Here and There: Christmas Collage

Here and there: our Christmas

Christmas dinner - Auntie May, Mum,
my brother Darren, Dad,
the Prof, The Young Philosopher
and my cousin, Simon. 

The tree at Mum and Dad's 

My brother's dog Fudge opens her presents

Boxing Day. Mum, Grandad and Rose.

The Young Philosopher and Curly Girl

Mum and Dad's garden

 Boxing Day sky

 First signs of Spring

Weekend Update: Christmas Day

At Mom's house.

James waiting for dinner. 

My grandparents and my Mom.

My brother Calum (purple crown), my sister Karen and her boyfriend Kevin.

Calum's girlfriend Claire and Emily in her kitty cat pj's.

Karelyn having very berry pie at about 9:00 p.m.

The living room after gifts.  

11:00 p.m.  when we picked ourselves up from lying in front of the fire and made ourselves go home.

from the weekend:

Just Now

Current time: Thursday evening, 9.30pm
  

In my glass: Coke.

In my belly: My homemade chicken soup.

In my ears: too much noise from some manic sports programme on the tv. If I could be bothered to get up to reach the remote control, I would turn it down.

Out the window: Twinkly Christmas lights in the neighbour's window opposite.

On the editor: Some photographs I took on Tuesday evening at the fortnightly meeting of our English History group, silly Christmas hats, Saxon helmets, mead and sloe gin. 

Last watched: The Knowing, last night. There's two hours and twenty minutes of my life that I will never get back. 

Feeling good about/ bad about: Today I am made of equal parts jolly and Christmassy and absolutely bloody exhausted. 

By my bedside: This delightful version of the Night Before Christmas, which I bought for myself this year. The Woman He Loved Before, by Dorothy Koomson, which was recommended to me. Not sure about it so far, but giving it time. Half tempted to give it up in favour of Comfort and Joy, by India Knight. Also the Dummies book for my new camera, which I am looking forward to having a look at over Christmas

My wishes for the New Year: Simplicity. Peace. Love. Joy. Cherry brandy and the occasional Cream Tea.  

Here and There: Final Touches

Here and there: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Weekend Update: A Flurry of Activity

No photo and this post is running late.
By all accounts it is already Tuesday there, but it's Monday night here.

The weekend was a blur.
Shopping, cooking, baking.
We had snow Saturday night, just enough to coat the outside a bit,
I saw it when I took the dog out before bed, was glad it was still around when the girls woke up.

The girls and I watched Mr. Popper's Penguins, I was prepared not to like it, but it was a good movie for the family to watch together.
We made a boatload of cookies.
I have come to accept that my pants are just going to be tight until after the New Year.
I cannot resist all those cookies, they just call out my name.
Cookies in the morning, cookies before bed.

I have family coming over for Christmas Eve dinner.
I have no idea what to make.
So many dietary restrictions and it will be Christmas Eve
And I'm worn down.  Tired. Toast.

I love Christmas and this year I was prepared.
And yet there still seems to be a million little things left to do.

Weekend Update: Christmas Checklist

Checking Off:

Gift Shopping

Wrapping

Send Cards

Lights and Garlands

Outside Lights

Advent Calendar

Nativity

Christmas Village

Ballet

Christmas Parade

Christmas Tree

Still To Do:

Visit Longwood Gardens (tonight, members only!)

See Christmas Lights at Herrs

(the potato chip factory puts on a lights display, no Canterbury, but it's pretty)

Make Christmas Cookies

Gingerbread Men

Make Reindeer Food

Watch Elf

Plan Christmas Eve Dinner

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!!

Weekend Update: Christmas Coming

What a weekend.  Whew.  Up at 10:30 last night still doing laundry.  Christmas Parade.  Decorating.  Indoors and outdoors.  Christmas Village up, paper chains made, nativity out, Advent calendar started.  Then why did I think this was the time to enroll the girls in Taekwondo classes three times a week?

I...am...officially...insane.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer at the theatre next Saturday, get the Christmas tree Sunday, girls are to go shopping with Mom on Sunday for my gifts, then an invite to Karelyn's best friend's Christmas play.

Whew.

Last weekend before Christmas is dedicated to cookie baking.  This tradition we will not miss.  No way.  The presents are all purchased, most of them wrapped, cards are sent, decorations are out.  So why do I feel so darn wiped out?  Too much at once I guess.

But I adore this time of year.  I like having so many traditions and things to look forward to.  I really wish we could hold on to these feelings all year long.

But this pace.....never.  I'll almost be happy when I'm at Mom's house on Christmas Day, girls having already come astonished downstairs to see what Santa has brought and safely tucked off to their Dad's and I'm sitting eating her delicious dinner with a glass of wine and warming myself by the wood stove.

Ahhhhhh.....sweet rest.


p.s.   love the advert!  how sweet!!

Here and There: Favorite Christmas Songs

When we're talking Christmas, and the background for wrapping or cookie baking or decorating the Christmas tree, for me it doesn't get much better than Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song.




But like you I have a fondness for Christian hymns and sweet songs.  My favorite being this one.  I love Enya's voice as well, it lends itself well to Christmas hymns.




My other favorite is "Silent Night", again another beautiful voice.  I grew up in the Episcopal church, going to midnight services on Christmas Eve.  My favorite moment was at the end of the service when the organ quit playing, the lights were lowered and it was just the voices of the people inside the church singing this song as midnight came.  It brings tears to my eyes even now when I think of it, such a feeling of peace.




Then there's The Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker.  This I think will be the first year I haven't taken the girls to see it. I almost tried to get it to watch on video but figured it wouldn't be as great as seeing the live ballet. The first time I took Emily to see it at about age four or five, she sat on my Dad's lap and said "oooooh, she's beautiful" so loud when the Sugar Plum Fairy danced out that everyone around us got a chuckle.




And I cannot forget my favorite singer. The little hippie in me cannot resist the lovely ending to this classic, listen through...





And last but not least, bet you didn't know there's Harry Potter Christmas music?  Oh yes, this Harry Potter freak of course owns Jingle Spells.




How about that?

You were right, there were way too many to narrow down!!