Weekend

The weekend came and went very quickly, the days seem to be merging into each other.  My heart goes out to all those who are home schooling and trying to juggle working from home.  My own three daughters are managing and I am sure are doing a great job but they feel as if they are lacking.  They are doing the best that they can along with everyone else and that is all anyone can ask of them.  The cases of the coronavirus is still rising and I do wonder how long it will take to reach its peak prior to the numbers coming down.  In the meantime the vaccine programme continues and for that I am truly thankful.

I did have my usual baking session over the weekend, baking cheese and mustard scones to go with soup.  I have a couple of batches that need to be used from the freezer.  I also made some sausage rolls that will make a lovely lunch along with some homemade coleslaw.  Finally, a batch of mince pies with a crumble top just because...

The mince pie was also topped with a pecan, heaven in a pastry case.  Each recipe broken down to smaller portions to there is no waste.

Saturday evening we had our treat meal of the week which consisted of steak, grilled tomato, chips and peas.  We really enjoyed it as we don't eat a lot of red meat or indeed chips so it is a real treat to have both in a meal.

All the laundry has been done, washed, dried and ironed.  The Christmas linen is waiting to be packed away a job for today.  The cottage has been cleaned from top to bottom.  A programme of deep cleaning has started, a few extra jobs a day.  Today was to declutter and clean the kitchen drawers, a task that has been needed doing for sometime.  Its amazing how much longer a job can take to do than first anticipated.  The windows need cleaning both inside and out, but the weather is not conducive to this task.  Tomorrow is another day.

A short post, hopefully I will have more to share tomorrow.  Take care and stay safe.  A warm welcome to new followers, I do hope you enjoy my little adventures through life.

See you soon.

Looking Forward

 I do thank you for your wonderful supportive comments on my last post, they were a joy to read and lifted my spirits. 

I don't usually share my gifts but I decided that this one is so me that I would share the pleasure.

Drum roll please...

I was blessed with this beautiful old Singer sewing machine, be still my heart.  What a joy when I saw this on Christmas morning from our eldest daughter and her little family.  The fun I shall have...  I intend to bring my old treadle table down  from the craft room upstairs so that I can display it in the hall.  It would be nice to use it now and again as well.

I have been adding to the list of what I want to get done this year.  I have a dolls house that was given to me by my youngest daughter a couple of years ago.  It is my intention to get it done this year.  Some research has already started.  Gerard and I are going to do as a joint venture.  Sadly at the moment he is having a flare up of  RA but one he is feeling better he will gather together the supplies needed from the outbuilding so that we can make a start.  

A mammoth task but one that we are both looking forward to doing.  We are finally motivated, so it is a good time to get started.

We were blessed with a couple of jigsaws at Christmas, so we have a ongoing puzzle that we are working on.  We have a jigsaw board that we leave on the table and as we pass do a few pieces here and there.  It does take a couple of weeks doing it this way but it is an added pleasure to our day.

The crochet baby blanket continues and I am doing well, making great progress.

I am finally looking forward and have started to make plans for projects and Island adventures.  All I need now is a break in the weather so that I can get started on a tour of the village for my Grandson.  I am a fair weather reporter... The vaccine programme here on the Island is going well all the care homes and NHS workers have now been vaccinated which is wonderful.  The next phase starts on Monday, the over 80s.  This will make such a difference to so many peoples lives.

Hope all is well with you.  Has the vaccine reached your area yet?

See you soon.

The Beauty That Surrounds Us

 I have been missing in action for awhile sadly, I have been nursing a case of self pity.  I gave into a dose of it over the new year celebrations or lack of them and it has taken me awhile to get my head out of the doldrums.  Normal services will resume now that I am back to been thankful for everything that I have and do recognise that we are luckier than most of the UK as living on this beautiful Island makes us tier 3 whilst mainland Scotland is in enhanced tier 4 along with England, which means yet again lockdown for most.  Whilst I am thankful for the technology that keeps us all together, particularly family it is not quite the same as seeing them and giving those amazing grandchildren of ours a huge hug.  I am clinging to the HOPE that the vaccine will help bring the day nearer that we will see them.

Anyway onwards and upwards, another chapter begins...

I have been asked by our Grandson to help him with his school project which he is doing on Scotland and living life on an Island.  We are both excited about it and have been making plans of little videos he wants me to make.  He has such faith in my capabilities with technology, I can but try.

I have had fun helping with the Church calendar.

I have made a start on a crochet project, a baby blanket.  The plan is to crochet 2 squares a day and so far I have stuck to this and I have enjoyed the process.

It is also my intention to give the craft room a good sort out and finish any projects left unfinished.  I suspect there might be one or two, but in fairness I do not recall anything in particular.  I want to have a sort out so that I know what craft materials that I have.  It is my intention to use everything out of the stock cupboard before I purchase more. 

I have already made a start with the art stock.  It was a joy to open a few additions on Christmas morning.  Water colour pencils have been added to try in my journals.  Along with craft books which are always a pleasure.

