I'm more of an early bird than a night owl; love to be up in the morning and getting on with things - that means journalling, knitting and scrapping I hasten to add - not that housework!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 26 - Boxing Day
Another lazy day! Simon's friend, Nick, and his daughter, Amelia, came for lunch and we opened her presents and then had to watch The Night Garden for all the time she was here. Such a good little girl, Nick should be really proud of her.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 25 - The Big Day
We started Christmas by going to Midnight Mass at St Andrew's. It was a really lovely service. Christmas morning was really mild so no snow. We pottered about and were generally very lazy, cooked the lunch and ate it when it was ready (no timetable) and then took Poppy for a long walk in the afternoon. It was such a stress free and peaceful Christmas and was great to spend the day with my son.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 24 - Night Before Christmas
This is the "politically correct" version of Twas the Night Before Christmas. I thought it was quite funny. Written by Harvey Ehrlich in 1992.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 23 - Stocking Traditions
We don't do stockings anymore as Simon is grown up but he still always has a chocolate orange! Hopefully, one day, he'll have children of his pwn that he can hang stockings for.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 22 - To Do List
This was my To Do list - not a lot on it, I wanted this to be a totally relaxed Christmas. We spent today at mother's with all the family. It was Simon's 27th birthday as well. Poppy and Frankie were introduced for the first time and had a fantastic time running around the garden.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 21 - Freeze Frame
Pictures of my lounge on the day we put the tree up and got the Santas out.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 20 - Totally Unexpected
This gift of Christmas pastries was totally unexpected. They look so Christmassy. I love all the gingerbread shapes, they look so festive.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 19 - Christmas Letter
I've not written a letter but chose the works of Santa Baby as they always make me smile
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 17 - Saw This and Thought of You!
This little chap in his very baggy jumper is the perfect present for my friend Jeanne. We've been knitting together for years and I'm just hoping that she won't check out my blog before Christmas!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 16 - Grateful
I'm grateful for loads more than this - I could write reams but family and friends sum up most of it. I also found this poem on Nita Vleeming's Flickr photostream and thought it said it all perfectly so have added a page into my journal with it on.
GRATITUDE – Edgar Guest
Be grateful for the kindly friends that walk
along your way;
Be grateful for the skies of blue that smile
from day to day;
Be grateful for the health you own, the work
you find to do,
For round about you there are men less fortu-
nate than you.
Be grateful for the growing trees, the roses
soon to bloom,
The tenderness of kindly hearts that shared your
days of gloom;
Be grateful for the morning dew, the grass
beneath your feet,
The soft caresses of your babes and all their
laughter sweet.
Acquire the grateful habit, learn to see how blest
you are,
How much there is to gladden life, how little
life to mar!
And what if rain shall fall to-day and you with
grief are sad;
Be grateful that you can recall the joys that
you have had.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 15 - Visitors
I don't know who I'll see or when so thought a guest book would be a nice idea. And I'll be able to get people to look at my journal at the same time - a cunning plan!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 14 - Christmas Music
Silent Night is my absolute favourite Christmas carol and I was so pleased to find this history of it as it makes it even more special. The picture is from a Christmas card on the net as well and I just love it.
The Real Story Of Silent Night
The year 2008 marks the 190th Anniversary of Silent Night
Many interesting fables abound for the origins of "Silent Night." Most of them are fanciful and untrue.
The Christmas Eve of 1818 was at hand. Pastor Joseph Mohr of St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf decided that he needed a carol for the Christmas Eve service. The little poem he had written two years earlier while serving at the pilgrim church in Mariapfarr just might work. Perhaps this poem could be set to music. He hurried off to see his friend, Franz Xaver Gruber, who was a schoolteacher and also served as the church's organist and choir master. Maybe he could help. He did.
In a few short hours Franz came up with the hauntingly beautiful melody that is so loved and revered to this day. At the request of Joseph, who had a special love for his guitar, Franz composed the music for guitar accompaniment. Just short hours later, Franz stood with his friend the pastor, Joseph, in front of the altar in St. Nicholas church and introduced "Stille Nacht" to the congregation.
The Real Story Of Silent Night
The year 2008 marks the 190th Anniversary of Silent Night
Many interesting fables abound for the origins of "Silent Night." Most of them are fanciful and untrue.
The Christmas Eve of 1818 was at hand. Pastor Joseph Mohr of St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf decided that he needed a carol for the Christmas Eve service. The little poem he had written two years earlier while serving at the pilgrim church in Mariapfarr just might work. Perhaps this poem could be set to music. He hurried off to see his friend, Franz Xaver Gruber, who was a schoolteacher and also served as the church's organist and choir master. Maybe he could help. He did.
