Friday 23 December 2016

All is calm

This is my last post before Christmas and all is calm and ready. My darling husband had this festive scene painted for me for my Christmas card. I love it and will frame it afterwards

Such a perfect little festive scene.
I have opened most of the windows of my vintage advent calender
 and I noticed something very unusual....yes there is a number 25 to open on Christmas morning. In my whole life I have only ever seen one other with a number 25...years ago when my dear bro and I shared a bedroom as little ones. I can remember he had a calendar which looked like a clock face and I was so jealous of him having a window to open on Christmas morning .Now I have my own one, 50 years later and my granddaughter can help me open it.
Daisy and Co arriving tomorrow afternoon and on Christmas Day I will be cooking for 8 members of my precious family.
The mince pies are baked..don't worry there are more than 3!

Some of the presents are already under the tree and Santa will be popping down the chimney with the rest.

 Our Christmas cards are hung from the banisters. They contain lots of goodwill messages from dear friends from all over the world. Our family cards are put on the sideboard in the dining room.

There are many retro things I enjoy at Christmas, including Babycham! My Nan first introduced this to me in the 70s.

Meanwhile Billy is just enjoying things the way he loves most...dozing on his green chair
in his usual pose, captured years ago in a print by my dear blogging friend Jane


The weather looks set mild for Christmas...this was the view yesterday in my garden.

 And yesterday evening the lights down at the ponds glowed in the twilight

This morning an overnight visitor is guarding our presents.....
yes dear Bear, my son's dog is here...and Billy has now retreated to his upstairs apartment ie our bed...LOL! 

I obviously can't send all my lovely blogging friends a Christmas card so I decided to give you a virtual one, here on my blog. It was inspired by the dear painting my Hb bought for me and those lovely blue skies. It is the last Christmas card for 2016 from me.

The sentiment says everything.
The scenery stamp is by Inkiliscious. I embossed it then coloured using distress inks. The dies are a mix of Spellbinders and Joanna Sheen. The sentiment stamp is from The Snowman set.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

A vintage journey winter magic
Emerald  Creek Dares Winter Wishes
Fashionable Stamping 2/3 anything goes
Fussy and fancy 3/3 angels/fairies or winter
The Ribbon Girl 2/3 any image
Happy Little stampers anything goes with dies
Crafty card makers 3/3 Christmas with a twist
Stamping sensations 1/3 floral fancies
The paper girls 1/3 anything goes
Simon Says stamp Wednesday make it sparkle it's hard to see but my gold and white card both have a sparkle IRL. As does my blue gem.
Cute card Thursday 1/3 anything goes
That's Crafty 1/3  anything goes


Whether you have large family gatherings or just a simple Christmas with a couple of loved ones or friends may it be Merry and Bright.

I love Christmas poetry so I'll close of with one of my favourites;

The merry family gatherings –
The old, the very young;
The strangely lovely way they
Harmonize in carols sung.
For Christmas is tradition time
Traditions that recall
The precious memories down the years,
The sameness of them all.

 Helen Lowrie Marshall

Merry Christmas everyone. Thanks so much for all your wonderful support of my many Countdown to Christmas posts this year and for all the kind comments you left. I so appreciate them.
At Christmas all hearts really do come home... even if they are no longer of this earth and are watching you from above 💓 Cheers Nan xxx

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

28 comments:

  1. Hi Jane...what a fabulous post...drying my eyes now...I am an old soppy thing! Love the card hubby has had done for you...certainly one to frame and your card is truly scrummy too...you are good at the inky background! I remember babycham...some in the fridge...along with snowball...in case my mum 96 years young wants one! have a wonderful family time.......xx

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  2. Like Carole, I ended up in tears as well! A beautiful post. Lovely cards Jane both from your hubby and also the one you made! Have a wonderful Christmas. Oooer, and I remember Babycham very well - it was lethal with a bit of brandy in!

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  3. Lovely festive photographs Jane. Your card is beautiful. This is one of my favourite stamps and I love the sentiment that you've used. Thank you for joining us again at Fashionable Stamping Challenges, Sandra x

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  4. That is a really special card from your hubby and will look lovely framed. As ready for Christmas as
    I'm going to be. What's forgotten St stays forgotten now. Have a great Christmas with your family. Hugs Mrs A. And those darn Elves.

