The Christmas sideboard / dresser is ready

Our early winter snow has rather thrown my plans out the window as I have rather walked the snow taking lots of photos, than getting ready for Christmas.

This is how previous Christmas sideboards looked in

2012-chirstmas-sideboard-is-done

2013 the-festive-sideboard-is-ready

2014 it-is-looking-more-festive-at-home

2015 Christmas sideboard

2016 the-sideboard-is-looking-starting-to-look-festive 

My sideboard / dresser was still not done .... what to do ...

Coffee time - my lovely little niece & I bought each other matching mugs in Johannesburg so we think of each other across the miles ....

I unpacked some favourites - I love these Emma Bridgewater pieces - they just epitomise Christmas

These are needed too ...

Mince pies are always eaten at Christmas on this gifted plate. I like having them on hand on the sideboard / dresser as they can be used easily when needed.

A few things are needed that make you smile ....

I sometimes cut fresh ivy & holly for the winter solstice but with all the snow, that is not happening so some faux strands will help for now ...

The cheese board & cake stand were Oliver Bonas gifts from the girls & they like being there ...

Green, purple, red, white candles on the top will be used over the festive season. I love having the candle sticks on the top ready for the table at night ...

It always feels more festive when the sideboard looks ready & we have the special plates & bowls at hand that we will need. How is your planning going? Thank you for stoping by & taking the time to read & comment!
Dee ~♥~

Shropshire is blanketed in snow ...

Hi everyone

We have not had an decent snow falls for a few years so when snow was forecast, I was sceptical but on the weekend, while we were away down south, it arrived.

I could not wait to get home to enjoy it (they had nothing down south). I put on my trusty snow boots, 2 pairs of socks & headed out - snow if for enjoying!

Our county was like a magical wonderland ...

 A walk around our local lake ...

This was just so magical to walk along ...

Our county recorded the coldest temperature in the country for this winter ...

However, we were not deterred & still set out with our cameras ...

 The lovely Priory ruins at Much Wedlock  - home town to the modern Olympics

 A lovely door that looks so welcoming

A snowy scene in Shropshire

The lovely town of Much Wedlock in the snow

Our local area in the snow ... 

My trusty boots did well this week - at times the snow has been thicker than the tops of my boots. However, they clung on to the slippery surfaces & allowed me to enjoy the snow all over town.

My walks over the 3 snow days ...

I took my hiking stick with me at all times & it was a great help in icy weather ...

A little video I took while we were driving to the local town of Much Wenlock - it looks like a fairy land ...

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you have enjoyed our snow photos too.
Dee ~♥~

Our Christmas tree is up ....

Hi everyone

Sunday marked the first Sunday of Advent & with a very busy time ahead, I decided our tree should go up at home.

Our tree is usually very traditional with red & gold which shimmers.
This is some of our previous trees -

a simple fresh one

a-pure-simple-christmas-tree

Be there completely at Christmas 

Oh deer, the tree is done

our-christmas-decorations

it-is-looking-more-festive-at-home

I did the advent calendars on Friday to deliver to the girls - somehow it always feels like the start of the festive season when our fabric East of India ones are filled & up. It is a tradition I like at home.

However, last year my mind turned to tartan heather colours which we have in our Dining-room. I bought some decorations, put them away safely & could not find them at all in the garage. I am sure you know the feeling only too well when you put something away so safely you cannot find it.

I stumbled across that elusive box in the summer & just knew that those would be the colours this year.  On my outings, I have added some inexpensive baubles & decorations in those colours - such fun finding something a bit different for our tree.

Pretty sparkly butterflies ...

Our tree always has some deer & this year is no different, even if they are brighter colours with curly antlers ...

This is the colour palette that I really love ...

I even found a bright angel in one of the boxes in our loft - she looks lovely ... 

How lovely does this look with the lights on? I love the colours as they glisten at night ...

The advent candle will burn every night too as we count down to Christmas. 

I love watching the candle burning each night as we prepare food & settle together. 

I hope your week is blessed too; thank you for your visit - it is always appreciated! 

Dee ~♥~

A fresh tree for the cosy cottage ...

Hi everyone

My regular readers are familiar with my A Wondering Star daughter & her lovely blog.

I love an invitation to their lovely Victorian Cottage in Oxfordshire - she has photos on her blog. I love being so welcome in their lovely guest room with its bare brick wall & original fireplace etc. It is a mix of old & very modern.

They decided on a fresh Christmas tree, & this was their only free weekend so it was decided to get one from a place called Christmas Common. I thought that they were teasing me, however, that is a real place closely. Christmas Common - how easily it rolls off the tongue!

We set off to select a tree at the Tree Barn at Christmas Common 

Such a great choice of cut & potted trees, in various shapes, varieties & sizes - so much choice!

They have such a fabulous barn full of the most stunning festive items & decorations .

This tree really took my eye - beautiful, modern & vibrant!

I loved the beautiful traditionally British decorations too ...

Red & gold, my usual colour choice but not this year ....

I really loved having so many trees set out differently with the decorations used around the tree to make it easier to select them.

Another lovely tree ... 

So pretty - a woodland theme ...

We selected a potted tree & some new decorations that I know will suit them - time to head back to their cottage & put it up ... 

A perfect spot up high where the lovely vizslas can't bump in to it ...

Their advent candle is lit while we do the tree. We took their East of India fabric advent calendars down with us - filled with 2 chocolate treats in each space ...

I selected this vibrant pheasant for their tree because they often come across them when they walk in the woods near their home. The hanging pomander smelt so festive ...

This little deer near the 2 dog ornaments is a reminder of the deer that share their walks ...

Coffee & pastries around the tree & fire ...

How cosy is this?

Their lovely cottage will be undergoing a lot of modernisation with extensions in the New Year so they are enjoying their space as it is. I think it is perfectly cosy. I hope you have enjoyed the visit to Christmas Common too - thank you for stopping by & taking time to comment.
Dee ~♥~