Christmas Eve

Well, hello again!

Here we are again, Christmas Eve.  The shops are shut, the fire is lit and all is peaceful in our home.  We had a lovely day today, and went to Betty's tea rooms in Ilkley, Yorkshire, which has become our Christmas tradition.  It is always so beautifully decorated, with impeccable food and attentive service.  We really enjoyed our lunch, which extended into afternoon tea!  

The windows are are a joy to behold, whatever the season, but particularly so at Christmas.  This year they marked their Centenary.

Long time readers of my blog will know that I find Christmas to be bittersweet, for various reasons, not least that it is the anniversary of my late husband's death.  He died on Christmas Day several years ago.  I'm not miserable at Christmas, far from it, but I do sometimes find the overwhelming and sometimes enforced jolliness a little bit too much.  Much too much commercialism, to my mind.  I do however love the way that complete strangers will talk and laugh with each other at Christmas, the way the lights twinkle on late afternoon dark walks with Daisy Dog, and the feeling of warmth and cosiness that snuggling by the fire brings.

Some years I have struggled listening to endless repeats of the same frenetic music, and other times the adverts that encourage us to spend! spend! spend!  This year, however, I have found a solution that works for me - Classic FM radio station.  The music is a lovely mix of classical pieces alongside choral and orchestral Christmas music and carols.  The presenters have soothing and friendly voices, as they introduce each piece, sometimes with a little bit of a back story.  In the past few days I have listened to Alexander Armstrong, Alan Titchmarsh and John Suchet amongst others.  It's been like a quiet and happy conversation with a friend. When my husband has been out and I've been home alone I have carried my little DAB radio around the house as I completed Christmas tasks, and perched it in my sewing room as I worked on my next quilt, and felt quite relaxed and happy.  They have played so much music from my childhood too - songs we sang at school or Sunday school - that I haven't heard since.  The lights have twinkled on the Christmas Tree and brought feelings of happiness at the life I have now and the happy memories I hold in my heart, instead of feelings of loss.  Music is very evocative and I have found my Christmas home in the glorious sounds of beautiful pieces.

There is so much pressure these days on having the 'perfect Christmas' but that too brings its own anxieties.  If I have learned anything over the years it's that we need to take time for ourselves, to have the Christmas that suits us and our own families, and not be trying to match any artificial or celebrity version, which for all we know only exists on the screen.  

I hope wherever you are, whatever you're doing, and whoever you are with, you are having the Christmas that you want.  I hope it brings happy memories, and the opportunity to make new memories.  For anyone who is having a difficult or worrying time right now, I send you my heartfelt good wishes, and may a little bit of the magic of Christmas bring peace and comfort to your heart.

Happy Christmas, 

Donna x 

A Mini Christmas Ta Da

Hello again!

Well, it's Christmas Eve Eve and I just wanted to show you my finished Christmas Quilted wallhanging.

You may remember, if you are a regular visitor, I was making this in a 'Quilt as you go' way, using a pattern by Anita Goodesign. It's a lovely mix of applique and machine embroidery, and I wrote about it here. It's probably one of the most fun things I have made so far, as being such a wild collection of printed fabrics and designs I could really go for it!  I backed it with my bargain remnant of Sanderson fabric I found in Oxfam, and added some rod pockets to the top.  DH put a black curtain rail up on the brick chimney for me, and ta da! a wallhanging in place!

This is how it looks, hanging above the woodburner

I am so pleased with it, and there is such a lot to look at.  I was trying to pick out my favourite bit this morning, and I couldn't decide between the snowy scene...

...the front door...

... the mandolin (or is it a lute?)...

...or the little blocks of swirlyness?

Perhaps each block is equally special in its own way.  How's that for being egalitarian??  :D

Well, Christmas Eve tomorrow!  I'll be back tomorrow evening when all is calm and hushed, for a little Christmas Eve musing...

Donna x

Pre-Christmas Gallivanting

Hello,

In the midst of doing Christmassy things, I've had a couple of lovely trips away!  I'm fortunate that my grown up son still likes going away with me, and we recently took ourselves to London for a concert at the Royal Albert Hall and to visit my darling daughter and her partner, as well as my sister and her family. 

The concert was fabulous - 'Classical Spectacular'- we go once or twice a year.  The whole evening is just a wonderful experience, from pre-concert drinks in the bar, to the thrill of the first notes played by the orchestra. Obviously I didn't take photos during the performance, so here is one I took as the place was filling up.

We had a lovely long weekend, wandering around London, fun meals with family, and we also went to the National Gallery and revisited some of our favourite paintings...

We are so lucky to have these works of art just there for us to enjoy, and there's no entrance charge either (donations are very welcome).

London was bedecked in her Christmas finery, and our habitual stop to Fortnum and Mason did not disappoint.

Afterwards my husband and I took our annual pre-Christmas mini break too.  This time we went to the Peak District, to one of our favourite and most restful holiday holidays tucked away in the hills.  It was bliss!

Every year Chatsworth House is decorated for Christmas, with hundreds of thousands of glittering decorations.  We had seen images of it, but were not prepared for just how spectacular it really would be.  Walking into each room was just overwhelming - I have never seen anything like it.  We took lots of photos, but they really don't show the full beauty.  Here are a few though, just to give you an idea.

As dogs aren't allowed in to Chatsworth House, Daisy had to go to Doggy Daycare.  I don't think she had too bad a day though as she was put into a lovely warm area with another small dog, and apparently they played well together.  We made it up to her the rest of the holiday though and she had lots of running around time.   We spent quite a lot of time at one of our favourite Peak District places - Ilam Park.  The views are spectacular, and Daisy could run her little feet off!

There's something about a pre-Christmas holiday (or two!) that feels a little bit deliciously decadent, and I really look forward to it.  The air is crisp and there are no jobs to be done, just walking, talking, leisurely meals, and taking in the bustling atmosphere of different places getting ready for the festivities.  Just wonderful.

Donna x