Mini Christmas Stockings & Greenlands Farm, Carnforth

In September I bought three printed fabric panels to make these mini Advent Christmas Stockings for my family and for me but didn't manage to get them ready for December 1st.

I've just posted this set and hope to have another set ready soon to give to my family in Brighton but mine will have to wait until next year.

 They were far more labour intensive than I had anticipated, especially as each set has 24 stockings and 6 tags to cut and prepare. Then they have to be stitched onto the 60 pieces for the backings (30 backs and 30 fronts) and 30 ribbons attached before trimming to finish. It was a bit daunting to make just one set but I'm pleased I did.   Only 2 more sets of 90 pieces each to go!

 No 16, with the two houses is my favourite but I really love them all. 

They'll take a lot to fill them all with treats next year.

I can't wait to see a photo of them hanging like bunting up the sides of the stair rails.

The rest of this post is from our recent trip to the Lake District that I forgot to post. I wanted my grandees to see all the animals on the farm and hope one day to take them there as it is such a super place to visit.

We arrived too early to check in to our log cabin when we went to the Lake District but, by chance, we spotted a sign advertising a Christmas Fair at a fabulous farm. Somewhere interesting to have our lunch, I thought, but it was so much more.

I was more interested in the animals than the Christmas stuff and all year round the farm is a visitor centre for adults and children alike. There are shops selling handmade crafts, specialty food and fresh produce stores and a lovely cafe but best of all, there are so many different animals to see and handle.

Greenlands Farm Village 

snakes, ostrich, alpacas, sheep, birds

Play barn, tractor rides, donkey and pony rides.

Sheep in the field and Chinchillas in the barns.

Tow litters of piglets

I told this magnificent fella that he still had time to escape before Christmas!

A climbing wall outside the soft play barn.

There were snakes which could be handled, an aviary, tractor rides and a hay barn to swing and climb on.

 Grasmere Gingerbread Shop 
The tiniest quaintest shop and bakery imaginable, nestled in the corner of the church grounds where William Wordsworth is buried, has just celebrated 160 years of making the most delicious, yummy scrummy, gingerbread, which I consider to be the best in the world. Don't miss it if you can get there to buy and try some, it tastes like no other gingerbread.

There is a little robin that visits the shop each day for crumbs and this is the very first time he hasn't showed up when I have visited. I asked the lady who served us and she told me that he is OK and we just must have missed him. Phew!

Must get dinner made so I can watch Strictly, as most of UK will be doing tonight.