In a few short hours Franz came up with the hauntingly beautiful melody that is so loved and revered to this day. At the request of Joseph, who had a special love for his guitar, Franz composed the music for guitar accompaniment. Just short hours later, Franz stood with his friend the pastor, Joseph, in front of the altar in St. Nicholas church and introduced "Stille Nacht" to the congregation.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 13 - Christmas Presents
Not even started to wrap mine yet and, luckily, all mine are delivered by hand. Good job I don't have any to post anymore as I'm usually late with all my cards even!!
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 12 - Christmas Past
This one made me feel a bit sad for Christmases past but also made me look forward even more to all the family being together a week on Saturday.
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 11 - Christmas Tree
Not taken the photos for this one yet but know that I'm going to try and take a decent photo of a Christmas tree this year, something I've never had any success at before. Hoping to get our little plug and play one up at the weekend and will be taking photos of all the trees I see this year.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Journa Your Christmas Prompt 10 - Gift Wrap
I used to love it, wrapping presents beautifully with gorgeous paper, fancy ribbon and bows for everyone to rip off with a "how pretty"! Now I'd rather spend that time doing me things and wrapping presents in those marvellous and beautiful bags you can buy in Tescos for tuppence and a twix! Only half my lo here as I ran out of yellow ink so haven't been able to add to my journal properly but I didn't want to lose the flow and get too behind.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 8
Oh no! I'm getting behind! Sunday night and I'm only just uploading Saturday's prompt. However, I have catalogued all of my stash - well that that is downstairs - to put on Ravelry, along with pictures. Also cooked a roast and went shopping with DS to get hime a new coat for walking the pooch.
Anyway, we went to Market Harborough for the late night shopping last night. It's just a little town and the decorations weren't hugely sophisticated or anything, but the atmosphere was great. There was the carousel and bands, people singing carols and Christmas music, sellers with mulled wine and hot chestnuts. Freezing cold which is just how it should be a this time of year. I even bought a present that has been eluding me so I was a very happy bunny! Shannon was also a happy bunny in her flashing bunny ears.
Anyway, we went to Market Harborough for the late night shopping last night. It's just a little town and the decorations weren't hugely sophisticated or anything, but the atmosphere was great. There was the carousel and bands, people singing carols and Christmas music, sellers with mulled wine and hot chestnuts. Freezing cold which is just how it should be a this time of year. I even bought a present that has been eluding me so I was a very happy bunny! Shannon was also a happy bunny in her flashing bunny ears.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 7 - To Do List
This is more about taking something off the list really. This year we're having a family secret Santa. We all know who we're buying for but not who's buying for us. Every year I see friends running around trying to find presents for every member of the family on a limited budget and this is going to, hopefully, cut down the list, take a little of the stress away and replace it with a bit of fun. We've set a budget and the present has to be something funny. Can't wait to see what the neices and nephews are going to come up with!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Day 6 - Good and Bad
Today's prompt was for a good memory and a bad (ish) one and these are two that came to mind.
The Good - Every year we used to have a Christmas Eve party so that friends and family could pop in and be fed before taking their respective children home to bed and finishing their Christmas Eve jobs. My brother would dress as Santa and brought presents saying that his sleigh was too heavy and that he had to lose some weight in order for it to get off the ground. The children either loved it or were terrified!
I love this Santa picture and have been wanting to use it. It's a real Santa Santa to me.
And the not so bad.......... When I was seventeen I was desperate for driving lessons for Christmas and I was so disappointed on Christmas morning when I got a Puffin quilt instead. Ungrateful or what!?! Puffin quilts were the crème de la crème of quilts and were quite expensive but you couldn’t drive one! Little did I know then that that quilt would see me through college and nurse training, my little bit of home wherever I went. It was one of the first Scandinavian quilts to hit this country, made from goose down not polyester, and could squidge up into the smallest of bags. I can’t remember when I finally had to throw it out but I know I've never had a quilt like it since!
The Good - Every year we used to have a Christmas Eve party so that friends and family could pop in and be fed before taking their respective children home to bed and finishing their Christmas Eve jobs. My brother would dress as Santa and brought presents saying that his sleigh was too heavy and that he had to lose some weight in order for it to get off the ground. The children either loved it or were terrified!
I love this Santa picture and have been wanting to use it. It's a real Santa Santa to me.
And the not so bad.......... When I was seventeen I was desperate for driving lessons for Christmas and I was so disappointed on Christmas morning when I got a Puffin quilt instead. Ungrateful or what!?! Puffin quilts were the crème de la crème of quilts and were quite expensive but you couldn’t drive one! Little did I know then that that quilt would see me through college and nurse training, my little bit of home wherever I went. It was one of the first Scandinavian quilts to hit this country, made from goose down not polyester, and could squidge up into the smallest of bags. I can’t remember when I finally had to throw it out but I know I've never had a quilt like it since!
