Blue lights, mixed with white lights, seemed to become popular in Our Town some years ago. Very appropriate colours for Advent (liturgical colour - blue - in Some Places) leading to Christmas (liturgical colour white)!
Blue lights, mixed with white lights, seemed to become popular in Our Town some years ago. Very appropriate colours for Advent (liturgical colour - blue - in Some Places) leading to Christmas (liturgical colour white)!
In these parts, blue and white lights suggest Hanukkah.
My husband's sister in law has been doing blue and silver Christmas for years, as are her favourite colours. I'm more at the red and gold end, but have made myself a pretty display of blue and silver balls in a glass dish as a reminder of that side of the family, which we won't see this year.
I've just come back from the shops after an unsuccessful search for fruit mince, I might have to get Cheery husband on the job tomorrow, he can try the shops near his workplace. My last ditch effort will be a quick phone call to the supermarket in our old suburb, after that I give up! Checkout lady told me, younger generation doesn't like mince tarts (which reminded me of our Ship chat about Christmas cakes).
I guess if it comes to the worst, I'll buy some, and Cheery son reminded me not to get as stressed as Rev. Smallbone about them!
There’s a house in our neighborhood where the outdoor lights are all blue and a bronzish-copperish color. I always want to ask them if they were sorted into Ravenclaw.
Back in the 1970s, the Manchester Evening News had a weekly column that was written by the mother of two small children, fictionalised, and sometimes the point of view was from one of the children. So one Christmas, the child announces in the column that Mummy was taking them to "something called a grotty to meet Santa", and our family have been calling it a grotty ever since.
At one time, Our Place used a dark and dismal corner of the church hall (it was the original entrance porch) as Santa's Grotto.
Grotty would have been a far better word for it...
I have always been at the red and gold end for Christmas colour (the blue outside lights are definitely Mr Nen's choice) and one year we went to the Harry Potter Studios for my December birthday. I did the tree red and gold that year in honour of Gryffindor and have never looked back.
Back in the 1970s, the Manchester Evening News had a weekly column that was written by the mother of two small children, fictionalised, and sometimes the point of view was from one of the children. So one Christmas, the child announces in the column that Mummy was taking them to "something called a grotty to meet Santa", and our family have been calling it a grotty ever since.
Interesting. My (Southern American) experience of the word grotto has its use completely limited to Lourdes and imitative Marian devotional shrines set up at churches, retreat centers or the like. And that means if you’re not Catholic, it’s a word you’re unlikely to use.
Other than grottoes for Mary or some of the Saints, I think of a fairy grotto, which I imagine being in some kind of forest or wood.
We have some large-ish Christmas balls (maybe about 10), I think Cheery husband plans to add those to our street tree, they are silver gold and red.
We did buy years ago, but haven't used for quite some time, an inflatable nativity. I didn't overly like it because the main colour was orange (what the heck?) and all the characters had light up faces - except Jesus- and well, that's just wrong!! Kids would now be so mortified if we had it up, so I think perhaps we could pass it on, in the next lot of decluttering!
Because we have a small lawn bordered by horseshoe shaped hedge, I'd quite like to get a Christmas lamp post to have in the middle of the lawn, maybe next year!
I've noticed that is some parts of our home city people have been tying red ribbons (nice wide ones) around the trunks of the street trees, they really do look lovely.
I've just queried with husband about putting our baubles on our street tree - he is still thinking about it. I don't know if he is worried about them being damaged or taken, but I think it's pretty low risk. I've noticed an emptying out of our street already as on Wednesday when I put the bins out, I noticed quite a few homes did not have bins in the road.
I also noticed that one family had left a 6 pack of beer on top of their green waste bin for the pickup men. As the trucks are normally just the one driver who operates the pickup arm, I hope he or she noticed that and the bottles didn't go in with the garden waste!
I am hoping to see my sister today, she and a friend are doing a museum visit and if I can catch up with her it will be good as I can give her the gifts for her grandchildren, son and partner as well as her birthday present.
I finally received my Jorts the cat Christmas cards, so I just made out cards and stamped them. Of course even if I mail them immediately they'll be late, but it's the first time in years I've sent any, so I hope I can be forgiven.
Mrs Eirenist's Goddaughter and her husband informed us by e=mail that they are not sending Christmas cards this year, but are sending their usual roun=robin as an e-card, which they invite us to print off as a booklet. It runs to 6 A4 pages. Ah well, 'tis the season of peacw and goodwill to all. . .
