Last Day of the Advent Challenge

While Lovely Hubby was up in Mum's loft yesterday rolling out the insulation, and filling in every nook and cranny of the wonderfully large space we found above her bungalow. he came across these. 

 A brand new, still in it's wrapper headboard, and a really nice little trolley/table, just perfect for someone with a small kitchen.   Mum didn't want them as they must have been there when she moved in last year, so she gave them to us to sell at a car boot sale next year, we decided while we were chatting this morning that we won't be doing any car boot sales next year, instead any decluttering will continue to go to the local charity shops.

So this morning after walking the dogs along the freezing cold promenade in Llandudno, and then braving the Christmas shoppers in Asda to stock up on milk and some chicken for the dogs and Ginger, we called to our local Community Furniture Store and donated the two items.

A perfect finale to our Reverse Advent Challenge, which has seen us donate one item a day to someone who needs it more than we do, instead of opening a little door on a calender and eating a chocolate we've been decluttering our home and hopefully helping someone in the process.

Now all we have to do is hunker down in the warmth of the house ......

... and dream of what Santa might be bringing us.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and that Santa brings you the gifts of warmth, love and laughter, along with a few tasty treats and the odd tipple or two.

All the very Best

Sue xx

Rolling Around in the Loft

We're off for the day to work in someone else's house.  Well ours is almost finished and we'd get bored if we sat still ... so we volunteered to top up Mum's loft space with some more insulation. Lovely Hubby is gathering together his safety gear ....gloves, glasses and a mask and then we'll hit the road.

 

You've got to make sure your Mum is warm and cosy over Winter haven't you :-)

See you soon Mum. xx

Advent Challenge - Day 23

A little antique stoneware jar.  It's gone off to the charity shop already.  It hadn't been used since we moved here so although I liked it a lot it was obviously not necessary for me to have it.

Sue xx

It's Done Enough ......

It's done enough .... to use!!

The conservatory is done, decorated re-wired and cleaned up.  There are just some finishing touches that we simply couldn't get done in time for a big Christmas 'Ta Da', but we are extremely happy with how it has all turned out.

We spent yesterday washing done windows, frames and putting up the blinds.  The table was reassembled and put back in place.  Hopefully in a week or so the worktop will arrive that will match the solid ones in the kitchen, this will be cut to size and used to top the window sills which will then form a nice oak window seat that will wrap around two sides of the table, meaning that we will have no need of separate chairs.  The off cuts will be used to make two or three shelves on the left hand wall.

We want the space to look clean, crisp and as minimal as possible,  The rich tones of the wood will stop it from looking stark and cold.

The new up-lighters are in position throwing a subdued glow over the interesting slant in the back wall.

For now the freezer is back in it's former position and will continue to be there until the garages and workshop are built in Spring of next year when it will move outside leaving the space free for us to put our older sofa into, which will then be a luxury comfy doggie bed when draped with their blankets or pulled back into use for us if we need a 'party room'.

The largest dog bed is back in the corner and since this photo was taken has been made into 'home' by Charley adding her toys and favourite blanket.  The two 'bread' bins on the window sill still contain doggie treats and food.

Here we are this morning in daylight.

The lights hanging lowish over the table to give us a nice cosy space to eat in and it's a good job I came into the room when I did while the electrician was here ... he was about to cut the wires to make them normal height ceiling lights ... ooops,  I would not have been a happy bunny to come into the room and see them there!!  

We are really happy with the outcome of this month long renovation project, (although very thankful that it is all over) and today will be spent washing the curtains that divide the conservatory from the kitchen and cleaning up the kitchen.  This fine layer of builders plaster dust will be nor more after today.

At last we have our home back to ourselves ... our new improved home that is, and already with driving rain and gale force winds we have had over the last week we are noticing the difference both in terms of warmth and soundproofing.

And we would like to say a Massive THANK YOU to our builders Aberconwy Building and Roofing Services for a job done with expertise and careful attention to detail.  Steve, Mark and all the guys that have had input into the work have done a sterling job.

Advent Challenge - Day 22

Jamie Christmas Magazine.  Lovely Hubby bought this for me a few weeks back, I'll keep the free calender that came with it and pass the magazine on for someone else to read.

Sue xx

Everything Is All White .....

Everything is all white ..... the room has now been painted with three coats on the ceiling and two on the walls, the woodwork has all been sanded down and re-glossed, and the lights are being fitted.

Tomorrow will be the first 'ta-da', there is a little bit of work to finish off the windowsills, which are being topped with the same worktop as in the kitchen to make a bench area around the table, but that is on order and hopefully will be fitted in the New Year.

