Memory

For Grandad. Now at peace - 23rd December 2011.

xXx

Christmas cheer

It is the eve of Christmas and all through the house excited children awaken, bouncing about.

Good day to all my lovely readers - good morning from the UK.

We have woken this morning and have found ourselves in the throws of preparations. Family arrive from Hampshire mid morning.


The children have opened number twenty four on the advent calender and are currently singing 'Christmas pudding' at the tops of their voices - with wiggling bums and all!

I am finding it very hard to concentrate so I will try and put this down as legible as possible - without sounding too harassed or rushed. I shall try to keep calm.


Mr T has already asked the kids to 'calm down' at least ten times in the past half an hour - phew I feel it is going to be one of those mornings.

This is the first time the littlest Boo has really understood what all the excitement is about and I have to say is being the most vocal and excitable about 'who' is going to visit them in the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

But this is what it is all about. Children, then family and if you can - all being together. Those are my priorities.


Happy Christmas my dear readers and thank you for the journey in 2011. For following through with us and your continued support - without you I'm not sure how long I would of continued on my own journey through this wonderful land of blog. You truly are my inspiration.

So here's to 2012 and all that she brings.

Merry Christmas my dear friends and a jolly good New Year.

xXx

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Winter Solstice

It's the Winter Solstice today - the shortest day - the beginning of Winter. It is a perfect day.

Today (down here) couldn't be further away from the picture I took yesterday afternoon - all snuggled up warm, candles softly illuminating the house, the drizzle silently falling.

Today it is a glorious day, a marker of a day, a day I've been quite desperate to reach these past few weeks.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the sky is blue - not a cloud to be seen, it's warm and people are (actually) walking around in town with shorts and t-shirts on.......I kid you not.

Yesterday felt like the longest day - today it feels like a shiny, bright new one.

Happy Winter Solstice around the world one all - whether like us you are enjoying this day as it gently unfolds or if you are just entering it - with a great big yawn - or maybe just leaving, making your way up that wooden hill to bed. Depending - of course - on your time zone.

Happy, joyful Winter Solstice.

xXx

:: the smallest one and I are still ill - thank you for all your kind words and asking - never has one person felt so run down for such a longtime. Well two weeks really, but it's felt like.........forever! So many apologies if I haven't popped by and I will try and be here on the eve of Christmas. Folks and family allowing.

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Silent

I have completely lost my voice.

The kids tipped me one step over the edge yesterday morning resulting in me shouting up the stairs - honestly you'd think we had a herd of elephants living with us! - leaving me completely and utterly speechless.

I am lost for words....literally.

Never in my life have I ever lost my voice before.

I think they may of cracked me.

Fortunately for me though - no more shouting.

All I have to do is give them a look and place my fingers to me lips - not even a 'sssshhhhh' can be uttered - and all peace is restored.

I think they know they have done their worst.

I hope your Christmas run up is going a little bit smoother then mine.

xXx

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ps. I have a vase full of bright red tulips sat in the front room - in December.

Tulips and the Christmas edition of the Radio Times - in the same room sat side by side...............together.

Is that normal?

Offerings

With the Christmas season pretty much (nearly) upon us it's meant the children have been involved in all sorts of activities - including partying......a lot!


Honestly, they have a better social life then me (not that it was full in the first place) these days and the need to be constantly on the go, chaperoned to events and ferried around from one function or another is starting to take its toll on this poor old mama.


I'm full of cold - again - and I'm feeling very sorry for myself.

And if another person says to me 'well best get it out of the way before Christmas' I think I will go 'aaarrrrggghhhhhh!'..........very loudly! Best not get ill in the first place would be the better thing to do.


But hey ho, tis that time of year again and having little ones means getting ill goes hand in hand I'm afraid. Still doesn't do much for my grumps though.

Anyhoo. I think maybe I should just slope off quietly now and leave you with the pictures of some tasty little cakes I helped make with our smallest at the weekend for one of her 'occasions'

Chocolate and Peppermint (kind of) cupcakes.

She's turning into a right little baker and can always be found perched on a chair beside me in the kitchen when I'm cooking either asking 'what you doing and can I help?' or having a jolly good stir of a mixture (for good luck) adding her own little personal touch.


Have a fabulous day and sorry for the grumbles - anyone would think I have man flu or something!

xXx

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O Tannenbaum

It's finally up - the Christmas tree is finally up!

After much stress with the stand this year that didn't want to behave, a box missing in the loft containing all the fairy lights - I think it has been gobbled up by the attic goblins. Wouldn't that make a great childrens story book? - and a bag of baubles that seem to have completely 'vanished' I am finally breathing a great big sigh of relief........three days later.

