Santa Claus is coming to.............Dobbies

Took Aimee and Murray to see Santa at the local Dobbies yesterday we arrived at 12.30pm only to be told there were no tickets to see him until 3pm. How to explain to a 5yr old that Santa has no space to see her......... her eyes filled up with tears and we tried to explain that Santa may be somewhere else waiting to see her but she was not up for that at all. This was where she saw Santa last year and where she should see Santa this year I never knew that you would be able to spend 2 and a half hours in a garden centre ........ Anyway our grandson thought the whole thing was a bit boring and slept through the meeting with the great man.

An awakened boy with his pressie

Santa digging deep


Having a chat


One happy girl

Oh Christmas Tree

I love Christmas

Two trees in our house this year plus a real one at the front door. I usually have clear lights on my trees. This year Aimee came with us to get the one for the front door she was helping put the lights on when she spied an old set of coloured fairy lights (think they are about 10 years old) she was so excited with all the different colours. So on they went and I have to say I love them my friend thinks it is because it reminds me of the trees when I was young (everyone had coloured lights and baubles) so there will now be coloured lights on my outside tree for many a year

This the tree in the living room (sorry not a very clear picture)

Christmas Tree number 2 in the hall think it looks cute

Sheepishly forward

Aimee took part in her first Primary School show one performance this morning and one this evening. Grandad and I went to the morning performance with mummy and daddy going at night. I did manage to hold it together with no tears. Aimee is a shy reserved wee girl who took everything that her teacher said on board. 'Boys & girls face forward do not look behind you and sit nice and still' she spent both performances facing forward and so still at times you would think she was a statue bless her. Mind you the fact she didn't do a runner when faced with a hall of parents is a miracle. I personally would like to say thank you to her teacher Miss Doig who has worked tirelessly to encourage and reassure Aimee both academically and emotionally in her first year at school WELL DONE

When Santa got stuck up the chimney

I have a small collection of 'Santas' that was started off many years ago when Colin brought me one back from Denmark also the one in the middle of the top shelf is from my most precious friend Maggie ( ouch as hard as I try she will always be Margaret to me ) The tree on the middle shelf is a cookie cutter from Holland how sad am I loving the fact I can display them all on my favourite kitchen shelf

STOMP RULES

The Mamie Rose girl stay the night on Friday we were taking her for winter boots. Now it can be very hard for a devoted gran trying hard to expain to a 5yr old that there might not be purple winter boots. Anyway her grandad and I were wakened at 4.30am asking if it was time to go boot shopping by 6.15 we gave up and got up had breakfast chopped up apple and banana for the girl (her fav) and lots of strong coffee for us. Off we went to STOMP our local kids shoe shop now emagin our excitment when not one but six boxes containing boots were brought out. The wee girl suffers from the 'wee' feet curse of our family I am 3-4 depending on the shoes and 2 DDs are the same. Aimee was was sooooooo excited her eyes got wider and wider as each box was opened only to find that each pair she tried on slipped off as her foot is so slim. The final pair being the purple ones AND THEY FITTED woo hoo. One very happy girl and one delighted gran. Only negative part.... the cost how can the justify the price of childrens shoes and boots they are made of Gortex so she should have dry little piggies all winter

THE RESULT OF WAKING AT 4.30 AM A SNEAKY SNOOZE AT 12.30

THIS GIRL LOVES PINK & PURPLE

A little bit of New England

Along with sitting in centre court at Wimbledon visiting New England is high on my to do list before I die. Anyhoo I love the New England look and have white furniture in the bedroom made these pillows to go with the 'new look' I created. Material is from John Lewis and the lovely heart buttons from wee local shop that sells wool, threads etc
The smaller pillow in place. Have had the quilt for a few years but never used it.

