Witzend - your advent calendar is fantastic you have done a terrific job. Do you remember last year after I knitted my Nativity I knitted a donkey but understuffed it and it ended up looking like Eeyore! The front legs had all but collapsed! happy days.
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Christmas
I'm going to keep a kind of diary of some of the things I make and do for Christmas.
If anyone wants to join in they are welcome.
Maybe we can swap ideas. 
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First of all I collected up the pruned tendrils from my Wisteria, and wound them around each other to make a wreath.
Still needs a few more strands to plump it out, but when finished I will decorate it.
Not sure whether to go for the trad. Christmas red and green with bits of glitter, or maybe skandi type with natural fir cones cinnamon sticks etc., finished off with a velvet vanilla coloured bow!
I'll have to take a look in the Christmas craft box(es!) to see what is looking the nicest.
Next persuaded my husband to bring down the many boxes of trimmings etc., down for me to check through, and they are now stuffed under the dining table until I get to decorate the house later on.
I cant ask him to trudge them back upstairs, too much stress on the knees!
It gives me the chance to look through and see what is looking a bit jaded and decide if I should buy new.
Found the outside lights and tested some to see if still working. Yes, so arranged them strategically in the back garden.
We had cut back a large tree a couple of weeks ago, which left the view from the window a bit empty, and I didn't like it.
So we dug out a large pot, heaved it (well he heaved I steadied it) onto the sack truck and wheeled it into position.
Then stood the largest pruned branch (about 3ft) into it and filled the pot with earth to hold it in place.
The branch is nicely twisted so I spent a couple of days on and off winding lights around it to emphasise its lovely shape. Fiddly but the effect is very pretty.
Then I filled the top of the pot with some trailing variegated ivy, (being sold off at 50p a pot).
Now I've left the lights off for now, as it is a little bit early!
But I'm looking forward to seeing them everyday from my window over the Christmas period.
It's the one thing that perks me up when the clocks change and windy wet winter seems to stretch out before us.
I love Xmas
However with a very tiny family and no young neighbours anymore kinda hard to feel that way
We do tend to have a holiday in Dec and go somewhere cold (from Aust here )
Grandson is 1 a few days after Xmas so we have Xmas and a birthday
His birthday present is already bought
He will receive three little ones for Xmas (toy , clothes and book )
His parents will receive cash . Mum and dad are both gone. Only child (me) only with an only child
That is my family organised lol
I miss the Xmas of childhood but also have to confess I was one who packed it all up boxing day or the day after
TerryM … Sounds like you will enjoy yourselves over the Christmas hols, with your little Grandson!
I agree it gets more difficult to find excuses to actually dive in and join in with the spirit of Christmas.
I'm not an only child but I don't see my siblings much anymore so I might as well be!
Good luck with the 'cold' winter holiday, do you know where you are going yet?
I've always wanted to go to the ice hotels in Scandinavia or where ever they are! Might think about it for next year
My knitting project
Your knitting looks lovely - I used to like knitting but it makes me fall asleep 
paddyann
I really don't have much choice.
First of all, the agency who sends me homecare help states I can only be taken to "the nearest supermarket".
Unless I want to give someone a pack of butter or a tin of beans for a Christmas gift, I have to look online.
It doesn't need to be expensive, it can't be expensive if I'm to buy it.
Even if I were able to get to a shop with gifts, I can't see them. I can still see things online.
My budget is nowhere near as large as yours, if the price of hot chocolate velvetisers is anything to go by.
I'm talking about $20 - £10 maximum, even for family, from a pension which doesn't allow for luxuries such as dental and doctor's bills, let alone Xmas gifts.
I don't know how pensioners in Scotland manage but here it's a bit of a struggle; well over half of it goes on rent alone.
Nevertheless, I'm inspired by all this wonderful craft work here and although most of it is beyond me now (sight not creativity) I'm thinking I could make some nice chocolate truffles and pop them in petit four cases.
Then I may download a box template from AuntAnnie.com she has heaps of different designs, and using old cartons, decorate with wrapping paper - and I have some ribbon in my sewing box.....
Never give up - never give in {grin]
Thanks namsnanny we are off to Paris and London
Always enjoy that
Ooooo Paris! Have a great time there.
London for a show maybe?
Leyla … It's not really clever, well I can only speak for myself.
You haven't seen the box of unfinished (translates as too difficult to cope with) items hiding in the loft!
That's what its all about really isn't it......spending time with loved ones, if possible.
Will you hibernate and just indulge in her company, or be more gregarious and visit others together do you think?
When mine went off to uni all they wanted when they came home was lifts to and from places, and when they were at home they were hungry or had hangovers!
Lucky them
Ilovecheese … I like Delia's recipe's the most. They used to re-run her Christmas series quite often and I always watched it.
Not that I managed to make many of the items, but I tried to do a different one each time it was on.
I haven't seen it advertised this year though.
I bet the house smells nice now? [smile}
Will you managed to use up all six jars, or will some be given away?
I give you this for nothing, Waitrose mini mince pies are really good if anyone doesn't want to make their own.
I'm not against a sneaky shop bought mince pie, so long as it doesn't have that twangy after taste that some used to!
Still haven't got around to making mine yet, hence the trip to Waitrose!!
I'm going hell for leather on the Advent calendar at the moment, big backing pieces, 16 of the pockets and 9 inserts done so far. And I've mounted the backing pieces on to a thick piece of card which I found in the local art shop, I should have started it all in June! Only I hadn't found the pattern then.
Plus I still have 1 donkey and 3 sheep to make for the Nativity. The rest is more or less done - all sitting on top of the piano.
Shan't get much done for the next few days - Gdcs coming to stay for 3 nights. I dare say we'll be making fairy cakes together.
This is fantastic Witzend!! You’re so talented. I love knitting too and have knitted odds and ends for this Christmas, as well as socks all year round, but you’re in a different league! 
Beautiful Witzend!! … It's good without the donkey etc.
I lost the plot and dropped a stitch or two and didn't notice until several rows, so I've just unpicked my knitting project!
I always make a few mistakes, especially when I get a little bit confident.
AllotmentLil … Socks are so difficult! I haven't grasped the 3 needle method yet I'm afraid. Well done you.
Much as I don't enjoy Christmas, I do like seeing your crafts!
We have some very talented people here. 
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