Walk and craft

It was really frosty this morning, had trouble opening the greenhouse door when I went out to feed the birds the morning sky was unite a lovely colour.

I did a bit of shopping first thing and then caught the bus up to Freeport. I bought some masks at The Works and a couple of bit in the Pound 

Stretcher shop. I walked home, slowly, as my knees have really been worse than usual for a couple of days, but I made it as I need to keep mobile if possible. I did go out to Dizzy Birds craft shop, I was going to ask about the reindeer stamp that I saw in an email. They couldn’t help me discover who it was made by, but I did buy a Christmas stamp while I was there and tried it this afternoon.

I painted it a bit later, but first of all I pained one of the masks black, going to try and do a pattern inspired by the African mask I bought last weekend,

I then started painting the stamped pictures, not quite finished but will do that tomorrow and think about making them into cards.

Darren took me down to the front in the car and we had fish and chips in the car, not on a bench in front of the sea, it was a tad chilly,

Strictly now!

Lights Night

This morning I went along to the Living Well meeting as usual, today was a tech surgery, I chatted with one or two people and helped supply drinks and clear away. This afternoon we were waiting for deliveries and for Debbie to arrive, who had to make a detour due to a serious accident on her route to us. This afternoon where was a rainbow and then a great sky.

As it was getting dark I made my way to the church to photograph the trees. Some with the lights off, some with them on and a couple with the church lights dimmed. Quite a few to look at! But one of the church on my way there.

Krissie and Steve’ s dog Beatrix was dressed for Christmas, not sure she was happy about it!

I did go for a walk along the street, which was closed for the lights being turned on and lots of stalls to visit.

This one was taken just after the lights went on.

Will finish today with one of the Methodist church, out of focus but makes a good picture!

Doctor and Beverley

This morning I did get to see Dr Latif, he was  very good, examined my knees, commented that they ‘were not good’ and is arranging for me to have them X-ray’d. He suggested I get some Ibuprofen gel rather than take tablets, as the gel doesn’t get into your system and cause other problems. So have got some today and will try and just use that. Got some shopping on the way home and then while Tina was writing her sermon for Sunday I got the spare bedroom ready for Debbie who is staying over for Lights night. Then Tina took us to Beverley for lunch and I made a visit to the Hotter shoe shopping to take advantage of the Black Friday sale! Had to order a pair of shoes in the widest fitting, they should be here in a few days. 

We had lunch at the Antique Centre, they have a really nice little cafe at the back called the Hideaway. Very aptly named and a lovely lunch. We had to have a look round of course and I got this rather spectacular spider necklace!

I don’t usually wear necklaces but still have it on at the moment!

We were on a time limit due to the car parking and were too far from the public loos so we stopped at the Cherry Lane garden centre on the way back. Loo break and cuppa and then a look round. I got some bird food and a Christmas animated decoration. Won’t post the video on here but Santa sings ‘Tis the season to be jolly’ and the snowman and penguin jig about to the chorus!

The storm clouds were gathering, they got much worse than this and it was raining by the time we left.

A few pics of the Christmas lights and decorations on offer.

I have used some of the gel since we got home, it seems to be helping.

Yesterday I started to close the curtains in my sitting room. Pandora likes looking out, but now, when it is dark and they are drawn she has taken to sleeping under them!

Earlier on today, when Tina and I were heading out we came across a flooded road in Seaton but were made aware of it by a car that was approaching on our side of the road with no indication and he was raising his fist at Tina! Good job vicars don’t suffer from road rage!

A morning cooking and then some sewing

Last night I decided to start making a Christmas present, a piece of free embroidery on the machine to go int an embroidery hoop to hang on the wall. Free embroidery means dropping the feed dogs on the machine and removing the foot, so you have to be careful not to sew your fingers! I had ordered some mesh like material a while ago which is soluble so that your u can mark the design out on it and sew through it. I tacked some of the soluble mesh on the front and back and drew a simple design. These pics show the stems done and then the flowers as well.

The next photo is before I had properly washed the material after dissolving the mesh, so it was still quite sticky and looking dark.

I washed it then and left it to dry on a towel over night.

This morning I was at the URC all morning helping to prepare and cook their monthly lunch for thirty folk. Today it was the Christmas meal so a lot of preparation  and quite a small kitchen to work it. But we managed and I left at about twelve thirty once everyone had been served, I was very hot and bothered!

Had lunch with Tina and then got back to the present making. I put the ho over the design to get the idea and decided that I needed to do a little bit of highlighting on the flowers.

Interestingly the snowdrops looked much whiter on the back! Anyway, a little bit of hand sewing and then I got the project finished.

A bit of a problem now as I cannot get the feed dogs to come back up on the machine. I have been through the manual and looked on line but no joy, I will call in at the shop in town that sells the machines and see if they can advise me.

Decided to have fish and chips for tea which was really tasty.

Haven’t had a phone call from the surgery, so hopefully I will see the doctor tomorrow!

Dot art and garden centre

This morning we had five people dotting, one lady was missing as she has just had knee replacement surgery. A good session, Frank made two more coasters, he says he had done what he wanted now, won’t come again but has enjoyed it and never done anything artistic before.

He is in his eighties so a good effort. Audrey did a coast as well and the others worked on their bigger projects.

I carried on with the gecko between helping others and using the hairdryer!

It was a good session and I think there will just be three people next week, but that will be good.

Pandora decided to have a rest on the top of the kitchen door!

I felt like getting out and maybe getting a bit of fresh air so Tina dropped me off at the garden centre. The musical Christmas displays are in full swing.

The model village is attractive, it was surrounded by glass so had to stretch over to take the pic.

A couple of shots of the beautiful corals in the fish tanks.

I walked down to the bus stop and had a while to wait. It has stopped raining so I got my shot of fresh air!

Last night I got the sewing machine out, I want to do some free embroidery where you have no foot of feed dogs, I have sewn my fingers doing this before! I have dropped the feed dogs but cannot get them up again! It doesn’t matter while I am doing the free embroidery but not great when I want to do some proper sewing. Will sort it out when I have finished this project.