Normal Service...

has resumed! I'm back in the land of the living! Last week was a funny old week...nothing wrong that I could pinpoint....just out of sorts! Back to "normal" (my normal!!) now in full Autumnal mode!

Most days were spent just tootling around home. I didn't have an actual duvet day much as it would have been VERY nice, but instead, I blocked out Wednesday morning for a "me" morning. Peter took the kids to school so that I could have a leisurely breakfast. Then I just did what the mood dictated! I cross stitched for a while (I haven't done this for a very long time), I read for a while and I started to make some family Christmas Cards.

The Cross stitch is for a little Christmas present. I have resolved this year to make more presents with the hope that they will be well received....fingers crossed! Like many, the old purse strings are having to be pulled in a little, make that a lot, this year, but it is making me think creatively and I am hoping that the thought will definitely count for something!!

A friend had spotted my crochet dishcloths when she came to visit and she has put in a request for some of those, so that is another one sorted!

An exciting event which happened last week (there was ONE!) was my meeting, for the first time, a blog and Ravelry friend, Nicky. We had discovered that we only live a few miles apart and our children have mutual friends. We met at the local coffee shop and spent a great morning chatting and knitting. I sat in AWE! I aspire to someday knit even half as well as she can!!

I was quite nervous when we were meeting up as you never really know if you'll get on as well in reality as in cyberspace but I needn't have worried. The hours whizzed by and I feel as though I have known her forever. We had another knit and natter this morning with a few other friends. It was lovely and relaxing. She also brought me a few knitting and crochet books to have a wee look through. Lovely!!

Mum and dad came to visit for a few days which I enjoyed. Mum and I pottered around a few shops, tested lots of coffee (!) and generally enjoyed catching up. Dad enjoyed the relaxation and just pottered around the house. I "delivered" them to my brother and his family on Saturday and they spent another few days there before going home yesterday.

Yesterday was a domesticated sort of day. Washing and cleaning...not so nice...and baking....very nice. "Wee buns" were made for the kids and my big kid...

and I began the preparations for my mum's Christmas cake. She herself bakes 8 or 9 Christmas cakes every year and gives them as presents, so I like to make hers. No one in this house likes Christmas cake so I don't make one for here, but I love the process of making it and I LOVE the smell of it cooking, so making one for mum gives me the best of both worlds!

This year I am using Mary Berry's Victorian Christmas cake recipe which I found in the recent issue of the BBC Good Food Magazine. The fruit is now soaking and I am so enjoying the Christmassey smell which wafts out of the bowl when it gets its daily stir!!

There are lots of other tempting recipes which I might just have to try soon. I particularly liked the section on foody Christmas presents. I had been considering making chutney for a few people and the magazine has given me a little encouragement to give it a go. It is many years since I last made it so at least there are many more exciting recipes to consider. Do you have interesting, but simple, ideas? I'd love to know!

Anyhows, that's me pretty well caught up! School runs and "mum's taxi service" are beginning to call. Have a lovely week, whatever you are doing!