Happy 1st December

I have been making Nigel giggle all day today as I am on an Advent high.

I love love love Christmas and winter and advent and everything about this time of year.

I have been humming Christmas songs, thinking Christmas thoughts and making Christmas pages and am a happy happy girl.

Now - photos of the day catch up first.

Not a lot of time for much other than work and so the keyboard seemed an apt picture and it shows how much I love it as the letters are starting to get loved off. I have only had this keyboard since September and some letters are already going. No idea why this always happens to me.

 

 

Tuesday and this is my final view of my boys most mornings as I head off intot he cold dark day and they stay snuggled up in bed. In fairness Nigel has been up and made my tea and porrige and I do love seeing them together like this.

 

A quick get well card for a friend about to have an op.

 

 

For 21 years ever since we moved here I have begged to have a Christmas tree on the balcony. YEY - this year I won. I can't wait until the lights are switched on. I hope it looks as fab I hope it does. We couldn't get an outdoor tree for a sensible price and so it is an indoor tree and if it doesn't last so be it - at least we have tried.

 

And for the last day of November a most beautiful sunrise witht he mist and the ice and the frostiness. A real winter beauty.

 

And because I am feeling all Christmassy here is a page I made with a fab new kit by Feli designs and LouCee Creations at Pickleberrypop.

The collection is called Christmas in Gold and it is lush.

I couldn't wait to scrap my Christmas angel who sits at the top of our tree. And the even better news was that I got GSO with this page as well. I was such a happy happy bunny

 

 

 

 Now I have some really exciting news for scrappers - both digital and paper.

Pickleberrypop has a special celebration on for Christmas and it is TOO GOOD TO MISS

 

 

these 12 days of Cjristmas deals are so good you can't miss them.

PLUS - yes there is more -

You can get an amazing collab set for free when you spend and I have this collab set already and have been working with it and it is amazing.  It is perfect for all your Christmas needs for paper/hybrid/digi. You really truly want it.

 

 

and now for the remarkable bit and I am unbelievably thrilled. I made one of the clusters and one of the quick pages.

And it is in store. And I made something towards it. Did I mention I made one of them LOL.

I was so excitied to see it in the collection.  This is my cluster

 

and this is my page which is also a quick page so you can just slot your own photo in.

 

 

I was just so excited.

And Journal Your Christmas starts today

and this is my 7th year and I love the class. I love focussing each day on soemthing Christmassy. This year I am taking the theme of Christmas close ups.

This is my title page - my manifesto

 

and this is my page for 1st December

 

I made an advent house several years ago

See this post for the advent house and how to make it

and this year I painted little wooden ornaments, one for each drawer and bought a little gold tree which we will decorate throughout advent, one a day.

 

Today I am thankful for

• all things Christmassy
• weekends
• cold crisp days

No photo of the day yet - I am not sure what I will take as I have so much to chose from today.

and finally the page a day calendar page for today

MYSTERIOUS WAYS
Even when we were teenagers, my brother, Jeff, and I thought few things were cooler than spending the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Tipton at their cozy clapboard house in southwest Washington. We ate big, home-cooked meals (Grandma always had a new table grace for us to learn), traded scary stories in the dark, and chased each other through the woods. But most of all, we were happy to help them with things around the house.

One morning, Grandpa and Jeff drove to the local hardware store, while Grandma and I stayed behind. “I’m going to get this lawn mowed for you,” I called to Grandma before heading outside.

I started up the lawn mower and it let out a deafening roar. I mowed just the way Grandpa showed me, going up and down the yard in a back-and-forth pattern. A few minutes in, I heard a voice over the
rumbling of the motor. “Help! Help!” I shut off the mower and listened. Silence. I looked around. Not a soul in sight.

I must be hearing things, I thought, and started up the mower again.

“Help! Help!” There was no mistaking it this time. The voice sounded like it was coming from inside the
house. I shut off the mower and rushed to the back door, clearing the five steps in one single leap.

It was Grandma! She was choking, leaning her frail frame over the kitchen sink. I ran over to give her the Heimlich, when a piece of food flew out from her mouth.

“Thank God!” she said in a breathless voice. “How did you know I was choking?”

“Grandma, I heard you yelling. You sure were loud!” I said.

“Michael, I couldn’t breathe let alone yell. I didn’t make a sound.”

Dear God, help me hear the cries for help from others, especially their silent ones.—MICHAEL
MCALLISTER

 

 

Comments

[Mike Smith]

Hi Karen & Nigel!
I've been a bit remiss visiting the site with the hustle and bustle of the holidays and all. I just want to comment how fabulous the tree and deocrations look! I also love the Advent Calendars and am having fun with the one you sent me. I hope the Nutcrackers and Disney Globes add some holiday cheer too! Maybe I'll see them on here soon.
Take good care,
Mike in FL