It's That Time of Year

I love Christmas, I love the preparation and the decorating. I think I have as much child like excitement now as I did when I was young, in fact now that I organise my own Christmases, I think I have even more!

We always put our decorations up when December arrives. It used to be done by the elves while we slept and Imogen would come down the next morning to a winter wonderland, looking to see where the elves and put everything. Now she's a bit older (sob), the elves don't come, but it's still as much fun doing it together.

We treated ourselves to a new tree this year, one to go in the dining room/snug. I choose a white one like we used to have when I was a child.

There isn't a great deal of room, so it's a nice narrow one. It looks gorgeous with all the lights twinkling, and these photos really don't do it justice at all.

Also new this year is my little nutcracker, a smart little fellow who makes me smile.

All the Christmas trimmings are out, lots of candles and fairy lights. The candy canes hanging from the mantle piece are stocking holders for Christmas Eve.

One of my favourite decorations is this small fireplace with it's stockings hanging down.

Here's my dish full of yummy, colourful chocolate coins.

I have been doing some crochet too, though not with much of a Christmas theme. Here's my parrot.

The light isn't very good,the colours are red, oranges and yellow, nice and bright.

He has long tail feathers that drape behind him.

How are your Christmas preparations coming along?

Take care
xxx

A Parrot Zoo

Thank you so much for the lovely comments about my dressing table, makes a girl feel good!

I haven't much to write about this week, it's been pretty quiet as Imogen as been ill all week and off school. It was a struggle to persuade her to stay at home because the school rewards 100% attendance with end of term trips and she didn't want to miss out. She dragged herself in on the Monday and felt awful, so we had to put the proverbial foot down on Monday night and say no more. I think she was actually relieved as she ended up spending the next 3 days sprawled out on the sofa surrounded with boxes of tissues, throat soothers and heat sacks for her ears. Getting better now, back to her usual self I'm pleased to report.

In the summer we had to drive through Lincolnshire to pick Imogen up so thought we'd make a day of it, picked Adam up and on the way back went to visit a Parrot zoo. I hadn't heard of the place and it's always good to go somewhere new.

It was quite tucked away, but still quite busy. So many birds in one place...

Bit photo heavy, but there were so many... I found the noise of all the screeching birds bit much outside some cages, but others were a pleasure to behold, flying to the grill to take nuts from your hands and even striking up a conversation with you!

I love African Greys. We did have one ourselves, but we rehoused her after she took a strong dislike to me after falling in love with my husband, the hussy!

Such intelligent birds. It was sad to see some of the ones that didn't look as healthy as others. That's why this place is so amazing though, it's a sanctuary, they rescue birds and keep them until they can be safely rehomed or they stay there for the rest of their lives

 'The sanctuary, the largest it's kind in the world, was founded in 1994 and opened to the general public in 2003. It now houses just under 2,000 parrots as well as a growing array of other exotic animals all of which fall victim to the pet trade, such as Lemurs, Meerkats, Coatimundis, Giant Tortoises and much, much more...' (from their web site here)

Don't you think he looks like the leader of his gang, coming to check us out while the others stay back on the perches.

 When we went in we bought some bird food at the kiosk, different types for different birds. I think the best part was when we passed through the open aviary and had birds sitting on our shoulders and hands.

This little one tugged at my heart strings, it had a bad foot, but was so friendly. I felt quite privileged to have it sit with me for a while and nibble on a piece of apple.

 There were other animals there too, we saw lemurs and the cutest little family of meerkats as well as Giant Tortoises.

 And fluffy, friendly and very relaxed looking Tigers (fluffy and friendly behind their glass of course)

 It was a lovely visit and I recommend it. If you don't like the idea of birds flying around you, you can miss the walk through aviary and stay on the other side of the grilles. Surely something that saves the lives of so many beautiful creatures has to be an amazing place.

Take care
xxx

Introducing...

Some of you may remember that we had a terrible time in the summer, losing some of our beloved canine babies over a very short period of time.

We've snuggled up in an evening with Honey and Gary

Gary

Honey

 Lovely as that is (and it really is), we felt something was missing. Though no dog can replace another, we felt we needed some more noise in the house.

So here's Alfie... another Chihuahua

and Imogen's baby, Penni... a Lhaso Apso

 Yes, this is a very dog heavy post, full of pics of our new babies

The house is noisy again, there are mad races around the house, and it's a fight to get a comfy seat. There are times when for example a new rug was peed on twice within the first 5 minutes of it being in the house (if you aren't a dog lover, I'm sure you'll be wrinkling your nose by now) that causes big sighs of frustration, but they're babies and are worth it (have to remind hubby of this sometimes when his cleaning up).

Little did we know the house was going to get much noisier anyway...

Our parrot Phoebe, who was happily saying 'hello' to everyone, is now screeching out hubby's name at the top of her voice.

I thought this was quite amusing at first, so after Phoebe shouts out 'Andreeeeewwww" it's now followed by a small laugh, then 'c'mon good boy', which before you wonder, is not what I say to my poor husband, but the dogs... really!!

Take care
xxx

Finally Finished...

Yes, I finally went back to my very first piece of crochet (Granny Squares), the ends were sewn in and I made a back for it, crocheted it together and made a cushion cover.

I'm pleased with it, in fact I think the colours look so bright and pretty in a large square like this, that I've decided that I prefer this side as the front.

I used some pretty ribbons to do the opening up (in a house with pets, you need to be able to wash the covers).

I think someone may be feeling the need for some attention (must be something to do with all this puppy palaver). My crochet hook was lying next to me one minute... then it was STOLEN...

I ended up having to bribe with monkey nuts to get it back. Maybe she wants me to teach her... or maybe she just likes bright colours :)

Before I scoot off I must share my wonderful news. Imogen had braces fitted a few weeks ago. There was much unhappiness and a couple of return visits to have them tweaked and bits snipped off, tears as she told us how she would rather have crooked teeth than a brace, it was very sore at first. One of Imogen's front top teeth had grown through at a right angle... and is now perfectly straight already! She has such a beautiful smile crooked teeth or not, but I know she is thrilled. Braces will have to stay on for a while yet, but what quick results!

Take care
xxx