Category:

Simply..a Chcristmas market....

6/12/2024

Far from the mad crowds in Princes Street Elliots studio had a two day event selling very beautiful things of the finest quality.

Expensive, a bit, but I like to support artisan ventures if I can. I admire the commitment and integrity and skill. I bought this woven tree ornament, some soap, lip balm and narzipan fruits.

Thank you so much Liz - I woulld not have found this place without you! I enjoyed the whole lovely excperience.

I can't get the link to Elliots to work, sorry, but Mr Google will take you to their website.

Batten down the hatches all of you in the storm alert areas here in uk! (Thinking of you MaryB.) I am listening to strong winds and heavy rain as I write here in my warm cosy home. So grateful.

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Sinply..worth knowing ....

5/12/2024

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..if you are visiting Edinburgh this festive season. On Saturday the Christmas Market in Princes Street was packed full, behind high barricades with burly security guards in high viz jackets at entrances and exits very much in evidence. It used to be an open space where you could drift in and out at will.

We made our way to St Andrews Square where a gentler atmosphere prevailed, not crowded and child friendly - toast your own marshmallows, write a letter to Santa in an alpine hut, wander through the Christmas Tree Maze - a hundred or more real trees with simple soft white lights. I think little children could easily imagine they were deep in a forest. I know I did, but then Christmas brings out the child in me..

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Simply..enchanted....

3/12/2024

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..by the Sankta Lucia service and procession of the Scottish Swedish Society in Edinburgh....

I firsr experienced this ceremony in Stockholm in in the early 2000s (a huge outdoor event - it was like being in a in a fairy tale) and last year a very beautifull Sankta Lucia in York Minster, (see 13 Dec 2023 ) but this one, in a friendly connunity, was charming, more intimate, and with fika afterwards was as much of a delight.

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Simply..a gift....

29/11/2024

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..to myself. I bought myself this nativity calendar because I so love the image of Milan Cathedral. You may remember it from my Christmas card last year. Utterly magical, and definitely putting me in the mood.

Short blog break - have a lovely weekend everyone.

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Simply beautiful winter....

6/1/2024

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Sunshine and frost. A perfect day for a short walk.

Today's picks - holly and the first hazel catkin.

All the Christmassy things are put awy, but I still want winter table decorations and holly fits the bill.. a few red berries would have been nice but I never see any holly with berries here. We planted a female holly in Coronation Wood some years ago, but to no avail. Yet.

The words of the The Holly and The Ivy have been in my head all day, so perhaps a last glimpse of Christmas past with these spine tingling voices from King's can be my last Christmas flourish!

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Simply..it snowed!

30/12/2023

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I was very glad I did the shopping yesterday.

Assuming you don't have to go to work that day, what is your favourite way to spend a snowy day?

I stoked up the fire and had breakfast by candlelight, fed the birds, took a little bare foot walk around the garden, listened to The Snow Child on Audible. I had some soup and some Christmas chhocolates and looked at my Christmas book and thought about my word for 2024...

I had a thoroughly lazy and self indulgent day.

It was lovely. :-)

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Simply..dark nights....

29/12/2023

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When I got off the bus, which drops me right by my house, I had my phone in my hand to use the torch (no street lights here which I rather like). There are no bus stops either, the drivers drop you where you request.

I loved how the house was welcoming me so I put down my bags of shopping and took few quick shots....

It's very cold and starry and they say it may snow!

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Simply..Christmas....

27/12/2023

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food and drink appreciation love inspiration gratitude happiness

joy beauty creativity gifts

Most of us can have most of these at Chrismas, but only if we have the most important thing of all -

peace

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Simply..Happy Christmas....

21/12/2023

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from me, to you.

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Simply..how is your Christmas....

19/12/2023

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..coming along?

My little sustainable save-the -planet growing Christmas tree is rather bald on top and a bit sad looking!

So I cut some pine branches and wired them on. I will give the tree some extra TLC during the year and see if it will grow more needles on top for next Christmas.

Meanwhile it looks quite pretty. When it is dark.

Have you got your decorations up? Your cards posted? Your presents wrapped? The menu planned? Mid-winter would be so dull without Christmas!

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Simply..most beautiful....

13/12/2023

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For me the start of the real Christmas..

When the main lights go out (about 14minutes in) and the procession starts, the magic begins.

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Simply..sometimes....

4/12/2023

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..I just get a bit fed up with eating sensibly. So I had a mince pie for breakfast.

Now to get down to the lovely task of sending greetings and messages of love...Its a happy
thing to do on a wintry day.

Donald MadLeod on his brilliant programme Composer of the Week (Radio 3 mid day) points out that in Medieval times the festive season lasted from now until Candlemas on the 2nd of February. Maybe they had the right idea.

Would it not be a wonderful thing to celebrate every day of winter until them? In some quiet simple way? Any ideas on how you would do that? Mince pies for breakfast might be one.. well, occasionally.

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Simply forgot....

