Christmas Wreath

Greetings! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas round these parts. This weekend I made my first ever Christmas wreath! I feel I ought to hang my head in shame whilst admitting that, until now, the wreath which has adorned our front door each year has been .............. artificial. There, I've said it. I'm not judging anyone - artificial wreaths are easy, cheap and long-lived, which is why we had one for so long, but making your own is so satisfying. From foraging for greenery, cones, berries etc., to wrapping the moss around the ring and then finally doing the artistic bits - it's all so much fun. No more plastic wreaths for me - from now on, every December I shall be out there in the garden, secateurs in hand, chopping at the foliage. My only wish is that I had a nicer front door to put it on. You know the sort - either a beautiful old wooden one or a gaily painted (in my mind's eye I'm seeing pillar box red or duck egg blue) one. Tragically, ours in the one we inherited with the house: a 1950s glass one. In its defense, it does make for a very light hallway, which is why it's still with us.

Anyway, here are some photos of my wreath:

Gathering my bits and bobs:

A sink full of greenery:

and .........Ta-Dah!

See, hideous front door isn't it?! I know, I should be grateful to have a front door at all, but it doesn't exactly fill my heart with joy. Anyway, I'm really rather proud of my first attempt at a wreath. It's a bit asymmetrical, I admit, but I do love it, and everyone is made to stop and admire it on entering or leaving the house!

There are a few other happies this week, although the biggest happy is that L is home from uni for the holidays! Here are some of the others:

Finishing my hooked picture (the missing colour finally arrived through the post on the second attempt at posting it!). Now it just needs a frame:

Borrowing some festive books from the library:

After a really mild November, we are now getting frosts in the morning. It's really quite chilly and the de-icer is much in evidence first thing.

Lots of hot soup is being consumed. This one is carrot and squash:

Now that L is home she has opened her birthday presents, so I can show you the home made ones that had been kept secret. The coastal ripple blankie has already featured here, as she had seen it in progress. I also made her:
some birthday bunting:

A 'Happy 21st Birthday' tea light holder:

... and a crocheted owl; pattern courtesy of BunnyMummy.

E  made her a fancy Pusheen cake (yes, there seems to be a bit of a theme going on with cakes at the moment!):

 One final happy - seeing this at the cinema on Sunday:

It was very good but exceedingly long - 3 and a half hours! I seem to remember that it was quite a short play to read, so I'm not sure how they managed to spin it out for so long.

Anyway, I must dash - the school run and a trip to the dentist await! Wishing you a lovely week, with maybe a mince pie or two!

Toodle Pip for now. x