time to wrap presents, write out and plan the menus, shop for the groceries, and deliver gifts.
There have been parties and open houses all great excuses to get dressed up and be social.
Today I took some time to savour a cafe au lait...
and catch up on my blog reading.
Lisa at a mid life of privilege wrote a thought provoking post yesterday
you might like to pop over and read it .
The grand children and I made a sleigh for "Santa"...
the porcupine on top of the sleigh is Santa.
(I point this out just in case you did not recognize him)
These two weary workers are "the elves"
I suspect that there are a lot of weary folks out and about these days.
It is difficult juggling work, family with the added responsibility of Christmas
preparations.
Even Santa has his helpers.
These wee felted animals were a small gift to the grandchildren on our "play date" last week.
I popped over and had an afternoon of fun and games while our lovely DIL ran some errands and did some shopping.
The wee ones are so excited!
I can remember back to my childhood when my sister and I would lie under the Xmas tree with the Sears and Eaton's catalogues and dream about what Santa Claus might bring.
We were oblivious to the extra work that Mother was going through to make sure that Christmas would be memorable.
Every year she sewed us matching dresses...one for her and then one for each of us.
Velvet was the fabric of choice
ours had lace trim at the neck and sleeves and sometimes on the hem.
Bright colours were her passion and I recall dresses in fuchsia, teal, cobalt blue and red.
The cookie tins were filled with her traditional cookies, bars and squares.
Heavy fruitcakes with almond paste were baked and regularly doused with sherry...
kept in our cool sunroom until guests arrived for various parties.
Mother never seemed to be stressed or tired...
as kids we were oblivious on what was required to "make Christmas happen"...
We were rather distracted
dreaming about our Christmas morning stockings
filled with an orange in the toe
a Cadbury Flake Bar
a few small toys.
Such great memories...
Our Christmas will look slightly different this year
as we will be celebrating over two days instead of just the one with the family.
Our children are carving out some new traditions of their own
making memories for their wee ones and partners.
Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
16 comments:
I love hearing about your Christmas memories Hostess. I also remember lying under the Christmas tree hoping that a large gift wrapped box with a tag saying it was for me was a doll--only to find out later that it was a very pretty pink flannel bathrobe. And, how wonderful it is that our grown children can create their own Christmas traditions to share with their children. I support that! (And, I support a wise and supportive grandmother who understands.) Merry Christmas to you and your family. You have brought me much joy and entertainment throughout the year. If you lived in my city, I would be delivering a loaf of my homemade bread to your doorstep.
I identified with Lisa's statement "nostalgia can be a spiteful mistress." My mother and sister are still clinging to old menus and traditions that have never been a fit with me. My own daughter works Christmas day and so we work around that . We had a children's party (the first one in our predominately elderly complex) yesterday and it was fun to start a new neighbourhood tradition. And Maman is actually going to borrow the reindeer sweater to wear to her volunteer work at the food bank this week. Our velvet dresses were always red.
Have a balanced week! My friend and I are walking extra this week.
Thank you for your beautiful blog Leslie. It really is a gift to all who read it.
Happy Holidays
Ali
What a cheerful post! Thank you for bringing back childhood memories. Like your mum, mine also made our clothes for Christmas; my blonde hair and blue eye sister had a blue velvet dress. I, having chestnut hair and brown eyes, always had a red velvet dress... don't like to wear red now. I love the father Christmas and helpers. It is so nice when children play using imagination.
Hostess, I wish you a merry Christmas. Lots of health, hope and happiness...and peace for everyone. Best wishes! Greetings Maria x
Oh i pored over the jcpennys and sears "wish books" too! I remember Liddle Kiddles dolls and twister and kerplunk and operation games! One year i got the beautiful and coveted Barbie dolls friend. I think her name was Stacey and she spoke with an amazing British accent! You pulled a string on the back of her neck to get her to talk. A couple of years before that ... the beautiful brown haired Francie doll...another Barbie doll friend. Christmas morning was so fun and exciting!
I think it ate my post!! Darn
Nope... It posted! lol
Lovely post. So enjoyable to read. Wishing you and yours a warm and loving holiday.
Wishing you a joyous Christmas! I agree, traditions are wonderful - sounds like your family is adding some new traditions to the mix. I find any time spent together making memories is time well spent. Enjoy - Susan
Thank you for a lovely Christmas post. I know the joy of Lego with the grandchildren, which is such fun. As a child I only ever had two velvet dresses, both blue - one had a lace collar, the second when I was 14, had a leopard velvet collar. I loved that! Your silver tray and candles is beautifully elegant. Happy Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Leslie!
May 2016 be everything you wish it to be.
SSG xxx
Merry Christmas, Leslie! Thank you for the mention, and I wish all the joy of the holidays for you and yours.
Those Eatons and Sears Wish books were for dreams. I don't think we expected much but they certainly were fun to gaze over for hours.
Enjoy your new two days of family holiday traditions.
Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
And thank you for all your thoughtful and artistic thoughts throughout the year. It's always a pleasure to read them.
I remember those Liddle Kiddles dolls! My grade five (1967) teacher took my friends away from her until school's summer end; just for playing with it during class.
I also got a talking Barbie one year for Christmas; I just can't recall which year?
I miss the Eaton's, Simpson's and Sears Christmas catalogues. I also miss the Simpson's and Eaton's trucks delivering orders to our house.
I have created may new Christmas traditions; but I still hang on tightly to some of the ones I grew up with.
I can't wait for Christmas Eve! It's my favourite night of the year.
Merry Christmas Leslie!
My brother and I used to spend hours looking at the Sears Christmas Wish Book. It was like magic the day it arrived in the mail! Merry Christmas to you, and hopefully 2016 will be the year we have a real life meet-up. :-)
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