The first Sunday of Advent ...

Hi everyone,

Can you believe that the count down to Christmas has began with the first Sunday of Advent?

Today marks the first of the four Sundays until Christmas which is 5 weeks away because it falls on a Sunday.  The Advent Sundays always bring the true meaning of Christmas in to perspective; this was how I marked it last year - the-countdown-to-christmas-begins

On this first Advent Sunday, I have chosen to light a candle in my angel candleholder.

It is to remember those who will not join us in the run up to our Festive preparations.

I hope your day has been blessed & you are getting ready for the busy times in the run up to Christmas.

At this time, it is always good to just remind yourself that you can step away from the manic consumerism of Christmas & make the festive time something special with your own family traditions which will endure far longer ...

Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to read & comment,
Dee ~♥~

A pre festive meal ...

 Has Winter arrived your side yet? There is a definite chill to the air & since our clocks went back, it is now dark & cold too - the type of weather that makes one want to hibernate.

We had a meal for friends & family who won't be together at Christmas this year with some favourite foods - roast gammon & chipolates, honey glazed roasted parsnips, butternut, sweet potatoes,  garlic new potatoes with apple sauce.

This type of meal can be prepared in advance so that it just needs time management to get it all ready together. Do you like meals that are less stressful?

The hot trays are brought on to the counter to warm plates & keep food piping hot as I juggle oven space ... You might have spied my coloured glass & berry lights lit in the window - it always looks cheerful with them on ...

 Favourite winter / festive food is heaven on a plate. Little Godson at the meat hot plate ...

I set the conservatory table & sideboard with pre-festive colour which looked fresh & bright because it is different to our festive reds, gold & greens.

Stacy Sparkle made it home from uni & the Godsons & their parents joined us too ...

Not yet festive but an early meal for those who will not be together at Xmas. The pre-festive decorations are shown on this post ...

Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to read. Your comments are always appreciated.
Dee ~♥~

Hints of festive colour creeps in at home ....

Do you find that festive bits start to creep in at this time of the year?

Last week, I called in at a favourite independent shop in Shrewsbury - Vintage in Shrewsbury. I did my Annie Sloan chalk paint courses at this shop with the talented owner, Tristan.

Vintage always has a lovely selection & this time was no different. I have bought some of these mercury glass ornaments & so I added to my collection.

 

How lovely is this selection? 

With some of the family not able to be home this Christmas, I invited some friends to join us for a meal at home. Since it was partly an early Xmas meal, I wondered how to set the table; a crisp white cloth, favourite silver plated placemats then inspiration kicked in when I found a new deer & a pair of creamy little deer .....

The deer with the elaborate antlers is one we have had for several years, it is joined by these cute two I bought locally - a lovely family scene on the dining room sideboard!

I know you are all acquainted with our conservatory sideboard - I changed the centre platter for a brighter plate & suddenly the colour scheme emerged from the bright colours on it. I remembered a box of bright pink decorations that were in the garage from last year ... I had forgotten about the two large pink glass baubles - perfect for the top.  A few of the vivid pink things selected for the shelves & then it seemed a good time to bring in the silver deer too for the top ... 

The berry plant suits the silver bowl on the drinks trolley, along with an ice bucket, water jug & various other glasses that may be needed ...

I always keep all my candle sticks / candelabra on top of the sideboard with various candles - the pink, green & cream ones already in meant they could be used as they were ... 

Gems .... acrylic table gems bring the colour scheme together ...

 As evening sets in, the candles are lit, plates are being warmed in the kitchen on hotplates & we are ready for visitors ...

Not yet festive but pretty enough with just hints of the approaching festivities for those who will not join us this year.  My decorations will not go up in the house until the first Sunday of Advent, but for now, it is bright & colourful.

Thank you for stopping by, please share your festive time table & preparations with us so we can all be inspired by each others homes.

Dee ~♥~

J. Atkinson - Tea & coffee merchants ...

Hi everyone

I have been up north during my weeks break from my my tutoring to explore some places I have visited & find some new ones.

A Wondering Star daughter & Andy introduced me to the lovely J. Atkinson & Co Coffee Roaster & Tea Merchants in Lancaster on a previous visit & I was keen to revisit.

How can you not love a shop as gorgeous as this ....

Amazingly beautiful teas in stunning jars .... heavenly scent & eye candy ...

This is how we should buy our tea & coffee ...

Some lovely tins of goodies (I got distracted & didn't get any ... )

Ms M, my sister in law that you all know from past adventures, bought these for us to try ...

Then it was time to head to their coffee shop next door to try some of their wares ... Ms M & Sue in deep discussion over the coffee & cake selection

These are my choices that I took home - don't you love the rosebuds to add to tea? They are just so beautiful to even look at  ...

 A wondering star & her hubby are great bakers & they like to make their own hot chocolate so this is for them ...

I love independent shops, especially one that has such choice & quality ... I hope you have enjoyed it too. Thank you for stopping by,  have a lovely week :)
Dee ~♥~