Foggy and Festive

 Hello Lovelies, how was your week? I've been looking forward to popping by and chatting with you again.

Once again this post is a mix of things that have ended up caught on camera since we last spoke.

The weather has been quiet cold and sometimes foggy, as it was last Tuesday when I went for a rather soggy walk.

There were only glimpses of the watery sun occasionally, but I actually love being out on the footpaths in weather like this, so I didn't mind. I'm still recording my mileage and hoping to reach my new goal of 1100 miles by the end of the month....45 miles to go, as of today.

Winter brings flocks of birds into the fields near home, and zooming in gives me chance to identify them.

I'd say these are Starlings

and these are hungry Redwing, come to feast on the Hawthorn berries.

I do love the quiet peace of this scene.

And happily enjoyed my solo walk.

When I got to the churchyard Mr Robin appeared immediately 

All fluffed up against the cold and damp, keen to refuel on the sunflower seeds and suet pellets he knows I carry.

I was watching him from a distance here, when I noticed movement in this ancient yew tree.

Not the best photo, but I was so happy to see this delightful Goldcrest darting about between the branches. They are so small and cute. As this was my first sighting here this was the highlight of my walking week.

On the way home I spotted this sign which also made me smile. Yes, I'll be doing my best to stay safe this Christmas, and hoping to make up for missed opportunities later next year. 

This is not a great photo but it is inside Eldest's van. He's been driving for 3 years now and I love being a passenger these days. You get such a great vantage point from van windows and it's a great place to chat about anything and everything uninterrupted. In these days when there's little reason or incentive to go anywhere accompanying him on a work errand feels like a major adventure :0)

  

Back at home the birthday cards and banner have come down. I knew I would miss the banner so I decided to make a festive version. It uses the same Attic 24 Pennant pattern 

and this time I designed my own lettering as I wanted it to look like a handwritten quote.

Once I was happy with how the paper letters looked I just had to cut them out in white felt.

The snowflakes are once again  from Attic 24,  HERE's the link again.

I made these using some cotton yarn and the smallest hook that I could get away with so they fitted.

 I'm so happy with the completed banner.

At the weekend hubby and I went for an evening walk to admire the decorations displayed in our local streets.

They certainly cheer up the long hours of darkness 

Back home our outdoor lights are making me happy too.

And just yesterday, when it was so rainy and dark I never set foot outside the door at all, I made another bit of festive crochet.

Yay, I love how this Merry Mushroom turned out. I think I may have to make some more as gifts:0)

You can find the free pattern HERE.

Thank you as always for reading and especially for commenting. I do hope your week goes well.

Jacquie x