{Green Day 24}

If you go down to the woods today be sure of a big surprise...

 come on now and don't be shy...

that's better,

now we can see lovely you! 

I have a very short post for you today and the reason for this is because the letters on the left of my keyboard have died 

so when I type "are trees green"

it comes out as "a tres grn"

you would honestly think I had 6 glasses of vino in me when posting

so a bit of a nuisance

so please excuse my lack of commenting and posting this week

fingers crossed I will get it sorted soon.

****

Anyway I hope that you are all well and staying warm and dry.

The weather here has been very cold and frosty

with horrible icy roads in the mornings

I am like Miss Daisy driving to work

 I trudge along really really slowly

as I am so scared of skiding

(yesterday a tractor overtook me)!!

****

I have the results of the giveaway for the Christmas ornament

1st prize

Karen from My Little Home and Garden

and

2nd prize

Victoria from Tangled Sweetpea

If you email me your details ladies I will post as soon as possible.

Thanks to all who participated

well done to the winners and commiserations to the people who weren't picked out

but there will be another giveaway after  Christmas so maybe next time!

Knitting...

After all your lovely compliments on my shawl/ I bought some wool and have started again

I really enjoyed the last one and when it finished my fingers were itching to give it another go

so hopefully this new knit will turn out ok...

Lovely Jennifer from A Well Styled Life has tagged me in the Sunshine award...

These are the questions she asked...

Who is a style icon for you?

This is a really difficult question to answer as there are so many stylish women
women who  dress really well and have oodles of style and panache
 I tend to dress in what suits me, trends that flatter my shape, colours I like
and I think that I have a fair idea of what works.and what doesn't
afterall I have years of experience!!!!

Can I name my style icon - No

What is your favourite cookbook?

I have shelves and shelves of cookbooks

I very rarely use them but they do look pretty in the kitchen.

any cookbook by Rachel Allen would be a favourite of mine

her recipes are simple, easy to follow and delicious

so always a winner!

What is the best book you read this year?

I think the best book I read this year was "The Island" by Victoria Hislop

I really enjoyed it. 

I'm reading "The Lost Wife" at the moment and that is a pretty good read too!

What one cosmetic can you not leave home without putting on?

Only one!!!!!

I never leave the house without makeup, never ever, ever!

I would scare away small children, old people, young people,  animals ....

But I suppose  if I had to chose one I would pick lipstick

as I would feel naked without it!

What is your favourite moisturiser?

Every day - Liz Earle

Pay day - Clarins

Some day  - Creme de la Mer

Thanks Jennifer for thinking of me.

I am not going to tag anyone today

but if you would like to take part it would be lovely to read your answers.

Well it's Friday and so it's Green Day

The usual rules apply...

Thank you to all who participate I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do

Raindrops and Daisies

Bedroom Actvities & other stories...

 I'm tired and it's all due to sleeping with Mr. Raindrops

He is a snorer,

a  bad snorer

and
this week he has a cold which makes him even worse

He's driving me crazy

I have tried everything

but

the snoring continues...

I bought earplugs this week

but  I'm afraid that if I wear them

I won't hear the alarm clock in the mornings...

People must think we have a fabulous time in  our bedroom

the walls shake

the lights flicker
the windows  tremble

the floor moves
but the truth is

Fiona is awake and exhausted
while
he sleeps like a baby....

✴✻✵✴✻✵ 

Weather wise it's been a bit of a disaster here,
rain, gales and a lack of  sunlight
I managed a couple of walks in between the showers
and it was lovely coming back,  having cups of tea, and enjoying HOME

Linking to Mary at Little Red House

Knitting...

Remember this

well now it's this.....

and after all my worrying it looks fine

my daughter even borrowed it the other evening as she was cold
so it can't be too awful!

I am embarrassed to tell you this

but

I am so bad at knitting that

I had to google how to change the yarn when the ball ran out..

oh dizzy ditzy dopey me...

anyway it's done and I enjoyed doing it
and might even do some more!






