Coffee Break sketch...... 27th Dec

Now the Christmas season is coming to an end and we start to look at the New Year, I've drawn another sketch during one of my coffee breaks.


I hope you enjoy and stay for the rest of the stories throughout the year to come.

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip...... 1 Day to go!!!

Here's hoping everyone gets home for Christmas, wherever you all are.

I hope you have enjoyed the shorter version of Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic this year. We will be back in 2018 with much, much more.

The animation studio will be up and running and I hope to have the first animation work up on YouTube later in the year and many other items bring worked on as well.

Throughout the year the blog will have the ramblings of what is going on in our lives and what we are doing. From Home improvements, cooking, baking to getting the gardens sorted. 

 https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/ 

TY! 😊

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip...... 2 Days to go!!

With only two days to go, I hope everyone is enjoying the countdown to Christmas and that the excitement is building.

Follow Santa and Ruudy on Facebook.

 https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip...... 3 Days to go!

Three days to go, off work now for the Christmas festivities, j hope all the viewers are off now and able to enjoy the season.

If you have liked this year'

 Strips, please leave a comment or/and share the blog with your friends. It would be nice to get as many people enjoying the strip as possible before this years finish in a few days.

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Twitter- @homemadedad

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip...... 4 Days to go!

Hopefully everyone has had better luck with their Christmas trees than Santa & Ruudy. 

Today is the shortest day of the year so from now on we will be looking forward to the days beginning to stretch a little bit at a time.

In 2018 we will be opening the studio and working on new animations as well as other projects. To keep up to date with all the news. Follow the Facebook page and follow the projects on Twitter.

https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/ 

Twitter- @homemadedad 

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip......5 Days to go!

We are well in to the final week before Christmas, we hope everyone is on track and enjoying their time before the big day!

The countdown to Christmas- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/ comicstrip. Please follow and share. TY!

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip......6 Days to go!

Santa has seen some if the Christmas listings for tv and isn't too sure why some stuff has been put on! 😂

https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/



TY! 😊

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas......7 Days to go!

This is the One week warning, there is only 7 days to Christmas! Is the excitement building yet?

Follow Santa & Ruudy throughout the year here- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip...... 8 Days to go!

It's a week till Christmas Eve. I hope everyone is either ready for Christmas or has only a little left to do!! 😊

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas...... 9 Days to go!

Santa & Ruudy finally make an appearance in this year' Countdown to Christmas and I hope you have been enjoying the strip so far.

To follow more of Santa & Ruudy, pop over to their Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip......10 Days to go!

I can' actually believe there are only now TEN days to Christmas, it didn' seem that long that I thought, "Still 100 days to Christmas " there' plenty if time to get stuff done and now it is almost apon us.

I would love to see some Christmas decoration photos in the comments box, either from your home or when you are out and about in your local village, town or city. To see the different lights all around the world.

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas...... 11 Days to go

Continue to follow Santa & Ruudy Countdown to Christmas with me every day through the run up to this Christmas.

If you like what you see, pop over to the Facebook page and see past years comic strip

https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas......12 Days to go!

So we are now only twelve days to Christmas.

In past years I have drawn the comic strip starting from the First of December but I have had an extremely busy year which unfortunately has affected my time on Santa & Ruudy but I plan to have the comic strip back starting the First of December in 2018.

As well as a lot more exciting projects involving the duo. The animation studio is still a work in progress but I hope to get into it in the New Year and be ready to work from my new place.

If you like what you see, please follow the Facebook page below because it's always nice to see the following of the project getting bigger and that the audience for the short animations growing.

Ideally I want to bring Christmas to everyone with my Santa & Ruudy characters to bring a little happiness to as many people around the world as possible.

If you do click the like button on the FB page, please leave a comment that you saw the strip on the Blog.

FB link- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

And keep up-to-date with all the smaller stuff that I am getting on with on Twitter- @homemadedad

Enjoy! Geoff

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas...... 16 Days to go!

We are almost ready for this year's new comic trips but until then continue to enjoy past years strips.