Other cushion keeping company with my 'teddy' which was my 1st Chistmas
present from my mum and dad I was 3 months old. If you press its tummy it plays Bramms lullaby

Love a bargin

I have been on the look out since we moved into this house (nearly 3 years) for a shelving unit that would sit nicely above the kitchen table. To be honest I always found them to be a bit too much on the cost side when they weren't quite what I was looking for. Hubbie thought there was not such a thing available.... oh yea of little faith....

Anyhoo at the weekend we headed off to Perth which is around 40 minutes north from where we live. ( We would love to retire to Perthshire). There is a wee shop called Country Affair that sells lots of cute and lovely things some new and some second hand. The shelfing unit was a whole £10 it was cream in colour. Had an enjoyable time rubbing down and painting it with a sampler tin of Jeff Banks paint. So the whole thing cost £11.99..... RESULT......

I love it and I have still to search the nic nak box up in the loft to 'dress' it further

Love a bargin

One more step !!!

One more step along the world she goesAimee started school today where have the last 5 years went.

Mummy and Daddy did really well..... no tears in the classroom

Our girl did good too went into the classroom found the table with her name on it sat down said

'I am going to draw a picture see you later'

Thats our girl!

I hope you see that according to Aimee one can't have enough pink things in ones hair!!!
Her Daddy thought she was a dead ringer for Upsy Daisy

When I asked her what the best bit was about school she thought it was when one of the boys was told to stop picking his nose !!!!!!!!

Baby! Baby!

Welcome to Murray Ross our new baby grandson born Thursday 13th August

at 14.20 weighing 6lbs 15ozs

Here is the boy himself

Having a chat with Grandad

Being admired by Auntie Shelley

The proud parents

Think my girl looks not too bad having given birth 18 hours ago!!!

Oh you pretty thing

My Aimee bead from A String of Beads me finks its very pretty.

My friend Margaret was telling me the other day that a shop in town has started to sell beads also another one is about to start stocking Yankee Candles. Used to have to travel or use the internet to purchase these goodies......

I am going to have to keep away from the local shops..........

A mother is someone who can take the place of others

But whose place no one else can take

This is my beloved mum who left this world a year ago today

Nothing much else to say except I miss her

Peg Bag

We have had heavy rain over the past few days a few sunny periods in between but I left my pegbag out in one of the showers so had to give it a quick wash and iron. Since it was empty I thought perfect time to take a photo. Got the pattern from the book Sewing In No Time by Emma Hardy.

Disappearing time

Minnie Mouse waving a favourite photo of the day It was Aimees 5th birthday on Friday and I can't believe she is five. It seems like yesterday that this little person who gives us such joy arrived in our lives. Time since then has just hitched-up its skirts and started running as fast as lightening . Time is such a precious thing and I could be doing with a few more hours in the day.

At the top of the 'big girls' chute that her grandad and I gave her

Blowing out the candles on her Caterpillar Cake

Snakes Alive

It is my toy boy hubbies birthday today he is 49yrs young. His best friend in the whole wide world (beloved grandaughter) made him a snake pot for keeping his jelly sweets in at the side of his computer. A boy can't have enough jelly sweets so I am told.
There had to be hats, balloons and party games which all the grown-ups enjoyed joining in with.

The girl 'helping' grandad open the snake pot.

China

My beloved wee gran is now 98yrs young and lives in a local nursing home. From when I was around 10yrs old she started collecting Royal Albert Old Roses china she loved it and it was housed in a large glass display cabinet in her living room. When she went into the home I received quite a few pieces but when my mum died suddenly last year I received the rest of it. It brings back so many memories as every christmas or birthday my Abido (grandads pet name) always gave her something to add to her collection. I have some of it on display in my kitchen and try to use the dinner service and tea sets as much as I can. Anyway yesterday I changed some of the pieces around with ones that are packed away in the loft. I will never be able to part with it it has too many memories. Think it looks not too bad even though it is displayed in a kitchen

That special something

When our DD1 was pregnant with Aimee Colin was quite sure that he would not be effected by becoming a Grandad. At that time he ran a business and spent the majority of his life working abroad. Then Aimee arrived within 2 years he had scaled down his business and since then we downsized our home so we could be mortgage free Colin has went back to college has done a HND wound up his business and starts at Stirling University in September to do a teaching degree. Amazing how that one special person born nearly 5 years ago has changed our lives completely. Aimee and Colin have THAT SPECIAL SOMETHING the photo shows them having one of their wee 'chats'

Before the noon pick-up

Aimee had a sleepover at our house last night. She usually goes back home around noon. Today before mummy picked her up we went to feed the ducks and swans at the local reservoir.