✴✻✵✴✻✵ 

I still have one hydrangea plant in the back garden

still flowering, still lovely

it must be in a sheltered spot that misses the frost

because the ones in the front garden look like this!!!

I brought some into the kitchen to dry

 and they are looking pretty nestled beside my onion jar.
My Nana bought me the jar years ago
it was the last present she ever bought me as a couple of weeks later she died
so even though it is cracked and chipped. old and worn (a bit like myself)
I treasure it.

the roses are almost gone but I do have one or two around and about...

Well as the weather is wet and miserable even the poor horses are wearing extra layers!

I spotted this handsome fellow in the back field all tucked up for the day ahead!

On the bookshelf...

while it is horrible outside I am staying warm, snuggling up and reading

In pre-war Prague, the dreams of two young lovers are shattered when they are separated by the Nazi invasion. Then, decades later, thousands of miles away in New York, there's an inescapable glance of recognition between two strangers. Providence is giving Lenka and Josef one more chance. From the glamorous ease of life in Prague before the Occupation, to the horrors of Nazi Europe

Two lovely blogging friends,

Bonnie from Living Life and Lynne from Irish Garden House recommended this book recently

Both Bonnie and Lynne have great blogs

and are definitely worth a visit

thanks for the recommendation Bonnie & Lynne,

 it really  is a good read...

Giveaway

 Going to put the names in a hat and get Teenager Raindrops to pick a winner

Thanks for all the entries.

I will announce the winner on Sunday

and post the prize early next week.

✴✻✵✴✻✵

Well it's Friday and so it's Green Day

The usual rules apply...

Thank you to all who participate I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do

Raindrops and Daisies

Green Day 22 and a Giveaway....

I hope that your week is going well.

I know that I am really looking forward to the weekend

to relax, laze about, drink tea (and maybe a glass or 2 of red)

read magazines

and just enjoy a little "me" time,

in between all the housework that needs to be done of course!

A woman's work is never ever done....

********

I went for a walk on Wednesday and saw this lovely guy. 

He got up quite close but I moved away quickly when the rest of his family arrived

squalking and squeeking and following me about!

I'm afraid of big birds and ducks and swans or in fact anything that has a beak and is bigger than a robin!

He did look nice though!

a quick reminder about the Giveway...

don't forget you have lots of time to enter and this little pretty will look great on your Christmas tree!

see HERE for details

and so for

{Green Day 22}

Well it's Friday and so it's Green Day

The usual rules apply...

Thank you to all who participate I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do

Raindrops and Daisies

A Knitting Project and a Giveaway

My week has been quiet, nothing much happening apart from the usual domestic drudgery!

Lots of laundry to be done and of course the sock fairy seems to have been busy

 as I have more odd socks than pairs!

***

The good  news is that eldest son has got a job at last.  
He graduated in September and I was wondering if he would ever get something, 
but alas he has and we are delighted for him.

It is lovely to see him dress in a suit, shirt and tie each morning instead of his usual tracksuit bottoms and jeans

and better again - he has money - 
so no more Mum's bank
happy happy days

***

Crafty me - oh no, I'm not!!

I love visiting crafty bloggers, full of wonderful creativity, beautiful photos, magnificent colourful works and homemade items

and so I thought this week that maybe I would start to knit again and I too could post photos of my fabulous project...

but heY hO, NO!

  I'm afraid it's not going to happen.

I picked up the knitting needles during the week and started a shawl, well it's supposed to be a shawl and even though I have followed the pattern every step of the way (well as best I can) it looks more like a scarf than a shawl and so not a huge success so far.

If it is a shawl it would just about fit a 5 year old, 

a very very small 5 year old...

dearie, dearie me I'm hoping that when I cast off it might look a bit better. 

but I am  thinking to myself

 "that's the end of your knitting phase Fiona"...

but if any of you know of any easy peasy patterns,

 maybe you could point me in the right direction?

 

Giveaways...

I have been one of the lucky winners of  Ellie's giveaway.

Ellie blogs at Feltabulous.

