Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 51

Just a quickie today. This left-hand typing is tiring. But there is not long to go now to the big day, and only one more week of blogging before we move into 2024.

The village lights are looking pretty. The LED lights really do sparkle. We have Christmas trees in our street this year. I braved a chilly night to step outside and take these pictures. As you can see, they start a few meters up from us, and are repeated at regular intervals all the way up to the top of the village.

Then outside our house there is a telegraph pole which holds the first of the golden angels, and these are repeated regularly down to the end of the road at the bottom of the village.

I made an interesting cake this week. The recipe was sent to me so I thought I'd give it a go. It was basically 500g of mixed dry fruit soaked for 24 hours in 2 and 1/2 cups, (American cups), of chocolate milk and around half a cup of Baileys (cheap Lidls version). The next day you add 2 cups of S.R. flour, mix well and turn into a lined slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours. I should have known it would be a bit odd with no fat or eggs, but it really didn't hold together very well and is decidedly 'puddingy'. That said, it smells and tastes great, so we ate some warmed with custard/icecream, and no doubt we will have more soon. It was a big mix and I can't waste that much dried fruit, so I have put three big helpings in the freezer to make sure it stays good until we are ready to eat more.

Yesterday afternoon we got out a couple of crates and picked the oranges that hung over our wall from next door. The house is empty for most of the year but someone may turn up next week to pick the ones on their side. But they were starting to fall each time there was a little wind and I couldn't just let them all spoil, so I  will be eating some and juicing the rest over the next few months.

So all that is left is for me to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas. May youir homes be filled Joy, Peace, and Love. 

See you all over at Annie's Friday Smiles in the morning.

Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 50

Well here we are at week 50 already. I have had quite a busy week though I only have a few photos to show.

On Sunday my friend Ann popped in on her way home from church and brought me some Christmas cards from my friends there.

We finally managed to finish putting up our decorations. I have only used about half of my usual ones but it still looks nice and cheery. Of course our tree is my favourite bit as it has so many sentimental decorations hung on it. Look closely Annie and you may spot one of your little dolls hanging there. The second one is round the other side. I must have had them for a few years now. Certainly since pre-brexit when we were still able to post such things freely without worrying about import duties etc.

My Willow tree Nativity has pride of place above the fire, and so far Leo hasn't jumped up to investigate it. But looking around many of my decorations are hand made. I have a lovely cross-stitched angel inside a gold star that I sewed and framed while I was still living in England, a red and green crocheted mandala, an intricate cut nativity shadow box, and this year my new macrame wreath and shooting star light box. But I still really love my "white Mary and Joseph". They must be around twenty years old now but every year they come out. I was inspired to making them after watching a demontration of some beautiful crinoline ladies being made at a craft show at Birmingham's N.E.C. They are formed on a wine bottle with a chiken wire and newspaper ball stuffed in the neck for the head. Then they are covered with strips of cotton (I tore up a cotton sheet bought at a charity shop), dipped in polyfiller and left to dry. They are very hard and white, not needing to be painted etc, and they have certainly withstood the test of time.

On Monday we waited in for a parcel that didn't arrive, but on Tuesday it came early, and then we wandered into town and sat outside a little street cafe for a coffee and it was nice to be out of the house for a while. 

On Wednesday we were up with the larks as I had my hospital check-up. The appointment was for 9.00, but then they messaged me to say I also had an appointment at 8.00 for an x-ray. The hospital is about 40 minutes drive away so reluctantly we had to set out at 7.15. Normally neither of us drive in the dark now but we had no choice, and it was just fully light by the time we arrived. The consultant was lovely. He explained that it was a bad break because as well as going round the arm it went up into the ball that goes into the shoulder socket. He said that although it would be painful, I must start moving it a little each day, or I would never move it! He gave me some simple exercises to start with, and said I could ask to see him again if it still very painful after another three weeks. He took my sling away and said it was not good to keep using it, but I persuaded him to give me a new one to wear at night, and I did wear it when we went to do the big supermarket shop this morning, mainly so that I was less likely to get knocked. So it is a long slow journey, but I am beginning to do a few small tasks around the house, but no lifting at all - doctor's orders.

I have just put another set of books on my Kindle as I am reading a lot while I can't do my usual hobbies.

I have two lovely sky photos to finish with. We have had such a lovely week with early afternoon temperatures reaching almost 30º, so we have eaten our lunch outside most days. But the evenings draw in quickly and I just felt this was such a lovely peaceful dusk.

And another evening the sky raced through pinks and purples before fading away, and I was able to catch this moment on camera.

So now it is time to get this ready to link up with Annie's Friday Smiles, and publish it in the morning.