OK ........... who knicked November?

I can't believe it's been so long since I blogged, well actually I can, the time just seems to have flown by. I mean it's not like I haven't had time with the enforced grounding due to bad weather, so again I offer my sincere apologies and a round up of what's been going on.

After the folks came back from their jollies, MP and I went to Turkey for a weeks R&R. First few days were literally a wash out due to unusual torrential rain but then the sun broke through and we managed to have a few days of sun bathing. We didn't do much by way of sightseeing or trips as we were only there for a week and didn't take many photos but we went from Hisanaru to Fethiye a few times for a bit of shopping and to eat. Nice break but wouldn't rush back to Hisanaru as it was a bit like Blackpool and not really our thing but nice to get away and re charge the batteries. Was going to pop in a photo here but doesn't look like we have uploaded any :o)

Didn't really do anything in November apart from planning for the winter. Now this may sound strange but where we live can get shut off from the snow and after last years disaster of running out of gas and coal, was determined to be more organised. So full tank of gas delivered, double coal delivery, rock salt bought, cupboards and freezer full and my own personal cat food mountain stacked up - so all set.

Damn good job too as the snow did in fact come early. Luckily I had taken my car down to the bottom of the hill so I was able to get to work, setting the team precedent for this year. The walking up and down the hill wasn't quite so good and boy did I look a sight - duffle coat (bright red), hat, head torch, scarf, gloves, walking pole, joggers, rucksack, walking boots and my wonderful Yaktraxs. If you haven't heard of these they are just the most incredible things. Bought mine last winter and they made walking on ice and snow easy, in fact you'd think you were walking on ordinary road. So impressed with them was I that I have bought them for my folks and on my recommendation, half my team at work have bought them either for themselves or as presents for other people this year. So if the Yaktrax people read this - I am the reason your sales have gone through the roof this year and I do take commission.

So after a week of respite from the snow, it is back with a vengeance and this time, and it's all MP's fault, my car is still at the house! We are going to try and get it down the hill today so fingers crossed the nice men from the council have been up and gritted the hill.

After a very scary journey back from Halifax in the snow I have managed to secure some winter tyres for my car. MP got some put on last year and what a difference they made, so fingers crossed (again) I will get them put on the car this week. As MP is back on shift work now I am having to drive myself to work each day and this is not something I am looking forward to in the bad weather, there are too many hills round here for my liking!

So in between all this and trying to keep warm I have found a little time to play. I made some Christmas cards this year which is a first for me and I am quite pleased with the outcome and I have been playing with my art journalling. So here's some of the stuff I've done;

The search for the perfect handbag

Keep young and beautiful - paint dabbers, Dyan's inks and downloads, magazine page, download from Lisa's altered art

Unfinished page - Mark Ryder drawing, 7 gypsies paper

Unfinished page - magazine cut out, distressed inks and TH stamps

Nearly finished - Dyans downloads, Sizzix wings

Actually It doesn't look much but I have also started an A-Z of me art journal and my first attempt at altering something .................

Altered canvas board - book pages, Claudine Hellmuth paint, Dyan's inks, Tim Holtz masks and downloads from the Octopode Factory, which I saw on the fantastic Sue Roddis blog.

It is supposed to be MP and I with one of our many cats :o)

Dyan currently running her own tags of Christmas challenge over on her wonderful blog Art and Soul , if you haven't seen it, go have a look. I haven't managed a tag every day and I haven't got the embellishments but these are my attempts so far;