Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..a Christmas gift....

9/1/2023

6 Comments

 
..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?
6 Comments

Simply..goodbye Christmas....

6/1/2023

4 Comments

 
You've been lovely.

Picture
Picture

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..






4 Comments

Simply have....

22/12/2022

10 Comments

 
..a magical time this Christmas
Picture



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..
10 Comments

Simply..unable....

21/12/2022

6 Comments

 
..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!

6 Comments

Simply..party hat....

20/12/2022

10 Comments

 
..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!

Picture
10 Comments

Simply..a thrifty tip....

14/12/2022

2 Comments

 

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.

Picture
This one is very  Christmassy. (Thank you L.)
Picture
2 Comments

Simply..packets of love....

13/12/2022

9 Comments

 

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.

Picture
Picture
Picture

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!
9 Comments

Simply..a bit much?

12/12/2022

16 Comments

 
When it all gets a bit too blingy and shouty for me..
Picture
Picture
Picture
it's nice to come home to my own simpler version.


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

Have you put up decorations yet?
16 Comments

Simply..city buzz....

11/12/2022

6 Comments

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

Picture
Picture
Picture
Not to mention jumping through hoops of fire.

Picture

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

Simply..the spirit....

10/12/2022

2 Comments

 
..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.

Picture
Picture
Picture
2 Comments

Simply..multipurpose....

5/12/2022

4 Comments

 

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.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
4 Comments

Simply..lists....

2/12/2022

9 Comments

 

..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)...
Picture

The optician's window display made me smile.
9 Comments

Simply..suspending judgement....

1/12/2022

8 Comments

 


We judge each other all the time. It's what we do, and necessary for survival, but we are often expected to express an opinion when, it seems to me, we are in no position to judge and social media encourages us to be simplistic (thumbs up/thumbs down) on even complex issues.

Try, just for a day suspending judgement. Just let things be. Give yourself a break from it, from turning everything into an ethical dilemma for example. Or from judging yourself, perhaps harshly, as well as others.  When I tried this I was quite shocked at how many of my thoughts were very judgemental indeed!

After a few hours of not judging I felt very free and relaxed, and since my private judgemental thoughts rarely if ever make any diffference in the real world it seemed like a very good idea to try it out more often.

What do you think?


I got the Christmas box out from under the eaves to retrieve the Advent calendar..

Picture
8 Comments

simply..fruity....

30/11/2022

6 Comments

 
Fruit loaf for the freezer. Instead of sultanas I used mixed dried fruit with peel for a slightly more festive version.

I am enjoying this. Next, venison in red wine.


Picture
6 Comments

Simply..sweet treats....

29/11/2022

11 Comments

 
..for holiday season visitors. I lined three containers with double layers of cling film as I won't be serving 8 - 10 people at once.

Picture

I used bought meringues, popped them intto a bag

Picture

and enjoyed bashing them with a rolling pin!

Picture

I nixed the neringue with the whipped cream adding strong coffee and raspberry liqueur. I plan to serve it with raspberries, pomegrante seeds and a spoonful of the liqueur.

Picture
Drizzled some of the strong coffee on top, folded over the clingfilm and put on the lids.  Three desserts now in the freezer.
Picture

(There is a link to Sarah Raven's original recipe on Saturday's post.)

11 Comments

Simply..wintry....

25/11/2022

10 Comments

 
With perhaps just a hint of Christmas? Too soon for baubles and twinkly lights but preparing the candles for the season..
Picture
Picture
.
Starting to think about table decorations and making lists. Might get a little early baking done and in the freezer. A long slow run up to Christmas might be the thing this year. Leisurely.

Have you begun preparations yet?

10 Comments

Simply..couldn't resist....

3/11/2022

5 Comments

 
Picture

..some early Christmas gifts from M&S. (At least one of them is for me!)
5 Comments

Simply..twelfth Night....

6/1/2022

14 Comments

 
Christmas decorations come down, but I will keep out a few which I think of as winter decorations rather than specifc to Christmas. Listening to the lashing rain I know that lights and flowers are needed to get through more dark days of winter.

Picture
Picture

However, for four days in North Yorkshire I enjoyed lovely weather, country walks and the company of good friends.
I hope you also had a happy start to the new year.
14 Comments

Simply..grateful....

27/12/2021

12 Comments

 

I am filled with gratitude for a family Christmas that went according to plan! I hope yours did too.


Picture
12 Comments

Simply..this Christmas....

23/12/2021

8 Comments

 

..I wish you smiles and a little bit of silly!

Picture

This card put a big smile on my face as soon as I saw it (thank you H). Ever the questioner I thought Why?

I realised it's because it so unashamedly lighthearted.

Our hearts  have been so heavy for so long it seems to me. How could they be otherwise in a pandemic?

So, if only for a little while each day, and especially on Christmas day, I wish you lots of things to smile about and lightness of heart. 

Happy Chritmas X
8 Comments

Simply..turn again....

21/12/2021

10 Comments

 

This one makes an enchanting tinkling sound as the angels turn. I love it. (Thank you M.)
Picture
10 Comments

Simply..more cheerful....

19/12/2021

0 Comments

 

The shop windows  in town were more festive than the weather..

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Simply..still here....

13/12/2021

18 Comments

 

..quietly writing Christmas cards.

Picture

I love Christmas cards. Choosing them, sending them and receiving them. Do you?
18 Comments

Simplyy..a little line up....

9/12/2021

10 Comments

 
of some of my favouriite Christmas things..

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
10 Comments

Simply..home made....

8/12/2021

6 Comments

 
Picture

Needs a little tweaking but I like it.
6 Comments
<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.