Check out the red nail varnish

The swans are huge

Colins not too sure

I love my girls blue eyes along with her wee spock ear

(grandad has one just like it along with the blue eyes)

Butterflies and Spots

Firstly where do the days go? Days just seem to run into one another with no breathing space in between. I look after Aimee when mum and dad are at work. Mum works part-time in a local school so is lucky enough to have school holidays. She is also about to start her maternity leave too. I thought I would have some extra time for crafting.......well thats not happening.... I seem to be finding plenty to do but not exactly what I thought I would be. Anyway managed to do Aimee a wee door stop (not the clearest of photos) it is just 4x6 ins and looks as cute as anything. The colours are very Aimee and match her room brilliantly.

Camera Shy (in her dreams)

Aimee showing off her Fathers Day Outfit. This girl used to be camera shy.

No one comes close with regards to 'Best Friend' Grandad as far as Aimee is concerned

Mind you Grandad feels the same about her

The 'Family' Wedding

Colins cousin Joyce got married yesterday a lovely day was had by all. This was very much a family wedding by that I mean a union between Joyce, Mark and their long time coming son Andrew. It was a delight to see Joyce so happy I came into Colins family over 30 years ago and Joyce was just a wee girl, I remember her playing at being a mummy with her dollies. It has taken her over 35 years to get her wish and I am so glad for her Mark and Andrew
Two of the most special people in my life
Hubby Colin and Eldest daughter Shelley

The Runaway Bride

or

The Bride running to the loo

The Sewing Bug

I have got the sewing bug back although I don't have a clue where I will find the time over the weekend. The above material arrived today. The brights on the right are for a peg bag for myself. The pink cutie stuff is to make a door stop for Aimee. Her bedroom door keeps swinging shut which is a bit of a pain. Anyway rather than waiting for it to be 'fixed' granny will try and solve the problem with as little fuss as possible.

Nesting

I spent the early evening making these curtains for my grandsons nursery (he is due to meet us in August) Anyway my usually calm organised daughter has suddenly turned into a demon.... her poor hubby has had to move his study out of one room into the smallest, paint both rooms, build a new desk and basically try like a bear to keep my 'nesting' girl happy. This weekend consists of a family wedding, a Take That concert, fathers day and building nursery furniture oh and a few skip runs. She finishes work next week (school holidays then goes on to maternity leave) but would like everything done yesterday. This is her 2nd pregnancy but is reacting totally differently and feels the whole pregnancy has been so different. Roll on the weekend .... busy..busy.. busy

Takes our breath away

Aimee Rose Paterson our grandaughter. She leaves nursery school soon and will start school in August. Her mummy popped into see us last night and brought a folder from nursery full of Aimees 'work' and a report on how she had developed since starting nursery. We are all very proud of her. Anyway one of her drawings was to be to of her favourite people who did she draw.... her gran and grandad....Boy did that take our breath away and brought tears to our eyes. We have became two of the biggest sofites since she came into our lives. Bless her

Charlotte Martha Forthingham

Here she is

Full of unconditional love

Pretty Little Things

My twin neice Anne and her husband Steuart had a lovely baby girl yesterday. She was born

by C-section weighed 7lbs 8ozs and is called Charlotte Martha Fotheringham. Her middle name

is after my mum her Great Gran who passed away in August last year. We will hopefully meet

her in the next few days. I just had to go and buy something 'Girlie' ........so sweet