3/12/2023

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..that I once said I would put a link to the beautiful holiday apartment in York which my kind friend let me say in during the pandemic on my way back from Venice. What a strange time that was.

Here is the link. The house is lovely, the location perfect and York is gorgeous at Christmas!

Getting in the mood

to add a little decoration

with the first Christmas card.

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Simply..a Christmas gift....

9/1/2023

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..to yourself.

Do you buy yourself a Christmas gift?

I have just bought myself a subscription to Headspace, as headspace is something I feel I need this year.

Giving myself a gift each Christmas started one year when, although I had droppped many hints about what I would like, no-one had picked up on them and I did not get what I had been hoping for! A few days later it dawned on me that I could quite simply buy it for myself, without any fuss or even mentioning it to anyone.

I now buy myself something I really like every Christmas.

Whyever not?

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Simply..goodbye Christmas....

6/1/2023

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You've been lovely.

Twelfth Night dinner -wild venison and chestnuts in red wine, followed by home made ice cream with cherries in kirsch. I am so glad I did all that cooking early in December.

Once all the leftovers are eaten up it's back to plain fare..

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Simply have....

22/12/2022

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..a magical time this Christmas

There is still magic. Yov have to be alert for it, or create it yourself! (How will you do that I wonder?)

Till next week..

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Simply..unable....

21/12/2022

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..to persuade my phone to speak to my laptop at the moment, so no photographs of the beautiful bowl with Love & Laughter and Family & Friends written on it in gold (Thank you M!), of marzipaan stuffed dates in a little french cheese box which nake a nice gift, of my small growing tree with the red berry lights...

My had is so full of so many things I want to say, but for now I will simply say sorry!

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Simply..party hat....

20/12/2022

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..alternatives. I found these charming headdresses at Edinburgh Christmas Market many years ago. A circlet of starry tinsel also makes a lovely party hat, and a wreath of ivy for the men and boys goes down well!

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Simply..a thrifty tip....

14/12/2022

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There is usually some scented wax left in a tin candle after it will no longer light, and placed on top of the woodburner or a radiator it will still give off a gentle aroma for many hours.

This one is very Christmassy. (Thank you L.)

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Simply..packets of love....

13/12/2022

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I know some people have their reasons for not sending Christmas cards, but it is a small joy I am not willing to give up. I love them - choosing them, writitng them, receiving them - little packets of love and kind wishes, updates and staying in touch even if only at this one time in the year. Tiny gifts are sometimes enclosed - seeds perhaps (thank you L!) or a sachet of a bedtime tea to a friend who is having trouble sleeping, or a few glittery stars, just for fun. Sometime just saying you are remembered, I think of you.

I clear off the table, scour he house for pens which still have ink in them, find the address book and stamps and put on some Christmas music and another log on the fire. I pour a glass of wine or make a mug of hot chocolate and avoid thinking of the postal strike - they will all reach their destinations eventually I am sure!

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Simply..a bit much?

12/12/2022

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When it all gets a bit too blingy and shouty for me..

it's nice to come home to my own simpler version.

So far I am enjoying a very minimal look..but that may change.

Have you put up decorations yet?

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Simply..city buzz....

11/12/2022

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..and music everywhere!I In the streets, shopping malls and department stores pople were singing and making music.

Not to mention jumping through hoops of fire.

Oh and it snowed for at least four minutes in Byers Road!

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Simply..the spirit....

10/12/2022

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..of Christmas. Every year these people, working as they are under great pressure, find time to sing in the Glasgow Hospitals Christmas Concert to raise funds for Young Lives vs Cancer. They rehearse from October.

I always consider it to be the real start of Christmas. It is absolutely beautiful.

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Simply..multipurpose....

5/12/2022

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Repurpose, re-use... a bit of glinty tinsel and a few lights and we have changed season. It is frosty and beautifully starry tonight and I could hear the owls when I went out to take the photograph. It's beginning to feel a little like Christmas! Love it.

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Simply..lists....

2/12/2022

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..of lists! I love lists. I found myself making a list of the lists I need the other day! One for cards, one for presents, one for food shopping, one for shopping when I am in town, one for when I am in the city, one for online shopping, one for meals stocked in the freezer (sardine and lemoon terrine next)...

The optician's window display made me smile.

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Simply..a Chcristmas market....

Sinply..worth knowing ....

Simply..enchanted....

Simply..a gift....

Simply beautiful winter....

Simply..it snowed!

Simply..dark nights....

Simply..Christmas....

Simply..Happy Christmas....

Simply..how is your Christmas....

Simply..most beautiful....

Simply..sometimes....

Simply forgot....

Simply..a Christmas gift....

Simply..goodbye Christmas....

Simply have....

Simply..unable....

Simply..party hat....

Simply..a thrifty tip....

Simply..packets of love....

Simply..a bit much?

Simply..city buzz....

Simply..the spirit....

Simply..multipurpose....

Simply..lists....

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