I was so blessed at Christmas it would be impossible to make a list of everything, but I was truly thankful for each and everyone who sent me cards, gifts and messages both by email and post.  I feel humbled by this amazing blogging community and the generosity of its members.

To finish I would like to share the beautiful sky that we had yesterday morning.  It was a bleak, dreary what locals would call a dreich day but when I pulled back the curtains I was met with this:

The last picture a bit of a blur, but blogger won't let me take it off.

I was met with such beauty, so in the grand scheme of things what have I got to be downhearted about?  I need to stay focused on what I have and what I can do not wallow in what I can't.  Hope all is well with everyone and that you are coping with the lockdown or whatever the restrictions are in your part of the World.  Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.

Happy New Year

 We are nearing the end of 2020 and for many a relief to welcome in a new year and see the back of this one.   The pandemic has dominated most of the year, along with it restrictions and so many deaths.  The news channel for me has become unbearable, whilst technology has been a lifeline for keeping in touch with family.  This new strain is not what we wanted and seems to be spreading like wildfire, there is no holding it back.  But then we have been given HOPE and a lifeline with not one but two vaccines now available.  I am hopeful that if we can ride out these next few months, the vaccine will be a great help.  We have no real plans for the New Year, taking everything very slowly but it is with a renewed energy that we go into 2021 with HOPE that we will be strengthened by this horrific experience of 2020.

Here's good health to you and yours

And all the joy that luck assures.

Wishing everybody a Happy New Year and everything that you wish for yourself.

Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.

Happy Christmas 2020

A bouquet for all my blogging friends and a wish that you all have a wonderful Christmas wherever you may be.  Best wishes for Christmas and the New year.

See you soon. 

Covid Restrictions Change Again

 My goodness I am watching the BBC channel news as the terrible news is breaking about the rise in Covid cases and the new variant that has evolved.  There has been an alarming spread and as such the relaxation of Christmas rules have now been scrapped.  A stay at home order has been issued for all those in Tier 4.  There will only now be a one day mixing allowed in Tiers 1 to 3.  All the Christmas plans have now had to be scrapped.  My heart goes out to all those affected.  We now await the announcement from the First Minister in Scotland to see what will be happening here.

Thankfully we had no real plans but I do feel for my dear parents who were expecting my brother and sister to call in.  Two of our daughters were getting together for a few hours and now that has got to be scrapped.  So many changes in such a short time.  Lets hope the sacrifices that will have to be made will help.  Hopefully business's will survive this next round of closures and shutdowns.

A batch of soap has been made and some simple lavender bags to add to some Christmas cards that have been delivered today.  Some little doorstep deliveries to hopefully make someone smile.  It has been a difficult year and so I wanted people to know that they were in my thoughts.

Small hampers have been put together and delivered to our neighbours today to thank them for their help and support through the lockdown and this past year.  We are so fortunate to have good neighbours and it is nice to show them how much they are appreciated.

Blogger is playing silly beggars once again the photos are not loading in the order that I want.  Anyway this arrived in the post earlier this week and made us smile.  It certainly sums up this year 2020, toilet paper, hand sanitiser and masks...

Hopefully this will bring some cheer at a time when there is so much doom and gloom.  Where ever you are in the World I do hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and that your plans have not been altered too much.  I intend to remain as positive as I can and find joy in the simplicity of our celebrations this year.  Take care dear friends and stay safe.

See you soon.

Window Displays

 Another trip to Stornoway this morning for a hospital appointment, so I thought it prudent to have a quick look around the town centre.  I wanted to absorb the Christmas decor and appreciate the effort people have made to decorate the shop windows.  It was also nice to pick up one or two little gifts to add to Gerard's stocking sshhhh!

The tree was a delight and I loved the lobster pots around the base.  The trees around the square were also lit up so was a joy to see.

Let me take you on a short stroll around the shops so that you can see the decor.  Every shop has made an effort to decorate and lift our spirits.  Each photo has a reflection but I think that adds to the charm.

I am a great fan of the Harris Tweed shop, they really do stock so many choices of the fabric, it is difficult to choose.

The chemist is also a wonderful gift shop and at this time of year is a such a nice place to walk into and browse, you can always find something to buy.

The bookstore is another store that holds so much more than books so is always good for a trinket for the stocking.

The two windows above are from the charity shop, they are so well done and are a real delight to see.  The tinsel adorning the bodyform making it into a party dress is amazing, with matching dazzling bags and shoes a real temptation on top of the gifts.

Not a big town centre but enough shops to buy the necessities.  I did go to the supermarket and collect as much as I could in readiness for Christmas and as a treat we went to An Lanntair for breakfast.

 I had the pancakes and Gerard had the traditional Scottish, it was very nice.  It was also good to browse the shop and admire some of the local craftmanship.

Christmas will be different this year that goes without saying so it was nice to get out and about for a few hours.  The bonus was we got some fresh air and supported local business's.  A little bit of normality did us the world of good.  It was so nice to finally feel a little festive.

What are you doing to introduce a little bit of festive cheer?

Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.