point I should mention that we are all hoping that Mr. Schumacher makes a speedy and full recovery from his ski accident.

I have had time for some crafting during these in-between days, I always seem to turn to cross stitch when I have some serious relaxing time.  I will share the results soon as I have nearly finished my little project, just a few last bits to do.

Well, must away as sadly I have to pop into town to run a few errands, nothing too much though. Have a great day, whatever it is you get up to!

Helenxx

Loving these in-between days...

Hi everyone, hope you are keeping cosy today, the weather outside is truly frightful, hasnt got light yet (even though it is lunchtime, this is how it must be in Scandinavia at this time of year), lashing it down with rain (at least in Finland or somewhere like that it would be snow!!) and very windy.

BUT - I love these in-between days in the holidays, not quite one thing or the other, and the bleak weather outside makes being inside even more appealing dont you think?

Im lucky in that I am on holiday for a while longer, so Im making the most of these lazy, comfy, cosy days.

I have had time to do a bit of cross-stitching - all to be revealed soon...

...time for reading, these lovely vintage books were gifted to me by Sue from @home - she knows me too well...

Enjoying the cosy candle light, this was a gift to me recently from my DD, she knows me so well...lovely autumnal motif....and the candle was a yankee candle scent called warm spice - I wish you could smell it - the most super, comforting, something-nice-baking scent you could ever wish for...

And yesterday we had a lovely celebration round at mine as my darling Mum turned 87 years young - this is the cake I made for her...

...all gone now of course!  It was a lemon cake, filled with cream and lemon curd.  DH made us a fantastic roast dinner, the evening was full of laughter and memories.  My darling Mum taught me the love of all things crafty and creative when I was little, when we truly did have to make do and mend.  Thanks Mum!

Well, Im off to make another cuppa, and get on with a bit more leisurely stitching.

Have a lovely day!

Helenxx