The New Year's New Broom and some Christmas gifts

Before they get forgotten in the bustle and hustle of the new year, here are some special gifts from family and a friend.  I had admired this beautiful chunk of Labradorite when Tam was showing me that and similar stones on Fleabay.  I was amazed when I unwrapped just the piece I had loved so much, and it has the most amazing power.  It is said that crystals choose you - or rather, you are drawn to them because of your physical or mental needs.  This one is good for lung function and it really does seem to help when I have it near me for an evening.  The colours remind me of our river, which has a particular blue which comes from the slate bedrock, and browns and golds from shallows and sparkles in the quartz rocks on the riverbed.

Just one of the 12 days of Christmas which I saw on a blog and fell in love with.  I am waiting for a quiet day to get started.  Gabby also gave me this lovely pile of felts to use, and the beautiful yarn.

I was trying to line these both up, but no, they
don't want to!  Anyway, big pack of felt squares for my Goose-a-Laying, and a ball of gorgeous wool to play with.

Danny gave me this posh DAB radio, with the words "Perhaps you will be listening to something other than just Radio 4 now, as it accesses a lot of different channels".  I fear he knows me too well, but although it is currently tuned to Radio 4, I have been exploring!

A joint present for Keith and I from Tam, who hoped it may mention the family who lived in this house, and rallied to the call and fought for Henry Tudor at Bosworth.  In fact, one of them was made Esquire to the Body of Henry VII, so he must have helped appreciably to further his cause.  It's a brilliant book, chronicling Welsh history from that period, especially West Wales and Carmarthenshire.

And again - not side by side, but you can see two lovely books from my dear friend Gay, who knows my taste exactly!  She just buys what she would love herself (or already has) and knows I do the same for her!!  We have been friends for nearly 50 years now, so it's no wonder we know each other well.

The little pussy cat pin cushion was a surprise gift from Keith and came wrapped in a shoe-box so no way could I guess the contents!  He also bought me the pewter shoe pin cushion behind it at last week's Fleamarket.  I hope I'm not starting another collection . . .

Finally, we were given some money as a gift, and also had a good fair last week, so we indulged ourselves in some new bedding.  Having redecorated our bedroom, I wanted bedding which wasn't pink or deep red (bought to match the old decor).  Wish I could afford the matching curtains too, but that's not going to happen - this was enough of an indulgence!!

As for the New Year's new broom - now I have my Hospital Appt. behind me, I am feeling more positive and energised, and have made a mental list of what I want to achieve before the house goes back on the market - of course, this includes yet more redecorating, but that is an ongoing process in a house this size.  If the weather allows, I need to get busy out in the garden too, before it all gets away from me when the pollen arrives.

I am also going to turn the long bedroom (5) into my craft room proper, so the bunk beds will have to go so I can put a long table in the corner for cutting out on,  pinning etc. where there is good light from the Velux window in the roof.  There's another the other end, but the door opens out onto that area.  I bought myself two storage stacks from Aldi today - they have 4 pull out trays so I am organizing my small crafting bits into those so I know just where to look for things.  The crafting items in the corner cupboard in the sitting room are now gradually travelling upstairs.

I'm also going through the Junk room to turf out all the bits of china we haven't sold in the past year or so and doing a few car boot sales and what doesn't sell will go into auction.  I want it to look much tidier and open in there, without piles of cardboard boxes of STUFF!

Right, it's a start anyway.