Feeling Christmasy

I have been getting into the christmas spirit over the past few days and not the bottled kind either! It all started with the advent house and then today I found the template for these lovely little birdhouses.

I had to have a go and before I knew it I'd made three of them and am planning to make more. They are so cute and ideal for hanging on a christmas tree. It's got me thinking about putting a tree here in my craft room just decorated with handmade decorations. The template can be found here.

And this is my Advent House. A scrummy advent calendar with a difference. There is nothing in the drawers yet but I've still got over a week to sort that :) You'd never know to look at it that it was a supermarket buy but I've altered it with paint, gorgeous Blonde Moments christmas papers that were the remains of a kit I had two years ago and some pretty embelishments.

I'm really pleased with how it has come out although there was a point yesterday afternoon when I really wondered why I had started it.

I'm off to a new crop tomorrow, it's over the border in Wales and I've got just over a hour's drive to get there but I am quite looking forward to it. Hopefully I will come back filled with new ideas and inspiration.

Seeing Yellow

Today I really feel like I am seeing yellow.

This is one corner of my garden and hopefully it illustrates why it seems that everywhere is yellow. There are leaves everywhere and when the wind blows it is even possible to pretend that it is snowing, if snow was yellow. I spent a hour out there this morning sweeping leaves. I kind of cleared the front and did the back lawn by which time the garden waste bin was very full. The garden waste bin was only emptied yesterday so I have no idea where I am going to put the other leaves that are already littering the garden let alone all those that are still on the trees and are no doubt going to fall before the bin is emptied again in two weeks time. If they weren't so wet I think I'd have me a bonfire.

I've currently got a CJ entry sat on my desk. An entry for a CJ to replace one that vanished. Well not vanished really, I sent it on to the next person in the circle and she never sent it on. Or the previous one I'd sent. Now the other girls have badgered Julie into creating a new one and I am once more saying yes :)

One last thing for today. Those of you who know me will know that I am the proud owner of an amzing purple Land Rover. Well some half wits on a forum have decided that my beautiful 'Pippa' is the worst Land Rover they've ever seen. My response? Stuff them! (Although that's the clean version). Their reasoning is based on the fact that she is painted purple rather than a 'proper' Land Rover colour like it is any of their business. I asked my wonderful OH to build me a girly coloured Land Rover which he did and I love it. I am proud to stand out in the crowd and would much rather be different than be a sheep and follow everyone else.

We Shall Remember

Remembrance Sunday and we were out with the Land Rover this morning. A group called The Breakfast Club run a monthly car meet and we and some of the club members went along to see what it was about. They meet at the RAF Museum at Cosford and the breakfast, available from the onsite cafe was very good.

They held a service of Remembrance in one of the hangers and we attended. It was humbling to stand amongst the planes for the two minutes silence but I am so glad we were there especially this year. I remember watching my much missed grandad as he marched to the church on Remembrance Sunday and later him watching me as I (as a Brownie) marched to the same church for the same reason. It seemed only right that I should be at a RAF service because both my grandad and his older brother served in the RAF and my great aunt was in the WAAF.

90 years after the end of the first world war it is more important than ever that we remember. That we remember those who fought and died for their countries and those who continue to do the same so that we can call ourselves free.

I've not done much in the way of crafting in the last week because I have been suffering with a horrible cold but there is something that I really want to do and that is to make a butterfly. The reasons why can be found here but I'd to thank Voodoo Vixen for sharing this with everyone over on UKS