The 12 Days of Christmas

Like many households, things are a bit manic around here at the moment.  It is what it is and I will get what I can get done, done, but then I plan on spending some quality time in crafting and just chilling a bit.

I will officially start on Christmas Day,  (after Christmas dinner i.e. 25th December and run until Twelfth night which is January 5 2025).  I have therefore decided to celebrate, relax and start making things for next Christmas.  I hope to do a little bit of embroidery or cross stitch for this first tranche of the Twelve Days of Christmas each day.  I have purchased a set of embroidered Christmas tree decorations (I think a set of eight) these are heart shaped.  I do however have  another kit with more projects in it, which I will swap over to  once the heart shaped ones have been worked.  I am hoping to get at least one embroidery/cross stitch accomplished each day even if the kits are not all made up by Twelfth Night.  If the embroidery is done it is just a matter of making up the hearts or indeed the circles in one session.  I will also look for the sewing machine cable this holiday as well.  If I get on well with them I may well make some as presents.

I have three Christmas trees all told and am always in need of Christmas decorations.  I have a particular penchant for homemade decorations, the memories and people surrounding those ornaments and the happiness of those days.  I am a big softie at heart really, but those memories and those people are so very precious.  I also want to leave some bits and bobs for family members in due course as well.  Yes they are only things, but memories are very important the older we get; they ground and stabilise us and remind me of where I came from and the personalities of our passed over loved ones.  Indeed it is a tradition to raise our glass to absent friends.  Like the time my darling Nan came to Mum and Dad's for dinner, and she got a little tipsy on some Whisky.  She was in her element, and had a full tea.  A much loved aunt and uncle came to collect her (they had dropped her off and then gone on to my cousin's for Christmas dinner.  Nan had a full Christmas tea as well, and was still slightly pickled but happily so by the time my aunt and uncle came to pick her up.  The following day she rang my Dad in a high dudgeon, saying how could you let me go home without having any tea, and in front of the said aunty as well.  Poor old Dad thought it was hilarious.  When she eventually calmed down and Dad explained everything she did climb down from her Tower.  However, we all saw the funny side bless her and she had had a really good time.  We have had some proper characters in our family over the years, a lot of them born storytellers .

This is therefore my relaxation plan for over the Christmas holidays.  When I craft I often have earphones on watching something on You Tube or listening to music.  Sometimes though I just sit and listen to the TV.  Am usually quiet happy doing this and I am in my own bit of space.  

Now I have the super little craft magnifying light it should make my life a little bit easier at seeing things.  I am hoping so in any event.  However, I am very much looking forward to doing actual crafting.  Something I do not normally get to because am running around doing other things and being with my own thoughts, plans and hopes for the future.  We all have to have hopes.  For me, they are what keep me going when things are not so good.  I have been known to drive other folks kind of batty because I tend to be relatively positive generally.  You deal with whatever comes your way.  Sometimes it comes in a bucketful and at other times, things are milder, gentler and more able to be dealt with. Each new day is a page to be filled, and dealt with day by day.

We will see what happens.

Another busy day planned for tomorrow and Monday.

I hope you are all progressing well with your plans.

Catch up soon.

Pattypan

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