Time...

...flies when you're enjoying yourself!!  Well when you're busy it does!

Lots of markets and fairs have passed since my last post.  We had great fun at the Hare Fair in Docking at the end of September.  It was in the church and Nicola Hart had worked hard in making all the stalls so pretty.  Others have not been so good, and my regular days at Docking and Swaffham have been good to slow, but I think everyone is checking their pockets these days, so I'm not surprised.

Back to the Hare Fair...hare bags, cushions and prints were favourites and I came away with all the hare cushions and bags having been sold.  I do have a couple of hare prints still, along with a variety of hound prints.

But I've been busy with orders, like the Mum and daughter set below.  Made from Annabel Grey's beautiful fabric, a little bag with purse to match mum's.  A cushion is now available...  Various colours of a my hand--knitted scarves, either frilled or fringed....more fringed on the way.

Christmas is beginning to loom on the horizon with shops having cards and decorations on sale.  Hand made bunting on sale and to order, along with decorations and gifts...

I'm at Docking Market on Wednesday...but there is no market on Friday at Swaffham, we have to give way to the Art Show, but all back to normal next week.

It's cold...

...it's wet and it's 4am. Woken by my shoulder pain, the clock said 2:59am, so I came downstairs, found the painkillers and am typing with my right hand.

I've read my football teams website, and our interim manager is staying through the "Festive Season". I'm not sure he feels very festive, if he knows that'll be it! But, it gives him some time to try to raise the team by the boot-straps....for they certainly need something inspirational. Maybe a few supporters in the dressing room would help....and I've just realised the cricket has started again...(please wait whilst I tune in!) There...cricket peace has come to the world.

I read through some of the blogs I follow, and some I dip into...it's always fun and interesting to read what others are up to, where crafters are showing, and how this world of artisans knows no borders. I'd love to get to a fair in Brooklyn tomorrow, and find a flea market in Los Angeles...view a painting exhibition at a car show room in the Netherlands. I might get to that craft sale I spoke about a couple of weeks ago. It's the last weekend of the craft, though the Christmas shop is open for the rest of the period.

We brought home our tree yesterday. We always have a real one, and now it's waiting to be decorated in the sitting room, and as I can't touch it, it'll have to wait until tomorrow...unless my husband's home early today. I also want to take down a unit in there, move the sofa over, and a cabinet my paternal grandfather made. I'm not sure if it's because things have been "on hold", while we were trying to sell, but I've become restless about homemaking, and now it's been decided life must go on...so the furniture moves, at least! And when the rain stops, and the sweep has been (we've had a rook family living in one chimney), I'll collect some ivy and holly from the garden, and make my other decorations...I use it to decorate the stairs, tables and front door.

And now I need a cuppa...

My call...

...came on Monday. It seems my viewer decided they liked our house, couldn't say anything against it, location, house was all okay, but they'd decided it didn't have "faerie dust".

So what do you do? Do you do as is supposedly right, and take some of the personal accoutrements out, so they can "see" the house, or leave those touches in? Of course, I'm making the leap that's what they meant, that for them it didn't have that little extra...but, they're buying a house...not my faerie dust, they need to discover their own, their magic...their touch of genius, that makes a house their home. I hope somewhere they find their dust for their daughters...

Tuesday, my car had to go to the garage for an "adjustment", something minor could fail and could I bring it in. Duly it was delivered and I took the time to walk into the nearest town, Bishop's Stortford, something I don't do, as it's ten miles from my home. I looked at all the Christmas decorations filling shelves of the beautiful home shops the town has, and imagined where they'd go, but at present I feel as though I'm in limbo, not quite here or there...oh, I know I'll be here for Christmas now, but I want to be making another house my home...Don't get me wrong, I do love my present home...but, it's run its course, and having decided to move, I've been letting go emotionally to it, and am now set ready to go. When I left work, they made me a gift of some book tokens, and on visiting the local chain store, I found a beautifully illustrated and written childrens book, but I'd forgotten my tokens...I'll have to go back...I'd also forgotten to put my little notebook in my bag, so now I have no idea who the books author and illustrator is...but, I know exactly where on the shelf the copies were... And I really must walk around my village more...I used to...but, it's changed.

Wednesday...yesterday, it was Mum's birthday, and I went to visit. She lives on the edge of London, and Kent. A borough which is neither one thing or the other, and during the summer I'd told her of a Lavender Farm, and their open day, which my sister took her too, as I was in Northumberland. As I'd never been, we decided to go...I was a little disappointed, but did buy some Lavender shortbread...my, but they're strong! We found a local hostelry for lunch...and if you're ever in Ightham, then I can recommend the food and service in the George and Dragon. Both are excellent. While out, I had a call from our agents, they'd got someone who'd been let down with their purchase at the last moment, and were exchanging on their sale next week. They were moving from Sussex, to be closer to their daughter who had moved into town...Saffron Walden. They had seen our details and wanted very much to view...was I home that afternoon or Thursday morning. Being seventy odd miles from home, I said this morning would be best. Ten minutes later I had another call...the prospective viewer had looked on a map and we're not in the right place, being eight miles from "town". Now please work that out before I get all excited....my emotions can't take this up and down... I keep telling myself it's only a house move, and not a death or worse...but, as I've said...it's limbo... Oh! And I've picked the paint out to renew the kitchen...you do have to keep living.

Today...this morning...I'm mixing the Christmas puds...best go!!

Enjoy your days...