Thursday, December 20, 2007

That festive feeling...

Things have finally slowed down folkydokee wise..... the last orders have been sent and the book text finally finished. Now is the time for my own family Christmas preparations....




These beautiful glass vintage baubles were a charity shop find about 10 years ago... Each year as the Christmas box is brought down from the loft i anticipate their beauty and am never disappointed. Our other decorations are a collection built up since the girls were born. Each year they both choose a new tree ornament. Their Advent calender also over the past 6 years has included some tree decorations. The tree is now looking quite full!




I love colourful Christmas Trees and this year the girls took charge in decorating ours.
We went to a local farm to choose our tree, last Sunday. It was charming and there were a few animals to see including reindeer. We spent ages (as always), looking at each one and then returned to the one my lovely man had picked out in the first place!




When we got home we got out the lights and after securing it in the stand and pruning out a few branches the tree came inside, then to be twisted round and round by 'daddy' (about 4 times.. with him lying on the ground underneath) before us 3 girls had decided on the right angle... well he did ask us!
The coloured lights no longer all worked so we decided on the white lights.. they looked lovely all alight. My eldest and i both decided that a funny bit of tree sticking out would have to be pruned off. Well off i went for the garden secateurs... well you can guess can't you.. For a person who is so safety conscious to the extent of being annoying, i couldn't believe what i did next...... pruned off the offending sticky out branch and cut through the cable of the lights! The cable was green and i just didn't think...so very scarily easy to do. Luckily this was an indoor/outdoor set so went through a transformer so the voltage was small. If it had been a basic straight into 240 volts type string of lights then it would have been a very different story.
Consequently we couldn't decorate the tree as planned on Sunday evening.... as in my husband's words.. 'mummy's killed Christmas '.
To make matters worse in all this excitement i put my back out and have been unable to do very much these past few days, although it is improving and today i feel much better... so tidying the house can't be put off any longer!




After a new string of lights was purchased (with a silver cable) the girls decorated the tree on Tuesday evening. Here is the result...



All we need to do now is put the angel on top and then finish decorating the rest of the house.

The wreath for our front door is the next job using my twiggy circle.. made from wisteria prunings about 4 years ago.. it feels great to recycle it each year.




I like a simple natural wreath and usually use my sweet myrtle which is covered with dark glossy berries at the moment.



I dried some oranges the other evening and will perhaps include them too...



Solstice and Christmas wishes to you all. Have a wonderful holiday week with light, warmth and peace.
g
x

16 comments:

annie's abode said...

The tree looks lovely - so will the wreath.

Have a lovely Christmas and a relaxing break,

Ax

Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes) said...

How lovely to see a Flour Loft post popping up in my bloglines! The tree looks lovely and so glad that you have managed to resurrect Christmas (that sounds scary, you poor thing).

How lovely to have finished all your work just in time for the Christmas break. I hope you and your family have a lovely rest.

Florence x

Samantha said...

Great to hear you have finished all your work (for now).

Hope you're feeling better soon!

x

this is my patch said...

Hi Ginny, thank goodness you can start preparing for your Christmas now, any later and you wouldn't have left yourself much time, although not a great time to put your back out? I am so fussy when it comes to choosing a real tree, difficult with a real one but I like it to look symmetrical, no odd shaped ones will do, I love yours, it takes me back as a kid, and seeing those vintage baubles reminds me of ours being put back into their own little compartments, which of course prevented too many breakages, and the same ones could be brought out year after year. Sweet myrtle looks lovely, I haven't any in my garden, and have never come across it, something to look out for in other people’s gardens, no room in my own! I hope you straighten up soon and wish you and your family a great Christmas and Happy New Year and look forward to being buddies again in 2008. Louise x

Blooming Felt said...

What beautiful decorations !!

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Have a really lovely Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Sarah xx

Anonymous said...

The boys always decorate our tree, something that still needs doing, well actually it still needs buying. I will take note of your cautionary tale and not let them near the secarteurs!
Merry Christmas.
Carolyn
http://willowhouse.typepad.com

willow said...

Have a lovely relaxing Christmas, Ginny.

alice c said...

Have a wonderful time with your family Ginny and thank you for your friendship this year.

Gigibird said...

And there was me thinking you were going to show us your finished wreath:)
Happy Christmas:)

Ragged Roses said...

Your tree looks lovely, Glad you're safe!!! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas
Kimx

A Saucerful Of Secrets said...

Merry Christmas to you Ginny, and your family, have a wonderful time.Maybe you should steer clear of any dangerous implements, atleast over the festive period, lol.Best Wishes from Annie x

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Hello Ginny
I am sure it is easily done... but nevertheless a very shocking (!!) experience for you.
You have every excuse now to sit back and let Santa's little helpers wait on you..
I hope you have a wonderful and comfortable Christmas.. look forward to more chats next year.

Love Michelex

Victoria May Plum said...

Have a lovely (and safe!) Christmas, everything looks beautiful, as I'm sure the finished wreath does too.

Make sure that you rest over the Christmas period, as I'm sure that you will be so busy in 2008.

Best wishes
Victoria x

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

Fantastic pictures...Wishing you a VERY Happy Christmas. Lots of warm wishes being sent your way.
Suzie Sews

Tracy said...

Beautiful Christmas preparations! Love your Christmas/advent calendar. Thanks so much for stopping by to see me, and the birthday wishes too. :o) Hope you & yours have been having a wonderful holiday! Wishing you all love, peace and JOY in the New Year ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny,

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas. Sending warm best wishes for a safe and happy New Year.

Marie x