Lily stamens

The lilies continue to fascinate, such sculptural flowers and so so beautiful.

Nine days to my 365 and I'm running around like one of these... trying to get organised for Christmas. Admittedly I'm catering for far fewer than I've been used to over the years - just three of us. Unlike the infamous year I cooked for 16 including 10 cousins ranging from 18 to 2 years old, four who don't eat pork, four who are type one diabetics and one diabetic who also has coeliac disease... And all in a rented one bedroom holiday cottage. It was bedlam. Happy days :)

Even though there's only three of us this year, I still have to ferry Ma's clean clothes to hospital, spend at least some time visiting with her and bring home her laundry etc. along with everything else. So although it's not the frantic time it has been in the past, it's enough.

However I'm chipping away at the food shopping and thank the Lord and all His angels for online shopping. It is going to be a relaxed time for us this year. The Cornishman has been working 70 hour weeks and needs a proper rest. He also deserves a bit of spoiling IMO.

Best of all I've managed to get my nails done, H tells me they remind her of Dorothy's ruby slippers :D