Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

That's a smidge over 31%.

gallygirl

That is superb AM, well done :T:T:T.

apple_muncher

Thank you gally! Don't think we will meet the self-imposed MFW date of= 2 years from now, but I'll keep on trying.

School is finished for me. Phew. Tomorrow is the proper last day, but I don't work on a Friday, so....not going in.

Tonight I have made 5 felt initial letter hanging decs for next door. Those plus a slab of brownie will suffice this year. Also made some for the people up at big sister's - another 5. Just a few more things to wrap for them, then I must post the boxful off.

Dd's 2nd sock just needs sewing up and she can have a pair.

greent

Fab achievement on the mtge, am! And amazing organisation and spends on the Xmas pressies!

x

apple_muncher

From the expert of exemplary organisation of multiple children + respective educational establishments, I take that as a huge compliment - thanks greent!

Dh is off for day 2 of his training and he'll need to pass an exam today.

I have read the thread: LOW COST homemade Christmas gifts recently, and am now going through it again with a notebook so that I end up with all the present ideas in one place. I'm also adding in my own ideas.

And I've had a peek at Easter chick ideas on goggle images... hoping for some easy felt ones, as if I do a table at dd's school's Easter chocolate extravaganza, I need to make enough to cover the £20 table easily. Last year I did creme eggs + knitted hat = £1, or knitted chick (no egg) = £1, and of course I took my bunnies along too.

This morning has greeted me with a stinker of a cold - my teeth hurt, my neck aches, my sinuses are playing merry havoc, my snot production is in overdrive, my throat is very sore and my eyes sting. Welcome to the first day of my Christmas holiday!

apple_muncher

Another batch of brownies just cooling - not because I ate the last lot, though, but rather because I think that in my head, I have allocated the 3 servings I have to more people than that!

Felt owl for dd's teacher done.

Felt hanging letters (4) for a friend + family done.

Dd's gifts wrapped with the FREE wrapping paper we rescued.

Dh's too, in a different FREE paper. (Rescued 3 1/2 rolls)

A 'thank you' attended at dd's school this morning, and had carols sung to us by the y5s - lovely.

Sausages acquired (gf and ys, no less) for dss + his gf's visit tomorrow.

Whites wash done; floor swept; some tidying done.

Big sis + family's box filled, sealed and addressed, but not yet posted - suspect PO is the more costly way, so need dh on the case.

Fairy cakes made with dd, plus the aforementioned brownies, and dinner (sausage stew thingy on the hob) is bubbling away already.

And it is not even 6pm. Go me!

apple_muncher

I was mulling over the title of this month's nst challenge: a pared back Christmas. I think that is what we have here.

The majority of presents we have for others were either already 'in stock' here, or already made, or easily made from my craft stash. Dd's presents have been bought over the last few months and dh and I both supplied the majority of our own presents. I think the most recent money spent has been on my sister's family. And they deserve every penny.

The tree is in the house and decorated, so the presents can pile up nicely.

When asked what she wanted to eat for cmas lunch, dd replied that she didn't know; but that she would love a cheese toastie for breakfast!

I have made peppermint cream 'snowballs' for dd's HT. Will put into a little kilner jar that I have and add a slab of brownie to it.

Dss + gf came for lunch so we have now had all the presents for dh's kids leave the house.

My cold is still a stinker - I am grateful for balm tissues.

Time to get dd in to bed...

greent

Hope you feel better soon, apple - thankfully you have a few days to recover before Xmas xx

earthgirl

Yes, go you Apple!! Sounds brilliant Off to take action now..you have inspired me!

apple_muncher

Big sis has drafted a letter to the solicitor; dh has amended it a little, to make it clearer in some areas for someone who is coming to our situation with no prior knowledge.

Fairy lights are up and twinkling away. I didn't fancy tinsel this year.

Went to dd's Carol service at the local church this morning (tis a beauuuutiful church, around in the Domesday Book times) which was lovely.

Finished making the final present (until dd decides someone else needs to be given one...).

Dh took 6l of uht milk to the fbank for me - shamelessly coping greying here.

Made choc-covered pretzels for dd, and choc-covered brazils for friends. Also attempted a snickers slab but it was tricksy, so not one of my best. But I've only done 5, so it still falls comfortably within my 'top 10' slabs ever.

Tomorrow I have the opportunity to meet up with some ex-colleagues plus a current one. Am not sure, as last time I did this, the first one to arrive was one who I really did not want to talk to and the next one only arrived 10 mins later! Plus they are meeting in cafe rouge and I'd prefer pr3t/sbux where I only need spend £1 on decent coffee. Hmmm. May go localish, take a bag to Sally Army, enjoy my time out... The coward's approach...