The Advent candle catch up

Hi all

Am I the only one who has not yet got a Christmas tree up?

I have been away for a few days & everyone seems to have their trees up & I am still playing catch up by burning several days on my advent candle.

I am particularly fond of the beautiful crosses I bought on my many trips to the amazing churches in Ethiopia - this cross is the Lalibela Cross with its symbolic details.

The 4 pieces represent the 4 gospels / Angels, there are 12 apostles & a crown (Christ) around the top.  It represents the true meaning of Christmas ….

I hope your second Sunday of advent was peaceful & that your festive planning is going well. Have a blessed week & thanks for stopping by,
Dee ~♥~

A nature inspired sideboard

It is too early to get the sideboard ready for the festive season but it is time for a change from my favourite Ralph Lauren Time plates.

While on a visit to one of the many pottery factories of Stoke on Trent, I spied these Spode woodland animal plates & bought them.

I decided on a pastural scene for a change & wandered around the house collecting some things:
* the little deer antlers bought recently on a trip to the coast ..
* some pheasant feathers that I love
* a vintage tea tin to hold the feathers
* a red wooden footed bowl
* 2 red wooden bowls
* some vintage leather books
* a vintage primitive painting

Favourite wooden items - the colours are perfect in our home

I love this plate design - reminds me of our bunny ..

I found 2 larger plates to use with my new spode ones …

I love the vintage unframed painting paired with the gorgeous blue leather book

A few simple items that were gathered & now the sideboard looks welcoming & interesting again. It also gives me time to plan our Christmas sideboard.

I hope your week is going well - are you on track with all the things that need doing? Thanks for stopping by & taking time to leave a comment.
Dee ~♥~

Spode's woodland inspiration

Do you love the trend of woodland inspired interiors & accents?  It appears to still be on trend for Autumn / Winter which is very good news

I admit to being bit of a softie & feed an assortment garden visitors - including an urban fox, an owl, some bats at dusk, squirrels, hedgehogs, birds & even a frog who bathes in our fountain.  We also have a free range, very cute house bunny ….

While visiting the home of the potteries - Stoke on Trent - we popped into the Portmeirion shop & I found these fabulous plates ….

What do you think? Are you tempted by the country look with woodland accents which brings the outdoors in for a cosy feel?

I think it is a lovely Autumn / Fall decor look with a return to nature through the earthy, jewel like colours reminiscent of hedgerow plums, damsons, blackberries & earthy tones. Fauna & flora prints & patterns to accompany the woodland creatures ….

You don't have to live in the countryside to appreciate nature

Which is your favourite one?

Dee ~♥~

Welcome December

Oh my goodness,

Does anyone else get a surprise when December suddenly arrives? Of course it does not arrive any quicker than any other month, yet it always brings with it a sense of urgency to get the festive times started.

It usually means that the Christmas cards should have been written for overseas posting already & the local ones will soon start dropping on to the mat too.

Our neighbours all exchange cards at Christmas & those arrive with a 'clunk' on the mat; I always breathe a sigh of relief to see a name whose card I have already written. I keep a discreet stack ready for those who have beat me to it ….

The arrival of December also means that I should have got our fabric advent calendars out & on the inglenook fireplace. Advent calendars are a tradition started by my late Mom some 26 years ago when my eldest daughter was just a baby & since then they have had an advent calendar each year.

Putting favourite chocolates in each pocket ….

I always have an advent candle that we burn at night too as darkness falls - a time of quiet reflection as I watch the candle burn down to the next number. Like most of us, I have taken my eye off the flame at times only to find that I have skipped a few days …

Do you have family traditions that you observe over the festive season?

Thank you for stopping by; I hope December brings much joy to the start of your festive season  ...
Dee ~♥~

Happy Advent Sunday

Advent Sunday has come rather quickly & this year it falls in November.

Happy Advent Sunday everyone - may the countdown to Christmas be peaceful & blessed - remember that commercialism is something we have invented & something we fuel.

You can step off that competitive Xmas trend & remember Christmas as it should be - a time of reflection, celebration & family time. The excess gift stresses can be put aside if you have the courage to just say …. NO!

Be blessed today & each of the Advent Sundays.
Dee ~♥~