To view them, pop over to the Facebook page and while you are there, why not click the like button and share the page as well.

https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas...... 18 days to go!

Hope you all like the comic strip and if you would like to keep up-to-date with the new animations and everything else that will be happening, don' forget to like and share the page.

https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

@homemadedad

Santa and Ruudy Countdown to Christmas...... 19 Days to go!!

Don' forget to follow the Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Santa & Ruudy Countdown to Christmas......24 Days to go!

This year's new comicstrip sketches will start from 12 days to go but I'm sure many on Blogger haven't seen any from my past years. So until the new ones go up, here's a few from past years.

If you would like to follow the Facebook page, please do. I hope to get everyone in the world interested in Santa & Ruudy and make them a Christmas tradition and I can only do this with your help.

In the months and years to come, I aim to work on short animations to show on YouTube and gaming apps featuring Santa & Ruudy. 

The page is- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

And to keep up-to-date on Twitter- @homemadedad 

Coffee Break sketch......29th November

Hope you are enjoying the coffee break sketches and that you follow the Santa & Ruudy Countdown to Christmas comic strip which will start in December. 

Follow it here- https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

Twitter- @homemadedad 

Coffee Break sketch......28th Nov.

I have been sketching during the coffee breaks but just haven't got round to adding them. So here's one from a few days ago. 

In December the Countdown to Christmas will return. A shorter version this year as the new house and the decorating has taken over.

Follow me on Twitter- @homemadedad 

Coffee Break sketch...... 16th November

Todays coffee break sketch. If you enjoy my blog, follow my tweets on Twitter- @homemadedad

Coffee Break sketch...... 14th Nov.

Coffee the main reason I function a lot of the time! 😁 

After work yesterday, it was back to getting the house ready for Christmas. I have given myself a date of the last Sunday in November as this is the date I would like the Christmas  decorations to go up and the time to down tools and enjoy the season.

What kind of SOB would woodchip over woodchip! The main bedroom is taking longer than had hoped, as in someone's wisdom, this was their idea of home improvements!

Anyways, today is a new day, my son is sitting with me and I have a pot of coffee ready. So let's do it all over again......

Let's help get my Twitter to the 300 followers by following me here- @homemadedad 

Coffee Break Sketch......13th Nov.

I haven't had much up on the blog recently, with being off work the other, I was normally either looking after Finley or decorating the house while drinking coffee. Then when I was back to work last week, it was a case of playing catch, so only got this one done.

I have moved onto stripping the main bedroom and back to removing woodchip wallpaper. Can say I will be definitely happy not to see woodchip for a very long time.

We are pushing on with getting our home finished in the next few weeks, as I am off again for my final week of the year and would like to spend it watching Christmas stuff on telly, eating mince pies, drinking either Hot Chocolate or Eggnog with my son and wife. But we'll see how close to this dream I get!!

The blog is also on this site: https://homemadedad.wordpress.com/

And please if you like to see my daily ramblings follow it on Twitter- @homemadedad 

First Eggnog Latte of the season......

Out with Finley today and we just had to stop at our local Starbucks to try this years Eggnog Latte and it had to be the largest to keep me going till tomorrow and it did not let me down.

Twitter- @homemadedad 

A weeks holiday with one car in the garage......

It's been a busy week so far, with getting Fort Knox (dog run) and decorating done.

I had to re-work the dog area after the two girls managed to climb, yes climb the fence to escape. So a double height, panelled fence had to be built to give them no way of climbing. Hedges remove to give visibility of the whole area and them dumped.

Then onto the indoors where I have been laying laminate flooring in the playroom, Finleys room and the front room. I am now down to three panels to finish the front room. My brain had turned to mush last night so I had to retire from finishing it, till I felt fresher.

We have two cars as both of us work some distance from our home. We try to have it that there is always at least one of us at home to look after Finley to help not have to pay for child care. But one of the cars has had to go in for some TLC to get ready for its MOT and hopefully it will be ready in time for getting back to work next week!

Finley and I have had some free time this week to spend together away from the home improvements and while out and about I saw this......

