Mistletoe, Mulled Wine and a Fine Gathering!

Last Sunday a great many villagers gathered together to celebrate Christmas in our Victorian Church. I describe it thus because we have two Churches, one much earlier, which is generally known as the Little Church or the George Herbert one and St John, which is generally known as  the one by the school!  This one was due to be left to fall into direpair as mending the broken heating was prohibitive, so we have got together, formed numerous committees and are planning to turn our church into a village hall. I won't go into all the details but do have a look at the link if you're interested-
 http://stjohnsbemerton.blogspot.com/

It was such a happy, festive gathering, I couldn't resist sharing it . The photos are by my son Sam

taken with great panache but a little more blurry that my ususal ones as they are from his ipod!

This was not just a carol concert- there was mulled wine and mince pies-

And hot chocolate with marshmallows-

There was a stall selling all sorts of homemade treats-

I bought a pot of Quince jelly made by the best Quince jelly maker in the village!

I raided a boot-load of mistletoe from David's orchard-

There were lots tempted...

There was a craft area for the more energetic-



And the whole church was made more beautiful with candles and decorations

And of course, our friends!

As we said to each other-

It was a FINE GATHRERING!

So wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Jane xxx

Happiness in Making Wreaths

However I'm feeling- crotchety, sad or tired- whenever I make a wreath I become calm and contented. I like building up its shape and choosing colours, gathering the plants and herbs and then working with them. I make wreaths all year round, to mark the seasons and always have one on my door, if only a plain twist of creeper.
These two are very traditional but please me none the less. I have made the bases out of Honeysuckle, Virginia Creeper and an overgrown Jasmine. I'm always aware of what is growing in the nearby hedges, gardens and woodlands- and at Christmas I get a particularly acquisitive gleam in my eye...
My first is for the back door that opens onto our little courtyard garden and I wanted simple mistletoe against the white. I'm so lucky to have an almost unlimited supply. David has an old orchard behind his cottage and the trees are weighed down with mistletoe balls.

Our lovely crimson front door calls out for a mixed wreath with lots of bright berries-

I hasten to add that I do only pick a few bits and bobs and I always ask first!

101 Things to Prepare before Christmas and I did this.....

I'm a bit late getting my Christmas spirit this year but I'm hoping that the return home of the Emily in all her glory and the successful Christmas Dinners x 2 at my Day Centre this week will put me in the right frame of mind. Sam is already buzzing with excitement (and exhaustion) as he is in the Pantomime. It's the big, proper professional one and as one of the Youth Group he has to work blooming hard... 24 performances left to do!
Well, I felt like a bit of fun, so abandoning housework and all other more sensible Christmas preparations, I decided to decorate the tiny crab apple tree in our courtyard garden.

I have sometimes strung up a tasteful collection of white lights but this year I thought I'd go for the natural look...
Using all my imagination and a slightly silly sense of humour I came up with this collection-

They were rather fiddly to make but I did enjoy myself!

I may add a few more but now I really must go and sweep up the mess I've made!