Reviewing my word lighter for 2012 I didn't mention the amount of decluttering I have done which has certainly left me lighter!

Things which have been sitting around unused for years have gone, multiples of things have gone, broken things have gone, and clothes which don't fit. Things forgotten in the loft have gone, lots of paper information (which I would now look up on the internet) has gone. Things unloved, un-needed, unwanted. So much of it when I really looked at it made me wonder why I had kept it for so long! So here's to more decluttering in 2013! Life is short. I really don't have time and energy for stuff. Life is simpler for me without it. I could call it unburdening, of crystallizing, or distilling - as in Keep The Best And Throw The Rest....The more I do the easier it gets.

All this work has made me feel lighter. I know it's not for everyone, but it works for me (and running the house is a breeze). More time for other things - to be that free spirit I've always fancied being (now that would be a good word!)

Lightly has been a very good word, and 2012 has been a very good year.

I'd love to know if Feel, Awareness, Experiences, Endeavour, Not-Struggling and Real were helpful to you in 2012.

I'm all excited now about Free-spirit as my word for 2013. Will decide tomorrow.

One word for 2013?

I think I first heard of choosing a word for each year from Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project.

In 2011 I chose fitter, and I did indeed get fitter that year. Not super-fit, but fitter than I had been.

2012's word was lighter - I have tried to be lighter of heart, take things more lightly, generally lighten up, choose lighter when it comes to both food and drink, and in the decoration of my home, and to keep off the two or three pounds by which my weight tends to fluctuate (not a lot I know, but I feel and see the difference!) 2012 has been lighter and brighter because of my word for the year.

Will you choose a word which sums up your hopes and goals for 2013?

I'm coming round to energy - thinking of creating it, (we are selling electricity to the national grid from our solar panels!), husbanding it - old fashioned word - expending it only on useful and worthwhile things. Considering mental and physical energy....there is plenty of scope in this small word.

When I began my blog I got into the habit of asking myself when trying to make a decision Will this simplify or complicate my life?

I might try to get into the habit of asking Will this give me energy, or drain me of energy?

But I'm still thinking for a day or two more - I've not quite decided yet. Joy is a contender....and friendship..


A postscript to yesterday's post....another tip for a sweet smelling bathroom is to put a couple of drops of essential oil onto the cardboard tube inside the toilet roll - the scent last about as long as the paper.... I love Napier's Relaxing Essential Oil Blend.

I love the luxury of a hot bath by candlelight. A favourite experience, as I've mentioned before is listening to the owls hoot in the forest as I soak!

Our bathroom is quite tiny. Fitted simply, white tiles and wooden walls and floor - it cost very little. I made the gingham curtains 12 years ago, the shower curtain is plain white, and towels - nice, if old and well washed - are warmed by the radiator below. A pale grey, linen-lined basket holds the clutter, hidden under more fresh towels and a Tumbletwist cotton mat is on the floor.

The decorative things on the windowledge and the wall sconce cost a few pounds. (In summer I always have small glasses of wild flowers at the window) and I use a rose glycerine soap from Crabtree and Evelyn so it always smells gorgeous.

The fact, hard to believe, that I didn't live in a house with a bath until I was 22, may account for the feeling I have that such a simple bathroom is luxurious!

A funeral today, in the midst of the festive season, was not as sad as I had thought it might be. Celebrating the long and fully lived life of a dear friend and reminiscing about, as her son in law put it, the 'Margaretness of Margaret' was both moving, humorous and peaceful. The church was filled with Christmas evergreens and a young grandaughter played a haunting tune on the clarinet as the beautiful coffin, woven from wool and covered with flowers, was slowly taken from the church.

Over the next few days I thought I'd post simple images of home in winter. One of the things that makes home cosy for me is using candles and lamps every evening - it makes me feel comfortable and very relaxed. I like several pools of soft light in a room....do you?

The last chocolate has been eaten from the advent calendar!
 
Nearly there!
 
