Melting from the heat, yet still Counting down to Christmas 2025 (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

OK, so you all went on a bloody posting frenzy!

Can someone add the countdown from today to make it easier tomorrow? Thanking you!

*HairsprayBabe *

We went to Aldgate , Oxford Street and along to Berkeley Square

12,000 steps so pleased but achy now

Same here!

I want a nice Autumn Wreath this year , just something pretty but restrained .

And a load of candles (LED for safety) I could put in the hall on a timer .

I have many velvet/fabric mushrooms and pumpkins of all different colours and sizes, a welcome sign and an autumnal pumpkin wreath.
I have led fairy lights in my fireplace year round.
I've just bought a lovely maple scented candle 🕯
I have these out from September to the first Sunday of Advent when the Christmas 🎄 decorations go up 😄

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I am knackered but my brain is awake still . I'll have some water and dodder along up to bed in a minute .

I do have a wreath that goes up at Easter swampwitch , flowers and yellow lemons (so more spring but still looks nice as Easter )

This weekend I'll shove DH out in the garden to weed the borders and DS can help me shampoo the carpets . He's good at the boring back'n'forth with the Vax .

Today, I am going to the farmers market and visiting my DPs before we hit the road back home. Thursday turned into an almost full day of work, although I was able to manage some on my phone and get to the city in the afternoon. (Where I was avoiding Chapter and Verse, until I had to go to the chemist opposite for DH, so had a wander and restrained myself to a large packet of safety pins and 6 buttons for DNiece cardigan, that I need to finish urgently when I get back to Belgium as we had her birthday party on Thursday evening).

DH is revisiting the “where will we spend Christmas” conversation - he knows we realistically need to be at home for DD training, but he really wants to come out to me for a break as well. So I don’t think I can book my flights yet.

We got back from holiday yesterday so I’ll be doing washing/putting stuff away and doing a food shop today.
Also trying not to pull my hair out as we’re having work done on the house so there’s a fair bit of cement dust and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

I’ve never done seasonal decoration but I’m thinking of starting - just swapping a throw and cushion covers for autumn and spring (I have Christmas ones that come out in December).

Im also going to add a pumpkin or 2 in October as having LO means we should probably not ignore Halloween like we normally do.

I already have candles for every season as people keep buying them for me. And I alternate the plant pots out the front, with flowers for summer, something green /red for autumn and winter then daffs for spring.

I have lofty ideas of crocheting the throw and pumpkin but as I still haven’t finished my single cross stitch Christmas card yet (and I started in March), I don’t think that’s very realistic 🙄

We are at the gym this morning, then DS is going to install the shelves he has built for the BBQ. All DH's griddle shelves and pizza cooker are going there out of the garage.
Later I need to dry brine the 5kg brisket I ordered so DH and DS can smoke it tomorrow ( and probably Sunday as well).

That sounds yummy, @GrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick.

Meeces, good luck with the washing and surviving the dust!

We got up late today, so we've only just finished breakfast after I took the dog out.

I need to mow the lawn today, and I need to finish tidying / sorting the kids' lounge as well bloody Lego everywhere!

I'm very tired today, but I've had a busy week at work covering for people who are off and preparing for my week off next week.

Ugh.
I seem to have yet another sinus infection 🤧
So, not much planned today.
Dh is up at pils helping with their garden.
Older dd going with him to "supervise" 😄
I'm going to sort out all the xmas gifts I've already got under my bed (August is a good month for sales and usually better than any black Friday deals..)
Then sort out dds birthday gifts - I need to buy gift wrap.
Couple of loads of washing and thats me done for today I think!

Oh!
Are many of you "crafty"?
Dd is really struggling with a dress she has promised to make for a friend...
Its a Vogue "very easy make" (!)
Too late, we read the online reviews for the pattern ans everyone struggles with the top section...
Help!

This is the pattern

Bit of a random one but our personalised stockings are looking well in need of replacement and we are unable to purchase matching for new baby and the sizes are different now.

can anyone recommend somewhere for a decent size personalised stockings that are decent quality.

I had to replace my dds last year as I can't find the ones they've had for years 😫
I got grey knitted ones with a personalised wooden disc with their name on from next of all places!
Only about £15 each iirc

Aha thanks I’ll have a look. Yes that and I need 7 I’m keen to keep that cost affordable 😰

Today I started some spiced pear vodka. We have some windfall pears from the garden so thought I’d put them to good use.
The spiced pear vodka is really nice in lemonade or as a dash in some fizzy wine at christmas.

I’m toying with the idea of making some marmalade gin again this year. I think the recipe was in one of the poncing threads either last year or the year before. Delicious stuff.

I like neither marmalade nor gin, so I'll have to trust you on that, @DanceWithYourBalloon!

i have some home grown apricots in brandy ready for winter. I don’t like brandy, but comes in handy for presents

Looks nice Dancewithyourballoon - I managed to get enough sloes to do a batch of sloe gin when I get back to Belgium (I have space in my case to bring a takeaway container of them).

It’s feeling autumnal here with leaves falling and I am back to school soon. I have Christmas vodka infusing and crab apple jelly put away. I will probably get the throws out soon and start lighting candles in the evening.
I have started buying gifts and feeling my Christmas mojo returning (it went walk about during a couple of tough years at work).

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Morning! Beautiful day today.

I'm having sporadic internet connection after getting a replacement Virgin Median hub 3.0. Thought it would be as straightforward as taking old one out, plugging new one in and connecting to the new network but looks like we might have to re-pair the wifi boosters. If anyone has any experience of this please let me know. Grrrrr.......

Going to be sorting out school uniforms and buying some 6th form shirts for DS (no uniform but "smart casual").

Then maybe a bbq later. Happy Bank Holiday everyone.

Morning!

It actually looks like nice BH weather for a change! ☀️ Before the rain comes on Tuesday!

I still need to get DS' trainers and stationery sorted. He hates trying stuff on, so it's torturous.

Thanks for the reminder @NoWordForFluffy - had totally forgotten new trainers needed!!!

Thanks for the reminder about school uniform. Got DS to try his blazer on and it's too small. Ordered a new one, so expensive 😢
Edited to say, I had hoped he would get his last year in the old one

No more school uniform for me!
<happy dance>