Helloooooo!!!! How are you all doing? I hope that you've had a good week as we prepare for Christmas to come, and that all is calm and bright in your nest. We've had a very chilled week pottering about close to home and enjoying the relaxed pace of our days. J is taking a break from work for a whole two weeks, and the Little Peeps are home from school too, so despite the huge amount of uncertainty in the world at large, life here at number twenty four is filled with happy.
I have twinkly white fairy lights strung along my mantels all year round and I absolutely wouldn't be without them, but it doesn't mean to say there isn't the need for a whole load more at Christmas. I've been enjoying the bright glow of our Christmas tree very much, especially in the early morning when I get to perform the daily switch-on. The magic of Christmas lights never gets old.
Candy canes made it onto the tree a little late (as per usual), but I think they were appreciated. They never hang around for long and as far as I know they are all now deceased. RIP candy canes, you lasted just over a week which is good going.
My second hyacinth grew, bloomed and faded and it was a blue delight, although to be fair it really was a stinker. Even I had to admit to feeling a bit nauseated by it towards the end when it was in full throttle. It has now been replaced by Miss Hyacinth the third, and I opted for another white one for Christmas. Unfortunately I mis-timed it as it's still tightly in bud, but I think it should bloom for the start of the New Year which will be just lovely.
I selected some colours to crochet up a Festive Mandala for the Christmas table, and I love the mix of red, greens and blues with a touch of sparkly gold added for good measure. Alas the days ran away with me this week and the yarn balls are still sitting patiently in the little project basket, so I feel a bit annoyed at myself for that. And being that today is Christmas Eve, I can't see any last minute hooky miracles occurring, particularly as there has been gin involved in my afternoon. But this could well be the perfect Twixtmas project so I shall see if I can make it happen.
Ah, talking of gin, this glorious bottle of festiveness has been making me ridiculously happy during the past few weeks. It's sooo beautiful!! It's this years limited edition offering from Marks and Spencer, a fruity clementine gin liqueur which also does double duty as a light up snow globe. I know!!!!!!!!!!!! Tis a magnificent idea beautifully executed - the "snow" being 23 carat edible gold flakes (oh, the luxury!), with a built in light in the base of the bottle which gives 40 seconds of enraptured entertainment for all ages. We've had so much joy from the bottle alone, never mind the scrummy alcohol it contains.
We've been enjoying it with lots of ice, tonic and some fresh clementine slices and it tastes so so good. A real festive treat and I'll be sad when it's all gone.
We've also been enjoying our annual box of Extremely Chocolately biscuits, well the Little People have at any rate. This has become one of our festive traditions, and it amuses me to watch the Little People deliberate (at high volume) over which one to have as an after dinner treat each day.
Outside of the home we've been tramping around the woodlands as per usual, and I continue to take great pleasure in watching the seasons unfold in nature.
Winter is my least favourite of all, yet there is still beauty in the landscape especially when the low slanting sun comes out to play.
But oh my life, it's been a mud fest out there beneath the trees and I've never been more glad to have my feet tucked up warm and dry in hand knitted woolly socks and comfy wellies.
We continue to walk most days, J and I, in all sorts of wintry weather. Of course I am happiest when it's sunny and bright but there is a certain calming pleasure to be found when the rain falls lightly through the bare trees making rings in the still water.
We very rarely leave town at the moment and don't often use the car either, so a simple trip out this week felt rather exciting. This was on Tuesday, a quick drive out over the moor tops to walk at Bolton Abbey. I love this narrow rural road where I am required to leap out of the car and open the gate for J to drive through. It's a public road, but further down it runs right through a farm and there are often sheep free roaming the road here. We passed by the big barn where we spotted three glorious peacocks strutting around looking regal and fabulous, a bright jolt of vivid colour against the dullness of winter.
It was such a tonic to walk along the riverside, it was bitingly cold but with a welcome amount of brightness. We walked a long loop, criss crossing the river and stopping for a much needed hot milky coffee and a mince pie half way round.
I decorated the house for Christmas at leisure this year, and after the tree went up and our main mantel was complete, I took my time with the other bits. My granny star Advent Garland is still going strong (made in 2009) and it's such a pleasure to unpack these hand made decorations year after year. I do so enjoy the familiarity of them and the memories they bring to the fore. I find it crazy to think that when I made this garland I must have been heavily pregnant carrying Little B who was born in early January 2010. Wow. I can't even get my head around the the fact that it was over a decade ago. (Oh, I just hopped back in time to December 2009 to see my baby bump....hello Little B!!)
