Monday 3 January 2022

All My Ducks In A Row

I know it is not Twelfth Night yet, but George discovered the drawer where I keep the potatoes- all through his visit, he was bringing us potatoes, and trying to say 'potatoes'. So once he'd left, we had to seriously sort things out at Cornerstones, in case there were spuds lurking in strange places [there were!] So our Christmas stuff is all packed away now.

Here are the bathroom ducks. These only get into the water when grandchildren stay - but I am very aware that bath toys are breeding grounds for mould. After George left I gave these a good overnight soak in a bowl of mild bleach plus detergent solution - being sure to squeeze them hard so they filled up with the liquid, and slosh it round inside.  A good rinse the following morning, and a rest on the dish rack to drain and dry, and they will be fine if Rosie comes for a sleepover.

Next for the draining board treatment were the Christmas Cake Characters. This was very nearly a disaster! I popped them in a bowl of warm detergent [not bleach this time] to wash off the icing from their knees feet. I brushed the sugary bits from Mary's base, then picked up the angel. I realised with horror that unlike the other people, she is not made of resin, but sugar!

Her hair was starting to send brown trickles down her sleeve. I blotted her quickly on kitchen paper, and then balanced her on the wire cradle from a cava cork [Tesco alco-free, very pleasant] The silver trim on her robe had already washed away. Once she has had a few days to really dry out, I shall repaint the trim and then varnish her carefully.  Felt very guilty - when Pauline gave her to me in April, I mistakenly thought she was another resin Culpitt figure. 

Two ladies [and five dogs] turned up to see the Nativity Scene at the side of the Lathe Palace- just as we took away the final piece. "My daughter's been telling me for weeks I need to come and see this, and now it's gone!" she said. She had come from a village ten miles away! I showed her a photo on my phone.  The neighbours opposite have said they were aware of quite a lot of people coming to look at baby Jesus. 

Another neighbour said her great granddaughters turned up this week and asked where Jesus had gone. She said he had fled to Egypt with his parents as King Herod was trying to kill the babies [Matthew Chapter 2] 

Only one ornament got broken this year - and it was not a 'precious' one, so that's fine. And a couple of my cheap plastic Christmas plates cracked [Charity shop buys from years ago] So all was well. But why is that even after careful dismantling and packing and sorting, there is always one decoration that gets missed?

This year, it was love that remained - as the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 - "there remain three things, faith, hope and love- but the greatest of these is LOVE"



20 comments:

  1. Yep, there's always that one thing that gets left out, this year for me it was a candle ... so I burnt it last night!

    It seems that word of your nativity spread far and wide, you really will have to repeat it next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we definitely will repeat it

      Delete
    2. I've just discovered a piece of tinsel in Alan's draped over his mirror. I wonder how long it will take him to notice it ... the urge to tell him is great but I shall resist ;-)

      Delete
  2. I always smile at your post titles, Ang. How funny finding potatoes hidden by George, must have made you laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love came down at Christmas
    Love, a lovely love divine
    Love was born at Christmas
    Stars and angels gave the sign.

    Love will be our token
    Love be yours, and love be mine
    Love from God to all of us
    Love for plea and gift a sign

    A favorite hymn was brought to mind with your picture. I think it's quite appropriate this is what was "left behind" at your house this year.

    May it be true for all of us in these strange and seemingly endless pandemic times.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh poor angel!
    How apt that the decoration remaining was Love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes - I'm glad that love remains, a reminder of Immanuel, God with us

      Delete
  5. We always miss something that doesn't get put away. Then it gets stashed somewhere where we don't remember for next Christmas. There are Christmas decoration oddments all over the house in various cupboards and cubby holes!
    I dread the taking down and putting away. It always seems to take so long and without the satisfaction of putting the decorations up. Although I am glad to see the back of them by twelfth night.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just found a Christmas tablecloth in the laundry basket! It's never ending...

      Delete
  6. Too funny about the potatoes! As for the angel, who would have guessed that it was made of sugar? I do like the "love" decoration. Sorry to learn that there were disappointed visitors to your lovely Nativity scene. But you know, Christmas isn't over until at least Epiphany, (6th January although some churches celebrated it early yesterday). In Austria the Nativity Scene was in the church until February 2nd! I'm campaigning for more Christmas after Christmas, and less before!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Next year I hope to have it in place earlier in Advent & keep it up longer. This year things were complicated

      Delete
  7. I laughed at your ducks all in a row! When I was a child, I read about rubber ducks and wanted one so much! One year, I even requested one from Father Christmas that one of my Christian cousins had told me about. But, there were no rubber ducks at that place and time; I received a stuffed toy duck, which wasn't what I was expecting. It drowned in the bathtub! LOL. Maybe George should receive one of those Potato Head toys to play with!
    I'm glad you were able to salvage your sugar angel! The love sign looks like something that can stay up, at least until St. Valentine's Day! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I am so sorry you got the wrong sort of duck. The angel is much better with her coat of varnish.

      Delete
  8. Eek, that was a scary moment with the melting angel!! Well done for quick thinking! How lovely that your nativity was inspiring visitors to come but although a shame it was being deconstructed, at least you were there to share pictures! George and the potatoes sounds very funny.
    I'm on my train now. Not sure whose good idea it was to dispatch a 3 carriage train at Rush hour. There's still a lot of people on it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm really concerned for teachers in Primary schools right now, they seem to be real covid hotpots. Keep well, keep safe Kezzie

      Delete
  9. I think it must be a northern boy thing with the potatoes. My northern son used to post potatoes in my kitchen swing bin. The experience didn't go to waste as his first job was on the veg store at our local supermarket.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll get back to you on this when George gets his first Saturday job!

      Delete
    2. I love the story of George and the potatoes. My small son used to pile up bars of soap when visiting his Nan. It would drive her crazy when she found them but he always found a moment to do it when we weren't looking 😂

      Delete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!