I keep a list every year of Christmas cards I've sent and work from that for the following year. Something went badly awry last year as it turns out I've omitted two people (so far) who should have been on last year's list to whom I've had to send a last-minute card.
This afternoon will - or should - be all about present wrapping as I haven't done any yet, and I keep putting it off. I'm in my customary overwhelm about presents, food, etc. This happens every year and every year it works out ok. But I never really get to appreciate Advent (one of my favourite times of year) and am already planning how I can get things done earlier next year so that it will be different.
I finally received my Jorts the cat Christmas cards, so I just made out cards and stamped them. Of course even if I mail them immediately they'll be late, but it's the first time in years I've sent any, so I hope I can be forgiven.
You are not late; celebrate all 12 days of Christmas.
Mr Heavenly has just suggested that there should be a voice app to read out round robins. I’m now imagining some in the voice of Hyacinth Bucket (I loved Patricia Routledge in A Lady of Letters).
The church I attend is having a Blue Christmas service this evening. I intend to attend as there are people for whom I will morn.
What a good idea - hope it went well (if you see what I mean).
I don't know of any Blue Christmas services in these parts - though there may well be one or two - but it seems right to allow people some space to worship, reflect, and maybe mourn, away from the relentless faux-jollity and childish playacting to be found in some many churches...
I'm finally feeling on top of things and will be able to get fully into festive mood once our son and his fiancé arrive late this evening. I've been more stressed than usual with it all and need to put things in place to try and make sure it doesn't happen like this next year.
I've just done the 7.30 am visit to local shops (empty except staff and me). Needed some parsley for my salad which I'll make this afternoon. I picked the least ratty looking parsley and have trimmed the stems and put into water hoping that might revive it a bit.
Christmas cake has come out of storage and the Christmas dinner set has now come down from the high cupboard ready for use.
I have an excess of Christmas themed stuff, mostly from when the boy wonder was unwell and every Christmas was celebrated to the max. I do hope to be able to pass some of the stuff on if kids ever leave home!
Mrs RR made me get the candle bridges (menorahs?) down from the loft. Praise be that (a) I found them and (b) they still work! Now I have to find the extension leads. These are not to be found except by prayer and fasting. For me, the stresstive season has started.
OMG, you guys have menorahs?
I'm not sure that RR's candle-bridges are what I think of as a menorah; if they're like mine, they're something like this.
Oh, I thought you might be fellow Jewish Christians, or of an interfaith household or family! I’m Jewish by blood and a Christian by faith, though I wasn’t raised in any religion; my Jewish heritage has become of more significance to me since becoming a Christian. Since I now have cats, I’m nervous about any open flames, so this year I’ve bought a battery-powered menorah. The bear couple I’m spending Christmas Day with is interfaith, one Christian, one Jewish, so there will be latkes with Christmas dinner, and I got a CD of my favorite Hanukkah album, Hanukkah Rocks by the LeeVees, to give them along with their presents.
Cubby loved my latkes. I prefer sour cream and he preferred applesauce.
I have finished my wrapping! It took me most of the day but it is done, and all the packages are stuffed into Target bags to be taken to my daughter's apartment tomorrow to be opened. Tomorrow morning I must get up early and go pick up my mentally handicapped brother by train. Then two friends will pick us up in the evening and off to my daughter's we go.
Two festive and special curries cooked for my Christmas Dinner and mulching down nicely and ready ,threatens Mrs RR (surely this is a joke?) the sproughts.
As we are now part of a larger Ministry Area, rather than a parish, all the Christmas Fayres are difficult to fit in so that they don’t clash with each other. Ours was notable this year (a) for being in mid November and (b) for an email from the vicar inviting us to visit Satan’s Grotto…
Had the regularly scheduled Supermarket Delivery Christmas Ruined stories in the press.
(Wasn't there an episode of The Felicity Kendal Appreciation ShowGood Life about that?)
You know the sort of thing: "You ordered: 10Kg Bronze Turkey - we delivered: 40 x 250g Turkey Flavour Noodle Doodles"
Did the reports include harrowing stuff about blubbering children traumatised for life, rather as in the Evil Vicar Denies Santa stories?
Seemed more concerned she'd got Budweiser instead of Kronenburg, which is fair enough. There aren't many things worse than Kronenburg but Budweiser is definitely right in there.
Had the regularly scheduled Supermarket Delivery Christmas Ruined stories in the press.
