Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends

The big day arrived, and we spent it quietly at home together.  With phone calls and plenty of snap chats to keep us in the loop with the family.  Our breakfast was the usual Christmas treat for us, hot croissants filled with melty cheese and ham off the bone.  My daughter Nicky’s idea, and one which we copy for Christmas morning breakfast.  Of course, I had to don my Christmas apron while I was on kitchen duties, it’s the only day of the year it gets an outing!

Kitchen duties

As usual, it all seems to be about food on Christmas Day.  The weather was nice and warm so we sat outside and enjoyed our starter, baked brie with walnuts and drizzled with maple syrup on crackers.  So delicious, and super easy to make.

So tasty

Meanwhile, Robin had a leg of lamb cooking away outside on our Weber BBQ, and the smell was divine.  He sat and podded some fresh peas, and roast veggies were cooking inside.  We certainly didn't go hungry!

Delicious leg of lamb

It was a lovely meal, with cheesecake and raspberries to follow, (I had decided to forgo a Christmas pudding this year).  “Pop” went the top off the bottle of bubbly, and we raised our glasses to each other.  After all that food, it was time for a little R&R in the afternoon, and phone calls to other family members to wish them well. 

Then after a very light evening meal, I settled down to watch my hero Elvis on TV, a rerun of the 1968 Comeback Special 50th Anniversary, which relaunched his music career.  This show had many singers re-create the 1968 performance that propelled Presley back onto the world stage after years of absence. The '68 Comeback Special was the singer's first televised performance since 1961. Dressed in a black leather jumpsuit and accompanied by a full band, Presley dazzled a small, intimate crowd with his performance that immediately became a widely popular telecast.  With clips of Elvis throughout, and his songs sung by a multitude of singers, I was in 7th heaven.  Can you guess that I’m a real fan?  In fact, I can remember hearing him sing “Love me Tender” as a young girl, and I was smitten from that day on!

Frank Carroll/Gary Null/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Elvis Presley during his '68 Comeback Special on NBC.

I do hope everyone enjoyed their own Christmas Day with those who are special in your life.  Merry Christmas to you all, and many thanks for being part of my own blogging family, I appreciate each and every one of you.

Slow Start to the Week

Ours hasn’t been a very well household at all this week.  Robin came down with a dose of “man flu” on Sunday and that clipped his wings for several days.  Then of course, the bug left him behind and hopped over to me.  With a sore throat, coughing, and head aches I was feeling so poorly that I didn’t make it to our monthly quilt guild meeting, much better to be tucked up safe and warm at home, and keep my hacking cough to myself.

Of course, I just had to roll the dice this week on Monday, although I didn’t start sewing for several days.  The dice rolled 1, which is my Chicken Quilt.  For the background I’m using neutral string blocks from Bonnie Hunter’s pattern “Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll” which I made some years ago when the mystery quilt was introduced.  Sadly, that’s as far as I got, and these blocks have been sitting quietly waiting all this time.

String blocks stitched on light Vilene

I’m making a cot sized donation quilt so laid the blocks out four across and six down, then stitched the rows together.

The top assembled

Originally, I had planned on appliqueing a couple of large colourful chickens on this top, (hence the name Chicken Quilt) but I’ve since changed my mind.  The neutral string blocks have a lot more colour than I remembered, so I’ve decided to quilt it and use a colourful binding. I feel that the chicken applique might be too much, and I can use them on a plainer background, sometime in the future.  What do you think – have I made the right decision? 

It’s been put aside today as I was getting a little peaky sitting and stitching away, but will get back to it tomorrow.  We are home this weekend so I should have some spare time to do more on this project, depending how I feel.

I had a bit of “down time” relaxing today in front of the TV, watching “The Great British Sewing Bee”.  This programme is always fun to watch, but I’m sure I couldn’t perform in such a pressure cooker environment.  Slow and steady, that’s me!

A Right Royal Weekend

We have enjoyed a three night weekend away in the caravan, staying “over the hill” at both Masterton (for one night)  and then on to Carterton.  It was very pleasant autumn weather, a little rain, but mainly fine.    In Masterton we camped under lovely large mature trees, which had dropped a carpet of golden leaves onto the ground.

Solway Showgrounds, Masterton

Then we drove a short distance to Carterton Holiday Park, to meet up with our caravan friends for a weekend rally.  This is a lovely camp, and we enjoy coming here.  Now the weather is getting cooler, it’s nice to be on power again.  There were pretty little yellow birds in the small aviary, and some friendly sheep came to greet me as I walked past.

Pleasant grounds at Carterton Holiday Park

I had taken my stitching bag with me for the weekend, as I always do, but sadly didn’t even open it.  There was too much going on, and of course the highlight of the weekend was the Right Royal Wedding on Saturday night, our time.  Eileen was so excited she dressed up in her finery and put the rest of us to shame.  I knew I should have packed my tiara!

Dressed for the Royal Wedding

Some members weren’t interested (such philistines) and took themselves back to the vans, but most stayed in the hall in front of the TV and watch the momentous occasion unfold.  There were plenty going on before the service as happy royal watchers were interviewed, and the big question, who designed “The Dress” was discussed at length.  With the time difference between UK and New Zealand, it was going to be a very long night for us.  I took myself back to the van at about 10.00pm, settled down in bed with the TV on, and watched and waited as important guests arrived, and the ceremony finally began.  It was a long night, and we finally turned the light out and went to sleep at 1.30am.

There’s no doubt about it, the Brits certainly know how to put on a show, full of  all that glorious pomp and ceremony.