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  5. I did enjoy this blog post Jane, I am a HUGE animal lover and it made me smile to see Billy and Bear "taking it easy"! Your card is lovely and the sentiment is perfect - all hearts do come home for Christmas and we mustn't forget those who made Christmas's in the past so special. Thank you for sharing this with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and I wish you a Merry Christmas and look forward to reading your blog in 2017.
    Leanne DT.

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  6. Dear Jane, I so enjoyed this post.. an original watercolor from your husband.. what a brilliant gift! And that painting of Billy.. it's really good and a treasure! Thank you for our virtual card from you, I will virtually hang it on my door frame.. :-) ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

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  7. I love your husband's gorgeous card, Jane....it is such a sweet atmospheric little painting. Your card is beautiful too and I enjoyed all your festive photos. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!
    Helen xox

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  8. What a beautiful little painting Jane....well done M!!! Gorgeous card too! :)
    Your Christmas sounds perfect Jane and how wonderful having Father Christmas come down your chimney, the excitement will be fever pitch.
    Enjoy your time with you lovely family.
    Much love,
    V xxx

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  9. What a beautiful post Dear Jane!
    Your card is charming.
    Thank you for your wishes and a very merry Christmas to you and yours.
    Hugs~

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  10. What a very special card from Martin and a lovely Christmas post. Wishing you both and the family a very Merry Christmas Jane and have a wonderful festive weekend. Huge hugs from me to you xxx

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  11. Lovely looking round your blog Jane which I do quite often. Faboulas card made to close the end of the year with a lovely tone if tranquility and stillness in the picture to reflect on.thank you for sharing your blog with all your pictures and projects. Gorgeous card from your hubby. Have a lovely christmas
    Thank you for sharing with Fussy and Fancy.
    Best wishes
    Jules xx DT

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  12. Very cute card! I love design. Thank for playing with us at Fussy & Fancy challenge.
    Nathalie DT

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  13. Merry Christmas to you and your family lovely Jane ...thank you for another year of blog friendship!
    Susan x

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  14. Fantastic blog post Jane. Wishing you & youes a VERY Happy Xmas. Thanks for all yr support xxx

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  15. Two beautiful cards. Wishing you and yours every happiness!

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  16. The Christmas card you husband gave you is really fantastic - beautiful.
    I loved all of your pictures.
    Sandy xx

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  17. Merry Christmas to you and yours, dear Jane,

    Wishing you wonderful family time! Kiss Billy and Bear for me but give the biggest kiss to sweet Daisy, she must love this all just like her Nan!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  18. Jane, I really enjoyed reading your posts and this is no exception. A beautiful card from you and one to you from your hubby! Billy looks like he's all set for Christmas! How lucky you are to have that beautiful likeness of him! Thank you for joining our Winter Wishes Dare at Emerald Creek Dares! Hugs! Sara Emily DT

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  19. Thanks for sharing your days before Christmas with us. The card your husband gave you is sweet! And thanks for the virtual card for us, your blog readers! So kind of you to do that! Hope you had a good Christmas day and enjoyed your family! I was happy to get a few good photos of my youngest granddaughter on Christmas eve and some with her siblings. A very happy new year to you and your family!

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  20. I have enjoyed looking at all your photos Jane. Babycham brings back memories from my childhood Christmas, that would have been my Mum's Christmas tiple! Your card is so beautiful! Thanks for joining us at Stamping Sensations.
    Pinky

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  21. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!! I'm happy to see Billy is still enjoying his favorite chair!
    xo
    Jane T

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  22. A beautiful card with a lovely Christmas twist. Thanks for sharing it with us at Crafty Cardmakers and good luck with the challenge, Angela x

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  23. Gorgeous cards Jane! Your husband did an amazing job at creating a card for you.
    Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
    Mandy xx

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  24. A beautiful and serene scene! Happy New Year to you and thanks for playing with us at HLS!

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  25. What a beautiful scene! Love the dies behind it? Thanks for playing with us at HLS anything goes with dies!

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  26. so lovely with the wintery sky. Hope you had a joyous Christmas. Thanks for joining us at A Vintage Journey.

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  27. Your card is wonderful Jane, and very non traditional.
    Thank you for entering my Christmas with a Twist challenge at CCM.
    hugs Kimx

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  28. Gorgeous card - I really like the winter landscape behind the dies. Thanks for joining us at Crafty Cardmakers this time.

    Jackie

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Jane x