Is there anyone still there?????

Hello? It's me. Remember? I'm still here! I've just seen that this is only my second post this month, which is pretty poor....but it was either post or finish....and the finishes had to win, for obvious reasons, that close to Christmas!
Did you all have a lovely Christmas? Or lovely time, for those who don't celebrate it? Mine was the usual round of eating, eating and eating...and just when I think I couldn't squeeze in another crumb, I go ahead and open a box of chocolates. Oh well...I suppose I could claim that I needed to make back the calories I lost due to a rather unpleasant tummy bug just before the big day. I'll spare you the details; suffice to say that it's one of the "perks" of working with children-the little darlings share EVERYTHING!
On a huge plus point, I followed Gordon Ramsay's advice, on what to do with a turkey. I'm not a major turkey fan (and had indeed tried to convince The Husband to try something different...to no avail) as I tend to find it a bit dry, no matter what I try. Now, I realise that most of you probably sail through Dry Turkey Syndrome, but you must remember that I am Cuisine-ally Challenged. So, following Gord's example, I spent a rather unpleasant 20 minutes pushing a buttery mess underneath the poor creature's skin. The turkey, not Mr Ramsay. The next tip was to let the bird stand/rest for the same amount of time that it had cooked. This bit was scarier than the buttery mess bit.....leave the turkey to one side for a full 3 hours????? Well, I did it (fully prepared to sue if my Christmas Dinner was ruined!) and it was the BEST THING EVER!!!! I had an oven free to pop in all the extras and trimmings, without the usual Krypton Factor style puzzles as to what could go where....and the turkey was moist and tender. Mr Gordon Ramsay, I salute you. I am converted.
As for other Christmas Day excitement, my darling children gave me a glue gun. A beautiful pink one. I know that I have survived for nearly 48 years, without needing one.....but all of a sudden, I NEEDED one. I don't even have any particular projects in mind.....I just couldn't imagine further life without one! Watch this space!
And now that the Race Against Time that was my lead up to Christmas is behind me, I've found time to whip up a small (36"x36") quilt top for a friend's new baby boy......

I used the pattern from Camille Roskelley's book "Simply Retro", which I've used before. It's so effective and comes together quickly and easily.....just my cup of tea. Talking of which....I feel a brew coming on, so I shall love you and leave you.
Thank you for popping by, and hopefull I'll see you soon. xx

A Race Against Time.....

.....and I'm edging ahead! I'm not saying I'll win the race yet, but at least I'm now in with a fighting chance!!
A lot of busy-ness (and some VERY late nights!) and I have an order finished before the deadline....

The remit was "squares and she likes blue".....I think (and hope like billy-o!) that this fits the bill. The photo was taken in a bit of a rush this morning, as we were late for a football match (Heaven forbid!) so it is more blurred than usual.
I also managed to get a birthday present finished. It's only a lap quilt, but I have it on good authority that the recipient likes this fabric. I have no idea what it's called, as I've had it in my stash for a while. Maybe it didn't have a name....Norma-No-Name fabric.

When I say "finished", I obviously still have to hand sew the binding down, but as yesterday morning it was still in fabric squares, I don't think I've done too badly.

Thought I'd give you a close up of the fabric and quilting detail. Just because.
I have been doing other sewing too, but am unable to show you just yet, as it's for other's gifts and they could just be lurking in the shadows, taking a sneaky peak. I'm lucky enough to have six birthdays to buy (make?) for in December, so what with those AND Christmas gifts, you can imagine just how nimble my fingers are having to be. (That sounds quite virtuous...but they're the only part of me being nimble! The rest of me is still doing reasonable sloth impressions.)
Also today, I had a huge tidy through, sorting out fabric, putting it away in my drawers and cupboards, hoovering and dusting....catching up on all the chores that had been put aside so that I could sew. While I was on a roll, I decided to decorate for Christmas. This is a grand way of saying that I've put fairy lights and candles on most, if not all, available surfaces. I couldn't say "I've put the Christmas decorations up", as this year I simply couldn't face the whole unwrapping ornaments, clearing stuff away to make room for said unwrapped ornaments....only to reverse the whole process in a couple of weeks time. I'm sorry to sound like a huge Bah Humbug...it's very unlike me. Normally, as soon as I see that sparkly, red Coca Cola lorry wending it's way across my TV screen (Holidays are coming...Holidays are coming...) sometime in the middle of September, I'm there...all geared up and raring to go. Sadly, not this year. Still, the house is all of a twinkle and a glow, and looks reasonably festive, so it's better than a slap in the face with a wet fish, and maybe (just maybe?) I'll be bitten by the bug just in the nick of time, and I'll jump to my usual Santa's Grotto-ish-ness!
So until then, I'll bid you farewell and get on with finishing that binding. Thanks for popping by. xx