......but unfortunately it was sold. It would have looked beautiful in our front room and it was only £125. Gutted! Althou, I did get coffee and some cook books while we we're out.

I have the blog now on WordPress to see what following will happen with this platform- homemadedad.wordpress.com

And I see we have our first viewersfrom Russia.

Follow me on Twitter and get me over the 300 followers- @homemadedad 

Coffee Break sketch......does it look like I've had my coffee?

Just need to get through the rest of work, then a whole week off to get into home decorating and to get the most of the house completed.

Worst part about home improvements, is making sure it is safe for the wee man. It's been a slow process but definitely can see an end in sight.

Twitter- @homemadedad 

Scripture reading sketch......

First time sketching a daily reading. Leave a comment below if you like them and if you would like to see more.

Twitter- @homemadedad 

Coffee Break sketch...... daddy son time

A quick sketch of Finley and me sharing one of our favourite past times, walking from coffee shop to coffee shop.

Twitter- @homemadedad 

Coffee Break sketch ...... Wednesday 25th October

Today's quick coffee break sketch...... when you just need those coffees to get you through the day.

Twitter- @homemadedad

Having a coffee while my coffee brews.....

Having a Starbucks cold brew while waiting for the kettle to boil, so I can have a hot cuppa while out with the dogs. There's nothing wrong with that is there!?

The past week while Finley has been sleeping away in his cot, I have been up to the wee hours working on the house decorating. I have been getting the flooring down and the rooms are starting to come together nicely, still plenty to do but if I just keep at it, I am sure I will have it all completed in plenty of time for the Christmas decorations to be put up.

I was thinking about waiting until I had all the rooms done before putting up pictures of the development but I may put weekly ones up at the end of each week to show what's been happening.

Until my next coffee break......

Follow me on Twitter - @homemadedad

Coffee Break sketch #003

Late coffee break sketch tonight. Homemade Eggnog Latte, one of my favourite beverages. I will be enjoying a few more on the run up to Christmas before my stash is finished. Hopefully Tescos or one of the other supermarkets will be bringing it out again in December. You Americans and Canadians don't know how lucky you are to be able to go into almost any convenience store and buy it! Thankfully as well Starbucks make their own Eggnog Lattes so I shall be popping in quite frequently! 😊 I wonder if you can just buy the cartons of Eggnog from them!!

I didn't get any sketching done yesterday as I was busy laying laminate flooring in the playroom. Since this house is quite old, a few of the walls run off and working round a fireplace, it took me quite awhile to get going but nearly midnight last night I got it done. Only another three more rooms to go!! 😱😂

Anyways....enjoy the rest of your Saturday everyone!

Follow me on Twitter- @homemadedad

Coffee doesn't ask stupid questions......

For when it's going to be one of those days......

Twitter- @homemadedad

How to make a perfect coffee...... #01

First sketch in my series of different coffee types. If there are any you can think of which doesn't appear on the blog, please leave a comment, or if there is one you would like to see or to make sure I sketch it.

Enjoy, I know I do when drinking them!

Twitter - @homemadedad 

Felt like a hurricane to me.....Storm Ophelia

Definitely one of the worst storms I've lived through and it is still raging outside while I drink my umpteenth coffee of the day after getting out of work early to be able to get home before it really kicked off in Northern Ireland.

Managed to get a coffee while making sure that everything was nailed down and that the dogs were secure and safe before the worst weather hit.

Not sure what damage has been done outside but it will be the morning before I assess what has happened. I have seen some of the damage that has happened all over the island and even though I have drawn the cartoon, in all seriousness I hope everyone is safe in the homes tonight and nothing to bad happens. Sadly there has been a few deaths because of the storm and let's hope there are no more because of it.

To keep up to date with all my musings, follow me on Twitter- @homemadedad 

What's happening......

Where are You?

I'm sitting in our front room, having a breather from the first coat of white paint on the ceiling. It's 10pm on Saturday evening and I am now struggling to get up of my ass and get back to starting the second coat.

Now I wonder where everyone is that comes to view my blog, drop me a message below telling me where you are.

