The end is nigh..............(in a good way!)

Oh my, the end (of our building work) is in sight...... Man laying floor!! -

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Everything outside looks so amazing in the heavy frost, doesn't it? - I took loads of photos today, but then accidentally deleted most of them!

A frosty bike! -

Finally got out to some shops today (= charity shops!!) - very pleased with this fellow - (?1950s) -

Woof, woof, this is my better side.......



And some lovely cups -

 Try as I might, I can't get the pic of the black cup and saucer the right way up!!!

Well, I think Mr Blogger is defeating me now - so slow!!  So I shall away!

Santa gets in training........

Walking into town yesterday, I thought there was a red flag on one of the churches. As I got nearer, I realised it was a person -

Nearer still and realised it was Santa! -

Abseiling for charity?  Or practising for getting up to those high chimneys if the reindeer go on strike?

The duck pond (well, it's a lake really) is still almost all frozen - 

much to the annoyance of the ducks (and seagulls!) - 

Found these funny knitted rabbits recently - the bride and groom don't look overjoyed, do they?! - 

And the best man's only got one leg (paw) - a good stag night, obviously!  -

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AND - of course! - a baby pic - Ruby (for that indeed is her name) - and our oldest grandson (nearly 10) -

Hope you're all having a good weekend!

Unexpected home birth!! (FRIDAY - more pics!!)

Daughter and son-in-law phoned last night (Thursday), to say daughter was in labour.  They'd phoned the hospital and been told to phone back an hour later.  Then about 45 mins later, son-in-law phoned us (we were going to go over and look after their two little boys) and said we needed to 'come quickly' as 'things were happening'.  We live very near them - got to them in less than 10 mins - to find them with a newborn baby (girl)!!   Apparently it all just happened really quickly - son-in-law had the baby's head in one hand, as she was born, and the phone in the other hand!!   Ambulance and midwife then came - son-in-law got to cut the cord. Then they whisked them off to hosp for a check over. Daughter had to have a couple of stitches, but then they all came home again.  Their two boys are going to be quite surprised at breakfast time!!  AND, she was a whopping 9lbs 6 oz  !!!  And here she is (about 20 mins old) -

Proud Granny! - (no time to even take my coat off!) -

Phew - exhausted now - but hyper with adrenaline!  Exciting!

Update -

Friday evening - baby with older brother (age 6) number one -

Older brother number two (age 4) not keen to have photo taken! -

Un-named as yet - Amelie, Ruby and Lola possibilities.............

Getting plastered...................

Getting plastered here.......   No, I'm not hitting the mulled wine (yet) - the plasterers are here, starting to plaster the extension. Oh, yes, the end is (sort of) nigh.... Having to wait in just now, as IKEA are supposed to be delivering the kitchen. I really want to get out there and take photos - snow here!   We had a light sprinkling yesterday -

Snowy patterns -

But, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do - so I braved the elements and hit the charity shops! Bargains don't find themselves!  Some good finds -

Love this ceramic lemon squeezer :) -

and this cup is huge! -

Some candlesticks -

and a plain jug -

So worth getting wet feet!!

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And this fellow and his friends - 

are getting so bored (he looks bored, doesn't he?!) waiting for grand-daughter - 

(mind you if I was in somewhere warm and cosy, I wouldn't want to come out into this cold world!). Daughter to be induced on Thursday.....

Have a good week; keep safe in the snow!

Red sky at night, shepherds delight................

Lovely red sky tonight, as I walked back from town -

( A flurry of snow here, but no deep drifts..........)

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To cheer myself up, living with the building work that's going on (no kitchen currently...), I bought a couple of things (retail therapy - always works for me - I'm easily pleased!).  A new duvet cover - pretty embroidered paisley pattern on it - 

and some mugs from Morrisons - 

and - er - two tea-cosies.....I know, I know......two! - couldn't make my mind up - 

(I actually really liked the cardboard teapot shape they came with!)

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re the building work - still lots to do inside, but the outside is nearly done (think New England) - 

View out of the extension / down the garden / across the meadows (taken a few months ago) -

Current view of the garden! - 

And STILL no grand-daughter!

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Sunday morning now : Tried to post this yesterday, but Mr Blog seemed to be on strike - going to try again now. Up at this ridiculous hour on a Sunday morning, as I'm doing a stall at the Hereford Castle Green Christmas Fair, which is OUTSIDE!!! - in a marquee, admittedly (oh, that'll be good then, a thin flap of fabric between me and Siberia!). Should be jolly in fact - lots of good stalls / music / food......come along if you're anywhere near (10-4).