Although I do truly delight in keeping the same Christmassy things going year after year, it's also nice to occasionally bring in something new. I've always wanted a Christmas mug, one that gets packed away with the baubles and unpacked with ceremony at the start of Advent each year. I pootled around on eBay and found a pre-loved Cath Kidston one featuring a Christmas street scene which I fell in love with. It has even has a reindeer sleigh flying around the inside of the mug. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to drink coffee in this mug, and I know for sure that it'll make me giddy for years to come when I get to bring it out again and again. I am easily pleased, we have long established this simple fact I know.
About a month ago, I received an advertising email from the flower delivery company Bloom & Wild with a generous discount code attached. I was curious enough to go take a look at what was being offered up for Christmas as I do have a soft spot for seasonal blooms. I usually have cheap and cheerful red supermarket tulips on my table at Christmas, but when I saw that the "Florists Festive Pick" was discounted by 30% I decided on impulse to treat myself. Have you ever done this, ordered expensive flowers as a gift to yourself? It's ridiculously indulgent and I confess I did feel a smidge guilty for spending on myself in such a frivolous way......but well, I think every so often it's perfectly OK to have a treat.
I placed the order, choosing for them to be delivered to me on the day of the Winter Solstice. Of course I completely forgot about it and was suitably surprised when they dropped through my letterbox on Monday. Happy Solstice to me!
I have to tell you the flowers (and foliage) are absolutely stunning, and seeing them on my table every day has been the best kind of visual treat this week. I want to show you my new jug too, it's an enamel water jug but I bought it especially for my annual festive flowers. I love love love to have my flowers in a jug rather than a vase, there is something so charming and homely about displaying flowers this way, even posh blooms.
So here we are on Christmas Eve and all is feeling quite wonderful in the Attic. Present wrapping happened very last minute of course (late this afternoon in fact, after we came home from a lovely but bitterly cold walk). We've kept things very simple for the Little People this year, opting for consumables (and by that I mean indulgent sweet treats and smelly body products) and spending money. Oh, and there are new pyjamas too as this is a tradition in our house and the Little People always seem especially excited about this bit of Christmas.
So we shall wait and see how the day unfolds tomorrow - it's all different this year as for the first time the Little People didn't write Christmas lists and I don't think we will be putting out snacks for the Big Fella and Rudolph this year either. It's all a bit precarious as Little B (who is almost 11 years old) hasn't come right out and said that he doesn't believe, but we are fairly certain that's where we're at. It's bitter sweet I can tell you. I'll still make sure the stockings get magically filled with (edible/smelly) gifts tonight as I can't imagine a time when that won't still feel like magic. It's like the candy canes on the tree - a few years ago I decided the Little People were possibly too old for them and didn't bother to buy any, but of course they gave me an earful and told me that there just HAD to be candy canes on the tree. I suspect it's the same with the stockings.
I would love to hear from those of you with older children - how do you do Christmas gifts and do you still hold onto any traditions and rituals from their childhoods? Do you still hang stockings?
Even though everything feels strange for the world this year, for us personally our quiet Christmas traditions remain intact. I shall continue to embrace this simple time staying home with my family as we always have done, enjoying the pleasures of good food, relaxation and a warm, cosy home. Holding onto the familiar rituals and looking forward to it all gently unfolding.
I hope that these festive days are full of light and sparkle, and that there are some brilliant moments of fun and joy, laughter and love, peace and calm. Enjoy and savour every moment, and I'll see you all on the other side......
Merry Christmas!
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Hi Lucy. We have four children - the oldest is 17 and the youngest is 13. Last Christmas we started a new tradition - instead of presents they get cash deposited into bank accounts as like yours, that is what ours want. But so that there is still something to open on Christmas morning we do a family ‘Secret Santa’ between the 6 of us. On the 1st of December I use a website where I enter each person’s email address. The website then allocates each person someone to buy for and lets them know via email. The website also allows each person to create wish lists that can be anonymously emailed to the person who is buying for them. We agreed as a family on an amount of Aus$25.00 which we provide to the teens. On Christmas morning it’s great fun seeing what everyone gets and trying to guess who bought for who. And it gets the teens involved in giving, not just receiving - and I must say they seem to enjoy the giving part just as much, if not more, than the receiving! Definitely a tradition I can see continuing for many years - as they get older I anticipate the amount will increase and they will use their own money! Jenny
Posted by: Jenny Smith | December 26, 2020 at 07:09 AM
My children are 37 and 32 so they have been out of the house for a while. When my daughter, the eldest, was growing up, she announced that she did not believe in Santa anymore. And I told her that those that did not believe in Santa, did not receive any Santa gifts. After that she would write letters to me, the "Senior Elf", to pass on to Santa what she wanted for Christmas and even did this in college! It was great fun!
