Blogmas, day 15

Good morning, all.

Well, I was so glad I didn't attempt the RAH yesterday.  Not many aches, etc, no dizzy head but, oh, the coughs.  My poor, aging pelvic floor took a right battering, I can tell you!!  And I was done by the evening!

However, I did eat healthily pretty much all day for the first time in over a week so I'm very happy about that.

Now I just hope I throw off the symptoms quickly because I have two things on this week, both of which involve people with fragile immunity, meaning I will pull out if there's the slightest uncertainly.  Fingers are crossed. 

I also managed to get stuff done.

Lindsey's sourdough dough decided to go-slow so I left it overnight to do a proper rise.  I'm baking it in a tin so over fermentation won't be a problem.  

I caught up with the washing and, while I didn't actually do the ironing, I sorted everything out.

I made three nutritious meals.

I cleared and cleaned the kitchen - and promptly messed it up again!  C'est la vie!

And I didn't have a daytime snooze.  Yay!

Now I have addressed the reason for my closed other blog in comments, I would like to thank Melanie and June for their kind words about it.  I didn't do that blog for comments but when you hardly get any, you just wonder . . . and the spammy stuff was worrying, as, indeed, it is designed to be to scare your money out of you.

And thanks to the rest of you for your concern re. this cold.   I have such a lovely community here and I'm so grateful.

On to festive stuff.

I redid the baubles.  They may not look any better in the photo but they do in Real Life.

I put some squares together.  Goodness, what an eyeful.  Sunglasses needed!!

Seriously, it looks better in real life again but I have decided they all need another row of the 'gold' - tedious, but I do have the time so let's go for it.  And, going forward, maybe the granny squares should be all one pattern?  I'm pondering that one as it is doable.  I can use the others for something else.

Good use of colour has never been my strong point.

Today's Advent collection is:

the puzzle

the tea light in a tin

the tea bag - Energise Me, it is called.  I need energy!  :-)

a wee pot of raspberry jam - I am making buckwheat pancakes for breakfast to use it.

a bath bomb

the blanket and the cross stitch

. . . and the Advent of Change which, today, supports Farms for City Children.  Immersive farm experiences for children who have spent their lives in big cities with very little, if any, exposure to the countryside.

It says:  Today you have helped a child discover the countryside for the very first time

https://farmsforcitychildren.org/

On to today and . . .

Here's the dough!  Very, very alive having more than doubled in size overnight and can you see that bubble?  Over-fermented doesn't begin to describe it and it would make grand focaccia!

It's sending up bubbles like a witch's cauldron, the oven is heating up as I type and I will need a collar around the loaf tin to stop it from getting a muffin top.
Goodness knows how big the holes will be!

I have cancelled circuits this morning.  Yes, I am a wimp but the coughing is genuinely causing a few pelvic floor issues and I don't want to take the risk.  Lindsey was very sympathetic and this block has been the pits really, what with the earlier virus and now this cold.  Fingers crossed that it will be loads better in the New Year.

So I'm stuck at home but the house is a tip, downstairs needs a good clean and it is not a Kay-week this week, there's ironing, a bed to change . . . oh, all the stuff I neglected last week.  I'm hoping that getting my environment in good nick again will rub off on my mood.  I am sure it will.
I will put on my Christmas playlist (made using what I put in the Advent Calendar below) and that will jolly me along.

When that's done, I have Game of Wool and two episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea to catch up on, as well as various YouTube offering.  And the crafting.  And making healthy meals again . . .

Have a great day, everyone and, again, thank you.  You are all much appreciated.  xx

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I think I need something jolly and bright for today's Advent Calendar music so I am going for the fantastic Mike Oldfield version of In Dulci Jubilo.  It makes me want to dance.

And, because I always do, here's a complete contrast, the gorgeous Pearsall version of the same carol, edited because the link I posted was blocked for some reason.  Sorry if you've already tried and fingers crossed this one works.