Thursday 10 December 2009

A bear, a book, baubles and beads and other stuff!

When you stand in the window, look out at the clear, pale blue sky and feel the warmth of the sun on your face, it is hard to believe that Christmas is only two weeks away. However, there are predictions of wintry showers, possibly snow, and low temperatures next week, so maybe it will feel a bit more Christmassy then. Out in the garden there is still masses of colour from penstemon and snapdragons, marigolds and cranesbill all valiantly hanging on to their flowers, and this fatsia has produced masses of 'flowers', and I should think they would take to removing and spraying gold or silver for a wreath? I have loads of hollies and ivies in the garden too, which will be used with plain cream candles in the dining room, and this is all the decoration that room will get - anything more would be too much I think, and with its deep red walls, alcoves lined with books, large fireplace with mantlepiece and big mirror above it, I have always felt it needed just candles and natural foliage.

And I know this pineapple sage should really be indoors now, but it seems happy still in its pot under the laburnum, and so I will leave it, until the predicted freeze arrives, and then put it in the summerhouse.
This is Henry. I swore, years ago, when I gave away dozens of bears to the Children's Hospice in Milton, that I would stop buying them. But sometimes, just sometimes, one catches your eye, you know? Well, possibly you don't. A slight deviation from the theme of the blog, but did any of you see Kirstie making her little bear on C4 last night? Watching her, rather overly made up towards the end I thought, I couldn't help but notice how she has slimmed down, and how much she has possibly changed from those early days on C4 with the lovely Phil Spencer. At least on this latest show she only seems to be wearing three different outfits, unlike when she was doing out this cottage and seemed to wear a different outfit for every camera shot almost!

I thought some of you might be interested in this book, one of our recent additions. It is divided into chapters, with headings such as 'Nothing like a bad start in life', which includes Isaac Newton and Salvador Dali; 'Happy-go-lucky' with Edward Jenner and Benjamin Franklin amongst those famous people mentioned; and 'Driven', Genghis Khan and Mary Kingsley feature in this group.


Well, it may not look like Christmas, but there's no denying it is that time of year. Last year we had a beautiful Spruce, one of the no-drop variety, and once Christmas was over, outside in a pot it went. And to say it looks odd would be an understatement, since there is a bit of a pointy green bit of a stem at the top, then a gap of over a foot, some bald branches, and then full lush greenness. It won't be coming indoors, but inspired by a feature in COUNTRY LIVING I am going to hang bird treats off it.... I have done pine cones with seeds in before, so will do that again, as well as hang fat balls, peanuts, fruit rings off the branches.
So instead of the real tree indoors, I have opted for two small artificial ones instead.

The first is this white one, which will be decorated with small purple baubles and beads, and go in the sitting room, which has purple walls. (Not that I am alwayas fussed about colour co-ordination I have to say, sometimes the trees have been rather gaudy to say the least!) Then there is a little black one, slightly smaller than this, which will be decorated with red and silver. Which makes this little lot redundant this year....



And finally, inspired by Jill over at jilltaylor-thirdagemusings.blogspot.com I have bought some lovely books of cartridge paper to have a go at one of her gorgeous calendars. I am not expecting to do anything as beautiful or arty to be honest, but I just loved hers so much I wanted to play too. These fab books are so incredibly reasonably priced, were delivered within 48 hours, and came from the pink pig over at http://www.tummybox.com/ for any of you similarly inclined to buy notebooks and journals like me.
So, all that remains is for me to wish you all a very happy Christmas, may it be just as you hope, just as you want, and that goes for the new year as well. Thank you all for following me, for your comments, and your kinship.


10 comments:

Flowerpot said...

a lovely Christmassy post and love those pics! Re yr comments re humanism - John the fish also said that we have to accept that somethings happen over which we have no control but to try and turn them to our advantage - again, easier said than done!

The bike shed said...

You see, you like Christmas really!

I like those pink and turquoise baubles - very seventies.

Jennyff said...

Looks like you've got your Christmas all planned. You could give Kirstie a run for her money whereas she just made me feel inadequate. Too late to start making soap but I might get the decorations box out tomorrow, see you're not just organised inspirational too. Have a good one.

Jill said...

Enjoyed your post - hope we get to see your trees decorated, and thanks for the mention - love your pin pigs!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Thanks for this very festive post. Obviously a lot warmer where you are than in the North East Of England - we have had the most awful freezing fog over the last few days. Love the teddy and you mentioning the QI book has provided me the ideal present for a certain friend of mine, thanks for that.

Calico Kate said...

Mmm lovely note books, love buying them hate using them!
That QI book looks just the ticket for both my dad and my bro so will be off to Amazon for a peruse for that - so thanks for the useful pressie idea!
Love the look of those wooden beads and stars, I'm sure you could use them somewhere, perhaps in your work room or twined around the bannister. Oh for a flight of stairs!!
What a lovely post.
CKxx

Quilting Cat said...

I thought Kirsty was turning into Nigella before my very eyes. Lovely Christmas blog. Very cold here in Dorset with fog.

Mid Life Hopes said...

I really like the box of bright colored baubles, they look so happy, almost like they will lift themselves out of that box!

You are so delightful !!

: ) MLH

Vista Gal said...

It sounds as if you have your week planned out. I love the colors you have picked out to decorate you tree andwould love to see the finished decorations and tree posted.
I have always dreamed of a Christmas in England.

Cait O'Connor said...

Lovely pics. I adore new notebooks and like your other commenter am reluctant to use them, sad eh?
PS You almost got me enthused about Christmas/