(Wasn't there an episode of The Felicity Kendal Appreciation ShowGood Life about that?)
You know the sort of thing: "You ordered: 10Kg Bronze Turkey - we delivered: 40 x 250g Turkey Flavour Noodle Doodles"
Did the reports include harrowing stuff about blubbering children traumatised for life, rather as in the Evil Vicar Denies Santa stories?
Seemed more concerned she'd got Budweiser instead of Kronenburg, which is fair enough. There aren't many things worse than Kronenburg but Budweiser is definitely right in there.
True enough, but one still has to feel really sorry for the poor lass. What a way to end the year...
Had the regularly scheduled Supermarket Delivery Christmas Ruined stories in the press.
(Wasn't there an episode of The Felicity Kendal Appreciation ShowGood Life about that?)
You know the sort of thing: "You ordered: 10Kg Bronze Turkey - we delivered: 40 x 250g Turkey Flavour Noodle Doodles"
Did the reports include harrowing stuff about blubbering children traumatised for life, rather as in the Evil Vicar Denies Santa stories?
Seemed more concerned she'd got Budweiser instead of Kronenburg, which is fair enough. There aren't many things worse than Kronenburg but Budweiser is definitely right in there.
True enough, but one still has to feel really sorry for the poor lass. What a way to end the year...
There are two types of Christmas deliveries/collections from Supermarkets - regular ones that happen to be then, and specific Christmas orders. It's important to ensure that your essential Christmas dinner central item is on the latter, because that's a specific pre-order, while a regular delivery is picked just before delivery and nothing is reserved.
My Christmas centrepiece comes from the sort of online free range posh meat shop I'd like to use all year round but can't because, well, posh. Our local butchers are useless and regard requests for free range or outdoor reared higher animal welfare meat much the same as if you'd asked for wombat legs or ring tailed lemur chops.
Shock as man scoffs three mince pies at (name of church deleted) in ‘world record’ time
The vicar apparently issued a challenge at a *Beer and Carols* service, and a man with (as he himself said) a *big gob* won...
Good to see that the true message of the Incarnation is being so well expressed, although, in all fairness, most people seemed to enjoy this rather offbeat service. Maybe that's not a bad thing.
(b) for an email from the vicar inviting us to visit Satan’s Grotto…
Part of my Christmas gift to my family will be the dinner I'm preparing tomorrow.
We have an excellent butcher here, and they sell the best prime ribs! Mom and Dad used to shop there for family holiday dinners, and it makes me feel part of that legacy to do the same.
So, we'll have prime rib, sweet corn, peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, and whatever appetizers or desserts others show up with!
Shock as man scoffs three mince pies at (name of church deleted) in ‘world record’ time
The vicar apparently issued a challenge at a *Beer and Carols* service, and a man with (as he himself said) a *big gob* won...
Good to see that the true message of the Incarnation is being so well expressed, although, in all fairness, most people seemed to enjoy this rather offbeat service. Maybe that's not a bad thing.
Our place had a Beer & Carols service last Saturday (with brass band, beer & mulled cider) and the church probably had more people than it will for any of the other Christmas events. No mine pie competitions though!
Oh, that I actually could surprise you and appear on your doorstep! (Not that I'm trying to get out of cooking for my own family. That’s actually one of my favorite things of the day.)
Comments
I've just come back from the shops after an unsuccessful search for fruit mince, I might have to get Cheery husband on the job tomorrow, he can try the shops near his workplace. My last ditch effort will be a quick phone call to the supermarket in our old suburb, after that I give up! Checkout lady told me, younger generation doesn't like mince tarts (which reminded me of our Ship chat about Christmas cakes).
I guess if it comes to the worst, I'll buy some, and Cheery son reminded me not to get as stressed as Rev. Smallbone about them!
Grotty would have been a far better word for it...
We have some large-ish Christmas balls (maybe about 10), I think Cheery husband plans to add those to our street tree, they are silver gold and red.
We did buy years ago, but haven't used for quite some time, an inflatable nativity. I didn't overly like it because the main colour was orange (what the heck?) and all the characters had light up faces - except Jesus- and well, that's just wrong!! Kids would now be so mortified if we had it up, so I think perhaps we could pass it on, in the next lot of decluttering!
Because we have a small lawn bordered by horseshoe shaped hedge, I'd quite like to get a Christmas lamp post to have in the middle of the lawn, maybe next year!
