Alternative trees are all the rage the past few years. With guilt about real trees and fake trees and what decorations are made of and whether they will decompose, making a tree with natural materials and recyclable material seems like a good solution. Back in later December I made a tree using branches. For years… Continue reading DIY Wall Hanging Christmas Tree
Now that we are into November I think I can start posting about Christmas – well, the planning of it at least – without putting you all off. Regular readers know I like to be organised. While that is mostly true for daily life, it is especially important to me to be organsied for big… Continue reading Stocking Fillers – Getting It Right
Advent is almost at an end, meaning Christmas is almost upon us. Since moving to Germany almost fifteen years ago I have come to love Advent, primarily due to the endless traditions in Advent. There’s the feast of St. Nicholas when children’s boots are filled with chocolate, nuts and fruit. There’s the baking of Fruchtebrot,… Continue reading Vanilla Crescents – Our Favourite Christmas Biscuit
Clove-studded oranges and gold-sprayed foliage, red candles and wire ribbon, spiced beef, chocolate coins and The Snowman on the telly. Those are my little Christmassy things. Not memories as such. Not traditions either. More like short scenes or photos in my mind. They are things that immediately bring the Christmases of my childhood to mind.… Continue reading Those Little Christmassy Things
December is usually a hectic month but this year seems to have been an entirely hectic year. December hasn’t been the crazy whirlwind of other years but rather a continuation of the rush, bustle and busy-ness of the previous months. In an effort not to have Christmas arrive upon us with nothing done, no prelude,… Continue reading Christmas, Cocoa and Calming Down
By now you probably know that style-wise I’m a bit old fashioned. The sleek modern look is not one you’ll find in my home. Here and there perhaps as a radio, a phone or a lantern. For the most part though, my style is eclectic with a touch of nostalgia. When it comes to Christmas,… Continue reading Decorative Dried Orange Slices
December is rushing past or, more accurately, I am letting December pass me by in a blur of meetings, appointments and planning sessions, almost all of which are entirely unrelated to Christmas. Advent, as I have mentioned here on this blog often, is a time of year I love. The anticipation, preparation and the weekly… Continue reading The December Rush
On Wednesday I found myself in town making a start on the Christmas shopping. Getting into town at all is a rare treat, but on a workday and sans enfants, it had the makings of a great day. The lights are up. The Christmas market is in full swing. It all looked so beautiful. Finding… Continue reading The Bit of Banter
The plan was simple. Set up a craft swap and, once it was up and running, share the Instagram pictures and do a weekly round up on the blog. In that plan I neglected to note that a. I have three children, a husband, a job, a dog and four chickens who each require a… Continue reading Advent Craft Swap Review & Thank You
Two days till Christmas. Traditionally the time when panic sets in. Time for deep breaths and clear thinking. Before you get entirely overwhelmed, have a little think about the kind of Christmas you are aiming for. For me, cosiness and a festive atmosphere are high on the list. Bit by bit over the past few… Continue reading Creating Cosiness At Christmas
