Monday 14 December 2020

Wreaths

Slowly but surely our little cottage is being transformed into a Christmas haven.  I have been adding little bits and pieces each day and moving things around for the perfect look.  There is still a major gap in the decor the TREE.  Unforunately we had a very unwelcome visitor to the attic earlier in the year, a tiny mouse.  Tiny in stature maybe but it did cause a lot of damage to our beloved Christmas tree.  Everything was checked and sorted at the time but as there was no damage to the box we didn't check the tree.  The damage was discovered when we opened the box, it had eaten its way through all of the berries and cones.  I am sure you can imagine the mess.  Consequently we have no tree as yet...

I love a wreath at ay time of the year in all its guises, let me take you on a little tour.


This is the one that greets you if you enter the cottge through the front porch.  Made from an old curtain to match the pelmet made for the window.


Whilst this will welcome you into the kitchen if you enter the cottage via the side porch.  Made from the excess trim from the process of making Harris Tweed.

In the bedroom I have one hanging from a cupboard made from scraps of Harriws Tweed.  The second one is a momento from our daughters wedding, crocheted with love.



I enjoy the process of making them and using different materials to experiement with texture and style.  Here are the three hanging in the main room of the cottage.





Each one a fun make and adding to the ambience of our home.  The final wreath today is one that was made for the table an Advent wreath.


Each Sunday, we celebrate Advent by enjoying afternoon tea together and focus on the lighting of the candles.  This week I made some very tasty cupcakes using a tradional sponge mix and then adding mincemeat.  The topping is a cinnammon icing with a pecan, the other one a grated peel and the juice of a clemantine.  The taste of Christas in a mouthful.





Bark was made using plain, milk and white chocolate topped with dried fruit and nuts with some broken candy canes.  Very tasty and a great addition to the orange and cranberry trifle.  It is a tradition that has been passed on to our daughters who now in turn enjoy the process with their own children.  I love that family traditions are passed down through the generations.  Have you any traditions that have been passed on?

Christmas is fast approaching and I am enjoying each and every moment.

Take care and stay safe.

See you soon. 

24 comments:

  1. your wreaths are delightful but gosh the baked goods look so delicious!!

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  2. Your wreaths are all so pretty as is your table!! Those goodies look yummy! I am going to start my baking this week..Cutting back as I will not be getting the company I usually have that come to see our house...Thanks so much for visiting!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  3. Lovely wreathes, not something I have gotten into yet. Nice to see a mug of proper strong tea.

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  4. I am sorry but I laughed my head of when I read that a mouse ate you Christmas tree, that's the first case I heard. We have no tree this year we are only the two of us our son and family is not allowed to come. But I have done like you I decorated the living and entrance and it looks very christmassy ! I have very big plants and put the garlands and balls etc in the plants and it looks like Christmas trees. It will be a rather sad Christmas, there is curfew at Midnight (exceptionally) otherwise at 10 pm even on New Year !

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  5. Lovely wreaths MM and the food looks so good. Oooh look at that trifle!

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  6. Such lovely wreaths. I love how you go all out at Christmas, especially with that delicious food. I hope there wasn't any other damage in the attic, mice can be so destructive.

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  7. Your afternoon tea looks delightful!
    Poor Christmas tree, I hope you can find another one.

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  8. Lorraine, your wreaths are so beautiful. Each one has a story behind it which makes them even more special. I was sorry to hear about your tree. Isn't it amazing how big of a mess one little mouse can make?
    The tea looks so delicous and beautiful too. I'm hoping Tara has tucked some of the little mincemeat pies she brought last year into the box she and Alex are sending. They were SO good. I think she bought them at Marks & Spencer. Does that sound right to you? I don't know the shops there at all.
    Wishing you and Gerard lovely days as you finish your Christmas preparations. We're missing our advent wreath this year as there is no where to have one in the RV without risking fire. We still do the readings and talk about it though, so I guess that's the important part. :-)
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  9. What lovely wreaths you've made, each so unique! Even without a tree your home must look so festive.
    Your food always inspires me. I enlarged the pictures to see everything a bit closer. The trifle looks delicious. Our second oldest daughter is making a trifle for our Christmas dinner which will be at our oldest granddaughter's place. Many of our traditions have had to be cancelled this year. We have, however, decided to go ahead with the dinner even if it will be a much smaller one since several in the family are immune compromised and are sheltering. Take care.

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  10. So sorry to read about the mouse eating your Christmas tree!

    Your wreaths look lovely and afternoon tea simply scrumptious :)

    All the best Jan

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  11. How rude of that little critter to have a go with your Christmas tree! I hope you will be able to salvage the remains. It's nice to see your creativity with different materials on your wreaths. And your Advent tea looks wonderful!

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  12. Traditions abound here and have been passed down to my daughter and one grandson who is an aspiring chef. Love his sausage rolls which came directly from me to him!

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  13. Such lovely wreaths in your cozy cottage, my friend.
    ANd I wish I could sit down to tea with you!
    It looks delicious and so festive.
    Enjoy these days of preparation!!

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  14. I LOVE the idea of Advent afternoon teas, that's so clever! I love your wreaths too, I know that I keep saying this but you are so very creative. I have never made a wreath and I don't really know why because I think I've always wanted one but something is obviously holding me back. Thank you too for the tour of decorations in your last post, it really is Christmas in your cottage. I hope you get a new tree soon. x

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  15. I love your wreaths! So pretty and festive. Too bad about the mouse, they may be small but they can incur a lot of damage!

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  16. Bravo to you for making so many unique and festive wreaths to decorate your home! You tea and goodies made me wish I was visiting your cottage at tea-time! I'm with you on enjoying the run up to the 25th. I love it all. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

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  17. How fantastic! So many wreaths, everyone will be asking you to make them one. What a horrible shock to find the tree in pieces, eek, and just one fat mouse inside!

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  18. If it is any consolation, we don't have a tree yet either... it is on my list this week. We usually get a real one from a small local business. I like how you treat yourself to a special afternoon tea each Advent Sunday x

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  19. Such a shame about your tree I hope you can find a replacement one soon. Your wreaths are lovely and the Advent tea looks delicious:)

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  20. What a beautiful Christmas tea!

    I purchase an extra container of cinnamon sticks this time of year to place in my Christmas tree box. Mice really hate the smell of cinnamon and/or peppermint, I am sorry that such a naughty mouse wreaked havoc this year.

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  21. All your wreaths are beautiful !!!!!
    And your tea table perfect to enjoy every delicacy :)
    Have a cozy day !
    Anna

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  22. Your wreaths are beautiful, especially as each one holds precious memories. X

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  23. Sorry to read about the tree being lunch for a mouse and hope you can find another. Regardless, your cottage looks festive with all the homemade wreaths and table decor and that tasty food too. My favorite wreath is the Santa one. Is it difficult to make?

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