...and you might be forgiven for thinking that I had abandoned this blog completely, or I was so totally submerged in all things domesticky and goddessy that the blog took a necessary back seat. And yet neither are true. I have been both too busy to contribute even a few words, and also a little ashamed of my lack of crafting, given my enthusiasm only a few months ago.
But in my defence I have been otherwise engaged and had my head firmly elsewhere. Christmas crept up on me so quickly and without me even really noticing, here it is! So the turkey is in the oven, the veg all ready to go, child, husband and animals all snoozing...leaving me with a few minutes peace. I could tackle the washing up but...nah, it's Christmas and I should really make the most of the little *me time* I get, shouldn't I! So armed with some hot vimto, and a tube of Pringles (Don't you love the guilt free scoffing you can do at Christmas, with every intention of sorting out the few extra pounds of weight *next year*!) here I am to finally update my blog!
I had very noble plans to hand make lots of presents this year, and in my defence I did manage some. I will not focus on the failures (of which there are several!) but instead on the few successes.
Handmade chocolates, made from good quality chocolate and a very boozy Christmas cake (I had intended to make the Christmas cake this year but that went out of the window as soon as we hit the middle of December and I had not even made a start on getting the ingredients together, so a boozy cake was never going to be made from that point on! A very tasty alternative from Sainsburys was bought, and given a seal of approval by my husband) Ounce for ounce, cake crumbled into the melted chocolate, mixed thoroughly and formed into balls.Handmade soap - ok it was from a kit but the effort and thought was there. And of course handmade cards, both by myself and my very giddy and excitable little girl.
There was a crocheted hat for my niece (you'll get it as soon as I remember where I put the damn thing Lucy!) and a half made scarf for my sister-in-law - which I promise to complete before next Christmas!
Tonight will see my first attempt at making a Key Lime Pie. One of Nigella's recipes, and hopefully a lot more successful than the chilli jam I made from her Christmas book a couple of weeks ago. The least said about that the better.... I am hoping for oohhhs and ahhhhs of appreciation, but in reality will happily accept empty plates...
So I will now take my leave and wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Here's to a good 'un filled with love and a few handmade things thrown in for good measure....