I love to  think of all the excited children around the world tucked up in bed trying to get to sleep tonight.

....whether spoken, written, or sent down from on high.

 Joy to you all for Christmas, and many thanks for reading my words this past year!

I've been lucky enough to visit Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire several times at Christmas to view their enchanting decorations. Not this year sadly - however this 2 minute video gives a flavour. Do visit if you live near enough - otherwise click here  to see Blue Moon on a Platter created by light artist Bruce Munro.

Enjoy!

For more see http://www.waddesdon.org.uk and http://www.brucemunro.co.uk

Also, for a burst of joy, go over to http://www.cornflowerbooks.co.uk/ for the clip from Much Ado About Nothing which Karen has posted today....

The arts in Britain are something pretty special!

Continuing from yesterday's post....

The endpaper is like an invitation to the other world that is a picture book.

I've photographed a few here from the children's Christmas books - blue predominates, and snow effects and Brian Wildsmith's gold endpapers in A Christmas Story have a feel of magic to them. (I think you can tell how much the children in this family have liked the gold by the number of little fingerprints all over it!)

I love to pause slightly on these special pages when reading a book to children.

In the absence of special endpaper, (or beginning paper) the first illustration can set the scene for what is to follow.
Just as the opening sentence of a novel is considered very important, so, I believe, is the first picture in a picture book.

Often the illustrator achieves a special effect, a hint of mystery, by minimal means as in the one small parcel in the big expanse of snow here in Santa's Littlest Helper Travels The World by Anu Stohner and Hennrike Wilson. How did it come to be there, you want to know....

Your curiosity is aroused by the single loose balloon in Mog's Christmas by Judith Kerr..

and where can this lone hedgehog be heading, so determinedly, nose sniffing the cold air? The Winter Hedgehog by Ann and Reg Cartwright.




Beautiful, and clever!

I've written before (7 Dec 2010 and 20 Dec 2010) about collecting children's Christmas books, and what my criteria are for choosing what I consider to be the best each year. The quality of the illustrations is especially important for me, but this year's choice is nothing special in that regard (at least to my eyes).

The illustrations by Elisa Squillace are quite sweet, with nice details. However two year old Scott loves this book. The music is written by Anthony Marks. Each animal character plays a different part on a different instrument and they all rehearse individually then come together in a concert at the end. So as the story proceeds the child presses the buttons to hear each melody, then hears them come together in harmony....

Delightful, to little ones, especially perhaps those who have just discovered the piano and are fascinated by it. Scott patiently plays the keys one by one over the whole keyboard, and laughs out loud as he plays the low notes....

The book has pretty spotted endpapers. More about endpapers tomorrow.

If you have the time and the inclination a browse in the category Simply Christmas will lead you to lots more posts on children's Christmas books....

A long journey today in driving horizontal rain and winds to the emergency dentist (don't ask!)

I was so glad to get home..

Does anyone else find these delicious ginger pepparkaka from Ikea addictive?

I find it very hard to stop at two!
 
(No connection with the visit to the dentist....well, maybe there is..)

I usually review some favourite childrens' Christmas books about now and was interested in this article in the New York Times by Gretchen Rubin - mainly because I was surprised to find I know hardly any of these books. (More tomorrow.)

While browsing there, I came across this article entitled The Holidays After A Tragedy.

It is the winter solstice tomorrow, after which the days become, by tiny increments, longer.
 
Hurrah!

This morning on the way to the city via the busy motorway to meet up with friends and do some shopping in department stores with artificial lights and heating, musak and noise, and colour and crowds, I stopped to photograph this animal perfectly attuned to its wide watery environment

I felt it might be saying to me

Where are you rushing off to in your fast machine....

