Christmas Decor Part 2

This morning saw us driving across a frosty moor to a hospital appointment for physio on my shoulder.  The drive wasn't as bad as anticipated, it looked really icy but got better as time went by.  The physio was bearable and she has shown me some exercises to do at home on a daily basis.  I have to see her again next week prior to our travels.  I am still hoping that I will get the injections before I go, time will tell.  The wait is due to needing them done at the same time as a scan.

On a brighter note, the Christmas decor has once again brought back some wonderful memories of Christmas's past.  We have sorted through lots of boxes and now have the larger items ready to pass on to our daughters.  Spreading the memories around.

The porch has had a simple quilt thrown(creatively placed) over the chair and a few artistic touches to make it look Wintery.

The bedroom has a small tree in the window and is resplendent in all its red glory.  Bringing some much needed colour into the dreary days of Winter.

Looking a little top heavy with the enormous topper from a much larger tree last year but cheerful in its own way.  There are some treasured baubles amidst the gaiety of the ribbons and poinsettias.

Not one of my best displays I will be honest but it has given us the opportunity to sort all things Christmas out and spread the cheer.  Our little cottage is not big enough or suitable for some of the oversized finery from our previous home.  

We haven't bothered with the bedding either just a top eiderdown and pillowcases.

Once again I do thank you for visit, your comments and emails.  I must also thank and welcome a new follower.  I do hope you enjoy my little adventures through life.

See you soon.

Christmas Decor Part 1

What a wonderful season this is, a season of such generosity which I feel quite humbled by.  I have had an amazing Advent calendar which brings joy daily.  An ecard that appears in my mail box everyday, technology at its finest and now a parcel all the way from America.  Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, I do so wish that I could send you all a card but sadly the cost is disconcerting so I have donated to the food bank instead.  You will be giving some extra comfort to those in need over the festive period.

I have put some decorations up but it has been down scaled this year as we are heading off to visit with family.  However, we did want our little cottage to look festive when we have visitors prior to our trip.  We have put smaller trees up in the two front windows, which I am enjoying.  One in the bedroom and one in the lounge.  The main focal point of our decor this year is the mantel, rather glamorous and yet regional with the stags.  I was inspired by this beautiful plate that I found in the charity shop.

From very humble beginnings layer upon layer was added.

Everything firmly in place so that we can still have the stove lit.  The flames and the tiny lights on an evening,  give it a charm of its very own.

I have also added to the table a stag plate stand and adorned it with some of our precious baubles.  Although even that was hard to choose as all the baubles have such lovely memories attached to them.  Gerard and I had such a lovely time reminiscing about Christmas's past, places we have been and loved ones no longer with us.  It was a joy sharing our memories and not at all depressing despite some tears.  In many ways it keeps the spirit of Christmas alive.

The tree was quite difficult to decorate as most of the baubles were too big or too heavy for its small branches.  Despite the difficulties we still managed to display some of our memories and had fun along the way.  Christmas carols and songs were enjoyed and we seemed to get louder and more raucous as the afternoon wore on.  More memories added to reflect upon another year.

Not the usual wonderful array of decor but pretty and fun none the less.  How are your preparations coming along?

See you soon.

Here Comes Santa...

I love Christmas it is one of my favourite times of year.  I start my preparations for Christmas many months in advance, crafting a lot of gifts, cards and tags in the privacy of my own craft room.    I don't like to be put under pressure so enjoy the process throughout the year.  Imagine my surprise when we went to the garden centre yesterday and there in all its glory was Christmas décor in every shape and form ready for their opening evening today.  I will not lie I did have a stroll around, as did my husband, Mum, Dad and brother.  I think it was the shock that kept us walking, one beautiful display after the other.

 

Now do not get me wrong some of the decorations were stunning and the displays were jaw dropping.  In September really!!!!  Much too early for me I have to say.  I appreciate that stores are competing for sales but if it gets much earlier we might just as well have it all year around.  What is your view do you like to see all the Christmas décor on sale in September?

 

We did also have a stroll around the dinosaurs, to see if it was suitable for the children of course not for us.

 

 

They would love it.  There was also a secret garden which was a delight for the children with trampolines and play park, definitely worth another visit.  We checked out the restaurant too, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  A lovely family stroll.

 

See you soon.

 

Twelfth Night/Epiphany

Here in England it is the custom to have all Christmas decorations taken down before Twelfth Night, so not to bring bad luck for the year.  There are many customs/traditions linked to Twelfth Night that date back many years and have been handed down from generation to generation.

In the main for a lot of families worldwide it is of course also known as Epiphany the Christian festival in honour of the coming of the three Kings to the infant Jesus Christ.

It is a night to party, a big celebration and a time for practical jokes including live birds in a pie, hence the rhyme sing a song of sixpence.  A Twelfth Night cake used to be the order of the day which was a fruit cake  containing a bean.  If you were lucky enough to get it you were deemed to be a King/Queen and everyone had to obey your orders.  Also linked to Twelfth Night is the yule log which were lit at Christmas and burned until Twelfth Night, then its remains were kept to rekindle next years fire for good luck.

So many differences, customs and celebrations and yet everyone working towards the same goal of clearing the aftermath of the festive season.

I have finally managed to get some order back into the household with all the decorations packed away for another year. 

 

The sofa in the lounge room has been given an overhaul.

 

 

The fireplace and mantel toned down and back to normality.  Oh how I miss all the beauty already... and yet the way time is flying by we will be doing it all again before you know it.

 

See you soon.

 

Five on Friday

The past week in our house has been a flurry of activity pertaining to Christmas.  The decorations have been out of the boxes and touched loving bringing back fond memories of Christmas's past.  I do wonder how many times around the world the phrase "Do you remember...?"  has been said this week.  We have a large amount of decorations but the time spent remembering is part of the Christmas preparation, a ritual that is so much part of  Christmas.  A time for reflection and a time to remember family and friends who are not around.  My chosen five this week are five decorations that come out each year and provoke fond memories.

My first are two carol singers who belonged to my late Mother in law, she sadly died on Christmas day 16 years ago.  She is remembered on a daily basis, but these are a treasured heirloom and make us all smile.  Everyone has a story to tell about Grandma.

 

The plate behind reminds me of our three girls when they were small so links to the carol singers nicely.

 

My second choice is a bauble with entwined wedding rings, that is part of a set that was bought to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary by my parents.  The whole family celebrated when we all went to Disneyworld together.  Wonderful memories, the year of a million wishes where we were treated like royalty.

 

 

My daughter went to university in Southampton so it became a ritual to meet in London in December. We loved the Harrods Christmas department and my daughter treated me to a bauble every year.  When all three girls worked and lived in London prior to starting their families we all met up for afternoon tea and the bauble treat.  This is just one from the wonderful collection.

 

 

Many years ago my niece got married in December and I was asked to help.  I made some beautiful lace toppers for  gold wrapped chocolates and still hang some on the tree.  A wonderful memory, they are still very happily married and have been blessed with seven children.

 

 

Finally, a part of lives were spent in the military so we lived for many years in Germany and always had a trip to Holland for the St Nicolas celebrations.  We bought a Christmas plate with St Nicolas and Peter on which always evokes some really fond memories.

 

 

Five beautiful memories that are a big part of the ritual of decorating the family home.  I am once again joining Amy over at Love Made My Home for the weekly meme.

 

See you soon.