Thursday 18 December 2014

The slow advent of Christmas

Christmas clementines #vitaminc #orange #nofilter  
Although the children and Graham are still ploughing on at work and at school - revising for science exams, writing up computer science coursework and making presentations to the Board of Directors - there are a few hints of Christmas starting to appear around here.

Olivia is appalled at Graham and my refusal to put up the tree so far.  But in fact, it is going up tomorrow - an early record for us.  The tree makes the house feel so cluttered and cramped it rarely goes up before the 22nd December.  However, there are twinkly lights around all the front windows, up and down the stairs, and around the railings and in the bay bush at the front of the house - they went up a couple of weeks ago, as they look pretty and don't take up any space.

As a diversion from complaining about the lack of tree, Olivia made a giant advent calendar on her bedroom door - filling each envelope with a fat marshmallow or a handful of chocolate coins.

She made her own Advent calendar. Each envelope has a fat marshmallow in it. #handmade #advent #christmas #craft #marshmallows

I've baked mince pies, bought clementines, and done some secret making and wrapping of presents this week.   Tomorrow I am going on a long yomp through Epping Forest to gather some foliage for a wreath.

Pie time! I hope @runnergmcc gets home quickly.... #christmas #mincepies #warmfromtheoven

Making the most of having the house to myself. Listening to TED talks, drinking coffee and wrapping presents. #Christmas #presents #surprises

Little, by little, the festive season begins to draw us in - as a subtle, seasonal shift, rather than as a loud, hectic, explosion of stress.  That's just how it should be in my book.
 
Stencilled snowflakes in the Olympic Park #winter #qeop #london

8 comments:

  1. I like "little by little" too. I feel more fed up than ever this year with the greedy commercialism of the modern Christmas. I've knitted and quilted more presents than usual as an antedote.

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  2. I like little by little as well. We'll go and buy a tree tomorrow, after schools finish for the year. I hope to do some baking, too. And who knows, maybe we'll even make a gingerbread house. Happy Christmas to you and your family.

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  3. Yes yes, I always try to avoid the loud hectic explosion of stress. Wishing you a lovely Christmas Nancy. CJ xx

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  4. little by little sounds perfect xxx

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  5. I'm more pared down than usual this year - feels like there is space to breathe and make the most of where and who we are with. Ask me if I'm still in this state of Zen when there are 11 squeezed into our house...

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