Changing of the seasons - the end of the Autumn

Good afternoon

I didn't intend for a bloggy break it just happened - what with family stuff and illness this past week has rather hurried by. Oh yes not only has my stupid gallbladder been playing up, MrVV took another of his wedding vows too seriously and shared his stinking cold with me!! Anyhow cold is improving and gallbladder under control thanks to a extremely low fat diet.

We did get out last Saturday to visit the new huge John Lewis Home store thats opened in Ipswich - oh what a place - full of lovely stuff and friendly staff. Its just a stones throw too from MrVV's office so he'll never have an excuse to miss my birthday/christmas again!! Even the carrier bags are lovely;

This week for me sees the end of Autumn - I always feel that once our family birthdays finish and those brass players of mine start their christmas engagements then winter has arrived. The first engagement is this Saturday - the christmas lights are being switched on in nearby Aldeburgh and the town have been on and on about the big event thats planned - they've got Lenny Henry switching the lights on - am tempted to heckle with some Tiswas style OOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!

I took the last lot of Autumn Views Challenge pictures on Sunday - what a difference a week made to one tree - the cherry lost all its leaves overnight;

 All the berries have been eaten from the back hedge - the only green remaining is the Leylandi and some ivy weaving its way through.

 An almost bear silver birch now.

Nothing left on these 3 either - even the oaks in the background are losing their leaves rather quickly now.

An almost bare cherry tree - you can now though see the buds for next season already.

One last thing for today - signs of new life - like last year, I found an abandoned hyacinth in the conservatory with tiny green shoots poking through - its in the house now and hopefully it might flower for christmas;

One advantage of being stuck indoors, I've made great progress on my two swaps and a pressie or two for family / friends too.

Time to go - I best go make myself some lunch and then I think a blog catching up session would be a good idea.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

One weekend in the VV household

Good evening

No Downton Abbey this weekend and I'm lost!

Time for a quick blog about our weekend.

Of course it included this;

Thank you to everyone who bought poppies - I was able to add £28 to the Poppy Collection :)

 Christmas Cake prep - just love the smell

 The fruit soon soaked up all the fruit juice & brandy.

 Watching rugby whilst crocheting and drinking cranberry juice - I've not been well this weekend - I think a trip to the Docs is in order tomorrow :(

 The devastation in the kitchen once the cake had been mixed - whilst there was a mess I thought I'd strain the Hedgerow Gin too - almost a litre of the stuff - I've hidden it till Christmas Eve.

Part of the band on the march back from Church this morning. The veterans were pleased that the youngest cornet players played the last post. They are always pleased to see the young members of our band on parade.

As it was sunny today, it was perfect for the 8th week of Autumn Views photos;

 The blackbird enjoyed a quick splash just after I'd taken this picture.

 The leaves on the birch that remain are all a lovely golden colour.

 These 3 trees have almost lost all their leaves now.

 The cherry leaves have all changed colour now too and are falling off rather too quickly.

I hope whatever you did this weekend you had a good one? I've had a quick scan of blogland and seen many pictures from parades today.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Gingerbread Men, Raindrops & Autumn Views

Good morning

What a difference 24 hours makes - yesterday it was dark, damp and raining for most of the day - this morning the sky is clear and the garden bathed in autumny sunshine. I am being brave and planning on hanging washing outside!

The weekend started well with a Friday afternoon baking session;

I found a fab and simple recipe on the BBC website - we shall definitely be having these again - they've proved very popular over the weekend.

Saturday wasn't a great day - plans for a family day out in Norwich or Cambridge were scuppered when Little Son woke with a migraine :( Rather that all of us stay at home, Big Son & I caught the train to Ipswich and left MrVV to nursemaid duties. Big Son wanted to start his Christmas shopping as well as buy a present for a friends forthcoming birthday. We had a lovely time together wandering round the shops and having lunch. I might have started my Christmas shopping too!

