Domesticity Rules OK !!!

I don't know whether it's because I'm 40 or because we're having some beautiful sunny weather up here, but I've had the urge to make recently. I made the hearts above while watching TV (there will be one on it's way to you next week Lissylou). I spent Wednesday afternoon making a fish pie and apple crumble for dinner and then made a very scrummy carrot cake !!! What's going on? Even Mr Twigs was impressed.

I had a lovely few hours with my pal yesterday who I haven't seen since a week before Christmas due to the weather and stuff. It was so good to have a good moan about families, both of our dire financial situations and our boys teething troubles settling in at school. We're both finding that raising confident, free spirits that like to question things doesn't always work in a school environment. Ho hum, we'll have to compromise I guess.
Anyhoo, I'll close my give away a week today and the young scallywag can select a winner.
Have a fab weekend and hope we all have a sunny one as we have lots of plans. Hooray Spring MUST be round the corner.

Busy times and a giveaway..............

Thank you so much for your lovely birthday messages. Well we had a very jolly time at the weekend. We went to lovely, lovely, York had lunch, mooched about, bought things (mainly Twiglet spending his Christmas money) and had a tiptop time and for once I didn't take my camera. I love blogging but sometimes feel it gets in the way of a nice day out I spend all my time thinking hmmm would that make a good photo instead of having fun, do you do that too ??? We also had a good long Wintery walk in the woods on Sunday, my favourite Winter thing to do !!!

Anyhoo, mystery revealed, meet Betty my lovely NEW sewing machine,
I'm VERY giddy about her and have kept Evadne one of my old Singers but Myrtle has now gone to a lovely new home with Helen.
I told my boys I wanted a home made birthday so they made me this delish cake, lovely cards
a very nice dinner for me. I received some lovely handmade cards and gifts (see above). Big thanks to Vicky at Anglesey Allsorts for these lovely earrings and needle book. Can you spot the gorgeous scarf she made for me for Christmas, aren't I lucky just my colours.
Twiglet also bought this to fuel my Hello kitty habit, it's fab and has 3 layers of pens, pencils and bits and bobs !!! super ace !!
I've also received some lovely crafting bits and bobs.
I'm still plugging away at my patchwork bag and have a new hobby in the pipeline which I'm quite excited about. I don't know why I've not done it sooner really as it's so obvious, but more about that later.
Here's a plea for help, we've just switched to Google Chrome and I'm having real problems uploading photos, any top tips folks ???
Finally, I thought seeing as I've hit the big 40 and passed the 20000 hit mark I'd have a little giveaway, so leave me a comment on here and I'll get the lurid, plastic IKEA bowl out again and my beautiful assistant Master Twiglet will select a winner :)
love
Twiggy x
PS Pop over to Lissylous blog, she is having a little at home fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation. As part of this she is asking blogging lovelies that wish to get involved to make little heart themed items that she can sell to fund raise. It's a great cause, so do please take a look. Lissylou and the 2 little boys blog can be found in my I like to read list on the right.
PPS There is a lovely give away over on Dreaming of a Simple Life, I am being very generous mentioning to you :) http://lalabibaby.blogspot.com/

Thanks

Thank you so much for your lovely birthday wishes yesterday. Also big thanks to Bellas Country for this fabulous award, a lovely cheery bit of sunshine on a dreary grey day !!! Although I did collect my big birthday pressie today with Mr Twigs - much excitement. Will tell all later. Well as always I will say this award goes to everyone who reads my blog but for once I won't be a slacker and will pass it on properly. However, I will be a slacker and not post links, so here goes.

Vicki at Anglesey Allsorts
Louise @ Home is Where the Heart Is
Lynsey @ Swirly Arts
Taz @ Ratbag Creations
Pam @ White O Morn
Solstice Dreamer
Josie @ Sykes Silly Site
Indigo Blue
Greenpixey
Jackies Crafts
Carmen @ Whoopidooings
Lucey @ Lemonade Kitty

As ever, all links are in my I like to read sidebar, feel free to spread the love if you wish. Have a great weekend.
love
Twiggy x

Happy Birthday

Well actually to me. I'm 40 today, how on earth did that happen so fast................

Twiggy x

Sometimes life IS sweet..........

