Hogmanay

The year is almost over.

I've been reflecting on the ups and down of the last twelve months. 

I'll spare you my thoughts, though.

Instead this is what Christmas Day entailed for dogs in the Roberts household. 

Firstly a wet walk in Kielder Forest  - nearly four miles of empty forest road to career along and ample puddles to splash through. 

A couple of brief stops - at the observatory and at the Skyspace installation. As you can see the only one enthusiastic about posing for the picture in there was Midge - check those ears!

 The return home was followed by a snooze in front of the stove before they both provided essential assistance with unwrapping presents.

Tonight we just have to cross the road to the village hall for what promises to be a very sociable night
Whatever you are doing to see in 2013, I hope you enjoy it too!

Season's Greetings

Stevan Dohanos   December 1947

x

xx

xxx

xxxxx

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxx

xx

From my little corner of the world to yours, 

I'd like to wish you a warm and safe Christmas and New Year.

Winter blues (and whites)

Thanks to all of you who visited last weekend. It was good to catch up with old friends and make new ones too. It's been a very busy autumn and I am looking forward to a break over Christmas, if only to catch up on some of the lovely textile books I have acquired. 
January will see me stitching samples, spinning and sketching ideas in preparation for the return trip to Gujarat. I'm planning on entering an indigo phase (!) so here are some suitably coloured images. 
I can't take credit for any of them but you'll understand I could not let these textile pieces go when I saw them on Mirjam's stall at Southdean's Christmas Fair....

Busy this weekend?

FESTIVE FLING TIME!

 

HQ is spruced up; 

shelves arranged, 

cushions plumped, 

floor vacuumed, 

bargains priced (or free!)

Hugh is still in his cabin, 

hanging pictures -

with the occasional riff on 

guitar to keep him focused

Cake baked, 

mincemeat flapjacks baked, 

coffee machine ready-to-roll

Now, 

we need gentle weather 

over the weekend and 

some lovely visitors to call in!

Festive Spirits

Fibres and buttons on my stall yesterday, bread, scones, mincemeat and more on a different stall today. Life ain't dull in the Borders (cold, though...first snow last night)

I had lovely company at the Southdean Christmas Fair this afternoon, with Mirjam on one side and Ruth on the other, plus more friends turning up to support us all. 

I succumbed to a few choice articles myself, not least Lorraine's plum gin (tested this evening and just as scrumptious as it sounds...may not see Christmas) and great beads and fabrics from Mirjam.

And so, one more busy week of preparation before our annual Christmas open weekend. 

Come along if you can, the more the merrier!