Just getting ready...........

to go out for New Years Eve - party time !! And I got to thinking that somehow however old you get , a girl still takes so much pleasure from shoes and bags ,
well I do anyway .And if those little items have been acquired without spending lots of money well one can be just ectastic and then also rather secretive as you dont want to divulge to too many people the location of these little "aladdins caves " that have been discovered .
Anyway I hope whatever you are doing you all have a very Happy New Years Eve ..and I will look forward with much anticipation to blogging my way through 2012.
And that is without a resolution in sight !!!

Christmas Eve

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring - not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care ,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.................

"Clement Clarke Moore "

The picture is of a Crystal cave in Skaftfell National Park in Iceland
absolutely stunning isn't it .

Now how lovely....

Its dark and cold outside - yes - well it is winter.
But inside its like a summers day thats just how such beautiful fresh flowers make it feel .And the pleasure is only intensified by listenting to some more new music - Rebecca Ferguson fabulous soulful voice and the new release from Amy Winehouse , what a talent!

Christmas is coming......

today I attempted an alternative Xmas Tree - a few twigs , baubles and some lights
what could be simpler , nobody told me how long it would take for said twigs to look
naturally placed and as for baubles et al it was several hours before I was satisfied,and, now I am complacently sat in the warmth of my living room feeling that the effort was worth it and I am pleased - remembering though that beauty is in the eye of the beholder!! Oh and my real living Christmas tree is left outside in its natural habitat with the addition of some sparkly blue lights which strategically cover some of the stark branches which appeared to moult somewhat after their neglectful owner failed to water them enough in the summer months !!
Whilst all this was taking place I was listening to Andrea Bocelli now I have never really listened to much opera before but believe me I am now a convert his singing moved me to tears - absolutely stunning .

Weekends..

so looked forward too and then they seem to just vanish in a flash ! Saturday was full of glorious sunshine and then Sunday was a collar up against the wind and drizzle sort of day ! It somehow sparked into my head a fab little song by Crowded
House called "take the weather with you" - you can keep the sunny picture in your
head and sing or get immersed in the bleak and miserable - we all have a choice .
Walking round the room singing
Stormy Weather
At 67 Mount Pleasant Street
Now its the same room but everything's different
You can fight the sleep but not the dream ...
Everywhere you go always take the weather with you ,
Everywhere you go always take the weather .

Anyway several pleasurable hours were spent baking - and
today was Carrot Cake - a special most delicious even if
I say so myself cake just sweet and moist enough and elevated
to 4**** standard by a great frosting .I will post the recipe
at some stage but for now I am moving on to make some filo
pastry mince pies - just hope there is enough room in my freezer !!!

The snowman picture is from the German Markets in Manchester do go
they are sooooooooooo good and Gluwein is very warming !

A Weekend in Paris

Its dark and cold outside , so , the curtains are closed the heating is on and I am
warm and cozy as I catch up on my blog - have had a busy couple of weekends but they
were Oh so pleasurable ! Visited Paris for the first time and like so many others I fell in Love - must return in the Spring to take a advantage of the longer days and
perhaps a little more sunshine. However packed in lots of sights and of course some
gourmet food and wine ! Tried to do some pictures old and new in attempt to do the city justice .......