New Beginnings (and old endings)

Oh dear, has it really been that long?

So sorry to have gone AWOL without so much as a warning of interrupted service - it's just too bad of me and I do beg your forgiveness, if you are still there..............is anybody there????

AND I didn't even announce the winner of my Giveaway in time for Christmas - shame on me.

But believe me, I hadn't forgotten about it - it was nagging at me in the background amongst all the xmas preparations, making me feel guilty at first and then in the mad rush before Christmas I reasoned with myself that you lovely, kind fellow bloggers would hopefully understand and graciously forgive me.

I'm sure we were all caught up in the crazy, busy run up to Christmas, and in the spending of rare, precious time with our families over the holidays, and in the "trying to get back into a routine" early days of the new year once the schools were back.

So, here I am at last, better late than never, wishing you all a belated Happy New Year!!!!

And a big Welcome! to all my new followers who bravely signed up to follow..........well............nothing for a while, but I will try to rectify that in the coming weeks.

Well, Christmas is over, and I hope you all had a wonderful, fun and relaxing time.

We did here, right from when the schools broke up............

Firstly, kitchen cupboards were painted and new curtains hung

(I know, I know, how mad is that a few weeks before Xmas!!!)

(and, of course, me being me, they are not all finished yet ;)  )

trees were decorated

(and the hall painting was finished, yay!!)

 rooms were made festive

decorations were made

wrapping paper was printed

even personalised in some cases!

a few presents were made

lots of baking and cooking was done

(but few photos as we were too busy eating it!)

the stockings were hung by the chimney

("with care, in hopes that"......you know the rhyme!)

little miniature ones for an advent calender

the festive season was enjoyed by all

relaxing was the order of the day

and for the New Year.......

a fresh start

a clean slate

new beginnings

new books!!!!!

New books to be read

(christmas presents!)



New seeds to be sown - soon

New projects to be sewn

New CK mugs to be drunk from!

(more pressies!)

New treat for the kitchen "from" us "to" us

New boots to be worn!!!

(Sale!!!!)

And, finally, a winner for my giveaway has been selected using an online random generator thingy rather than Logan, who downright refused to do it. So there.

And the winner is..............

No. 17...........

 Dosie Rosie (aka Gill - yes another one!)!!!!

Congratulations Gill - please email me with your address and confirm which tea towel you would like!

Dosie Rosie has won the tea towel of her choice, together with a selection of handmade Christmas Decorations which she will no doubt be thrilled about, it being January and all. Hmm. Maybe a rethink is in order on the rest of the giveaway Dosie Rosie?

I will have a think and come up with something a little more relevant.

So enough for today.

In fact this post is so o o o   long I feel somewhat vindicated for my long absence from the world of blogging, and if you have made it this far and are still awake, then you are a real trooper!

So looking forward to hearing from you all, I have missed you my friends!!!!!!

Gill xx