Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Christmas tree blues

 

Seeing all the beautiful Christmas decorations and trees on display in blogland reminds me I have to get cracking and get on with decorating my home too.

This year I will be putting out very few Christmas decorations mostly my Christmas tree front door decoration and a few other bits because I won't be staying at home this Christmas I shall be Christmas House sitting at my SIL's villa. 

I shall not have a Christmas tree of my own this year. 


We retired our 32 year old Christmas tree (seems so callous to say I threw it out after all it has been a Christmas fixture in my home for so long...that is daft isn't it...but!) last year and thought we were going to buy a new one this year but then I thought I might as well take advantage of my SIL's beautiful big tree that they always put up each year. After all I am going to enjoy it more than my SIL’s family as I am going to be staying there Christmas Day includedπŸŽ„. My SIL, my nieces and nephews and their children my great nieces and nephews are all going away for a short trip over Christmas and it isn't good to leave the houses empty particularly over the Christmas season even though there are Security guards patrolling the complex! We will alternate between homes of course and Sr P will stay at our place and I will stay at my SIL's with my daughter and grand-daughter. 

We will be there for several days keeping an eye on the place and caring for Torka their Spanish mastiff who is far too big to come to our apartment.


Spanish Mastiff...Google image

Torka isn't quite as big as this mastiff in the photo above. Torka's head comes to the top of my legs but she is still a big girl. I am not sure how old she is but she isn't young. She is though a gentle giant at least with the family members, I haven't seen her in action when a stranger rings the doorbell at the gate as yet. My SIL usually has to lock her in her kennel before she opens the gate. She is always happy to see any family members and rushes down to the gate to meet us. Sr P has to stand in front of me though as Torka gallops... yes... gallop is the appropriate word to describe it, she ain’t a dainty lady by far ! I am certainly not afraid of dogs far from it as I have always had cats and dogs as pets but Torka does get rather over enthusiastic about greeting people and is inclined to jump up. I am no squirt by any means but she nearly knocked me over once. I think she is gorgeous! As I said a gentle giant because she is very loving as well and very obedient.  She is also bilingual as I speak to her in English and she does sit when I tell her to and will come to me when I call her and looks at me and leans on my leg (pretty heavy lean by the way) when I chat to her.   
OK!  I can guess what you are thinking it isn't a question of which language you use but the sound of your voice ...of course πŸ˜€


Torka




Crochet 

I haven't much to show you this time as I am just finishing off a pair of fingerless gloves to send to my sister in the UK . My next project will be another baby blanket. I really must start very soon.  This time it is for my niece who lives in Queensland, Australia, her baby is due next March. This is a very special baby ... a surprise babe!  My niece has had to undergo several operations over the years and it was understood that she could not have children of her own but ,lo and behold, Mother Nature will have her way! What a wonderful surprise for them after all that she has been through she is now expecting a little girl. They are of course ecstatic and I am so happy for them.

As they are animal lovers (horses, ducks, dogs, cats, parrots etc) I thought the following pattern from Repeat Crafter Me would be nice for the blanket.


It won't be in these colours
 though as my niece has sent me a photo of her nursery and I'll be following the colour scheme they have used there. The nursery is also full of soft toys, all animals, so I think this blanket will fit in very well.



REPLIES to comments on my previous post completed πŸ–‹




Happy Blogging


Amanda :-)



24 comments:

  1. Super pleased for your niece, really wonderful. She’ll love that baby blanket it’s so sweet.

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    1. Many thanks. I am so happy for them and of course they are thrilled. Due in March so not far away at all. A x

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  2. You're so right; big dogs DO gallop!

    What a darling blanket.

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    1. She's a big gal for sure LOL. I have just started the blanket and even though I say so myself it is looking good! A x

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  3. Torka looks like a real sweetheart. I find most big dogs are very lovable giants.
    That is such a cute baby blanket. It looks like our puppy, Zoey. Congratulations to the parents to be. How wonderful for your niece that she'll have a baby. It sounds like she's due about the same time as our new granddaughter is. We're very excited about that too.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. I can well imagine you are looking forward to the happy event as well Betsy. I am so thrilled for my niece and her husband. They so deserve becoming parents as they have had to put up with so much due to my niece's operations. It is like a wish come true! A x

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  4. That is a lovely blanket design - looking forward to seeing your version :) happy Torka sitting!

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    1. I have just started the blanket although I shall have to put it to one side already as I forgot something Christmassy that I have to make for a niece and nephew. A x

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  5. I hope you enjoy your time with Torka. The blanket pattern is so sweet!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. I am looking forward to taking care of her. It will be nice to be out of the city for a few days. A x

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  6. Enjoy Torka Me a bit afraid of dogs but love from distance lol
    How wonderful for your Qld niece ❤πŸ˜€

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    1. Thanks for popping by Wendy. Torka's size is a bit intimidating but she is really a big softie. I reckon she sees herself as a little dog as she tries to cuddle into you LOL! A x

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  7. Torka is a beauty!
    A new baby in a family makes everyone feel younger and happier.

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    1. Very True! All the family are talking about nothing else. I am so thrilled for her. A x

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  8. I would LOVE to have a dog like Torka, but I think a little furry somebody would have something to say about that. LOL

    Wishing you a very enjoyable Christmas. Staying at your family's house would be like a mini vacation.

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  9. Hello Dee...Yes the little furry someones do have lots to say...sometimes they can be very bossy. My sister used to have a toy poodle called Misty who used to boss her Labrador around something awful. She was the Queen of the roost LOL. A x

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  10. What a lovely dog and how nice to be staying at your SIL's villa over Christmas it sounds lovely. I have actually put my Christmas tree up for the first time in I think six years! I will be having company this year so I'm so excited the tree had to go up. Congratulations for your niece what wonderful news, I'm so happy for them, my daughter has been trying for a baby for ten years and I am always hoping that the same will happen for her. That blanket is lovely, I keep wanting to try a c2c with a design but I'm not sure if I would be able to figure it out. Sarah has so many beautiful designs on her blog I must give one a try maybe for my next grandchild, I have just heard that little Mikey is going to have a little brother or sister and I can't stop smiling haha. Have a great weekend. xx

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    1. Hello Linda,Thanks for calling in. Basically C2C stitch is easy as I am sure you have found that is so. The tricky bit is the constant changing of colours and keeping the count of each section of colour. I have drawn diagonal lines across Sarah's graph to not miss or mistake each number of C2C squares per colour. As it is I have had to frog a part of it due to a mistake with just one C2C square...grr! On the positive side the blanket is growing fast and looking nice. Congratulations another grandchild on the way...lovely New Year gift! A x

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  11. Glad you'll have company when you're villa sitting over Christmas. It sounds as if your family is growing with the wonderful news from your niece. A special baby indeed and I know you will enjoy making the blanket. All the very best to you all.

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  12. Many thanks Linda.It was wonderful news! They so deserve becoming parents as they have had to put up with so much due to my niece's operations. I am thrilled for them! A x

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  13. Oh You must be very appreciated for pup sitting

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    1. I think I am going to enjoy taking care of Torka. It is like adopt a pet for a day in this case several days :-) I miss not having pets. A x

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  14. It was about time you threw away that Christmas tree ,New Christmas tree, New Year , New Year´s resolutions

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    1. I will get a new tree next year. It is hardly worth it considering I will be enjoying SIL's tree. A x

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Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)