It’s been so long I can’t remember the last time I was able to post anything.
What I have been doing is keeping up with the wonderful, feisty people I follow. Boy, there are some fighters out there. Awesome individuals who I am so pleased to know.
On my part I haven’t been writing as I’ve been really busy getting ready for visits to family. That is – making, organising, assembling Advent Calendars for my four grandchildren: A = 13; I = 11; O = 6; H = 3. The two oldest have an Advent bag each filled with packages numbered 1 to 24. For the two youngest I’ve made calendars and filled the pockets with gifts or, for larger items, put in numbered cards to be exchanged for their parcel.
Here’s me sewing and crocheting the two ‘calendars’ with the finished articles.
My grandson’s calendar has a pictorial ‘key’ to follow. He may be six but he can follow instructions for Lego aimed at 16 year olds so I don’t think he’ll have a problem.
It has been great fun to do. Alongside the making and buying I’ve tried to consider the kind of toys / activities that will keep them amused and busy while their parents are busy and that won’t require parental ‘input’!
I hope to be posting again soon. I have been exercising my creative side for quite a while now. Ideas for blogs are pushing to the fore and, basically, I need to write.
But first I need to bottle the lime pickle I’ve made … and finish pickling the shallots.
Oh, but I have some jewellery design ideas …
marilyn unmasked 
What a thoughtful grandmother you are. Your grandkids are blessed to have you.
Thank you so much. I love doing things, so I feel it benefits me as much as them! But I admit it gave me a great buzz when the older two called me Marvellous Marilyn / Groovy Grandma!! Even as a child I preferred to buy gifts than to receive them. Anyway I saw the idea and thought it was a super way to spend the Christmas Season with them even though we are hours and hours of driving away. With global warming eating away at the planet it may be even less likely in the future to be able to travel any distance at this time of year. That was a bit serious at this hour?? Perhaps it’s because it’s late, or maybe because I was just about to pickle the shallots when I found that the metal lid of the pickling vinegar had corroded and is now at the bottom of the jar. Doh!