Window Displays

 Another trip to Stornoway this morning for a hospital appointment, so I thought it prudent to have a quick look around the town centre.  I wanted to absorb the Christmas decor and appreciate the effort people have made to decorate the shop windows.  It was also nice to pick up one or two little gifts to add to Gerard's stocking sshhhh!

The tree was a delight and I loved the lobster pots around the base.  The trees around the square were also lit up so was a joy to see.

Let me take you on a short stroll around the shops so that you can see the decor.  Every shop has made an effort to decorate and lift our spirits.  Each photo has a reflection but I think that adds to the charm.

I am a great fan of the Harris Tweed shop, they really do stock so many choices of the fabric, it is difficult to choose.

The chemist is also a wonderful gift shop and at this time of year is a such a nice place to walk into and browse, you can always find something to buy.

The bookstore is another store that holds so much more than books so is always good for a trinket for the stocking.

The two windows above are from the charity shop, they are so well done and are a real delight to see.  The tinsel adorning the bodyform making it into a party dress is amazing, with matching dazzling bags and shoes a real temptation on top of the gifts.

Not a big town centre but enough shops to buy the necessities.  I did go to the supermarket and collect as much as I could in readiness for Christmas and as a treat we went to An Lanntair for breakfast.

 I had the pancakes and Gerard had the traditional Scottish, it was very nice.  It was also good to browse the shop and admire some of the local craftmanship.

Christmas will be different this year that goes without saying so it was nice to get out and about for a few hours.  The bonus was we got some fresh air and supported local business's.  A little bit of normality did us the world of good.  It was so nice to finally feel a little festive.

What are you doing to introduce a little bit of festive cheer?

Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.

Christmas Baking

 I spent the best part of the day in the kitchen yesterday, one of my favourite places to be.  I had Christmas carols and songs playing in the background which made for a great seasonal experience.  The pandemic has made us rethink what is important at this time of year and to this end Christmas has been toned down considerably.  Food will still play an important role so I made a start and enjoyed the process.

Mince pies, sausage rolls and cranberry and walnut scones.

All ready for the freezer to be pulled out when needed.  I also mixed up some cookie dough ready to pull out when we want it.

I went on to make some mini meat loaves, two of which were used for our dinner last night.  They were so tasty and it is a comfort to know that there are more in the freezer.

We had the meatloaf with root vegetable mash, (carrot/swede/parsnip/potato) and kale, it was so tasty.

It is the time of year for hot chocolate so I made some hot chocolate spoons, another one of our traditions.  It is so nice to be a little decadent at this time of year.

Some topped with mini marchmallows, some with crushed candy cane.  I enjoy both...

Whilst the chocolate was out I made some little chocolate gingerbread men and candy canes to use as toppers either for some cupcakes or to use to add to the gingerbread house.  Another tradition, usually made on Christmas eve.

My apologies for the quality of the photos but I think you get the idea of it.  I also had the bread maker going to use a packet bread mix I had in that was nearing its best before date.  We don't usually eat much white bread but it was all I could get when we were in lockdown earlier in the year.

Have you made a start on your baking or do you prefer to buy it all?  There are some great bakeries about I do wonder if it is worth all the effort, but I do enjoy the process.

Thank you all for your visit to the blog and your uplifting comments.  Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.

Christmas Decorations

 Let me take you through the hall, past the bathroom to our bedroom where the theme continues and both windows have been decorated.

Each piece a treasured memory.  The plate in the centre was the year that Gerard and I met.  We met at the Army Air Corps Centre Middle Wallop in 1979 and got together at the ice skating rink.  The plant belongs to our neighbours who own the sweet cottage next door, we look after it whilst they are away I have added a little Santa to the pot to give it a little festive cheer.

Another window, another display.  The very modern tree is musical and turns.  A precious gift from my parents which holds a much loved collection of glass baubles each depicting the twelve days of Christmas.  There is a very special carausol that also turns and is musical.  The large oblong plate at the back was brought back from a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida, where dreams come true.  Such wonderful memories of family holidays with so much fun and laughter.

The bed is dressed ready for the season with some vintage pillowcases and a handcrafted throw.  I also like to display several quilts made over the years on a stand.  A little cluttered but put together with love.  

We have loved our trips to Florida over the years and so we have a treasured collection that is a must to be displayed each year.  A collection of Disney ornaments.  We have also collected quite a few vintage ornaments that we have found on our travels from places such as Mount Dora, we love to go to the festivals that they have there and add to my collections.  The vintage ornaments are usually displayed on the tree.  We have an eclectic mix of colours and styles but the one thing that is a common thread through out them all is the love that has been spread by the buying of them or of the receiving of them when they were given as gifts.  Each ornament is loved and treasured.

The last gift was made and finished yesterday for our dog Mickey.  He is getting older and is starting to feel the cold so I have made hime a Harris Tweed coat to help keep out the cold on his walks and excursions out.

Not sure what happened the photos are not in the order that I put them in but I am sure you get the gist.

I now intend to put together some little hampers to do some doorstep deliveries later in the week.  I have also made some little soaps to pop into cards just to let people know that we are thinking of them.  I have a long list of tasks for the next few days but I am enjoying the process and the joy of the season.

See you soon.

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. 