In defence of sending Christmas cards, apart from the already mentioned £50 million raised for museums (the lovely robin is an Eric Ravillious design from the V&A) and other good causes, 300,000 trees are cut each year for our 1 billion cards - could that mean jobs in the rural economy in managed, sustainable forests? (www.envirowise.gov.uk) 248,000 trees can be saved by recycling (www.woodlandtrust.co.uk). Ways for smaller charities to benefit are described here (www.greetingscardassociation.org.uk/news/charity-christmas-cards or see www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/ethicalxmas  for more on these ethical dilemmas!!

This is a little red felt bag I like to keep my cards, stamps and Christmas Card List in. It's almost empty! Tomorrow is the last posting day for second class post....

There are those who send cards.

There are those who send no cards.

There are those who donate to charity and send no cards, and tell you so.

There are those who donate to charity and send cards.

There are those who send e cards.

There are, no doubt, those who neither donate to charity nor send any kind of cards.

Let's just accept that we all have our preferences on this one and that it's actually OK  to do any of the above!

I love sending and receiving cards. I like choosing from the many beautiful designs. I enjoy taking time to find the right card for each person. I like to think I am supporting charities by buying their cards (£50 million per annum is raised  for UK charities from Christmas cards.) I treasure that once a year tiny contact with people I have known in different places and at different times. I love the little snippets of news. I think sending a card at Christmas is a thoughtful gesture, a lovely long-standing tradition and an important part of my secular Christmas.

(Thank you for the kind get well messages - I am much much better!)

Do pop over to Emilie's Daughter for a wonderful little film about the Keep Calm posters.....see here
Have you been to Barter's Books?  Amazing.
 
There are worse times to be ill I suppose. We've just taken delivery of a good load of cypress logs - heavenly smell. We are stocked up well with food and drink. Cards and paintings have all been sent out to galleries. Can finish the Christmas shopping online. Good wishes are arriving daily in the form of Christmas cards. In the frost and snow I wouldn't be going far anyway even if I could (turns out to be more than a cold and require antibiotics and rest....) so I shall take a few days blog holiday! Plenty time to recover fully for Christmas.

Enjoy the preparations....

A photograph from last winter. Haven't put my nose outside the door today.

Isn't it odd how, after a very busy time, you relax - and get a cold!
 
Am off to bed with a hot toddy..(actually just a Lemsip - I am a Scot who doesn't like Scotch! Or porridge..).

Click here then type The Snowman and The Snowdog in the search box for a tiny preview of the sequel to The Snowman.

Can it possibly have the magic and enchantment of the original I wonder?
 
I LOVE The Snowman! 

This little preview is just too short to tell....will have to wait till Christmas Eve!

My photo was terrible yesterday - too much mulled wine perhaps?

It is hard to sum up our annual party! But here goes: family/friends/talking our heads off/singing/head wreaths/going to the forest in a convoy to choose the tree/singing/boys being 'netted' like trees/mulled wine/mince pies/wonderful food brought by everyone (like this beautiful biscuit tree by Jennie)/singing/drawing/puzzles/decorating the tree/youngest putting the fairy on top/candles/log fire/exchange of cards/secret parcel swaps/more singing/Christmas books/laughs/hugs/red socks/and, most of all, counting our blessings!

Should you ever need to buy 22 pairs of red socks I can recommend www.sockshop.co.uk

Guess what Santa sent for the Christmas Tree Party?

So happy.

So tired.

More tomorrow.

I hope you've had a good weekend..

Last night's concert was wonderful. Glasgow Hospitals Christmas Carol Concert in aid of CLIC Sargent for children with cancer. The very first line of the very first song thrilled as the warm, harmonious sound filled the auditorium of the Royal Concert Hall. Soprano Colleen Nicoll and baritone Andrew McTaggart sang In The Bleak Midwinter - my favourite carol. BBC Young Musician of The Year Yuanfan yang was stunning, playing his own compositions, Chopin, Beethoven and Liszt. He is fifteen years old. The children's choir brought a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye.

Don't you love to hear children making music?

December is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Way back (see post 19 Oct) I wrote about what I hoped this Christmas would be like. With some help from Fly Lady I've been quietly planning it since then, 15 minutes at a time....

