Today

Today started unpromisingly dull and wet.

But there is some cheering blossom in the garden. 

And a lot of moss!

In the afternoon the sun appeared, which made us feel a whole lot more cheerful, so we put on warm clothing and went for a walk, in the mud!

When we got home it was nice to pull off our muddy boots,

light a scented candle,

and settle down with a book.

Our next book group choice is, 'A Crisis of Brilliance'.

Have you read it?

What did you think?

Twelfth Night

I wonder if these neighbours are still talking to each other?

Traditionally Twelfth Night is when we take down all the Christmas decorations. It is considered unlucky to have decorative greenery in the house after the fifth of January. I gathered everything onto the dining room table to fold up and pack away until next December.

It takes a lot longer to wrap up the paper garlands than it does to unfurl them!

Some of the old faithfuls are starting to look a bit battered.

In the evening we went to our book group to discuss, 'Pure', a work of faction, an imaginative telling of the removal of the stinking cemetery of Les Innocents in the city of Paris in 1785.

Being of stout constitutions we sat down happily to supper in spite a lively discussion around bones and putrefaction!

Our hosts looked after us well

The hostess wore a lovely dress, new but very retro looking in black broderie anglaise.

And there was  a delicious pavlova for pudding.

What's not to like? (Those extra pounds are still with me!)

Happy New Year

 12 midnight.

Bringing in the New Year at our neighbours' home.

Once again our hostess cooked up a storm.

Thank you, Elaine!

Chili con carne on the Aga, with lots of other tasty goodies

and puddings to die for!

We had a bit of a bop but by the early hours of the morning we were settled in the kitchen

chatting in that wonderfully comfortable

end of the party way.

On New Year's Day morning the sun shone!

And a new flower bloomed on my orchid.

I added some shop bought roses to the vase containing dried hydrangea heads from the garden

for Jane's flowers in the house at smallbutcharming.

Wishing you all that is good for 2013.

Christmassed

Every Christmas we bring the same tree in from the garden and decorate it with the same ornaments.

The nativity set is placed on a window ledge

and the same motley collection jostles for position on top of the piano.

Wee One has finished her advent calendar.

We talk

and eat

and open presents

But not everyone can stand the pace.

Christmas shopping

I've been out in the rain to do some Christmas shopping.

The light levels are low

and the ironmonger looks as though he is expecting snow.

This is the shop where I bought Wee One's Christmas dress.

I got wet feet, or to be more accurate, a wet foot. But that's only because I stepped backwards and put my foot in the  runnel of water that flows down the centre of the street!

When I got home we lit the wood fire and ate a chocolate from the advent calender.

Fred and Ginger were on t.v.

a sure sign that it's Christmas!

Earlier in the week we had a sunny day.

It feels strange to walk without Maisie

but I went out and gathered some cones to decorate the house.

Wishing you all a very 

Happy Christmas.