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 5 - Counting
I didn't have a lot of time last night but managed to finish day 5's prompt. I think this is the first year we haven't had an Advent calendar in the house. It doesn't matter though because I think I'm looking forward to this Christmas more than usual so I'm counting the days anyway.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 4 "Dream Christmas"
In 1988 we spent Christmas with friends in Malawi. We stayed a month during which time the country ran out of meat and sugar. We had a New Year Party and arrived at the market to pick up the salad, ordered earlier that week, to be told that it had all been washed away by the rains. Christmas stocks arrived in the shops in the second week of January. The local children had never seen party poppers, musical christmas cards or crackers. The electricity was turned off throughout the country on a Sunday for maintenance and, in most places, if you wanted hot water, a wood burner had to be lit to heat it.
All the presents we received that year were either homemade or bought from local crafts people; carvings, malachite jewelry, raffia toys made by village children, homemade sweets and other delights.
For Christmas Dinner we had turkey, ham and all the trimmings, bought on special trips made to South Africa, with locally grown vegetables. We took pheasants, specially vacuum wrapped by our local butcher so they would withstand the heat and Christmas Puddings and brandy sauce from M&S.
On Christmas Eve, Mandy took all the kids to the edge of the lake to call for Father Christmas. The grownups sat drinking champagne and rum punch beneath the cashew tree until after midnight on the beach at Chinteche.
It was magical.
The second page is left blank for more photos when I find them!
All the presents we received that year were either homemade or bought from local crafts people; carvings, malachite jewelry, raffia toys made by village children, homemade sweets and other delights.
For Christmas Dinner we had turkey, ham and all the trimmings, bought on special trips made to South Africa, with locally grown vegetables. We took pheasants, specially vacuum wrapped by our local butcher so they would withstand the heat and Christmas Puddings and brandy sauce from M&S.
On Christmas Eve, Mandy took all the kids to the edge of the lake to call for Father Christmas. The grownups sat drinking champagne and rum punch beneath the cashew tree until after midnight on the beach at Chinteche.
It was magical.
The second page is left blank for more photos when I find them!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Journal Your Christmas Prompt 3 - Cards
I feel quite pleased that I haven't fallen behind yet even though it's only day three - lol. This prompt made me realise that it is getting quite close and I'd really better start thinking about cards and other ways of sending greetings this year. I'm thinking of doing something in smilebox as I love using music with graphics.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Journal Your Christmas (Prompt Two - Weather) And Other Bits
The weather wasn't nearly as bad as we were promised today, the sun even shone this afternoon. I don't mind when it rains anyway; it still reminds me of coming home on leave when I was a girl. I love the smell of the garden after the rain, and being cozy inside when its pouring and blowing a gale. I don't suppose it's all the Christmas related but dark nights, wrapping up warm and coming home to warm house are all things that herald the start of the season.
Had time to do a couple of rows on each of these wips, to take a look at a couple of web pages, http://www.knittingfriends.com/ and http://www.craftzine.com/ and to download all the podcasts I've missed to date from http://lixieknitsit.podbean.com/ (you'll have to register if you want to listen but it's worth it and only takes a minute).
Also added a couple of books to my Amazon wish list that look like fun, Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorce and Covered in Cat Hair and Knitting Under The Influence. That'll be two more to add to my Ravelry site. Got my acceptance just the other day and building up my details, will be great when it's done!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Altered Journal Week 47
I thought I'd start and work backwards as I've missed so many weeks so here is my favourite place!
Manifesto page
This is the manifesto page for the Journal Your Christmas course by Shimelle that was given to me by my little sis. I can't believe I've actually got the first page done. I'm doing it because I'd like to recapture the magic of a non commercial Christmas this year so hope I manage to stick with it!
Shimelle's Journalling Christmas Course
1st of December already and the start of Journal Your Christmas. The manifesto is as follows:
I declare my intention to journal my Christmas, writing something every day, creating a little bit whenever possible, getting my storied documented for myself and maybe for others to read too.
I hope by taking a little time each day, to reflect, to write, to create, I will keep my Christmas alive and well, despite the commercial pressure that exists outside my door. Family friends and hot beverages will help.
I may meet others taking the same journey. I may share my work from time to time. I may remember just why I loved Christmas in the first place and that may be a very magical moment indeed!
I declare my intention to journal my Christmas, writing something every day, creating a little bit whenever possible, getting my storied documented for myself and maybe for others to read too.
I hope by taking a little time each day, to reflect, to write, to create, I will keep my Christmas alive and well, despite the commercial pressure that exists outside my door. Family friends and hot beverages will help.
I may meet others taking the same journey. I may share my work from time to time. I may remember just why I loved Christmas in the first place and that may be a very magical moment indeed!
Can'y believe how long it is since I put anything on here! Anyway, new aim is to blog at least once a week so that I can keep uptodate.
Poppy is six months old today and is no longer that adorable little black smudge. Can't believe how much she's grown! Look at her now.
I'm delighted to have got my membership to the Ravelry group. It's fascinating. Lots of fab people and all interested in knitting and crochet of course.
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