1) Knit one hat each week for The Innocent Big Knit.
2) Do something nice for me.
3) Choose a non fiction book from the library.
.jpg)
I managed my target of fifty hats for The Innocent Big Knit, they had to be in by the 12th of December so I took them to my local Age UK charity shop and handed them in there. I'm looking forward to seeing all the Innocent Smoothie bottles in the shops dressed in their little hats.
Daniel came home from university a week ago so my nice thing for December was to go out for lunch with him. We went to the local pub and it was lovely to spend time, just him and I, chatting about all sorts of things. I'm so lucky that both my children are such good company.
.jpg)
My non fiction book for December is The Garden Bird Year by Roy Beddard. I love having birds visit my garden, I do all I can to attract as wide a variety of birds as I can. This book is more than an identification tool, it's split in to seasons so that you know what to expect from the bird world at different times of the year as well as covering things such as wildlife gardening, eggs, incubation and hatching, water in the garden, migration and pests and predators among many other subjects.
.jpg)
The book is very well illustrated with both drawings and photos.
.jpg)
I've found that providing a variety of foods encourages different birds to visit the garden and the book goes in to detail about different food and feeders available.
I'm now thinking about the challenges I'll be setting myself for 2015. I think fun challenges are much nicer, and easier, to keep up with than new year's resolutions which are usually broken by about the 5th of January. Will any of you be setting yourself any fun challenges?
It's only six sleeps to Christmas now and as I mentioned earlier, Daniel's now home from university. Eleanor breaks up from school today and Mick finishes work at lunchtime on Tuesday. I shall be doing my Christmas food shopping on Tuesday afternoon and then I'm hoping that everything will be done and I can sit back and relax.
Well done with the hats. That looks to be an interesting, and useful, book.
ReplyDeleteI suppose my challenge for next year is to grow less better. Flighty xx
I don't really have many books about birds so it's really interesting reading. Growing less is definitely a challenge, there's always so many things I want to grow.
DeleteYou've been so good with your challenges Jo. I got a little behind with my film a month but I have made up for it with watching Scrooge and it's a Wonderful Life and I am set to watch the original 1947 Miracle on 34th Street this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI love It's A Wonderful Life. The only Christmas film I've watched so far this year is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, I love that film, so funny.
DeleteIt must be lovely to have Daniel home from university. Enjoy all the 'family time' now that Eleanor has also finished for the holidays! Jx
ReplyDeleteDaniel doesn't come home much at all now so it is nice to have him home for the holidays. Christmas is all about family so I'll definitely make the most of having all mine around me.
DeleteChristmas will soon be here. How lovely to have all your family around. Well done on completing all your challenges.
ReplyDeletexx
The challenges are easy enough to keep up with as they're fun things which I've enjoyed doing. I've started thinking about the next ones I'll be setting myself, I hope I can keep up with those too.
DeleteI agree about New Years resolutions, I never make them. What challenges have you in mind for 2015?
ReplyDeleteRe Christmas films, we've watched Saving Santa and Moonlight Bay so far! I really want to watch Babe again soon, haven't seen it for ages.
I still haven't thought of all the challenges I'll set myself for the new year but I'll post about them when I do. I haven't even heard of Saving Santa or Moonlight Bay and I've never seen Babe.
DeleteI think you did so well with your challenges and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do next year. Maybe I'll think up something too or we could come up with at least one thing as a joint challenge?? I also love birds and think I've shown quite a few on my blog over time. I have a very good Australian guide, but also a small English one. Hope you have a lovely weekend and take care.
ReplyDeleteI'm still finalising my challenges for next year but I'll post about them when I'm sure of what I'm going to do and then you're very welcome to join in if you like. I know Mitzi set herself some similar challenges this year, it's always good to see what other people are up to. Daniel has a great bird guide which Mick's auntie bought him when he was six as he was a very keen birdwatcher at the time, I often use that when I'm unsure about something.
DeleteIt has been great following your challenges through the year and seeing your progress on all of your brilliant hats! I hope that you enjoy everything the new year brings, including your personal challenges! Happy Christmas! xx
ReplyDeleteMy hat challenge has been fun, but it's also a great way to raise money for such a worthwhile cause. I'm pleased that I could contribute. Thank you and Happy Christmas to you too.
DeleteI love the challenges you set for yourself and I can see that you've been very successful. Those hats were especially amazing, I think. I like the look of the bird book, I think I would enjoy that too. I'm glad you're having such a nice time with Daniel home. I hope you and your family enjoy the time together.
ReplyDeleteI've been happy with the challenges I set myself this year, I just hope that I'm as happy, and successful, with next year's challenges. I love having the family back together again, I'm making the most of Daniel being home.
DeleteKnitting all those hats was a great challenge and one that benefits others too.
ReplyDeleteChristmas celebrations here are very low key... quiet and peaceful as I'm sure the first Christmas would have been...
Merry Christmas Jo to you and yours and of course Archie. (whom I'm sure gets a special gift too!)
Susan x
I have to say that the excitement of Christmas with young children has disappeared from our house, but we still enjoy it very much. Thank you. Merry Christmas from our house to your house. Archie definitely gets a special gift, he's a very spoilt pooch.
DeleteYou know I have never found a bottle of Innocent with a hat on!! I know they are out there, somewhere but they have alluded me so far. Merry Christmas Jo, may 2015 be cracking. x
ReplyDeleteThey're only available with the hats on for a specific period of time, I think it's during February next year, you'll have to look out for them then. Thank you, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too.
DeleteNice to have Daniel home for Christmas....I hope you all have a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteI love having everyone at home again, Christmas is going to be wonderful.
Delete