Blogmas, day 17

Good morning, you lovely lot!  We have a cold and frosty morning here and it is so lovely to see a bit of sunshine too.
Quick cold update - still not great and feeling rather low so I am mustering all the positivity I can find and counting my blessings after some very sad news about someone whose vlogs I always watch.  If you follow Kazza, you know what I mean.

Moving on . . .

I thought it was time to change the banner so here's the cross stitch I made during lockdown, I think.  I've only just had it properly framed (the frame you can see in the banner is a fake Paintshop one) and it looks great as part of my decor - well, I like it anyway!!  :-)

I changed my mind and did candy canes instead of Rudolph yesterday.  Rudolph is for today.  Then I only have two more pictures (two of each) and one stable in the middle and that's all the squares done.   I don't mind getting ahead and it's been such a help during this flippin' cold to have something to do that doesn't involve too much activity.

I can say the same for the puzzle.  All finished now and I will leave it on the board for a few days and start the other on on a tray.  When I break up this, I can more the new sections over.

I'm not a great puzzle maker but I've enjoyed this and you definitely get into the style.  Suffice it to say, forty eight pieces is enough at a time!!

Here's today's stuff.

A Ceylon cinnamon tea bag, a bath bomb, the candle in a tin, the puzzle (in the photo just for the number now), a wee pot of onion chutney (I will use that today) and a freebie sachet of Jo Malone body and hand lotion.

I love Jo Malone fragrances.  If I ever get the golden draw from Ernie, one of the first things I will do is go into town (on the bus, obv.) and stock up.
And pigs might fly!

Today's Advent of Change supports the National Autistic Society and it says:

Today you have helped and autistic child access their right to education by offering their parents the support needed to advocate for them.

https://www.autism.org.uk/

I'm afraid today is another nothing day.  I've cancelled personal training and will be pulling out of our girls' Christmas meal - but I will tell them to carry on, send me some photos and we can have another meal come the New Year.
We always exchange gifts, not a Secret Santa thing, nothing of any great value but it's just really nice.  I know none of them read in here so I can safely say that the fudge I made yesterday (it's delicious for such an easy Thermomix recipe) will be part of my offering along side some toiletries, a Sophie scarf and a few bits and bobs . . .

Two of the four of us have compromised immune systems so it has to be.

So it's more housework and whole lot of crafting, I think, plus updating my action plan as I made the cranberry sauce.  It wasn't too sweet, it was just right!

Have a lovely day, everyone, take care, stay happy and keep warm.  See you tomorrow.  xx

I've chosen a really nice, jolly carol for the Advent Calendar music today.  Kings College Choir singing 'Ding, Dong, Merrily on High'.  I could never manage the long line in one breath but altos don't have to!!

Nowadays I wouldn't even try!