Posted by: Carolyn Allison | December 26, 2020 at 02:13 AM
Dear Lucy, a lovely post with lots of great photos of your home and surroundings. We had our celebration yesterday with our son and his family - a big roast turkey dinner with all the fixin's and then family time in front of the fire and presents exchanged. I put photos on my blog. I look forward to the CAL in Jan - I have my yarn all set to go. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
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*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
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Posted by: Teresa Kasner | December 26, 2020 at 02:09 AM
Merry Christmas Lucy! I love reading your blog and seeing how you decorate and celebrate for all the holidays.
My 7 children range in age from 8-33 and we've always hung our stockings. My grandmother made me a granny square stocking when I was a child and I still have it and have used it to make the same kind for all of my kids. We've always put any small gifts and candy in ours and that's what we still do. I also grew up making lots of "goodies" and making goodie trays for friends and neighbors and it's just not Christmas unless I've made more goodies than we know what to do with. I usually try a new recipe but we always have to have the favorites too. I make an ornament every year also and have quite the list to make one for every child and grand child. Traditions are what make the holidays so special and I'm really glad that my kids love the same things I do and want to continue on with them and not change things. Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you've had an amazing Christmas!
Posted by: Tammy | December 25, 2020 at 11:40 PM
Lucy, my daughter is 32 and has her own house, and I still fill her stocking! She gets a pair of hand knitted socks and a chocolate teddy and loves it!
Posted by: Claire | December 25, 2020 at 10:47 PM
Merry, merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! Traditions are so good to have, they can be like a safety net when it gets rough, and I think this is what we all needed this year. Health and happiness to you!
Posted by: Julia | December 25, 2020 at 08:31 PM
Lovely post as always Lucy. My girls are 21 and 24 and have always had stocking but the eldest has her own house so this year I have done them Christmas Eve boxes with sweet treats in it. Best of the season to you all and to more great blog posts in 2021 xxx
Posted by: Lisa Lancaster | December 25, 2020 at 08:28 PM
Your blog and color packs have been such a gift to me this month...I am well into a Woodland blanket and patiently awaiting the meadow. Thanks so much for sharing yourself with such generosity!
Posted by: maxine | December 25, 2020 at 05:23 PM
Lovely post Lucy. I'm just defrosting after a very cold and blustery seaside walk. Cosying up by the fire it was especially nice to read this. Xx
Posted by: Kate McCurrach | December 25, 2020 at 04:58 PM
Happy Christmas Lucy. My boys 20, 20 and 18 still enjoy their stocking...filled with similar items to the ones you give. I just filled them as I wrapped small gifts. They didn't ask to hang them up on Christmas eve, but were happy to see them today :0)
Jacquie xxx
Posted by: Jacquie | December 25, 2020 at 04:27 PM
Merry Christmas Lucy. Sounds like a perfectly peaceful time in the attic. Stockings are forever in our family.
Posted by: charlotte m. | December 25, 2020 at 04:16 PM
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Arlene | December 25, 2020 at 03:05 PM
Merry Christmas Lucy from very hot Perth, Australia. We had 40 degrees Celsius today, but we followed our family Christmas traditions, as stipulated by Miss 19 and Master 17.
We still fill stockings but now do so with outlandishly bright or funny underwear, small puzzles or card games, or stationery items, fun, silly or otherwise. We then have breakfast, followed by family gifts. After this we prepare our Christmas feast, watching a movie whilst it cooks.
We enjoy our quiet celebrations, which are the result of living far from family, and being rather tired at the end our busy year at work and school.
I wish you a happy and peaceful family Christmas, with delicious food and lots of love.
Posted by: Kimberley | December 25, 2020 at 02:51 PM
Merry Christmas!!🎄 Love that snow globe bottle!!! I’ve never seen anything like it. My boys are 33 and 28. Still expect stockings!!! I think everyone enjoys the little things more than the big gifts. Which proves that the little things in life matters most. Thank you for your blog and patterns. Can’t wait for January. Blessings to you and your family.
