Day 359 - Christmas Eve
Prompt 359
"The family is one of nature’s masterpieces."
- George Santayana

After 3 days of "Come dine with me" at each families homes!! Here is a photo taken this evening at step DS's home and eating supper on Christmas Eve after going to their Parish church to a Christingle service.

Day 358
Prompt 358
"Everyday is a cause for celebration."
- Anonymous

Well I have been able to celebrate every day of Advent by not only lighting my candle and reading 'A Feast for Advent' by Delia Smith (not a cookery book) but having joined the UKS Advent swap I have had lovely presents to open daily. today I also had my Dizzy dot team SS to open too.

Day 357
Prompt 357
"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~ Peg Bracken

My DH is not really a Christmas Grump(Bah Humbug), His philosophy is that the true spirit of Christmas is giving your time and love to others less fortunate, the homeless and those who have nothing. he hates the long build up to Christmas and all the money people spend on presents for a day which has totally lost it's meaning for people who celebrate it, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Day 356
Prompt 356

"The earth has grown old with its burden of care But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair And its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung." ~ Phillips Brooks (1835-93), American Episcopal bishop, wrote 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'.

Today was the fourth Sun of Advent and although I went to church in the morning I couldn't sing or hear very well, so didn't go to the carol service this evening and felt very sad that I missed the beautiful carol music filling the church.

Day 355
Prompt 355
"May peace be more than a season, may it be a way of life" - Unknown

How I agree with that ! - in everyday life, within families, work situations, out in towns and cities, even driving wouldn't it be a wonderful to live in harmony.

Even Florrie cannot always live in harmony with her sister!!

Day 354
Prompt 354
"A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;It makes no noise at all,But softly gives itself away;While quite unselfish, it grows small."
- Eva K Logue

Our house is full of candles burning. I have 2 Advent candles which are nearly burnt down now, and then some lovely M&S candles which I have just started burning and table candles new for Christmas day. The hall are full of red and smelly nightlight candles which we burn when we have visitors and on Christmas night.

I have uploaded the Christingle candle from the Christingle service which symbolically represents the world, the fruits, thered ribbon- blood of Christ shed for us and the candle representing God, the light of the world.

Day 352
Prompt 352

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
- Norman Vincent Peale

Not only does my lounge look magical and beautiful with welcome lights and twinkling Christmas tree but outside the cold frosty early morning mist gives a tranquil look to the world. I wish it would snow at Christmas, that would complete the magic for me !

Day 351
Continuing the Festive theme this week

Prompt 351
"There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions."
- Bill McKibben

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

I think that family traditions are passed down, usually through the females. Since there are 3 sons in the family I notice that their Christmas traditions are now being introduced by my DIL's.

One tradition that has evolved since the children have grown up is my Chocolate roulade which each family want me to make for them as well as having on Christmas day! So of course the photo today had to be of my DIL with one of the chocolate roulades!!

I have made 6 this year!!

Day 350
Prompt 350
"I'm dreaming of a "---" Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know"
- Bing Crosby

What are you dreaming of this Christmas?

Here is a photo yesterday of our nieces children opening some presents we had brought them!

I suppose I just hope that everyone has a traditional Christmas with enough of everything but not in excess in presents or food. - 'just like we used to know". Unfortunately the young only know about having everything they want , so sad in my opinion.

I am going to quote from a fellow Shirley's 365 blog

"Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money.~Author Unknown

I personally like to take time at Christmas to think of those everywhere in the world including our country who have nothing

Day 349
Slight change to todays prompt. Its Anna's birthday so we are going to celebrate today!

Prompt 349
"Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times, and your laughter

Gonna celebrate your party with you"
- Kool and the Gang

What are you celebrating today?

I continue to celebrate Advent.

Today was the third Sunday until we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

I didn't go to church as I wasn't feeling 100%. Nothing to do with a late night after our party last night but the cold I continue to brew.

This little nativity scene is something we put out each year to remind us what Christmas is all about.

