Wednesday, 18 December 2024

Decorating

I've made a start at the Christmas decorations inside the house. The decorated branch that I put outside has taken quite a beating from high winds and rain, some of the ornaments are broken. There is plenty of kindling to collect from fallen wood and I had a bit of a hunt to retrieve the lids of my water butts that had been blown away by strong gusts of wind in the night. It's weather for staying inside so I pulled out the stored boxes of Christmas decorations and set to work. Not all the decorations will be used, the tree has a fair bit of growing to do to catch up with the one we left at our previous home.
The same decorations appear every year, lots of hearts and assorted angels and apples, old, handmade and much loved pieces.
I've bought two new ornaments this year, a leopard, because I like him and he reminds me of Simon Armitage's lovely haiku in the book, 'Blossomise.' The book was a present from my friend, Sarah, so it will also remind me of her.
My other new ornament is a white felt dove of peace. The world is very much in need of that.
The nativity has set up shop on the kitchen dresser as there are no deep window cills in the house to make use of.
Baby Jesus not yet in the crib.
In the dining room the piano is ready.(It took a while because I got waylaid looking in the box of sheet music.)
More to do tomorrow.

16 comments:

  1. Love your decorations, especially the homemade ones.

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    1. The decorations get more special as the years go by.

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  2. There is something reassuring about old decorations, links to the past. We have some from my childhood, and some that were our grandparents.

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    1. How nice to have some decorations that go back several generations. I clearly remember the ones at home during my childhood.. They were ceramic Chinese-style lanterns, too heavy, I think, for my small tree, and long gone anyway. The tree was lit with proper candles until the year my brother lit them and then left the room. The ceiling bore the marks of the resulting fire and we moved on to electric lights after that. Boys!!!

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  3. Lovely decorations. I love pulling out the old ornaments and remembering friends and loved ones as I hang them on the tree. Not all of ours are used every year, either. Lights are so welcome as the darkness closes in so early.

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    1. Your Christmas actions sound just like mine, Lorrie.

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  4. What goes on my battered old Christmas tree all has a personal meaning to me, too. Your leopard is my fox! (Although it's not new.)
    Your decoration looks very Christmassy and cosy. My favourite is the top of the piano.

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    1. I'm looking forward to hearing some live music when our daughters are here. The elder will play the piano and the younger the 'cello.

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  5. It's all looking very welcoming and warm.

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  6. Lovely decorations. Love the red basket, candles and greenery

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    1. I really enjoy getting the boxes out each year. My hands are very arthritic in this cold, wet weather and hanging the little baubles is difficult. When I hear myself swearing in frustration I stop and go and do something else for a while. Swearing doesn't seem to fit well with the spirit of Christmas!

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  7. so nice to see a natural christmas tree instead of the farmed and shaped into a perfect cone ones that pass here. I don't celebrate christmas myself but I like seeing other people's decorations.

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  8. Your tree is delightful! Isn't it nice to see all the treasured things again?

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