In the meantime it's white and at long last clean.  We spent yesterday scrubbing the windows and frames to get the spashes of set plaster off and now the room smells lovely.  Clean and fresh and ready, almost, for using again.

Ginger, the cat has been brilliant throughout all the renovations.  

Moving his dining area, which is always on top of the freezer so the dogs don't empty his 'eat when you want to' food dispenser, only caused him momentary confusion.  His bed was placed on top of the freezer too, just to give him somewhere he doesn't have to share with the dogs to sleep, although he usually chooses to snuggle up with Suky if it's a chilly night.

He ate and slept amid builders tools and confusion and didn't once get stroppy.  We are so lucky to have this totally laid back cat in our lives.

Here's someone you haven't met before ... this is Bertie, Charley's brother.  

We still keep in touch with the guys we bought Charley off, and Bertie's human Mum is called Lynette a workmate of Lovely Hubby's so we naturally keep in touch with her too,  and exchange photos of the pooches to see how they are developing.  Both are very confident, happy and content little dogs, this is what you get when you buy from someone who raises pups because they love raising pups and not just for money.  There are lots of similarities in the two but as you can see lots of differences too.

One of the biggest differences in Charleys life is that she is never alone, she has all the other dogs with her all the time and Ginger the cat too.  I don't honestly think she has ever been left alone for more than a few moments.

Advent Challenge - Day 21

A stencil I found in the office drawer.  I doubt we will ever need it again, but someone else might.

Sue xx

Cuteness Overload

I know you would much rather see pictures of  the continuing conservatory transformation (yeah right !!)  but today I couldn't resist sharing this lovely photo I got the other day of Ginger, Mavis and Charley tucked in together ready for a snooze on our bed.

I had gone to investigate when it had gone all quiet while I was on the computer in the office, it usually means trouble if it goes quiet!!

Rosy was asleep on the sofa, Suky had been at my feet, until I so rudely disturbed her by getting up and this lovely trio were keeping cosy on the bed.  Seconds after this picture was taken they settled down again and snoozed an hour away.

Makes a change a bit of peace and quiet in this house at the moment.

I'll be back tomorrow with the latest shots of the conservatory.  It's almost finished, yes the end is in sight .... thank goodness ... I hear you all cry!!

Advent Challenge - Day 20

A teach yourself Italian course.  I'm useless at languages, I will try to learn some Welsh one day but the rest have defeated me.  It's gone to the charity shop where it will hopefully raise some funds.

Sue xx

P333 for the Kitchen

I don't know about you but I love it when something captures my imagination and plays on my mind.  The other day I spotted this, a P333 for the kitchen.  Once again Courtney Carver has come up with something, so simple and yet that has the potential to be life changing.

See her posts HERE and HERE on her Project 333 Blog for much more inspiring information about this, thank goodness she is always on my sidebar, I would have hated to miss this.  

In a nutshell .... you choose 33 foods that you will eat (in any combination) for 3 months.  Then you can re-evaluate or move on with the seasons and vary your 33 items if you want to.  It means your cupboards will be streamlined, your shopping simplified and  you can get your health or diet on track by only including the foods you feel you should, or want to eat.  Anything that you use a tablespoon or less of ie. salt, pepper herbs, spices and oil you do not have to include in the 33 chosen items.  I can't wait to read about her thirty three ingredients.  I have yet to make a list, I've been dashing here there and everywhere today,  but in a quiet moment I will sit down pen and paper in hand and see for myself if this would work for me.

Maybe it's the cupboard being full of Christmas treats for us, our family and friends, maybe it's the fact that my freezers are both full to capacity ... well there have been so many meaty yellow stickered bargains to be had recently in the supermarkets I would have been mad not to buy them, as they'll last Lovely Hubby well into the new year and save us a fortune in the long run .... or maybe it's just that I am still on my quest for simplicity, but whatever the reason this really appeals to me.

Our Christmas starts tonight. 

 Lovely Hubby will be on his way home for the Christmas holidays in a few hours.  We still have things to do but we have already decided that we are going to make the most of these dark, cosy evenings to down tools at dusk, stop the household chores and once the chickens are tucked up for the night and the dogs have had a final walk around the paddock, the lamps will be lit, the games will be out and Christmas films will be on the television.  For now there is wine chilling in the fridge and nibbles waiting alongside it ... we might as well start as we mean to go on :-)

Advent Challenge - Day 19

A few bits and pieces that were in the cutlery drawer.  Maybe they will be of more use to someone else, I hope so.

