Happy Christmas Everybody

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and a peaceful, healthy and happy New Year.  

Winter - Ring out Solstice Bells - Advent Scavenger Hunt Day 21

This is probably my favourite day of the Winter ... the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere  - the Winter Solstice.   The Solstice is officially this year at 16:04 on the 21st, the exact time of sunset here.  And from here on in the days start getting longer again ... yaaaay :)  Although I must say, the early dark evenings, with fire lit, sparkling glittery lights everywhere and the smells of Christmas cooking make these days so special and cosy.  The work is done, I've looked back on the year with satisfaction and I'm happy now to be settling in for the quiet time of the Yule period to recharge the batteries, settle in to just being, and over the next couple of weeks setting desires and intentions for the coming year.

Wishing you all the blessings of the season - here's some cheery music from Jethro Tull to dance around the kitchen with.

I'm joining in this month with  Julie's Advent Scavenger Hunt

Christmas Crackers - Advent Scavenger Hunt Day 20

Every year I swear I'm not going to buy any more silly Christmas crackers for next year - or at least have a go at making my own and every year I renege and buy them.   These were  brought to the house last year by a visitor, so they may well do the trick.  

I'm joining in this month with  Julie's Advent Scavenger Hunt  

Tree Dressed- Advent Scavenger Hunt Day 19

It suddenly feels like Christmas:)

I’m joining in this month with Julie’s Advent Scavenger hunt

Mistletoe - Advent Scavenger Hunt Day 18

I'm at a bit of a loss today for the Mistletoe prompt as it's something we don't see around here very often - and now, after watching this video about it, I'm not sure I want it in my house again!!!  Check out the history of why we kiss under the mistletoe.

I'm joining in this month with  Julie's Advent Scavenger Hunt  

Wrapping Paper - Advent Scavenger Hunt Day 17

I love wrapping papers and buy far too much of it!  Years ago it became clear to me that I needed more colour around me which was why I was endlessly buying notebooks, colouring pencils, papers and wool.  

Art has never been one of my things - music was scheduled against it in school so I didn't get the need to play with paint and paper out of my system.   So a few years back I joined an online art class with a wonderful American artist called Alisa Burke.  One of her classes was on doing pre Christmas things and one module was about creating Christmas wrapping paper yourself.   Hers looked much like the one on the right of this photo which I bought the other day in our local supermarket.   Mine on the contrary looked like something that a five year old would reject!!!!   Still, I can dream on and no doubt I'll skill keep buying the bright shiny and coloured in things.  

I'm joining in this month with  Julie's Advent Scavenger Hunt  

Sleigh - Advent Scavenger Hunt Day 16

You don't see many sleighs around these parts .... so I'm heading off on a musical tangent for this one.

There was a brilliant programme on the BBC iPlayer for the last few weeks, about backing singers for the big rock and pop bands.   It's called "20 feet from Stardom" and was absolutely brilliant.   These singers, who have backed people like Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and countless others are among the best musicians on the planet and vocally could out-sing any of the stars that they stand behind - but the conclusion of the programme was that for the most part they were happier out of the limelight.

One of the early stars was Darlene Love who was a part of the Blossoms in the early 60s - they were the girl voices behind Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones,  The Beach Boys and dozens more.   Darlene was also the main voice on Winter Wonderland on A Christmas Gift for you from Phil Spector.   Her first lead vocal was on the song He's a Rebel which was credited to the Crystals - lots of skulduggery was going on in the music biz in those days.  She went on into acting and still sings - an amazing voice.

Which leads me to today's prompt ... Here she is singing the wonderful Sleigh Ride with Ronnie Spector from the Ronettes - It's a live recording and I love the trumpeter doing the horse sounds :)  What a band.

I'm joining in this month with  Julie's Advent Scavenger Hunt