As I said I woke Sunday morning to the sound of rain on the bedroom window - one peak outside made me decide it was an indoors sort of day. Chores were done in the morning and part of the afternoon was spent watching the Grand Prix and crocheting. My Giant Granny blanket is coming on rather well - just 2 more colours and then I think its finished;

It was rather lovely sitting under that yesterday whilst adding a couple more rounds.

As its sunny this morning, I thought I'd go into the garden and take this weeks Autumn Views Challenge pictures;

 The back hedge is slowly being stripped of its berries - at least we are left with a wall of green over the winter.

 The birch is losing leaves quickly now - MrVV spent ages Saturday raking them up so he could give the grass a final cut for this year.

 The trees in the front garden at almost bare now - again MrVV got the task of raking on Saturday!

I love the cherry tree at this time of year - the leaves are the most gorgeous fiery colours.

One thing I did notice when I took the first picture - the rose on the summer house is still producing new buds and flowers;

Lastly for today - one picture that sums up Sunday nights in the VV household rather well;

Waiting for Downton Abbey (such a shame it was the last episode last night) - armed with glass of wine, wearing fluffy socks and covered by a blanket - utterly blissful.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Thank goodness for Daniel Craig!

Good afternoon from chilly and damp Suffolk.

Thank you Daniel Craig - all 3 menfolk are big Bond fans and they've gone out together to a late afternoon showing of your new film 'Skyfall' - it means I get the house to myself and time to blog :)

The weekend started wintry;

Hailstones - least it wasn't snow AND they didn't last long.

In the afternoon MrVV & I went to Southwold for a walk and wander along the seafront. We stopped at the pier cafe (outside)  for a pot of tea for two - all rather civilised. Just as we'd finished drinking the heavens opened and we dashed into the arcades whilst the shower passed over. We had a quick play on the penny falls - amazing how long you can make 50p of tuppences last!

We wandered through the town on our way back to the car and I might have popped into a CS or two - just one thing - another Ladybird book for my collection - one of my childhood favourites;

I woke up at my normal time this morning and try as I might I couldn't get back to sleep - I thought I'd take advantage of the extra hour and get some crocheting done.

So far I've finished off 3 new dishcloths - I prefer these to the shop bought ones - easy to make and after I'd done a Granny Square one I thought I'd make a couple using other stitches - whilst I can Granny Square almost in my sleep I find other stitches require concentration. Since then I've started on a cowl scarf for me using a gorgeous Rowan Aran yarn I bought several years ago. I just need to sew the ends in and then I can take a picture - that will have to be tomorrow as already its getting dark - the downside to the hour change.

First thing this morning - the sky was blue and the rooftops were covered in frost - perfect for taking this weeks Autumn Views Challenge photos;

The trees and plants all have less leaves than last weekend - most of them are on the lawn waiting for a willing volunteer to rake them up - might see if a teenager wants to earn some money tomorrow!

Right time for more crochet I think - as well as my scarf there's at least 2 blankets on the go that I can add to for an hour or so till the menfolk come home.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Chain me up and cover me in Dream Topping!!!!

Good afternoon

No I've not been reading that book! Its just the easiest way to describe 2 of my CS finds this week!

Firstly kinky, bondage dachshunds to match my reindeers! As the Mother is no longer chained on I got these for just 50p - I wonder if the shop will have anymore animals in soon?

The boys mentioned the other weekend the lack of trifle in their diet in recent months! This could be easily sorted if only I could find my glass trifle dish - I've no idea where its gone - perhaps we took it somewhere with food in for a party and forgot it - anyhow I decided to track something down hoping the CS's in town would come up trumps - they did - just £2 later and a bit of mixing, those boys of mine got their wish - trifle for pudding one night this week;

Now long term readers of this blog will know all about my little accident last year and the long slow return to normal walking. One thing I didn't think I'd ever manage again was heels but a pair were in our shop today and something made me try them on and have a walk about - 2 miracles - they fitted and I could walk in them - they've hardly been worn (no marks on the soles or heels) and the colour was cheerful too. I just need to remember when I do wear them out - no socks or leggings but perhaps some grown up tights instead! I've been prancing around the house in them since I got home from work - sadly even if I click my heels together nothing happens - least I've not fallen over yet!!!!

