Hobbies and Crafts

Maryanna, I also am like Jane and have no idea how to change my avatar....... you and I could be twins!!

Ann, thank you for the pictures on the photo blog. So pleased to see Lucas back with your daughter (and Luna) once again.

Maryanne I don't have any idea how to change my Avatar so my ugly mug is stucke there LOL.It was my son who helped me do it last time.

Yes the birds have been feeding well on the Window feeder here.Plus that Squirrel who must visit before I get up in the morning and it totally cleans it out :-S
Now don't you go mentioning Ratties.Touch wood we haven't seen one for ages now.
I know Thomas is keeping the mouse population in hand but I dread the thought of him coming home with Rat.

My Neighbour was telling me the other day that she had 2 Muntjac in her garden eating all the fallen apples. Their garden backs on to open field so it is easy for the Deer to get in.We do get the odd Pheasant looking a bit lost and confused in our garden :-D

Happy new year everyone, sorry it's a bit belated !!!

I have been trying to update my avatar for a few days but it has gone back to the default picture again.

Oh well, I am not really a grey headed man !!!

Birds in a frenzy the last few days, have had all sorts in the garden as well as a pair of squirrels and a very cheeky ( I will whisper this for Janes benefit ) rat.

M.

A few Christmas photos on the photo blog, including the elusive Lucas.

Still one more load to do Jane but we were looking at tumble driers todsy, just got to work out where one would go.

A happy new year to all of you on here <3

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

OH Ann the washing machine is always the first thing isn't it after being away.Hopefully now you are all straight ,unpacked and washed :-D :-D
Not much activity on the feeder this afternoon.I think all the birds will be taking shelter from the rain.Thomas must be doing the same as he is not in.I have called and called but no sign of him.

Back home now, still not unpacked everything but one load of washing done. :-)

I do believe I have seen some Long Tailed Tits today :-D
The Robins and Blackbirds have been singing their heads off.It sounded very musical earlier :-D

We all sound to have had a lovely time this Christmas with our family. It soon comes and goes. Ann, I have been remembering how sad it was for you all when your son in law passed away last Christmas time. It's right to toast Jon and happier times.

Very mild weather here today and the birds are hungry and eating everything in sight.

Sunny day here today for a change so we managed a walk, not too long, down near the docks museum at Barrow, it was a bit nippy out of the sun but warm in it. And the views to Walney Island were nice.

Turkey curry for us too tonight and a toast will be drunk to Jon.

And this afternoon we have booked flights to Spain in May, and airport car park for April for Madeira. :-) :-) :-) :-)

LOL sweating wreck sounds like me Vera !!! and I was only cooking for 5.I kept having to go and stand on the back doorstep.I did manage to get through a few glasses of Fizz/Wine whislt I was cooking :-D..Needs must don't you know ;-)
Your Daughter and Maryanna were troopers to cook for that many.
I reckon the pub sounds like it may have been the answer for a late arrival Maryanna :-D :-D..Any excuse LOL

Turkey Curry here tonight :-S..Getting sick of the sight of Turkey now.I did catch Thomas on the work surface having a good sniff at the cooling off Turkey (luckily wrapped in foil).He has had his little titbits.Still a little more for him tomorrow.
I don't think I have seen too many birds today.It has been such a mucky day weatherwise.Thick heavy drizzle and mist
:-|

Maryanna, you clearly run a 5* bird hotel while I'm the grotty B&B that they only go to if they are desperate ;-)

There have been a few blackbirds and collared doves this morning and I spent a while watching the antics of a blackbird perching very precariously on a tiny twig trying to reach the last couple of crab apples on the tree. I think he was trying to emulate the blue tits but hadn't mastered the knack of hanging upside down and kept nearly falling off.

We had a good day at my daughter's yesterday. She had 12 at the dinner table and managed to produce a superb meal with loads of different veg and sauces and have it all ready at the same time. What impressed me was that she managed to do all this while apparently swanning around with a glass of champagne and chatting to all her guests. I would have been a sweating wreck chained to the kitchen.

Hope all your Christmas celebrations, whether quiet or lively, are all you would want them to be

PS I don't know what is wrong with my iPad this morning. I am a good typist so I don't think it is correcting loads of mistakes but it keeps changing my words. Reach became recharge, and became nod, and apples became poles :-|

We had a lovely day, even if lunch was two hours later than planned as the boys all took their dogs out for a walk and got themselves lost, which was a bit embarrassing for eldest son as they were in woods he managed about ten years ago. Changed a bit since then, apparently.

No phone signal and we were just going to see if we could find them ( ????) when they got back. Actually thinking about it they had probably all been in the pub !!

Anyway we all had a good time and the babies had lots to look att and eldest grand daughter had lots of presents to help unwrap.

There were ten of us eating as youngest sons girlfriend went home for Christmas. Think we will have to extend and get a bigger table for future celebrations. We can only squeeze ten around ours, funnily enough, that has always been enough until now. Or maybe devise a shift system !!!

Lots of birds in the garden, sorry Vera. Blue tits, Great Tits, long tailed Tits, as well as all the usual Blackbirds, Sparrows, etc. It is so windy though that they are being blown about all over the place.

Hope you all had a lovely day too and managed to stay dry and warm.

M.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS WISHES TO YOU ALL.

All good here, plenty to eat and drink and a warm home. We have been thinking of all the poor folk who have had flooded homes to contend with!

Nice to see you again Maryanna, it will be a special first Christmas for your two grandchildren, so enjoy it all.

Think all the birds have flown to sunnier climes - even my fat cakes have remained uneaten.

Good to see you posting again Maryanna. You are going to have a busy Christmas with the family and two babies to cuddle.

We are going to my daughter's just for the day tomorrow which will probably be chaotic as she will also have several of her in laws and there will be three dogs as well. Then on Boxing Day we were going to my brother's for a couple of days but he and his partner have both been unwell so we have postponed that visit and will have a quiet time at home.

Happy Christmas to you all <3

It's all gone crazy hasn't it Maryanna.Nature doesn't know what the heck is going on.The grass is still growing too.OH gave the lawn a cut on Friday !!!!

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.Eat , Drink, and be Merry :-D :-D
MERRY CHRISTMAS <3
Lucas is a very lucky puss to be back home again just in time for a bit of Turkey :-D

Kandj yes the floods are horrific aren't they? Soul destroying for those poor people in Appleby where they have been flooded twice and more rain expected today.

Maryanna, I don't know how many there are of you altogether but with two young babies it will be chaotic. Bad enough here but only four of us here and six for Christmas day. Still I am sure you will have a lovely day with the babies.

Lucas seems to have settled now and is not needing cuddles all the time.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!

I have been dipping in and out and keeping up with things,so glad to hear Lucas has turned up safely Ann.

Both babies are doing very well and growing fast. We have every one here for Christmas. Most of them arrived on Sunday, ( we are in Surrey for the week or so - bigger house !!!)

The garden is doing well with Daffs well up, as well as Kerria, Periwinkles, Wallfflowers, Roses, Winter Jasmine and even the poor old abused Forsythia in flower.

Everything is all mixed up outside.The Daffodils are fully out in Somerset.

Anyway, I will try to communicate a bit more after Christmas.Once again,Seasons Greetings to all. xxx

M

We have watched the scenes of even more flooding in the Lake District. Just too awful for words. Those poor people, we dread to think how Christmas and the New Year will be for them all.