Planet Ruby Starrs

Christmas comes but once a year and that's probably not a bad idea... we have had a lovely festive frolicking time here in the not so grim north, joined by family and friends sharing presents, food and fun.  Actually it was totally dis-organised chaos from the word go!!! BUT I have to say ''go'' didn't start until after 8.30 an amazing sleep in on Christmas morning for two very excited little girls (and Nana) but then just descended into almost madness when the keyboard was opened and the impromptu dance party started in the kitchen while dinner was being prepared.  The newly formed band was quite an experience - an eight year old on the keyboard and the two year old using natural rhythm to accompany her on drums using wooden spoons and anything bangable!! Watch out X factor (I'm doing it for my nana.....) It was an exhausting experience - the house being festooned with fairy lights flashing adding to the fervour! or should I say fever.  Anyway we r

I am about to hit chaos... I'm off to Leeds today battling past Metro Centre traffic down the pesky A1 into the grand metropolis of the big city to pick up my family so we can engineer our own madness and spend the festive season together back up here in rural Toggie delight.  Really looking forward to a house full of madness and noise two young children can bring and a hopefully calming walk on the beach on Christmas day.  I can't fit them all in the car so I'm picking up my best girls and the boys are coming up on the train after work on Christmas eve by which time we will be almost totally crazed with excitement.  Or maybe, if we are lucky (haha)  the small creatures who are really what the whole kit and caboodle is about will have passed out slumbering deep as Santa flies though leaving the presents under the tree.  This is probably the last year our 8 year old granddaughter will believe in the magic of the big red suited man... in fact we are not sure she isn&#

Have you any idea how much mess you can make when trying to transfer feathers from one very large cushion into 6 smaller ones.....  what a hoot... massive massive mess - it looked liked hundreds of  birds had gone crazy in the spare room, everything was covered with little white specks, bigger fluff and quite a large number of escaped feathers!  I was a pale ghost of myself and even my hair had turned white... I soon realised I needed a face mask and once the task was started there was no point in turning back - Dr Fred just looked in in despair and shut the door firmly to try and avoid further contamination of the house! To be fair when I had finally managed to get as many feathers repackaged as I could Dr Fred did get me the Henry so I could try and restore order... I took the worst up and then had a shower and now I need to tidy up properly and hoover up again.  In the end it took three hooverings over three days to get rid of the floating dust generated. I hardly dare admit th

Its been grim up north (again) but full of atmospheric skies and dark scudding clouds delivering a dusting of snow from time to time. There have been some fantastic sunsets, (and probably sunrises too but I seem to miss most of them).  Even on the dull days the big skies of Northumberland make for impressive scenes - its just such a beautiful place to be.   I have been hunkered down making Christmas presents - no photos or it will spoil surprises - and turning the cottage into a Santas grotto in readiness for the Christmas family visit! Eventually last week we did get out for a wander along the coast and had a really pleasant if bracing walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle. Often a busy walk but that day populated mainly by sheep rather then people.  It was a grey and over cast, the promised forecast of two hours of sunshine never materialised but it was great to get some fresh air.   But golly it was cold - puddles were frozen and even some of the rock pools had ice in them. 

Its too cold and snowy to venture outside for any length of time so realising the festive season is nigh I set myself down and made a shed load of Christmas cards. I was ferreting around in the loft for the tree deckies and old wrapping paper and I found a small metal crafting ring so ended up spending the  the afternoon making a nice - if a tad small - Christmas garland for the door.  Normally I raid the garden and make one using greenery but this one is made entirely from the scrap bag using an old backing of a dead ikea cushion cover some felt, sparkly ribbon and thread and Christmas tree baubles. Having finally got into the festive spirit I braved the elements of the Northumberland roads and headed in to town and purchased a tree - Now the living room is lit up fabulously in true RubyStarrs disco fashion by flashing lights which have to be calmed from time to time!!!  I've stopped pretending I'll do a tasteful tree - impossible I'm afraid so its the sam

Its been a quiet time on Planet Rubystarrs... A couple of nice days out - sewing and planning sewing ideas with some friends - more later - could be an interesting project forming but nothing very exciting has been happening this was so I've entertained myself taking some ''interesting'' black and white images around the house no further explanation needed!!!!  (actually I have been a little under the weather but bouncing back now) Its been dismal weather so have felt a bit cooped up At least some house work has got done... even cleared the cobwebs away ... Bring on christmas is what I say!!!