Wednesday 18 January 2012

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






34 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you Gill. I was wondering how you were. Us bloggers will always be here so don't fear :)
    Looks like a busy time for you, but fun busy :)

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  2. I'm not surprised you haven't been blogging, you've been even busier than usual!!

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  3. Hello Gill:
    Welcome back. We are so relieved to read that your absence is purely because you were having so much fun!!

    Your hall paint colour looks absolutely wonderful and a very mean red machine for your kitchen. Wishing you and your family a joyous and prosperous New Year!!

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  4. Welcome back. I think we all deserved a little bloggy break during the festive hols. Your pics all look lovely. Happy new year! M x

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  5. Yes! We're still here!
    ..lovely to have you back ..and with a nice long newsy post too.Nice to see what you've been up to.
    Belated Happy New Year,and lots of fun times in 2012. :0)

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  6. WOW,Gill! So beautiful pictures! I love your Christmas Tree, I love your new blog design(SUPER!), I love your new kitchen look. and also I love pictures of your sweet-sweet home! You are a perfact designer! Love you ornaments (stars, hearts, snowflakes)! And your wrapping papier :o) LOVE,LOVE,LOVE
    I`m so happy that you`re fine and had such a beautiful Christmas!
    Hugs from Russia
    Natasha

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  7. Happy new year to you too!
    Your home looked beautifully festive.
    Lisa x

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  8. Welcome back!! My - you've been BUSY! Love those pics! Your home is gorgeous! Glad you had a great time over the holidays - but we're glad you've returned to the blogging game! ;-) xx

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  9. Good to see you back Gill!
    Congratulations to Gill(Dosie Rosie) from yet another Gill!!

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  10. Welcome back! Glad to see you had such a lovely time over Christmas. What lovely pressies! Really like the books, especially the Alexander McCall Smith. I have the new Bertie book ordered. Must try the Corduroy mansion series next. Have a great New Year! Cx

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  11. Hello and welcome back ;-)) Looks and sound like you had a lovely christmas. Congratulations to the winner and happy new year i hope its a fun one ;-)) dee x

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  12. Glad your back Momma....it was a while!
    everything looked amazing in your cozy home.....love your stairway! I also found a pair of sale boots and I love them....

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  13. Hi Gill, happy to hear you were just busy with life! LOL!!! Happy New Year!

    Mary

    P.S. I love the way Logan & kitty snuggle!

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  14. Hi Gill, glad your back thought you would be. Seems you have had a busy time and a lovely Christmas and New Year.

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  15. Just had another look at your lovely pics - I looooove your kitchen - and that stairway! Gorgeous gorgeous - your house has a great 'vibe' to it - also judging by those furry rascals in ultimate state of relaxation! ;-)

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  16. Nice to see you blogging again, Gill. No wonder you needed some time away, you've been busy. Your house looked wonderfully festive, I love the wrapping paper idea, especially personalised, it looks so professional. Congratulations to Gill on the giveaway win.

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  17. Welcome back!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  18. Lovely to see you back, Gill! Your house is looking beautiful, and so spick and span, I'm starting to look around and think about getting a paint pot out...
    Jane x

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  19. Hi Gill, So lovely to have you back again!
    You obviously had a lovely Christmas, sending you best wishes for 2012!
    Vivienne x

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  20. Hi Gill, I am not surprised you needed a rest after all that work and creativity! Your house looks lovely and sparkly! I love your homemade decs., the paper stars are gorgeous! Love the red coffee machine (I got one too, which is bad, coz I can't stop drinking it!

    Thankyou for coming to the party, Hattat's have brought crate loads of champers, so get here quick! Love Linda x

    Oh I love your lovely background and header, fresh and lovely!

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  21. Happy New Year to you and your family as well Gill! I totally understand why you have been so busy. Your kitchen looks beautiful and your house warm and festive. I am glad you and your family had a good time. I see you bought some seeds too. Isn't it fun thinking ahead :-)! I bought several packages of seeds for cutting flowers.

    Happy evening,

    Madelief x

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  22. Of course we're still here- just patiently waiting for your return! It looks like Christmas was a raging success at your house. The kitchen looks lovely, too! I must admit, though, that my favorite part of this post were the amazing flowers at the start!

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  23. Wow Gill - what a fabulous post! You have certainly been busy! Your Christmas pics are beautiful - it looks as if you all had a wonderful time. It's so lovely to see you back too hon.

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  24. Hello again Gill, I have just found the comments you left on my Still Life post. Thank you so much for your good wishes, they are greatly appreciated! Have a lovely weekend, love Linda x

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  25. Hi Gill, we have missed you too, so glad you're back. Your house looks like a beautiful home, very festive and all your presents too. Looking forward to seeing your sewing project progress, looks interesting. Lesley x

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  26. Lovely to see you back, Gill! And I did enjoy seeing your festive cosy home at Christmas, and all the lovely decorations and things you made...lovely pictures! Lots of nice books to read, too, I see...and seeds to look forward to planting soon.
    Have a happy weekend.
    Helen x

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  27. Welcome back, Gill! Your holidays look like they were lovely, and now I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll make this year. :)

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  28. We have missed you too! Glad to hear all is well with you and that you have had a good Christmas.
    Looking forward to sharing your inspiration from those lovely new books.
    Congrats to Dosie Rosie!
    Becky x

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  29. Meant to say, love your new background and header!
    Becky x

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  30. Welcome back! Hope you had a fantastic Christmas! x

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  31. As one of your new readers I wanted to say Hello!

    I saw your blog....read a line and KNEW I had to read more. I've not been disappointed! Thank you for sharing such beauty!

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  32. The kitchen came up beautifully!!! And your Christmas decorations and preparations..... WOW!! You have been super busy. :) Love the new boots too, even better that you got them on sale! My fave pair of boots were bought on sale about 2 years ago and I still adore them.

    Happy New Year!

    Linda. xoxo

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  33. Hi. Welcome back and what a busy thing you have been! I'm coming to yours next Christmas - get an extra chair!

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Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to leave a comment - I love to read them!
Gill x