The last of the 25 days of Christmas...

The last of the Christmas gatherings has been held and we are fast approaching New Year.
On Christmas Eve when we had family here, I was congratulating myself in remembering to put all the food out; nothing left in the fridge, no bread left in the oven or cupboard... all remembered and put out.
Next morning DH was chuckling and pointing at something in the dining room. This point of interest was the box of bonbons that he had made a special trip to buy early on Christmas Eve, and the box was unopened! All good though as DsD1 commented via Facebook that we could use some of them on Wednesday night when we were celebrating Christmas with her and Dan and 2 other family guests...and we did! So 6 bonbons were used.

So those Days of Christmas photos that took us up to Christmas Day...
Day 22

A collage of some of my Christmas angels; all gifts over the years.
The angel top left is my most recent; from Susan at this year's Sunday Stitchers Christmas Lunch.
The angel top right was a gift from a student teacher whose teaching prac I supervised in late November in his final year . That young man did an excellent prac and I knew he would do well in his chosen career. He is married now with 2 children...so a little while ago now!
The two bead angels on the right in the lower photo, were made as gifts for me by two brothers whom I taught a few years apart.
All treasured items for my tree each year. ( next year I might feature some of the other angels in my collection :-) )

Day 23

The tree and the hutch. Once upon a time, these two would be 'dressed' in their Christmas finery by December 1. This year I got this all done on the evening of December 21. My previous 'lateness record' was the afternoon of December 24 and it was only done then because the family were coming that night for Christmas dinner.

Day 24
On this day I posted a photo of a decorated tree that I took at Coffee Works in Mareeba FNQ on November 11...so that was early! The decorations were packets of the company's coffee, and a few packets of the tea they blend and sell.

Day 25
As usual I found I had lots more than 25 photos that I could have used for this project in 2016. I always expect to run out but it doesn't happen. This year were all 'first time used' photos, so none from the previous 3 years, although I did put an old favourite in the comments of one day's photo.
For Day 25 I made a collage of photos of Christmas 2016 catch ups that I attended in November and December. 

So now, ever onward until the New Year. Happy New Year Everyone!!

Christmas came to Alderley yesterday...and Day 2 Giveaway.

Last post I wrote about the 'Christmas Lunch' yesterday, and showed a photo of the gift I wrapped up for the Secret Santa gift giving.

The gifts piled up on the small table yesterday...

 After I wrote that post I had a text from one of the ladies who had gone down with  food poisoning from a prepackage meal she and her DH had had the night before. The poor darling needed someone to collect the dessert she had made and also the gift she had for Secret Santa. So I did that for her and couldn't help noticing what she had bought as a gift...it was unwrapped but in a gift bag...I could see it and rather liked it. The system we use is that everyone draws a number and the gifts are chosen in the order starting at #1. I drew #8 which meant that someone else with a lower number would probably select the gift I had my eye on! Lol. 

Choosing gifts had started but no unwrapping until everyone had a gift...

I watched the pile of gifts decrease in size...the gift bag was still there...oh, I thought #7 may have taken it...

Then it was my turn...and the gift bag was still there...and I grabbed it! Lol

This was what was in it...a lantern with a round candle...just perfect for our large veranda! I was thrilled!

We all loved our gifts as a lot of thought had gone in to each and every one.

Now for the Giveaway for today...a bit more of Christmas! Today's item is one of the series of felt decorations sold throughout the UK. Some readers might remember how I had bought the rest of Henry viii wives during our holiday last year. Somehow I had ended up with 2 Kateryn Parr decorations...

So if you would like this beautifully dressed lady for your tree next Christmas, just leave a comment on this post. All 5 Giveaways will be drawn on Monday, January 19 at 7pm EST (Australia). 

Good luck...

Advent...

Yep it's that busy and exciting time; the run up to Christmas. Of course when I was working it wasn't just a busy time, it was frenetic (report writing, tidying classrooms, end of year concerts/plays etc etc)! Nowadays it's a more gentle pace and I enjoy it more. 

The tree went up on Saturday but does not have all the baubles etc on it yet...

On Saturday, DH and I went along to our parish Christmas Markets. I bought a few items including a lovely deep red/maroon geranium and DH bought some raffle tickets and won first prize! We collected the prize yesterday at the 7.30 service. 

It was a basket of goodies...I thought I had taken a photo of the basket before we took the cellophane off it and had a look at all the goodies...but I hadn't taken the photo! So this is just a few items. It was actually a very nice prize, including a $50 gift card, 2 bottles of wine, 2 lots of chocolates, tin of biscuits, a knitted santa and some lovely body lotion, bath gel etc. 

Also while at the service, I took a few photos showing the change of colours for Advent...purple...and also the ring of candles that are gradually lit during the weeks of Advent. 