Day 348
Prompt 348
"Deck the halls with boughs of hollyFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la'Tis the season to be jollyFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laDon we now our gay apparel"

Is your house all ready for Christmas? YES!!
Tonight we are having a Christmas party. Here I am already and waiting for our guests to arrive and our party to start

Day 347
Prompt 347
"Oh I'm the happiest Christmas treeLook how pretty they dressed meOh lucky lucky me
I got shiny bells the jingleAnd tiny lights that tingleWhenever anyone passes byI blink my lights and wink my eye!"

Here is our tree with new lights but all the other ornaments have been collected in recent years.

Since we moved to our small house we have had an artificial tree. It takes ages to set it up and to take it down but it is worth the time it takes.

Day 346
Prompt 346
"It's the most wonderful time of the year.With the kids jingle belling,and everyone telling you,"Be of good cheer,"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

I wonder if it so wonderful for a lot of people this year?

We went to Woolworths today as it is closing due to the recession and global state of finances. I think is just the start of a lot of people who will be out of work in 2009. I feel very sad about all the companies closing,

Day 345
Prompt 345
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Ev'rywhere you go; Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again With candy canes and silver lanes aglow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Toys in ev'ry store, But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be On your own front door."

Well here is our wreath on our front door, but I cannot take credit for making it, only adding the artificial Christmas roses!!

Our house certainly looks like Christmas now with this wreath and welcome lights, the tree twinkling and other decs.

I LOVE IT!!

Day 344
Christmas is just around the corner, this week lets get inspired by Christmas music!

Prompt 344
The holly and the ivy,When they are both full grown,Of all trees that are in the wood,The holly bears the crown:
- The Holly and the Ivy

This holly in our garden came as one branch from our old house 13yrs ago. It is now a big bush which we often prune back.

But it bears NO berries!

Day 343

Prompt 343

For fast-acting relief try slowing down. -Lily Tomlin

[At this time of the year, we are all guilty of having so much to do and not enough time.]

Well today has been a very busy day but have managed to put up our tree but not much else as I had to get ready for our church 70's night which was a fast acting relief to a stressed day and such funLOL!! The guy I am with is my friend Lynne's husband Ben wearing a shirt and waistcoat which he wore in the 70's!!

Day 342
Prompt 342
There comes a time when you roll up your sleeves and put yourself at the top of your commitment list.
-Marian Wright Edelman

Well this year I am definitely at the top of my commitement list.

Here I an returning from church and visiting family at 3pm in my new gilet which is a tag too small but I will fit into in Feb and will wear next year:) and new trousers and jumper...of course every thing is new!!

Day 341
Prompt 341

These are the magic years…and therefore magic days…and therefore magic moments.
-Anonymous

I always find Advent are magic days when as a Christian I think about the celebrating the birthday of Jesus, Our Lord.

Today we burnt the 2nd candle of Advent. Not long now until we celebrate Christmas day!

Day 340
Prompt 340
"Let us pause to warm both our hands before the fire of life"
-Walter Landor

I used to love warming my hands in front of an open fire. Before central heating I remember sitting in front of an electric fire and burning my shins, this was how we got chilblains too!! In my very cold bedroom I had a 'posh' fan heater when I was in my teens lol!!

All my life we had a fireplace in the homes I have lived in. We downsized 13 yrs ago ready for retirement and this house has no fireplace to warm our hands!! but we are happy with just central heating warmth and able to change the focal point in our lounge in any direction without a thought of where is the a fireplace! and how wonderful not to clean out the fire or relight it, though we did end up in the late80's putting a 'living fire' in our old house fireplace. This photo was taken by going into an electrical shop and asking to take a photo!! Stark raving mad? no I am a 365er!!

December 04, 2008
Day 339
Prompt 339
"If cold December gave you birth, The month of snow and ice and mirth, Place on you hand a Turquoise blue, Success will bless whate'er you do."
Anon

we have plenty of family birthdays this month, Step DD and Step DS, a DGS and niece but I cannot say that any of them have had great success in life. but all I ask is that they are happy and content with their lives.