I was on a real downer today as I had made plans with my pal for tomorrow and she has had to cancel. My back hurts, I'm feeling like a spare part now Twiglet is back at school, hormones, worrying about the depression I suffered with at 30 coming back etc, etc ..............

What a difference a day makes. I received a laugh out loud email from a very old friend. My big Sister turned up out of the blue with a huge bouquet, wine, cake and pressies. She doesn't drive and had to wait until her hubby came home from work this evening and got him to drive the considerable journey just to see her little Sister. Now that REALLY perked me up.

Mr Twigs has told me to take it easy for a few days to try and get my back better, so I've been making and doing - as you can see, my shops are filling up nicely.

Thanks for the get well vibes folks, you better send me some encouraging pats on the back while you're at it.

Twiggy x

Harumph !!!

Well I've spent the last 2 weeks gingerly walking to school and back in ice and snow (apart from snuggly snow days of course) . Guess what ?? I've only gone and done my back in lifting in the Tesco delivery this morning. Big ouch !!!!! I'm having to lay on the sofa and scoff very nice carrot cupcakes I made this afternoon to keep cheery. Send healing vibes people.

Twiggy x

Donating through Everyclick

I've been supporting a local charity for a few years now using Everyclick, it is such an easy way to give. If you wish to help the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund please click on the link and follow the instructions for Everyclick.

http://everyclicknews.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/uk-charities-providing-aid-to-haiti/

Looking after the pennies.

Well Twiglet is back at school today after another snow day yesterday, it seems that we are very short of grit and I can confirm the pavements and roads are scarey this morning. I thought the neighbours might hold up score cards for Twiglet and my artistic merit getting down our road this morning. Eat your heart out Torvill and Dean !!!

Here's how it was in our neck of the woods yesterday. Just check out that video clip. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/8458613.stm

Anyhoo, like many of you we are having to REALLY tighten our belts and are on a major economy drive. Yesterday I was about to buy some thank you cards from Snapfish to send out from Twiglet. I had a light bulb moment, scanned his lovely Christmas artwork, printed it off, stuck it to some card from scrapstore, found some envelopes in my crafty drawer and we now have lovely original artwork to send out to kind relatives, for no money !!!! Result. I think I

might punch a hole in them and thread some ribbon through so they can be hung up too.

I've also started listed some bits and bobs in my Misi and Etsy shops. Here are my ATCs for January swaps.

Crafters Corner now have a sister group for ATCs called ATCs4All, it's a very friendly group. If you fancy joining in, click on the link in my sidebar.

We also made some scrummy bread (see above) and cuddled a lot under a blanket :) I got a big cuddle for being a lovely Mummy - bless !!! nothing to do with the chocolate Santa bribe, I'm sure.

Can't wait until my boys are back home this evening, p.j.s on, curtains closed, hello weekend.

Have a good one

Twiggy x

Trying to keep warm and cosy

Well we did hibernate this weekend apart from visiting the oldies and very nice it was too. Twiglet had another snow day on Monday, amazingly enough I was going to go to work on Monday - I know steady on there Twiggy, but the very heavy snow stopped me venturing out. Have worked yesterday and today though and I'm pleased to say I can return to my cosy little home now apart from the trudge to school. So here are the things that have been keeping me going during the horrid weather.

Firstly,Twiglets positive mental attitude. We were walking home in bitter wind and bucketing down snow yesterday - it was grim. He said Mummy this is a great adventure in the Artic, where are the penguins??? what a trooper.

Secondly the DAB radio my lovely in laws bought me for Christmas. We've been listening to school closures, traffic and weather reports every morning at 7.15am, our local radio station have been brilliant.

My hot water bottle found in the back of a cupboard - magic for my sore old gimmer back.

Walking on ice isn't doing it any favours.

My super snuggly slippers my lovely Mum bought me for Christmas.

Yummy chicken casserole and dumplings I made for tea.

These two surprise packages from two lovely Crafts Beautiful forum members Seaweed and Scrapcat1 warmed the cockles too, what a nice unexpected treat. Thanks ladies.

So what's been getting you through these cold days?

Keep warm and safe.

Twiggy x

Hooray it's the weekend and we're hibernating.

