Unexpected Treasures

Watching Bargain Hunt this week, I nearly choked on my lunchtime sandwich. The teams had been challenged to find something "with an animal connection" and they found a little brass bell for £5. "Look! It's a Gospel Bell like mine!" 

I was a little frustrated that neither the expert, nor the auctioneer recognised it as a Gospel Bell, often called an Evangelist Bell or a Sanctuary Bell.

I found mine on Fakenham Market in 2014 for £2. Explanation of the bell here The team paid £5 and it sold for £15. Sold under their correct description, they usually go for more than that. No, I'm not selling mine!

There's a CS close to my hairdressers in Norwich, and I picked this book up for 50p. I could see in the shop that some of the pop-ups needed a repair here and there, but it looked interesting. Something to read with the grandchildren.

Further research when I got home revealed that
Tomie de Paola was an award winning children's illustrator in the USA. The book came out in 1984 and is recognised as a classic, and families read it together each Chr8stas Eve. There are six amazing pictures telling the Nativity Story, with accompanying text, and pop-ups and sliders.

1. The Annunciation - a house in Nazareth [dove flies, bell swings, and Gabriel nods and waves a hand to Mary
2. The Census  - in Bethlehem a line of people walk past a Roman soldier, with Joseph, Mary and the wee donkey bringing up the rear. 
3. An innkeeper points the couple "not this way, that way!" directing them to the stable
4. An angel proclaims the baby's birth to astonished shepherd's, and even more singing angels fly out from behind the clouds 
5. Three wise men stand outside Bethlehem pointing to the star - and suddenly it shines even more brightly over the stable
6. Everyone turns up to worship at the manger. No moving parts here, but the reader should shine a small torch through the little hole in the stable roof to illuminate the ChristChild.

If you have 8 minutes to spare,  here is a woman [plus two glove puppets] reading the story

I am delighted with this ten-bob-treasure [my bargains are often measured in £sd]

One more thing...

A couple of months back, Jill in Dorset won the Noahs Ark panel. Sorry Jill, I think your email may have got lost in the ether. Please send me your address as a comment [I won't publish it] And I will post the piece off to you ASAP. Apologies for the delay Update, thank you Jill. Address received. Problem solved

Speaking of unexpected treasures, have you been following Sue-in-Suffolk, and the wonderful package of old photographs she bought recently? Fabulous photos of villages along the old A12 in the Edwardian era...

Advent Sunday 2

The second Advent candle represents PEACE. As we continue to pray for peace in our world, let us also seek God's peace in our own hearts. 

This is a prayer by Henri Nouwen. 

Lord Jesus

Master of both the light and the darkness

Send your Holy Spirit 

upon our preparations for Christmas. 

We whose hearts are heavy

seek the joy of your presence. 

We are your people, 

walking in darkness, 

yet seeking the light. 

To you we say

"Come Lord Jesus!" 

Deck The Halls!

In between plumbing, and preparing for the Craft Fair, I've been slowly putting up more decorations.

My lovely rocking horse, which we have had for 30+ years looks much better since I refurbished and restuffed it. It stands proudly on the bookshelf in the hall.

The Gospel Chandelier has been blinged up with red and silver baubles, and this year, I've hung my wire LOVE sign from the centre.

The fabric wreath was made [with Rosie's help] from a kit which Kirsten sent me last year.

And Bob put up two hooks outside for my wreath from the November workshop. 

Two older decorations and two new ones. And it's starting to look very Christmassy. The dining table is covered with the stuff I'm taking to the Fair this afternoon. I hope it sells.