Sue xx

Inside, Outside

Yesterday I showed photos from the outside of the conservatory, showing our posh new roof, today we are inside, and a good job too it's YUK out there.

It's all neatly plastered and almost ready for a couple coats of paint.  The decorator should be here later today.  Usually we paint everything ourselves but for the minimal extra cost involved this time we have the brother of our builder, who handily is a painter and decorator who will slosh around the white paint and do it for us as part of the renovation package price.

I spent most of yesterday scrubbing off bits of dried on plaster from the window ledges and skirting boards, and sweeping up and then mopping up all the plaster dust that had settled on the floor.

It's nice to see it looking clean at last.

Once everything is painted and I can have a final clear up I will have to start on the kitchen.  With the doorway opened up again everything is covered with a fine layer of plaster dust.  It will be a good excuse to empty all the shelves and re oil them and the worktops before putting everything back and decorating up a little bit for Christmas.

I'll be glad to see everything back in it's rightful place, as I think will the animals.  The dogs and Ginger have coped admirably with all the upheaval.  As long as they can find their food dishes, water bowl and a bed for the night it seems they are happy.

Advent Challenge - Day 18

A telephone answering machine, found lurking in the drawer.  Better for someone to be able to use it than for it to 'lurk' anymore.

Sue xx

In the Nick of Time

Our roof slates and ridge tiles are all in place now .....

... the Velux window arrived and was fitted in place.  Not as large as we would have liked but it's there so hey ho!!  And it all happened in the nick of time, as now the weather has taken a real turn for the worse with gale force winds back again last night and heavy, heavy rain.

Advent Challenge - Day 17

A German dictionary.  I doubt I'll ever want to learn German, in fact I don't know where this even came from, but I know where it's off to ... the charity shop with some other books I have sorted.

Sue xx

A Grand Day Out

On Friday I packed my bag, left the builders in charge of the house, jumped in the car, deposited all the dogs in the kennels on the way past and hit the road to Berkshire.  After a detour for a coffee and chat with Mum in Manchester, I once again hopped onto the motorway and headed towards my Lovely Hubby's weekday digs in Thatcham.

It was a weekend of eating out, and then on Saturday drinking Mulled Wine from vendors and exploring the lovely city of Winchester.

The Christmas market was in full swing, with ice skaters whizzing (and in some cases staggering) round the ice ... we didn't join them the tickets were all sold out (phew), but we watched and admired.

The cathedral is beautiful, under restoration in parts but truly magnificent.

The Christmas stalls were fitted into all nooks crannies and alley ways, making the place seem alive with interest.

I loved this little door tucked under an archway .....

... and this lamp high on the wall.

The place was bustling, but everyone was in the Christmassy mood so it didn't seem too bad, and of course with the sunshine shining brightly it lifted everyone's spirits.

We paid to go into the cathedral, and deep in the original crypt was this Antony Gormley figure,  ankle deep in water reading his bible.

And I had no idea that the writer Jane Austin was buried there!

After lighting a candle for Jessie and Dad we left the cathedral and went to visit the shops along the main High Street.

This wonderful 'statue' man was brilliant and gathered quite a lot of folk waiting for his next move.

Wanting a photo for the blog I thought it only fair to deposit something in his little pot.

Lovely Hubby obliged ... and got a heartfelt bow as thanks.

We had a wonderful weekend, it was just what was needed after all the busyness at work and building work at home.  Now it's only a few days until Lovely Hubby is home for his Christmas holidays and we can relax and cosy up at home.  I can't wait ... it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas.

Advent Challenge - Day 16

A pretty little tin that I just don't use anymore.

Sue xx

Hot Dog, and We're Plastered ......

Here's a picture captured on my phone the other night.  Apologies to my Facebook followers who will have already seen this as it happened.  

Charley has taken to sitting behind or under the log burner.  I don't know how she stands the heat, but it must get to her eventually as she wriggles her way out when she's had enough and joins Suky on the dog bed in front of the burner instead of lying on the slate underneath it.

She loves it and try as I might I cannot dissuade her from going there.

My very own little Hot Dog  :-)

And at long last we're plastered ... the windy few days we've had meant that work cracked on a pace inside the conservatory and the ceiling and sides were boarded out and plastered.

It's really taking shape now.

Advent Challenge - Day 15

A simple little heart shaped white dish.  I have a set of three one of which is almost the same size as this one, so it's surplus to requirements and has already gone off to the charity shop. 

 I've chosen to take most of my donations to a cancer charity shop in Llandudno.  It is the one shop that seems to have the least stock, a lot of the others are bursting at the seams with 'stuff'.

Sue xx