Happy Christmas one and all :O)

.... still Christmas Eve ....

Almost time to put out the sherry and mince pies for Santa :O)
My husband is working true to his personal tradition and is busy wrapping presents as we speak .... he always insists this should never be done before 10pm on Christmas Eve!  Whereas I like to watch the pile growing under the Christmas Tree, right through the whole of December ;o) They do say Opposites attract, which I guess explains why we've been married for 31 years ........
We saw the Hobbit today - great film!  I loved the music even more than in LOTR, especially the Dwarves Chorus at Bilbo's house.
Time to find those mince pies ......
Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas :O)

Christmas Eve :o)

Well - I managed to hold out last night!  Pressie pile is still complete under the Christmas Tree ;o)
I put the last stitches into the last made-by-me gift and just need to wrap that this morning - and then they are all done!  Amazed myself this year, unless there's something I've forgotten to do .....
We are going to see the Hobbit today :O)  Funny when you think about it - when the boys were small the treat at Christmas was to get tickets for a pantomime.  Its going to be very tempting to call out and tell Bilbo *look behind you!!!*  I think my guys would disown me - don't you ??  hehehe

The Eve of Christmas Eve ....

The magic of Christmas Day lasts quite a long time in our house.  I love the lead up and the prep, the twinkles and the tinsel - and everything else!  Several years ago our boys heard about opening one present from under the Tree on Christmas Eve.
I'm a definite pushover with anything like that so I confess - they didn't need to push very hard and we quickly made that a regular Family Tradition - hehehe
Well - they are grown up now, in their 20s - but family traditions are still very important aren't they, whatever age you are :O)
Today is the Eve of Christmas Eve ......  Last year they tried to persuade me that there's another similar tradition for today.  I'll give you three guesses about what the topic of conversation is going to be a bit later........ hehehe
I'll tell you tomorrow whether I managed to hold out or not ...... hehehe

Mind you - I've had two early gifts already :O) This is a Poinsettia Rose - the red bracts curls up slightly and form rose-like *flowers* around the top - really pretty!  I haven't seen these before :O)

I LOVE December :O)

Crikey!  WHERE does the time go ????  I can't believe I haven't posted on here since the end of the Art Trail.  Such a lot been happening ....

First off - I had a lovely time at the West Country Quilt Show at Shepton Mallet.  Was very busy all day everyday there, demo-ing the APQS longarm machines and visitors had fun trying out the Lenni machine - and finding out how easy it is to use!


We were back for just one day and then headed off to Cornwall to celebrate my birthday :O)  We stayed in Pentewan at The Cove for a couple of nights, which is just a very short drive from the Lost Gardens of Heligan.  Monday evening we went to the Gardens, for their annual Cornish Christmas night and a candlelit tour of the gardens.  Oh my - that was lovely!  The gardens will never look the same again in daylight.  I can thoroughly recommend it and hope we can go back again next year :O) Highlight for me was a lovely lady playing a dulcimer in the walled garden which was a perfect setting - her gentle notes wafted around in the candlelight and then out into the darkness.  Absolutely magical :O)  I could have stood listening to her playing carols all evening!

We spent my birthday the next day (4th) wandering around Truro.  The weather was changeable and sometimes quite damp and blustery, so we were *forced* to duck into several tea rooms and sample their tea ..... and the scones .... and apple pie ...... and toasted tea cakes ....... ;O)  Had a really nice relaxing time but I confess I did come home slightly .... er .... rounder than when I left .....:O)

The following week (12th) saw us celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary :O)  We had thought to go away for another few nights BB, but decided to stay home and go out for lunch instead at the Start Bay Inn at Torcross.  Yummy food and a crackling fire :O)

And now - my Christmas trees are up and twinkling, the tinsel is on the walls, the Christmas cards are being imminently posted and I am playing Christmas music throughout the house from when I wake up til bedtime .....
Yup ..... I definitely LOVE December ...... :O)