Mr B didn't get stuck in the Christmas crowds that long when he went out to purchase the tree at the weekend - might I add - and it is now starting to look a little bit like Christmas around here.


I did let the kids loose on it first - they had great fun decorating it and jigging along singing at the top of their voices to Christmas carols whilst I (mum) got pleasantly sloshed on mulled wine.

I do have to confess to having a little mix around of some of the decorations though once my little brood had all gone off to bed, as they were all at the level of two foot or below and mostly three items hanging off per branch - the eldest Boo had far more interesting things to do with his time this year!

So I had a wee balance out.

And we have all change this year.

We have a Christmas tree decked in twinkling new led lights that looks all beautiful at night when the lights are turned down low, but a little bit flat during the day due to the lack of sparkle and baubles.

I will head out tomorrow and see if I can find a couple to add to the glitz (or lack of) our tree.

O Christmas Tree

xXx

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Snowball Cookies

Fresh out of the oven - only a moment ago.

I found this recipe early last week when talk of snow was in the air - kick starting those seasonal feelings (for me) and starting to make me feel a little inspired.


We've made two types this afternoon - plain and coconut, but 'oh boy' do I have some great ideas for alternative recipes.


The kitchen is a mess - all covered in puffs of icing sugar and hand prints, there is flour on the floor and the washing up is piled up as tall as me (not that difficult) in the sink, but hey ho - the wood burning stove is stoked up nicely, the kids have retreated to the wii and all I can hear is the whoops and cheers coming from the front room.

These are in honour of our lack of snow and............Mr B has gone out to brave the shops and crowds to get 'the' tree.


I'm off to curl up in the front room and join the kids - eagerly awaiting the return of Mr Boo and our tree.

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you're enjoying the real snow......

if you have it.

xXx

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Candy canes and pretty baubles

Just because............I love them.

Like the pretty wrappers you find in a box of Quality Street.

From me to you -

- have a lovely day.

xXx

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New Postcards

I've listed some new postcards in the shop today.

Next week will be the last week (realistically) I will be able to take orders to - hopefully - guarantee their safe delivery before Christmas.

If you are interested then please either follow the link or find the tab called 'Shop' under my header and follow the instructions.

Thank you

-Nina xxx

Sorry for the post and dash - I've got a mass of things on tonight with the kids.

{PREVIEW}

xXx

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Cosy

Brrrrrrrrrr - gosh it's cold today though no snow with us (yet) just a little frost and ever so bright. A wonderful fresh kind of day that makes your nose and cheeks turn pink, hands firmly planted inside woollen gloves and pockets, scarves wound round tight - up to your chin - and eyes barely peeking out from under a hat. A kind of day that warrants walking briskly everywhere.

Though I doubt I'll have chance to face the seafront today - not even on the promise of a laced hot chocolate - even that is a little too chilly for me.

No - instead I think I'll stay in the warmth, curled up in front of the fire (make my own hot chocolate) read a mag or two, watch cheesy festive films on Christmas 24 and crack on with wrapping a few more parcels.

A nice and warm, cosy kind of day.

Have a lovely one.

xXx

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Merry and Bright

We've been trying to get a little bit festive over here at the weekend - we're not that big on over kill.

The only thing I do, do though at this time of the year - in a big way - is Christmas carols. I love them and 'yes' they have been playing almost continuously since the 1st.....of December that is.


Anyhow - it tends to take me the whole of December - putting up a little at a time - until I feel I've hit the right balance within our home. And for me to get used to all the jingle, jangle!

I'm the same with the taking down as well. I just can't bring myself to rip it all apart in one go, left with a home that feels bare and empty.

I'm one of those really annoying people that takes it all down a little a bit at a time as well.


I guess the reason why I do this or 'why I started' to do this is because I feel Christmas seems to get earlier and earlier - starting at the beginning of December or even the end of November. If that is your way then that's fine - it's just not me because................❉

Being a traditionalist I have imprinted in my mind - grown up with the idea - that is should be the twelve days before Christmas and the twelve days after, but....................❉


I know deep down we all need a little cheering up at this time of the year and I can't bring myself to be the 'bah humbug' mother that sticks firm to this tradition of hers.

~ though the kids have already done their Christmas cards - I haven't.....yet. Maybe I'll just donate a goat instead this year ~

So from the first weekend in December I do a little here and a little there - just introducing a few things at a time - to help make our home look 'Merry and Bright' leaving only the tree for my traditional ways.


I think that makes it this weekend coming and then we will be definitely going to town with the decorations.

How about you - traditional.....or not?

xXx

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