As Twiglet and I stumbled through the snow and ice on the way to school this morning I promised we'd wear our p.j.s as soon as possible and hibernate all weekend. I collected him from school, we got in at 3.45 and by 3.50pm we were in our p.j.s under a blanket watching The Secret Garden - result !!!

It was quite funny when we got to school this morning the headteacher told us Class 1 (reception and Year 1) would be in classroom 3 as it was the only one with heating. While the bigger children were going over to the church until the engineers had sorted everything out. The children thought this was VERY exciting indeed :)

(Above some fab handiwork by the little fella).

So for a change from the usual snow pics, here are some jolly jars Twiglet and I made during one of his snow days off school. A couple of old jam jars, some stained glass paints that have been in the back of my drawer for a year and hey presto!!!

How about this sparkly box, Twiglet made with the contents of his new craft trunk !!!

Mr Twigs bought me this fabby craft punch for Christmas

so, I grabbed a pile of old Christmas cards and I had a little play with it today. Recycled gift tags - woohoo (Mrs Swirly, I am learning from you :)

He knows how to keep

me out of mischief - that'll be the day.

(He also bought me CD of War of the Worlds - I LOVE this but only have it on vinyl, not much good as we haven't had a turntable for about 5 years), latest books by Ian Rankin and Stephen Booth, Neverwhere and Muse DVDs and a bottle of vodka, that's me sorted for weekend entertainment then!!!

We intend to have a cosy, toesy weekend and Mr Twigs has just made a huge pan of leek and potato soup for lunch tomorrow, start as you mean to go on.

Have a great weekend and take care.

Twiggy x

Normal service has resumed - kind of ..............

Well Twiglet went back to school this morning, phew we had a long Christmas break, he wanted to stay at home but when he realised he'd missed Wednesday afternoons French and PE lessons brightened up :) It sure is quiet without my boys around.

I am now catching up on 3 weeks worth of clean, ironing, domestic boredom (that's why I'm having a little skive on here).

I'll be donning my Siberian snow gear to pick him up this afternoon, gawd it's so snowy and freezing out there - brrrr!!!

Mr Twigs reported that the traffic was so bad on the M62 this morning, that he was able to get out of his car in the fast lane to clear off the ice from the windscreen (it was icing up as he drove )

Roll on the weekend.

Twiggy x

Snowy Day Fun

Well when you get an extra day off school you have to make the most of it, don't you? Watch out

Daddy !!!

Here is our little Christmas tree, looking just as festive outside as it did inside. Hope it survives for next year.

And what to do now wee Twiglet is in bed....................

Play with some of my Christmas pressies of course.

Keep safe and warm

Twiggy x

Cosy toesy day !!!!

Cosy toesy, that's what Twiglet calls it when we're snuggled up under a blanket on a chilly day and it's certainly one of those here today. It's absolutely tipping down with snow up here and Twiglets school is closed (he was due back today), so he is having an extended Christmas break !! We have just taken all the Christmas decorations down and are currently watching Roary and scoffing the Christmas tree choccies :)

Will probably go out and play a bit later.

Keep warm and safe.

Twiggy x

PS We went up to Royd Moor sledging on Sunday what a buzz, I'm getting quite addicted, will post some photos later...............

PPS Hooray Mr Twigs was home early today, he NEVER has time off work(amazing, the roads must be bad!!) so is working from home now, glad we're all safely in, hope you and yours are ok.

Ahh farewell my lovely.............

Did you cry??? I did. We also shouted rude things at the telly after the regeneration but we won't talk about that.

Now apart from the fact I fancy DT he was my special Doctor for the following reason. Way back on Christmas Day 2005, we had moved to our current house a month previous with a baby Twiglet. He had rotten colic from about 4pm onwards, he cried, I cried, Mr Twigs despaired and like idiots we'd decided we should have just the morning with family. So we drove around in the car trying to get him off to sleep the first thing I'll always remember is seeing a beautiful outline of Jesus and Mary projected on the side of our village church. The second memorable thing was after FINALLY getting young Master Twiglet off to sleep we had our Christmas dinner at 10pm and watched the episode of Dr Who that we had recorded earlier. It was the only telly we watched, the first with DT and that is why he's my favourite :)

sigh.............

Twiggy x