Christmas Decor

 Its beginning to look like Christmas.  Its beginning to sound like Christmas and it certainly smells like Christmas here in my cottage kitchen.  I have just made some mincemeat cupcakes, the smell of the mincemeat is permeating around.  Let me show you around and share some of my vignettes that hold so many memories of Christmas's past.  This is a small trunk we use as a coffee table.  A wooden stag platter is full with baubles each one telling its own story.  Sorry about the quality of the photos the light is not good.

There is anniversary baubles, along with a couple of Harrods baubles.  Our daughter Amie and I used to meet up when she was at university and go for afternoon tea each December.  It was always the ritual to go to Harrods where she would buy another bauble to add to the collection.  The telephone box was a token from when Victoria and I went on a shopping trip she was writing a review for a magazine.  The little ceramic Santa was bought at the airport at Sanford Florida to use up a whole load of coins I had accumulated over our holiday.  I don't mind bringing paper money back but am not keen on bringing too many coins.  Gerard and I have so much fun recollecting the memories and little stories behind each item.

As we move to the side of the house window, this is the start of our travels.  The nutcracker from Berlin, the plate depicting St Nicolas from Holland.  I also have a couple of blue/white baubles from Delft.  We have been any times both with our girls when they were small and our Grandchildren so many memories to reflect upon.  We are so thankful for the opportunities that we have been given over the years.  The front window shows one of our favourite features that reminds us of Gerard's mum an old pottery Santa.  It was one of her cherished Christmas possessions so it is so nice to have him as part of our collection.

The fireplace is generally the focal point of our room as we use the stove and love the comfort of seeing the peat burn.  We are so blessed with good neighbours that are so generous with peat as gifts.  I love to decorate the mantel and try to make a different garland each year.  This year the basis of the garland was pinecones that had been strung together giving it a more natural feel.  I tried to pick out baubles depicting stags to give it a Scottish theme, it just needs a few tartan bows adding.

We have so much fun pulling out the decorations and remembering Christmas's past.  The table is another focal point as food seems to always feature when we have visitors.  So it is a delight to be able to get all the Christmas crockery out and make a display of it.

Again each piece telling its own story.  Very little matches but it doesn't matter the memories of each piece mean more than how it all looks together.  As you may have noticed there are glass bowls and vases strategically placed around the room holding lights in case of a power cut.  Equally it does look nice in the evening with the twinkly lights.  Candles too are dotted around, which are also a real delight.

A cake stand used to display some baubles as well as lights.  The winter scene baubles are from the first Christmas that Gerard and I had together so whilst a little tatty they are still a great joy.  The cake stand form part of a small display under the main window using an old step ladder, a quilt and vintage bibles which have been well loved and used.

I hope you have enjoyed the start of my tour around the Christmas decor,  it is quite the journey .and may not be to everyone's taste.   For us it is a journey of our life together of our  experiences and opportunities.  The memories of loved ones and the excitement of the coming of the Lord.  Family heirlooms and recipes shared, love and laughter.  Traditions followed and new ones added.  Each year although unique building up to the same outcome the birth of Jesus Christ.  This year will be different for most as the pandemic is making even the simplest of tasks so hard.  All we can do is make the most of it and live in hope that the new year will bring better times.  The vaccine seems to be bringing a mixed response it was so nice to read your thoughts.  I will be back shortly to recommence the tour of our Christmas decor.

Take care and see you soon.

Absence Apologies

 My goodness what great news, yesterday was day 1 of the the roll out of the new Covid vaccine.  I am hopeful that this will be the start of the return to some normality.  Whilst I have some reservations I am not going to dwell on them and have decided I will be having it when I am offered the opportunity.  In other news we are only three weeks away from Brexit and it appears we are going down to the wire as sadly there is still no news of a deal.  I have a good store cupboard but it is my intention to top up again over the next weeks or so.  I anticipate there will be additional problems at the ports and some shortages, but I do hope that I am wrong.  There have already been problems around the country at some Ports due to the pandemic.  Time will tell...

Yesterday saw torrential rain and strong winds causing  problems and disruptions to the ferry.  It is making for some beautiful skies and amazing cloud formations.  I spend a lot of time watching the skies from the window.  They are ever changing and the added bonus is the stunning rainbows.  We are surrounded by beauty and sometimes take it for granted.  The pandemic and staying close to home has been enlightening and has made us appreciate even more this magnificent Island.  Our little stone cottage has become our haven and we are thankful.

I have finally finished all the gifts and intend to spend the day wrapping them up and getting them ready for the post office.  I have mislaid my address book so I am having to email to get address's together again.  I am hoping this will not delay things.  Christmas is on its way and our cosy cottage has had a makeover in readiness.  Our home has been given some Christmas magic and is looking delightful.  I will share it with you over the coming days.  The decorations are the story of our lives together and of the family.  Each bauble and decoration tells its own story and brings back so many wonderful memories.  They are an eclectic mix of colour and styles but each one brings its own joy.

My apologies for my absence, life has taken over recently and I have been busy.  Hope all is well with you and that you are able to enjoy this glorious time of year.  I love Christmas and the Advent season preparing us spiritually for the coming of Jesus Christ.  It is certainly going to be a very Christmas this year with the pandemic and the rules around it.  One of my favourite services it the carol service on Christmas eve which will be sorely missed but I am sure there will be one on the TV, so it is not all doom and gloom.  We have a lot to be thankful for. 

I will catch up with you all soon, take care and stay safe.

See you soon.