Posted by: Linda from Boston | December 25, 2020 at 02:34 PM
Have a lovely time with your family. Your richness is there all around you. We don't celebrate Christmas as you do. I do love to treat my kids with good food though. And a house full of light.
Posted by: Tineke | December 25, 2020 at 01:28 PM
Happy Christmas to you and your family Lucy hope you all have a wonderful peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for all your blogs this year they have kept me going and I look forward to your blogs in 2021 stay safe xx
Posted by: Marjorie Sanderson | December 25, 2020 at 11:46 AM
Dear Lucy, Merry Christmas and hear's to a wonderful 2021. Thank you for all your delightful posts in 2020.
Posted by: Claire Hayden | December 25, 2020 at 11:24 AM
I have eight kids, now aged 14-26. We always did stockings and when the older ones left home they took their stockings with them (and the Christmas ornament we made each year of their lives)....last night (Christmas Eve) most of them came home to sleep here so that they would “get a stocking” on Christmas morning! This included one husband who has joined our family and a fiancé too! It would seem you are never too old for stockings!
Posted by: Rachael Ayres | December 25, 2020 at 08:07 AM
Merry Christmas Lucy to you and your family. I love your blogs, they are always a joy to read. I’ve made quite a few of your blankets over the past few years, as well as some of the smaller projects you so generously provide instructions for. Thank you for being sooooooo generous with your hooky patterns.
I’ve had my Meadow yarn pack for weeks now, and can’t wait for January to get started.
Here’s wishing you peace and joy for 2021, and better happier times for everyone in the New Year. X
Posted by: Ann | December 25, 2020 at 07:36 AM
Beautiful, as always, Lucy. Nadolig Llawen to you and your family. Thank you for the colour, peace and smiles you have brought me this year xx
Posted by: Jools Morgan-Jones | December 25, 2020 at 07:32 AM
Love your Christmas blog! Merry Christmas to you and your family💕
Posted by: Liz | December 25, 2020 at 06:32 AM
What a lovely festive blog. Reflective and hopeful. I will embrace that sentiment as Christmas Day is here. Thankyou for sharing and keeping us all connected to the the wider world too.
Merry Christmas Lucy.
Posted by: Sue Roberts | December 25, 2020 at 06:11 AM
A very happy Christmas to you all form Australia. It is gloomy here and even though it is 2 pm Christmas Day our Christmas is over.
Two of my three children are married and so we celebrate on Christmas Eve to avoid clashes. But I did go to see my granddaughter open her presents this morning. Miss three chose to sit in her little tikes care which received form her grannies last night to open her gifts today. Good fun.
As my children grew older we began new traditions. By the time the youngest was 8 or so they slept under the Christmas tree. A lot of fun for me to move mourned them and place their gifts. They always had a small stocking with a video each and some breakfast of a croissant and pop box juice to tide them over until their grandparents came. It never really bought m much time. Also as they aged I tried to invoke them in giving to the less fortunate.
I have heard it said that the Queen still does stockings for her off spring.
Posted by: Suzan | December 25, 2020 at 03:50 AM
Wishing you and your family a wonderful day of peace, love, fun and happiness.
I love a Christmas tree and can never get over how wonderful I make it look and spend a lot of my day admiring it. Love your flowers in a jug, there is something about an enamel jug. My ambition is now to make your Xmas mantle decoration and I have bought the bells. Ah the stockings my sister and I, 69 and 71 we still have a stocking together. It takes us back many years cuddled up in bed together waiting for the magic that is Father Christmas. We watch Polar Express every Xmas Eve the loveliest of Christmas films.
Posted by: Victoria Margerison | December 25, 2020 at 02:26 AM
Merry Christmas Lucy, to you and your family. For me Christmas is all about the Tree. I honestly think I could happily do without all the stress and faff of the food and the present searching/buying/wrapping etc, and just have the tree and other decorations up. Pretty much finished that this afternoon (Christmas Eve), and I've even got my old little tree for my bedroom down from the loft and that is looking very cheery with it's beads on!
Stockings for us were always plain socks stuffed with small novelties, lego, apple, tangerine and walnuts. Have you seen the price of some of the so-called stocking fillers suggested now? Crikey!
I am the only member of the family to write a list, even at the great old age of mumble-mumble-ooo. Or is it -eee. I forget. But it's not because I want to, but because "they" keep asking. Sigh.
Sorry, wrote an essay! Have a very Merry Christmas Day and thank you for all your posts this year, they've been a real tonic!
Posted by: Simon | December 25, 2020 at 02:06 AM