One last CS piece to show you - this little 'vase'. I've got a small but growing collection of this stuff - the first bits were some spoons from a Russian friend - I've no idea what the proper name for it is?

I've just realised that Week 5 of the Autumn Views Challenge is almost over and I've forgotten to share the pictures - these were taken on a rainy Sunday so all were taken from the house so the angles might be a tad different;

I think when I take Week 6's pictures this weekend things will have changed again - the weather here has turned windy and chilly - the forecast mentions snow but I don't think it will quite reach us. However the drop in temperature means I must hunt out my gloves and hats later.

One last thing for today - I've found another interesting (and inexpensive) Christmas swap - over here at Tracey's blog - a really original idea;

Right I'd best be off - I ought to spend my last quiet hour before half term begins doing domestic stuff. We're really quite ready for the holidays here - these past few morning have been a struggle to get out of bed. 

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Autumn Views - Week 4

Good morning

What a typically Autumn morning it is outside today - very blustery with leaves blowing all over the place! It was pouring with rain when we woke up but luckily that has cleared before the boys needed to leave for school - nothing worse than spending the day in soggy clothing - especially as LittleSon has part 2 of a GCSE English assessment today.

I thought I'd better get my Week 4 Autumn View pictures posted before Week 5 arrives!!

 The berries on the climber are almost gone - now bird attention seems to be turning to the Ivy berries.

 The golden colour is spreading further up the silver birch tree now - and more leaves are on the lawn - its a never ending task.

 As you can see the middle tree is now almost entirely a gorgeous autumnal orange - must find out what sort this is.

 Less leaves here too and those that remain have almost all changed colour. Even the cherry tree is now starting to turn too.

As its week 4, I thought I'd put the pictures into a mosaic so I see the changes more closely;

My favourite view is the last one - I've managed to take all the pictures at exactly the same angle so the changes can be more clearly seen.

Right off to start my Wednesday properly - teenagers despatched to school and MrVV to work. Off to tackle the pile of washing up - Day 5 without a dishwasher :( -  a very first world problem I know!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

A dragon in the garden and Autumn Views Week 3

Good afternoon

Yes I know, I should be racing around the house with the hoover but my desk is next to where the hoover lives and the temptation to write a blog post now rather than when I'm sleepy later was too much!

How was your weekend? We were lucky here in Suffolk - 2 days of blue skies :)

The perfect weather for getting out and about and taking photos;

The wild hops in the back hedge are still covered in berries - despite the best efforts of the local bird population. 

Here's my dragon - a common darter I think - I've tried all summer for pictures but they are usually to quick for me - today I got lucky.  Years ago when big son was very small, probably about 3 I commented to MrVV about seeing a dragonfly in the garden - big son misheard and thought I'd said dragon! He rushed outside in his wellies and armed with a wooden sword to defend us - he was rather disappointed to find something similar to that rather than a fire-breathing dragon!!

Here are week 3's Autumn Views - when I put all the photos together in a slide show I can now see the difference from week 1 - I'll try next week and do a mosaic so you can see the changes too;

 View 1 - Would seem its safer for the birds at the moment if they just eat berries - 2 reasons - a sparrowhawk has been visiting and I've seen it leave twice now with a blackbird in its claws and secondly a blooming cat has taken a shine to our garden - not a mutual feeling - I've an old pair of gardening sandals that I keep handy near the door now - my aim is poor but its getting the message. Sadly it managed to kill one of the goldfinches the other day :(

 View 2 - the leaves are changing colour quite quickly now and making a pretty blanket on the lawn - must persuade a teenager to rake them up!!

 View 3 - a slightly different angle to avoid the sun glade - the middle tree always gets its leaves first and is the first to lose them too.

View 4 - as you can see the leaves on the climber have rapidly changed colour this week.

Just two more things - firstly another great Faith, Hope & Charity Shopping Swap - this time a Christmas One - nice and simple and minimal expense.

and lastly today from me to all my followers and commenters a big;

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx