Thursday morning was lovely - both girls and their families came for coffee, then Steph and family left for Manchester, while Liz and co went off to buy food. John took a great picture of everyone
Rosie is busy with her Elf Pen. It has ten different colours. I had one of these when I was her age and I loved it. She's had a lot of fun drawing, and changing the colours.
By 11.30 the house was so quiet. It was sunny [but so cold] outside, and the wind had dropped. It didn't take too long to undress and dismantle the Nativity Tableau
Then after lunch we took all the inside decorations down. That took
much longer. Everything needs to be packed away so carefully.
Before packing them away, I completely forgot to take photos of our wonderful gifts from Julian - two gorgeous glass tree ornaments from Liberty. For Bob a coffee pot, and for me a sewing machine. Very thoughtfully chosen. I found pictures on the Internet.. We have had a great time, and we thank God for our family.
I hate undressing and dressing in the cold! Our decorations will come down at the weekend, except for electric candles and a string of lights. They'll stay at least as long as candlemas.
ReplyDeleteCandlemas is four weeks away, I'd like thingsto be cleared-up before then - but I have different candles around all year anyway
ReplyDeleteYes, taking down decs is hard work, my 15 yr old g.daughter did my high up ones but they still need sorting and a lot need to go, less is more.Sandra.
ReplyDeleteI have some bits which will go to charity - boxed and labelled NOW and will be stored till next November. No CS wants X-dex in January!
DeleteWhat lovely ornaments. Sounds like you had a great time. Sending you summer warmth from New Zealand. Margaret
ReplyDeleteThanks M. Happy New Year
DeleteWhen our only heating was after we'd lit the Rayburn, I used to take my clothes to bed - not wearing them!- but bringing them into bed when I woke up to warm them. I still have a window open a smidge unless it's really bitterly cold and no heat in the bedroom but a lovely radiator in the en-suite - luxury.
ReplyDeleteI remember pulling my school uniform 9n, under the bed clothes too
DeleteOh so do I. We had one small electric fire which I was sometimes allowed to use in the bedroom. I'd put the underwear in front of it while I was washing in the bathroom! JanF
DeleteIn Dorset I always left fresh undies on the radiator so they were warm in the morning
DeleteWe always wait for Epiphany before putting away the decorations, including the crib. Otherwise it see like the Three Wise Men arrive and everyone has already left.
ReplyDeleteYou have a point there
DeleteWe dismantled everything yesterday. I have to confess I miss the twinkle lights. What charming glass ornaments, a very thoughtful gift. When I get out the tree ornaments every year it is like greeting old friends. I too used to put my school uniform in bed beside me folded neatly and it was comforting to have warm clothes to step into in our freezing bedroom. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteTwinkle lights always make me smile. Not so sure about garish flashing illuminated Santas outside people's houses though
DeleteI was just like Rosie-give me some fancy pens or pencils and some scrap paper and I was happy all day long. I’m still a stationery fan and have a generous collection of lovely items. Good picture of you all and glad that Steph and family arrived home safely. I have just found a WhatsApp message from my daughter to say they arrived home from Lanzarote at 1am after a flight delay. Small price to pay for two weeks in gloriously sunny weather. Think I need to do some laundry today but it will have to go into the dryer. Catriona
ReplyDeleteLovely Stationery is something many of us have stashed away [maybe this year I should USE it and write more letters!]
DeleteGlad you daughter and family safe home too. Now you have given me an ear worm for the day - the modern carol "Come and join the Celebration" with the verse about the wise men bringing precious gifts from lands afar. [if you know the carol, omit 'afar' and sing Lanzarotte, and you will understand] š¤£Happy New Year!!!
I had to dust and hoover the sitting room this morning (wood burning stove plus brilliant sunshine shows up all the dancing motes!) so have gathered up all the cards and greenery. The cards I will keep but the greenery has gone in the copper kindling bucket. My little town of Bethlehem on the landing (all my decorations arranged on an empty set of old mahogany hanging shelves around my nativity figures which did indeed come from Bethlehem) will stay until Candlemas I think as I love it so much. I am also loving the clear starry skies with a sliver of crescent moon last night. With a poorly husband weighing less than nine stone I am feeling no guilt about keeping the house warm, although now we are about to wrap up warm and go for a walk in this glorious sunshine. Rosie always appears so content and I loved the horse jumper you made her. You are a very talented knitter Angela. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteYou must keep him warm!! Rosie's here this afternoon In her jumper
DeleteI got rid of surplus decs on my Buy Nothing Project page on FB. One lady came for a bag of candles and said they don't use any electricity for lighting in her house only candles and they provide some heat! Wish I'd kept them but wouldn't trust myself to extinguish every candle in the house before bedtime! Then another lady who came for surplus silver decs said her husband has great plans for Xmas decs next year!then my 'the Snowman' tray went to a lady whose father collects Snowman stuff. All-in-all its been a great week to keep stuff out of landfill!Do you have a Buy Nothing Project in your area? If not, you could start one!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have Buy Nothing Projects round here, I must investigate further
DeleteWhat perfect gifts from Julian! So incredibly thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI had one of those multi colored pens too, no idea what became of it! JanF
He's a brilliant gifter!
DeleteThat's a lovely photo of the family, and Rosie happily working with her elf pen. I was a little taken aback when I saw that you were dismantling the Nativity tableau, as I am just thinking I should bring the ceramic 3 Kings upstairs. I never got to them before Christmas. I don't think they showed up at the stable, anyway, but at the house where the Holy Family was living afterwards. So much to puzzle over! I will leave our decorations until after Epiphany but probably not until Candlemas. I know that the Polish churches in Canada leave theirs until then, like the churches in Austria.
ReplyDeleteOf course, you do know that if you take down your decorations you are not allowed to eat any more chocolate! (Just joking).
I shall pass on your remarks about chocolate to Bob, who may ignore them
DeleteWhat gorgeous tree baubles, they were a lovely present. xx
ReplyDeleteI have packed them away SO carefully, in their own box
DeleteLovely to see the family picture. J's Dec's are well chosen!
ReplyDeleteC took down our tree yesterday as he wanted to repot the Christmas tree! I was very sad as I feel I haven't had enough days of it yet! I put away all the decorations but left as sneaky felt wreath saying 'Merry and Bright' up on our living room door.
I'm hoping to still be singing a Carol at church tomorrow!!
I'm impressed C is repotting the tree.. We are not singing carols at church tomorrow. We will have Tell out my soul, Vagabonds, and Lord for the years. I know this cos I'm preaching and I chose them!
DeleteI'm impressed C is repotting the tree.. We are not singing carols at church tomorrow. We will have Tell out my soul, Vagabonds, and Lord for the years. I know this cos I'm preaching and I chose them!
DeleteWe have had it since 2021 (bought for £15 fromWilko as we felt sorry for it!) and it lives in a pot but C decided it needed a much bigger pot so I'm not sure how easy it'll be to get it in the house next year!
DeleteI'm impressed you've kept it for 4 Christmases
Delete