lighting up

Thaw again, but the outside Christmas lights go up so we're getting more festive. Our lights are only boring white and are a bit restrained compared with some in our street - the kids would love it if they were a bit more colourful. But they're quite pretty.

This morning I went into Glasgow to get a couple of things and while I was on the train I thought about things I was going to blog about. And now I can't remember what they were. I should write these things down. There was definitely something about wool...

Reasons To Be Cheerful

What I was going to say for my first Reason was that, looking on the bright side, at least Hurricane Bawbag got rid of the last of the snow. And then this happened:


This week has been All About The Weather. But it is December after all.

So reasons reasons reasons..

1) Pottering around and crafting - sewing owls, doing a bit of knitting and making stuff with paper. This has been taking my mind off the stress of shopping centres in December. There's nothing quite like a panic attack in Primark is there?

2) The positive side of shopping centres in December is meeting up with my friend L for coffee and chocolate and orange tart (*drool*) and a mooch around the shops.

3) Sleep. I love sleep. I don't get nearly enough of it. I love my bed. I love cold nights with snow falling outside, a book and a hot-water-bottle. I love falling asleep with a cat curled up next to my feet. The cats used to be barred from our room - we even put a lock on the door because they could shove it open, but now that they've stopped pouncing on feet at random times in the night and just curl up purring we've decided to let them in if they want. They seem happier.
I came home from the dreaded shopping centre today with much-needed new pyjamas and some brushed cotton trousers which are described as 'loungewear'. So pyjama bottoms for people who don't usually wear pjs. They're a sort of pastel tartan and not deeply flattering for those of us blessed with curves, but so warm and comfortable. Yay for winter!

owl

It was an unexpected day with the kids as the schools were all closed due to high winds/scarey weather forecasts. So, going a bit stir crazy again....

On the other hand, I finally had the chance to finish the owl, make a Bambi casserole and start another owl (very nearly finished it too - much quicker this time round).

Folowing on, from a conversation with my brother yesterday - how do you spell the thing owls are supposed to say but actually don't? Tu-whit tu-whoo? The more you think about the more your mind goes blank (cue spooky music). Or perhaps that's just me and my brother.

*shiver*

Ever notice how much colder it can feel once a thaw starts? Wind-chill I suppose.

I'm beginning to struggle with this Advent Blogging lark - too tired tonight I suppose. I helped the kids write their Christmas cards for school tonight - 49 cards between the two of them and Miss Mouse insisted on writing all of hers herself. I would have at least done the envelopes for her if she'd wanted. But she didn't. At the beginning of it she didn't know how to write 'from' - she's fairly confident about it now!

A Christmas musing

I've been thinking today (inspired partly by Mooncalf Makes' blog post on a similar topic) about the pressure we put ourselves under in the run-up to Christmas. It does seem a bit bizarre. A few years ago I bought a magazine with the usual 'how to survive christmas - eight million simple tips for your best Christmas ever!!!!' article. It included instructions on how to decorate the back of your dining-chairs with a 'simple but chic' (no doubt) arrangement of something like white ribbons and mistletoe. I was impressed that in half a page they'd managed to create a wholly new way to make people feel inadequate at Christmas.

I don't do chic at Christmas - or at any other time really. Christmas is chaotic and colourful and I do not decorate my chairs, at Christmas or ever. I can just imagine the reactions of the kids and the cats! There are times when I would love simple classy white lights and decorations of course - serene and tranquil. But even pre-kids that never happened...

somebody designs boot tread patterns

That was today's odd thought. Somebody has to sit down and design the tread of boots and shoes. And tyres I suppose, though I imagine that has slightly less to do with interesting patterns and bit more to do with function.

Imagine them meeting the Queen - 'And what do you do?' 'I design boot tread patterns Ma'am' 'That must be very interesting' (actually this may be King Thistle).

Someone designs the patterns on upholstery for trains and buses (coaches) too. And curtains-round-beds in hospitals (this was a thing that struck me when I was drugged up to the eyeballs* and floating round the ceiling after giving birth to Miss Mouse). Well, whoever they are, I praise them, bringing abstract patterns and odd colour combinations to the world.

Right, so, today. Yeah, more of the white stuff.

the 'school run'

The cats didn't know whether to go in or out, so settled for both, at frequent intervals of course. I did this and that (mostly opening and shutting doors for the cats, come to think of it), and had a go at sewing. Just hand-sewing - I still haven't figured out the accursed sewing machine yet. Wanna see? I had a ridiculous amount of fun playing with the the possibilities for the eyes:

'paranoid'

'exasperated'

But I'll just do eyes-forward for this one I think. I'm looking forward to the embroidery bit. I don't think it'll turn out as good as the ones in the book or the ones Andamento made but so far it's easier than I expected. Quite absorbing. I do need good light though. Ooh, just realised it's Monday (d'oh, need more sleep) so this is a Making Monday post!

* only co-codamol actually but it made me reeeeally spaaaced ooout.

the white stuff

Dyer's chamomile in the snow

If there's something I really like, it's watching snow fall. It's fascinating - the layers of depth you see, some falling faster than others, some at different angles, odd little flurries swirling up and down again. Today we had snow showers, enough for a scattering of white, just a thin layer, but enough to change the quality of the light. And then there was the weird flat sky you get just before a snow shower - not obvious cloud, just grey blankness. It intrigues me. It's woolly hat and scarf weather! Hurray! (A Pollyanna moment :-D)

There has been much secret knitting today - the kids have their swimming classes on a Sunday afternoon so I usually take some knitting to be getting on with while they're splashing around. The cafe by the pool has good lighting so today I was taking advantage of that to do some fiddly sewing-up.