Today I looked back at that post and saw how well the planning has paid off. I've been out having fun in the snow (though two year old Scott didn't like it and wanted to go back inside!), taken photographs, and spent a whole day just reading!! (see yesterday's post) and tonight a concert in Glasgow and staying overnight with lovely friends - no rushing away to catch the last ferry.

On Sunday we will have our Christmas Tree Party. Twenty two of us this year - so far so good!

I hope your arrangements for the holidays are going well and that you make sure to plan in some fun things just for yourself. (If you don't actually plan them in they may well not happen....)

I enjoyed Christine's thoughtful post today about the reason for the season. Read it here.

In more ways than one....

If you get the chance one wintry day, to snuggle up in a cosy rug and read all day long, I recommend The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.  Magical realism, which delicately swings between the magic and a gritty realism in a most intriguing way. A certain amount of willingness to suspend disbelief, a log fire, mugs of tea and frequent snacks, snow falling, and by the time I finished it (I read it in one day), a starry sky and moonlight on the crisp snow all helped make this a memorable  read, and a memorable day for me.

On Monday morning when I drew back the curtains....

It was the kind of snow that bends the branches of the birch trees to the ground,

and is perfect for making snow lanterns.

But the wind kept blowing out the candles,

So I tried some battery LED lights (not as nice as the candle though....What do you think?)

On Tuesday there was a partial thaw and great strips of snow descended from the corrugated roof!

Nice?

It also looked nice from the side, curving out from the porch roof....(see the new header photograph too).

By Wednesday it had all fallen onto the steps. It looks fluffy, but it was frozen solid.

S'no nice (sorry!) trying to clear it when it is this solid - it took an age!

I hope your snow, if you have it, is the fun and beautiful kind and not the dangerous and inconvenient kind!

We feed two very tame robins here - they come onto our hands, and the doorhandles as you may have seen from the recent photos. We discovered there were two when my husband once called me to the front door where a robin was eating from his hand, and I couldn't go because I had one feeding from my hand at the back door!

We have had at least one coming for about eight years, since four year old Ross fed a baby bird some of his cornflakes one morning and it began to follow him around the garden, but we have no way of really knowing whether they are the same ones, although we like to think they are....At least one adult brought its babies to us one year, which was a beautiful thing. According to David Lack (yesterday's post) robins can live to eleven years or more, though most die in their first sixteen months. It is very hard for even the experts to tell the sex of a robin, or to tell one from another unless they are ringed.

   'While a robin's life-span is only about a ninth of that of a man, all the bird's activities are much more rapid so that its time-scale is different. The pulse-rate of a redstart is 980 beats a minute, which is about fourteen times as fast as that of a man, and, since the redstart is closely related to the robin and about the same size, its pulse-rate is probably similar. Reckoned in terms of heart-beats, and eleven year old robin is equivalent to a man 150 years old.'

From The Life of the Robin by David Lack

'Touching the Length and Shortness of Life in Living Creatures, the information which may be had is but slender, observation is Negligent and Tradition is Fabulous. In Tame Creatures their Degenerate Life corrupteth them; in Wild Creatures their exposing to all weathers often intercepteth them'

Francis Bacon 1638

One of the books I would not part with is this one by David Lack, from which I have taken the above quotation. Observation is far from negligent in this fascinating book which I've had since I lived in a remote cottage on a moor and first took an interest in birds.

By the age of nine David Lack knew the names of most birds and had written out an alphabetical list of them....read more about him here.

This edition was first published in 1965 and is dedicated by the author to 'all those robins who patiently bore my rings and permitted my intrusions into the intimacies of their lives'.  Checking on Amazon I was delighted to see that it is still in print (and I've ordered a used copy of Redbreast: The Robin in Life and Literature - an anthology by David Lack's son Andrew Lack).

Either of these would make a good Christmas gift for anyone interested in ornithology....

More about 'my' robins tomorrow (and photographs on yesterday's post and on the Cards page.)