I got a comic strip completed this evening for this year's Countdown to Christmas and hopefully will get a few more done this coming week. I wasn't going to do one this year but I love Christmas and these wee cartoons make me feel a little more festive and hopefully brings a little smile to everyone's face, who comes to see it.

Spent most of the day with my baby boy, sampling a few coffees along the way. I got my Bosch Tassimo cleaned earlier in the week and had my first Eggnog Latte of the season and the first in our new house and yes before you ask, it tasted amazing.

Now, I'm thinking off coffee but before I can get that little gift, I had better get back to this painting.

Till next time. My Twitter is - @homemadedad

Enjoying my Pumpkin Spiced Latte earlier while Finley enjoys the stirred! 😊

Coffee Break......Perkatory

A wee sketch during a coffee break earlier today. Showing the delight every time it's brew time. Whether It's, instant straight through to cold brew, I love it and will try it as long as it's coffee.

Not to say that it's a habit but I will make myself a coffee at home when I'm going for a walk with Finley to drink on the way to the coffee house!

Follow me on twitter- @homemadedad

Santa & Ruudy Christmas cartoon countdown

Soon I will be starting my Santa & Ruudy Countdown to Christmas cartoon. To help us all get into the festive spirit on the run up to the big day. We would love to see you all come all and join the fun.

https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

You can also follow me on Twitter- @homemadedad

"Latte" to the season

I had my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte on Friday and had to draw a sketch to celebrate the occasion. Really is one of my favourite Autumn beverages. Gets me ready for the winter season selection from my favourite coffee houses!

First trip in October to the Folk Park......

I absolutely love the Ulster Folk and Transport museum and when we moved closer to it in the summer, we decided to take out the yearly pass. I think this is Finley and my second time and he has been with his mum a few times as well.

It's a great safe zone for him to be able to play and explore and while he's still very young, some of the history and delight will sink into his memory.

My little Diamond with his namesake road sign.

At this stage I think Finley was getting tired of the near constant photos I have been taking of him.

They started them young in school back in the day.

A shout out to the world in general.

Finley had great fun playing with all the old equipment around the park.

One of the wonderful houses they have rebuilt. There was a lot of activity around the day we went and the houses had their fires on which was great to get warmed up before Finley was on the move again

Finley on the move again.

Finally got to see the forge in action after all the times I've been. We stayed for quite awhile here as Finally was intrigued by all the goings on and the man working the fire was telling us all about the iron works and the items that he had made. All of which were to go on sale in their shop the next day.

We're already looking forward to our next visit, which hopefully won't be too long away.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter all the day to day ramblings- @homemadedad 

Homemade Dad......Jokes 004

Homemade Dad...... jokes #003

Homemade......Stew

So Finley and me were out today having a bit of fun in the late Autumn sunshine that was about today. 

When there started to get a chill in the air which gave me a hankering for some stew. So of home went and started prepping for dinner.

Finley has his own wee kitchen in the kitchen, so both of us were getting busy.

 Plenty of spuds went into tonight's meal, which means lots of yummy left overs for tomorrow.

In goes the carrots onions and a leek, just cause I felt like it.

 Starting to resemble a stew.

The final look, it was warming and heart for such a lovely but chilly late Autumn day.

Ingredients

800g chopped beef

1.3kg Potatoes

1kg carrots

2 onions

1.2l beef stock

1 leek

½ tsp fresh thyme leaves

Method

1. Make the stew. Cut the beef into large chunks. Peel the potatoes and cut into pieces of similar size to the meat. Put them into a  bowl of water to keep them white. Peel the carrots and cut into slightly smaller pieces. Slice the onions into thick rings.
2. Put the beef in a large, clean saucepan. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, skimming off all the impurities from the surface. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
3. Add the potatoes, carrots and onions. Season generously and simmer for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the thyme. Simmer until the beef is tender (15-20 minutes). Take off the heat, cover (don’t stir) and leave for 15 minutes. (You can make this up to 2 days ahead and keep in the fridge). Garnish and serve.

Is there anything different you would do when making stew? 

The one thing missing was some Wheaten bread but I'll have that made for next time.

@homemadedad