I HATE KEEPING SECRETS!

So to keep three little secrets and one very BIG one has not been easy and I'm literally at exploding point!

This is my first Christmas in the world of blogging and I wanted to stitch and send some gifts to a few people I was lucky enough to have the addresses of.  Two of those have been received and one has been opened and the other kept until the 25th and the third one, fingers crossed, will reach its destination overseas in time for the big occasion.

I stitched this jolly fellow for Lesleyanne (Lesleyanne's Life of Stitches) and found the chart in the 2002 edition of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments.

Roly-Poly Snowman by Bent Creek stitched on 28~count natural linen in GA sampler threads

Lesleyanne sent me a lovely email upon receipt, thank you Lesleyanne and Merry Christmas to you.

Now for the BIGGIE!  Tomorrow we fly to Florida for a 2 week Christmas Holiday and my gang of 3 have been 'kept in the dark' for as long as we could manage.  Playing a Secret Agent is not my strong point but I have managed to consult with schools/colleges and absences for the last few days have been authorised, presents have been exchanged for the 25th, my brother-in-law has been signed up to come down from Scotland and look after the house and Tilly has gone to stay with a lovely lady who's a nurse at the Vets we go to.  This really was the hardest part and I already miss her terribly after only 4hours but her Christmas prezzies are here for when we get back and I shall certainly be doing some serious bunny shopping whilst I'm away!!!

My gorgeous 'Tinsel Tilly' xxx

I shall be keeping in touch with all your posts whilst we're away and hope to post as well but just in case I don't get the chance (you know what with shopping, theme parks, lazy days, cocktails, restaurants etc!!!!!!!) a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL, may it be peaceful, joyous, memorable and snow-free!

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

OK, SO A 'BIT' OF SNOW . . . .

OK, so yesterday's 'bit' of snow was nice, pretty, christmassy and I can cope with  BUT this is taking it too far :

nearly 2ft of snow overnight
 

Winter Wonderland in the back garden

My sewing bench

'My driveway is there, somewhere?'

How beautiful you're all saying, how pretty, what fun for all the children?

NO!, the driveway has disappeared, we cannot open the garage and if we could the roads are so laden with snow the car would be useless, over 5,000 schools, most airports and all public transport are at a complete shutdown and to top it all our central heating packed up over night and no Engineers can get here until at least tomorrow!!!

Even Tilly, after being moved in to the house this week from her summer hutch, is begging to go back to the garage where it's probably warmer!

AND the forecast ~ more snow, I think Siberia would be warmer than here.

On the positive, snow makes the house so bright that cross-stitching is great, any excuse to make cookies is great, having everybody home safe and ? (I would say warm!) is great and Oh! I so don't want to admit it but it is sooooooooooooooooo pretty!

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

'MUM, IS HE COMING'?

'Mum, is he coming?  That white fluffy stuff's arrived!'

'Please, please Santa, I've been really good!'

'Still no sign, this is getting boring!

I'm a busy bunny, things to do .......'

'Wake me up, when he arrives!'

KEEP WARM EVERYBODY!

Happy Stitching

xxx