24th December - It's Practically Here!

 

Picture 1... the sunrise of Christmas Eve

Picture 2... a wander in the garden in the sunrise. 

Picture 3... the tree in the bay window 

Picture 4... blooming at Christmas 

Picture 5... Orlando demands I go out again 

Picture 6 ... the sun is getting higher.

Picture 7... and the light is reaching the other side of the house 

Picture 7... back to the jigsaw!

Picture 8... Ginny the elf

Picture 9... the last "normal" breakfast for a few days!

Picture 10... catching up

Picture 11... partners in (festive) crime!

Picture 12... WEASELS DAY!

Picture 13... Dogs so ready for a walk

Picture 14... Orlando has been gathering logs in the garden. He brings them all together!

Picture 15... is this the most exciting recipe book??

Picture 16... he's on his way!

Picture 17... the picture of badness! With a present in his mush!

Picture 18... a Jess tail-tip

Picture 19... first Christmas with a woodburning stove in the drawing room!

Picture 20... the river in starlight

Picture 21... a Christmassy house... ours!

Picture 22... tomorrow's culinary pièce-de-resistance: the pork pie!

 

Picture 23... giving the deer their Christmas dinner.

Picture 24... thank you for joining us through advent. May your Christmas have all the blessings which are felt during a quiet moment in front of the crib ✨️ 

23rd December - And the Holiday Began...

Picture 1 - The dogs decided to decamp into the room with the big tree in it!

 

Picture 2 - After years of training, Daddy has finally accepted that he should wear his wellies (his are the blue slippers)

Picture 3 - Sleepy big pup

Picture 4 - Jess waiting for jigsaw pieces to fall into her mouth

Picture 5 - A Christmas sherry

Picture 6 - Judith's pretty cool shadow

Picture 7 - Delivering Plum Bread to the neighbours

Picture 8 - A lovely gesture

Picture 9 - The Christmas Cake getting its decorations

Picture 10 - ...and it's perpetual decorations too

Picture 11 - ...on both sides

Picture 12 - Jess squashing Judith's foot

Picture 13 - Everything ticked off the to-do list

Picture 14 - A night view of Stempster

Picture 15 - the ebony mouse from our favourite family Christmas book

Picture 16... Christmas card!

Picture 17... now-empty sherry glasses!

Picture 18... advent calendar update! Almost there!

Picture 19... Santa's looking a bit thin nowadays. 

Picture 20... when I got home, I wasn't feeling particularly Christmassy, so Ginny zoomed around leaving only Christmas lights on! It helped!

Picture 21 - Christmas cocktails

Picture 22 - a very nice surprise

Picture 23 - the night's final embers

22nd December - Somehow, Still At School!

 

Picture 1: Orlando cuddles by the tree.

Picture 2: Orlando demonstrating the sad spaniel expression.

Picture 3: I took down my festive door ahead of finishing tomorrow and replaced it with this!

Picture 4: well, I'm pleased L- is quite joyous!

Picture 5: poised and ready to play Christmas music

Picture 6: the tree is almost at its most magical point now!

Picture 7: Christmas at Granny & Grandad's may be over for another year, but the sign stays out to remind us of a wonderful weekend

Picture 8: this stunning card was designed by our niece, Auri, in P3

Picture 9: an antique clockwork Santa on a sledge - I think Mum bought this for Dad because it looks like him!

Picture 10: a weasel watching for Santa

Picture 11: a handmade crib, entrusted to me by a dear family friend

Picture 12: wrapping complete and paper put away in the cupboard!

Picture 13: a pup's eye view of the upstairs tree

 

Picture 14: the Christmas cactus in the bathroom is just starting to flower!

Picture 15: one of the lovely decorations which came free with the house in 2021!

Picture 16: shadows of a snowflake

Picture 17 - Our latest tree decoration

Picture 18 - We've been blown away by the perfect "Stempster" cards we've received this year

Picture 19 - This is another perfect Stempster card

Picture 20 - and here is another. We don't know who sent this one, though, as it was blank inside

Picture 21 - Pine needles on a puppy. They really do get everywhere!

Picture 22 - a reminder of a great time at Nuremburg Christmas Market