I've just queried with husband about putting our baubles on our street tree - he is still thinking about it. I don't know if he is worried about them being damaged or taken, but I think it's pretty low risk. I've noticed an emptying out of our street already as on Wednesday when I put the bins out, I noticed quite a few homes did not have bins in the road.
I also noticed that one family had left a 6 pack of beer on top of their green waste bin for the pickup men. As the trucks are normally just the one driver who operates the pickup arm, I hope he or she noticed that and the bottles didn't go in with the garden waste!
I am hoping to see my sister today, she and a friend are doing a museum visit and if I can catch up with her it will be good as I can give her the gifts for her grandchildren, son and partner as well as her birthday present.
I try and find a suitable image to attach.
I'll put something (hopefully amusing!) on the family WhatsApp group...
This afternoon will - or should - be all about present wrapping as I haven't done any yet, and I keep putting it off. I'm in my customary overwhelm about presents, food, etc. This happens every year and every year it works out ok. But I never really get to appreciate Advent (one of my favourite times of year) and am already planning how I can get things done earlier next year so that it will be different.
You are not late; celebrate all 12 days of Christmas.
What a good idea - hope it went well (if you see what I mean).
I don't know of any Blue Christmas services in these parts - though there may well be one or two - but it seems right to allow people some space to worship, reflect, and maybe mourn, away from the relentless faux-jollity and childish playacting to be found in some many churches...
Christmas cake has come out of storage and the Christmas dinner set has now come down from the high cupboard ready for use.
I have an excess of Christmas themed stuff, mostly from when the boy wonder was unwell and every Christmas was celebrated to the max. I do hope to be able to pass some of the stuff on if kids ever leave home!
Oh, I thought you might be fellow Jewish Christians, or of an interfaith household or family! I’m Jewish by blood and a Christian by faith, though I wasn’t raised in any religion; my Jewish heritage has become of more significance to me since becoming a Christian. Since I now have cats, I’m nervous about any open flames, so this year I’ve bought a battery-powered menorah. The bear couple I’m spending Christmas Day with is interfaith, one Christian, one Jewish, so there will be latkes with Christmas dinner, and I got a CD of my favorite Hanukkah album, Hanukkah Rocks by the LeeVees, to give them along with their presents.
Cubby loved my latkes. I prefer sour cream and he preferred applesauce.
But curried? Lethal!
Hmm, never tried that. What kind of curry?
(Wasn't there an episode of The Felicity Kendal Appreciation ShowGood Life about that?)
You know the sort of thing: "You ordered: 10Kg Bronze Turkey - we delivered: 40 x 250g Turkey Flavour Noodle Doodles"
Sodium chuffate and dinitrogen fartoxide I should think.
Did the reports include harrowing stuff about blubbering children traumatised for life, rather as in the Evil Vicar Denies Santa stories?
Seemed more concerned she'd got Budweiser instead of Kronenburg, which is fair enough. There aren't many things worse than Kronenburg but Budweiser is definitely right in there.
True enough, but one still has to feel really sorry for the poor lass. What a way to end the year...
There are two types of Christmas deliveries/collections from Supermarkets - regular ones that happen to be then, and specific Christmas orders. It's important to ensure that your essential Christmas dinner central item is on the latter, because that's a specific pre-order, while a regular delivery is picked just before delivery and nothing is reserved.
My Christmas centrepiece comes from the sort of online free range posh meat shop I'd like to use all year round but can't because, well, posh. Our local butchers are useless and regard requests for free range or outdoor reared higher animal welfare meat much the same as if you'd asked for wombat legs or ring tailed lemur chops.
Shock as man scoffs three mince pies at (name of church deleted) in ‘world record’ time
The vicar apparently issued a challenge at a *Beer and Carols* service, and a man with (as he himself said) a *big gob* won...
Good to see that the true message of the Incarnation is being so well expressed, although, in all fairness, most people seemed to enjoy this rather offbeat service. Maybe that's not a bad thing.
Part of my Christmas gift to my family will be the dinner I'm preparing tomorrow.
We have an excellent butcher here, and they sell the best prime ribs! Mom and Dad used to shop there for family holiday dinners, and it makes me feel part of that legacy to do the same.
So, we'll have prime rib, sweet corn, peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, and whatever appetizers or desserts others show up with!
Medium rare roast. The best!
Our place had a Beer & Carols service last Saturday (with brass band, beer & mulled cider) and the church probably had more people than it will for any of the other Christmas events. No mine pie competitions though!
Enjoy!!