Also on Sunday I had a group of friends around for our annual Christmas lunch...

Everyone contributes a dish to the meal...the buffet table is starting to fill up as friends arrive...

We also have a Secret Santa gift exchange and as everyone arrived they put their parcel in the big tub...

 Time to load up plates with the delicious food...

 Sitting around enjoying our lunch...

 Then 5 of my dear friends started on the tidy up before we had Secret Santa and desserts. By the time i got my camera, there were only 3 left in my tiny kitchen but you can just imagine how crowded it was when the 5 of them were together :-)

Ahem...some of the empties

Then today I drove little Mitzi Micra for the first time in 6 weeks! I went to the Scarborough Knit and Natter...we meet in a private home and Ron and Claire have been busy decorating for Christmas...

The first photo is an upside down reindeer who spins around and kicks his legs when the button is pushed...you can't help but laugh when you see him in action!

 A lovely knitted Nativity...

Another animated reindeer who sings and waves his foot around...

And sweet knitted Santa and Mrs Claus...

I love all those Christmas figures and animated decorations...I have 3 such decorations that sing Christmas songs...

My modest collection of singing Christmas decorations

How are your Christmas preparations going? I have a few more boxes of decorations to be brought down by DH from the very high cupboards...sounds like I'll be busy!

Some more decorating...'old friends'

In a previous post I mentioned that I have sorted through all the boxes of stored Christmas decorations and have found decorations that I'd completely forgotten about, just like this one... 

I don't know for sure which DD made this but it would have been in her primary school years; possibly at After School Care. My daughters both attended ASC because I was the coordinator of the centre at their school. The paddlepop sticks have been glued to a piece of card and then the message written on with crayon pens. What a treasure and I had forgotten all about it!

Now the next 'forgotten' decoration also has a bit of a story attached to it. It is worked on plastic canvas and the lady who made it, is now no longer with us...she passed away about 5 years ago.

 Audrey was a retired kindergarten teacher who was really 'into craft'. When some funds were needed in our parish, she stitched these wall hangings to sell to raise funds. I bought 4 and gave 3 away as gifts...leaving this one for our family Christmases. I had also forgotten about it and it just sat in one of the boxes in the cupboard. It's brought back lots of happy memories.

A close-up of the stitching

Now the next item has been out on display at Christmas, the last 2 years after I found it all wrapped up in tissue paper at the bottom of a box of decorations.  And it has a bit of a story attached to it as well :-)

Quite a few years ago I saw the plate in a magazine ad and 'just had to have it', but it was being sold through the 'Bradford Exchange' which is similar to the Franklin Mint. These companies sell 'collectibles' but once you buy something, they pester you for ever with mail outs and offers. I ended up buying the plate as I thought that it was so cute and my DDs and I are all cat lovers. There are some real personalities amongst those cats, including some herald angels! These companies sell far too many of each item for them to be valuable, but I didn't buy it as an investment, so that's alright :-)  .

  

Some well loved decorations at our place...

In 2008, DH and I travelled to the UK and Europe. At some of the tourist attractions, I noticed some very cute felt figures and I ended up buying a number of these as souvenirs of our trip. In that year, the British Pound was worth $AUD2.50 and I think that I paid about GBP6.50 for each of them and did feel a bit guilty at the time, about how much money I was spending on Christmas tree decorations. I bought some in Edinburgh Castle, the Tower of London, the Museum of Transport in London and St Paul's Cathedral and one of the buildings in Bath that we toured, that I can remember...there may have been more places. 

Group photo! All unwrapped from the tissue paper, ready for the tree...

Each year since 2008, these decorations go on our tree. I have also used them at school to decorate a tree in the staffroom for our Christmas in July celebrations. I may have felt some guilt but I've never regretted buying them...the 'teacher in me' looks to the time when there are grandchildren in our family who will love these figures as much as I do. The other day I actually found online the company which markets these decorations, and they all still available.  

A Scots Guard and the Archbishop of Canterbury

A Roman soldier and a Roman wealthy lady...bought in Bath. Also in the photo are my Beefeaters and  Queens' Guards

Lord nelson and a London Bobby

Henry V111 of course...but I only bought 2 of his wives...

The rather tragic Mary Queen of Scots...

I also have some other felt figures which also decorate the tree and they have been around for a while...namely 2 angels and a Santa made of felt and a dolly peg. My girls made these when they were still at primary school and I love them! It's always been a family joke that the blonde angel looks like Patsy from the TV show AB Fab (Absolutely Fabulous)...well the 'hair' looks like it's in a 'french roll', lol! 

And this is the Santa.

Now it looks like that online store back in the UK has a very reasonable flat rate for postage...I might just think about those other 4 wives of Henry...it does seem a shame that they can't all be 'together'on the tree ! 

:-)