She has a lovely blog and I am so glad to have found her. She makes great jewellery and cakes and here is my lovely prize

lucky lucky me!

 ♥♥♥♥♥

 

and talking of giveaways I think that it is time I had one of my own.  

I said that when I reached 250 followers I would organise something

and so now the time has come.

Being perfectly honest I just can't believe that I have over 250 followers. 

 I never in my wildest dreams thought that anyone would want to read my silly ramblings, but there you go, you are all obviously as bonkers as me!

The bonkers bloggers that's us!!!

The giveaway prize I have to offer is this silver Christmas tree ornament 

handcrafted here in Ireland and from from Newbridge Silverware. 

 

To enter the giveaway, you must:

* be a public follower of Raindrops and Daisies

* leave a comment on this post saying that you would like to be entered into the giveaway

*to be in with a second chance blog about it, post about it on your Facebook page or wherever (just remember to let me know)!

I will pick a winner sometime before the end of the month

so that you will have the decoration 

in time to hang on your Christmas tree in early December!

 

  Have a lovely week and don't forget to get your photos ready for Green Day on Friday

A cake, a candle and cosy comforts...

 Now, I'm not a fan of the month of November
it's cold, it's dark and it's dreary
but here are some of the things that I am enjoying this month
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Baking

Irish Tea Cake

I have been baking a lot more now that the weather has turned cooler

This is a great recipe and goes a long way-

Half pint of cold tea

1 lb dried mixed fruit

8oz demerara sugar

4oz chopped walnuts

4oz glacé cherries, rinced, dried and quartered

1 large egg beaten together with 2 tablespoons of milk

1 lb self raising flour

Prepare the fruit by soaking overnight with the sugar in the cold tea.

Next day, 

stir in all remaining ingredients

 spread into a well greased roasting tin approx 11" x 9"

Bake in the centre of a pre-heated oven (150 degrees fan)

for approx one hour 10 mins or until golden brown and springy to the touch

I usually cover the top with foil (but that is probably my oven)

Cool on a wire tray

cut, spread with butter and enjoy.

I ♥ fruit in my pretty pink bowl

having a little taste of the mixture before popping it into the oven

and best of all eating it with lots of "real butter"

and cups of hot comforting tea!

Y U M M Y

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥

 hydrangeas

the last of the flowering plants in the garden

any day now they will be hit by heavy frost and turn black

so

I have taken some into the house

so that I can continue to enjoy them for another while at least

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 berries, berries and even more berries

The garden is full of them and they are so pretty...

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Warm fires at night

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥

a glass of red 

or 2

or 3

or maybe even...

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 cosy clothes

I bought this snuggly snood

 to keep my neck warm during the cold weather

it goes perfectly with my cream coat...

♥♥♥♥♥♥

candlelight

I have been super duper organised this week and started a little bit of Christmas shopping 

I bought this Max Benjamin candle to put into Mum's Christmas stocking 

Max Benjamin Candle

but 

I was very very bold

because on Saturday night 

I removed it from the box just to have a 
tiny sniff you understand and before I knew it I had it lit and the smell was beautiful
oopsie

will have to buy her another one now!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

and it's getting a lot like Christmas here

with the shops starting their seasonal displays

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Another award

this time The Beautiful Blogger award

from my friend Jill

Jill has a great blog Chillin with Jill and is  a lovely blogging friend,

pop over to visit her and you won't be disappointed.

I have to pass this award on and so it goes to

 Marcia from A Little Shop around the Corner

Daphne from Ivy, Phyllis and Me

Karen from My Little Home and Garden

Val from Val's Alentejo

Ayu from White and Roses
Natasha from Made by Natalia

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Good News- the painting is finished at last...

Mr. Raindrops and his assistant

Mr(will help -if I really have to) Teenager Raindrops completed the lounge,

 went on to do the hall, stairs and landing

and thankfully it is all done now!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

{Green Day 21}

Well it's Friday and so it's Green Day

The usual rules apply...

Thank you to all who participate I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do

Raindrops and Daisies