Catching up on Christmas, since I caught a really bad chest cold and then went bacterial, we stayed at home this year and did not manage the midnight mass nor the Christmas morning Communion, I was coughing and spluttering awfully. So we said our prayers at the Christingle service and at this little scene of JOY.
Miss E was given all the ingredients, equipment , video and recipe to make the Mary Berry gingerbread House which she started on Christmas Day and completed on Boxing Day.
We laughed ever so much when JJ happily wore his Dinosaur one-sie when we were opening the presents...
And he gained a Turkey hat too- such FUN!
Miss Y had an elf hat and moi: a Christmas tree....
This little sprout was a gift from a dear friend- lovely isn't it?
Miss E was sooooo excited with her Apple computer...
And I was given Kaffe's autobiography!!!!
Even the inside pages have fabulous painted designs: oh such joy and inspiration inside!
And I loved the knitted reindeer wrapping paper too!
Here I am recuperating by a fading fire... Comfy tartan trews to lounge in due to them being bought by the kids in the wrong size and they lost the receipts so we just HAD to keep them didn't we?
I gained two pair that way, hooray!
Computer all set up and working in no time...Elf one grinning...
And then somehow they both appeared underwater with swimming fish? Oh the miracles of a Mac.
There was a wee dachsie tree decoration with antlers and a red nose....
And fabulous soft baby alpaca wool from Rowan...
Miss Y in a new beaded dress for church, but I was unable to go...
I sat crocheting in bed: discovering THIS new stitch pattern and just LOVING it?
When dearest JJ cooked the Christmas dinner I went to walk the dogs, it has been raining and blowing a gale for days and they would not walk in the downpours we had. Finally it was dry so off I went.
It seemed so quiet and deserted but we did meet families on new bikes and some dogs with owners later on.
The dogs feasted on some sloes...
Back at home I made shepherd number one: cut pipe-cleaner in half- 15 cm
then double up and twist together and insert into crocheted arm.
We also played CLUEDO , this time a new SHERLOCK version and JJ who literally hasnlt a clue how to play this game astounded us all by winning with an amazing guess!!! He was so happy it was wonderful to see.
Before pudding however he was on a call out for work so we had our pudding between us girls ans it didn;t light up very well...
Boxing Day we drove to see mum and take her foods and eat lunch with her that we brought along.
A quick stop in Winchester to replace the supplies the girls had eaten: profiteroles and pigs in blankets.
Back home that night the gingerbread had been made and demolished the same day as it was so delicious they had been eating it. I managed just a few photos of the stained glass windows and the chocolate buttoned roof tiles..
And yes, all of it deliciously edible! Yummy!
In Winchester I'd been inspired by this shawl/scarf, it could so easily be crochet with interlocking colours?
And today: 27th we were in need of chocolate so Miss Y , although she too was now feeling ill, baked a second Yule Log.
And while she baked I crocheted and sewed the lamb together to make another figure for the Nativity:
Baaa, baaa,baaa...
This time I pretty well followed the pattern, except I changed the tail and the legs might have been slightly longer in my version as I didn't count the rows correctly?
Not sure about the ears, and kind of wish I'd given him black feet but he's kind of cute anyway?
I did do some googling to remind me of the look of lambs, see?
I think I'll need to embroider his muzzle a little?
Next will be the second shepherd, can;t wait to start on the Wise Men or Kings of the Orient!
And ideally there'll be a huge star and an angel to complete the set before I create the stable as well.
I'd like to create a setting where all the figures can gather around and this wooden one is a bit too small...
I remembered our nativity set that was set out in my childhood, with a large wooden stable and stone figures, much like our local church has now, but when I asked mum she said she'd disposed of it in 1976 before coming to England. Shame, but never mind : it will be a challenge to make a crocheted stable that can be folded flat for storage and set up to stand for the Christmas display!
And I want a big gold star in lacework with a tiny torch or flickering light inside so we can light up the star from within?
And an angel which can ''fly'' suspended from a pole, stand among the shepherds or sit on the roof of the stable...
I have also researched the look of Frankincence and Myrrh so as to use the right colours to stitch the gifts the Three Kings will be bearing to the baby.
This is what I found:
Frankincence:
and Myrrh: looks like raisins:
And gold should be easy using some gold beads...
What fun!!! See you soon with the next figure?
