Ding Dong Merrily on High

The bells are beginning to chime summoning people to the Midnight service as I quickly write today's post.  Unfortunately, due to a back problem that has suddenly developed I will not be attending and I so wanted to this year as I have never done so and thought it might be nice to go and see Christmas Day in!  It will just have to wait until next year.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and 

a Happy New Year :)

Wordless Wednesday Wreath

I was so pleased with my first ever attempt at making a proper Christmas wreath.

Did you try a new Christmas craft this year? 

Winter Freebie

Today I am sharing a little winter freebie I created after being inspired by another clipart artist I blogged about yesterday - Narelle and her wonderful sewing buttons.

Lots of children find learning their multiplication tables difficult so good graphics are needed to help them understand what is going on as they recite 1 x, 2 x, 3 x etc.  Colours can also help with the recall of key facts so hopefully these posters will benefit children by allowing them to count the number of holes in each button (4) and see the repeated addition in process :)

Click on the button below to go to the correct TpT page to download and enjoy!

As a child, I remember my first winter coat being a shaggy orange creation with a zip that made me look like a fuzzy duckling - I was none too keen.  Nowadays my winter coats are the classic black wool with 6 buttons - rather boring or if I am out getting muddy a barbour jacket.  What did you wrap up in as a child and what do you wear now?  I'd love to know :)

On a Mission plus lovely clipart freebies

I realise that if I post over these next few days I will have managed to have posted at least the same amount as last year so I think I ought to try!

A couple of shout outs to clipart artists I have been using recently:

Narelle from Australia who posted a lovely button clipart freebie which I will be featuring in a freebie product tomorrow - so stay tuned! You can find her store at: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Narelle-Steckyj-3917

and

Brad Fitzpatrick from Clipart Crush who kindly gave me permission to use his wonderful gingerbread clipart in a couple of my new products.
You can find his store at: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brad-Fitzpatrick

and my gingerbread products by pressing the buttons below

Be sure to check these artists and their products out.  I love talented and generous people :)

I'd also like some more feedback left on my TpT site if you do happen to download my freebie product - many thanks!

Let me and others know if you have found any great free clipart by leaving a comment below :)

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

Well it's finally in the room - but only just!

Truly the tallest Christmas tree we've ever had and can ever have!  They've been growing steadily over the years but now it's official we have reached ceiling height there is no where else to go unless we start cutting holes in the actual ceiling!!  This is what comes of allowing Dad to go with DD to choose a tree - they egg each other on and this year they have come back with a tree that was destined for a school before something happened and it is now in our sitting room.

As you can imagine the cats have all been wondering - what is going on?

My own little artificial tree reached "vintage" this year having been with us for 25 years now and to give it its due has lasted really well.  Thank goodness I don't need to saw the top off it each year to get it in to position!

Do you have any Christmas tree traditions going on in your family?  Who goes out to choose it?  What room does it get put up in?

I'm Back & Celebrating

OMG - where has the time gone?  Never mind - I'm finally back and catching up again with everyone on the Celebrate post.  Click on the button to link up :)

Over this past week, I've had many things to celebrate:

1. The company of good friends
2. Both of my children returning home for the Christmas holidays
3. The ordering of the Christmas turkey before it was too late!
4. Going to see the latest Star Wars movie at midnight as it opened here in the UK - and yes it really is that good - brought lots of memories flooding back of how I felt when I was a child watching the first one back in 1977.

Lexa on her blog is wondering what kitchen calamities we've experienced.  I think I'm quite lucky when I say not too many - but I always seem to burn the garlic bread whenever we have guests - I think it's because I get talking and forget about cooking.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong with the Christmas dinner this year  and that we don't forget something - normally it's the stuffing!

Here's to hoping everyone else has been having a good week and that this one leading up to Christmas will run smoothly for one and all :)  Tell me what you're planning to do - I'd love to know!

Celebrate Oct #1

I know I'm a day late but I feel blessed to have lots of things to celebrate :)  so I am joining in with the Celebrate crowd

You can too - just ask Lexa to add you to the list if you want to be visited but by all means go and check out what all these people are celebrating this week :)  Lexa is also doing a special giveaway and HORROR blog hop too if you want to check her blog page out too.
 

1)  The fine weather is continuing so I have been busy gardening and really enjoying this sunshine - everyone is SO much happier and it is lovely to meet everyone with a smile on their face - where ever I go I seem to have Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World playing along in my head :)

2)  My walking group is continuing to grow and it is really pleasing to see everyone joining in and having fun.  I am so pleased I started it :)

3)  I passed my First Aid course so am now officially qualified to give First Aid - this is just in case anything untoward happens on one of my walks!!  Hopefully, nothing ever will!

4)  I got hold of two hardback books this week that I have been wanting to read for the amazing price of just £1 each!!!  I just love a good book bargain :)

5)  Finally, I am celebrating the return of Once Upon A Time (my DD just re-subscribed to Netflix)which I have to confess is one of my favourites - I get a bit swoony over Hook!!  So will be able to watch episodes on those autumnal nights - lovely :)

I'd love to know what you have to celebrate and now I'm off to check out what everyone lse has been up to.  Have a great weekend :)