Photographs for Advent | Patterns in Nature

This winter has been particularly mild. Whilst this is pleasant, I miss bright, frosty mornings. Today I woke to blue skies and a distinct chill in the air. My car's windscreen was frosted over and the crystals looked beautiful in the sunshine. It reminded me of the frost patterns of ferns that used to appear on my bedroom window as a child.

 

Advent photographs | Favourite book collection

Just a simple photograph today:

King Penguins are a collection of monographs printed between 1939 and 1959. They were the first Penguins to be hardback and include colour printing.  I love their covers and quirky contents which are all illustrated with a good selection of colour plates. They're great little books and recently I decided to make a collection of them. I  now have 7 so that's only 69 to go...
 

Photographs for Advent | Paper preparations

Soon friends and family will arrive for the Christmas gatherings and I am trying to sort and tidy my house so it doesn't burst at the seams. I keep a wicker basket to hold post and paperwork and as it is now full to over-flowing, this has been today's task.
I nipped upstairs to make a phone call and when I returned I found..

a small but resolute creature had taken up position. I think I can take this as a sign that I've worked hard enough today. I think I'll go and prepare supper instead!

Advent photographs | Stormy Seas

We were lucky down South and the only effect from the dreadful storms this weekend is some splendid surf at Chesil beach and Portland Bill. David knows how much I love wave watching, so he dragged me out of bed early this morning and we headed to the coast.

It was blowy and blustery and at one point my glasses were blown off and we had a nerve-wracking ten minutes desperately searching the shingle...

I love watching for big waves to roll up and trying to capture that vital moment when they crash over and you can feel their power trembling through the beach.

We were nearly blown inside out and soon turned with relief to a warm restaurant and a traditional Sunday Lunch. Thanks to David we have spent perfect winter's day.  

Photographs for Advent | Christmas Sparkle

" Why do I drink Champagne at Breakfast?... Doesn't everyone? " Noel Coward

Wouldn't that be fun over Christmas? David has brought me back box-loads of fizz from France, so I might just be tempted...
It is my favourite drink and his Champagne cocktails are sublime!

Christmas preparations for Kiss the Book

It's been the first sunny day for ages, so I was glad that I had planned to visit Dairy House Antiques and get my bookshelves looking their best for the run-up to Christmas.
The journey took me through the park at Fonthill Bishop. The Gothic arch at its entrance is perfect- we have always called the park Paradise Fields, so all that is missing is Saint Peter and the Arch Angel Gabriel...

I spent a happy hour, drinking tea and arranging my bookshelves.

It was a good way to spend the day.

December 3rd | Advent photographs | Christmas table decorations

We had an ambitious activity at my Friendship Club today. One of our guests is a skilled flower arranger and she suggested that she could run a workshop which would show everybody how to create a long-lasting Christmas table-piece.
It started in muddles and mayhem and I must admit I was beginning to feel like a primary school teacher with a very naughty class! Then suddenly, everybody settled down, we all helped each other and soon there was that happy quietness that descends when people are being creative and feeling fulfilled.

Everybody made a decoration they were happy with and many were particularly pleased, as they never imagined they had skills in flower arranging. It was a good day.
 

Advent- enjoying the days before Christmas...for once!

I've lost the habit of writing my blog regularly, so I have decided to try to post a photograph for each day in the run-up to Christmas, to remind myself of the pleasure I get from sharing my thoughts and photos.
True to form, I'm running a little late, so my first three days will have to be jostled together in one post!

First Sunday in Advent



These hyacinths are scenting my bedroom.

Picked from my garden

Hooray! That's a start...