Tuesday 15 December 2009

That's more like it!















We finally got the doors back for our multi-fuel stove. They'd had to be sent back to the manufacturers to be repaired, so we've had no heating in our kitchen this winter. Luckily, it's been fairly mild up until the last few weeks, when it's been perishing in there. But oh, how toasty warm it is now. At last I'll be able to sit out there, listen to the radio and stitch in the afternoons.

The trick now will be to learn how to keep it in overnight. It went out last night, but the kitchen was still warm when I went down this morning, and it only took a few minutes to light it again.

I'm sure I've made lots more little Christmas decorations, but this seems to be the only one I've photographed.

We've managed to find a new home for the Christmas quilt that I made last year, and it still looks wonderful. Well worth all the effort.




















We bought our Christmas tree yesterday and put it up in a corner of the lounge; it's a larger tree than we've been able to have before which is great, and, oh, the smell of fresh pine that greeted me when I opened the lounge door this morning. I've discovered that it's impossible to photograph a Christmas tree well. I've taken about twenty shots, but without the lights on it looks dull, using the flash with the lights on it looks equally dull, not using the flash makes it look garish. And you can't seen the ornaments however you do it! Still, it looks lovely, and will look even better once the presents are around it.

Decorating the Christmas tree is a job I've always kept for myself, though I let the boys help when they were younger of course. It's a time for me to remember the past, my parents and grandparents, Christmases when I was young, and more recent Christmases when my sons were young. We've got decorations from my mother's childhood, as well as those we've bought and made each year and each one carries its own memories. Magic.

6 comments:

Kay said...

This is such a wonderful, fun post, Amanda. I'm so glad you've got heat in the kitchen again. That's a beautiful stove.

Your Christmas quilt is absolutely gorgeous! I love the design! It looks great on your wall. All your decorations are marvelous!

And your tree is terrific, too! Besides, it's not so much how pretty it looks but the beautiful memories of the ornaments you place on it. :-)

Amelia said...

Christmas time has arrived - got that wonderful great smelling tree in place - and the wall hanging you made last year.

Tell me about your stove...what do you burn in it? What other ways do you heat your home?

Going to be cold here today...glad I don't have to get out in it.

Candace said...

Sounds like it's definitely Christmas at your house, and with a toasty warm kitchen, too. Everything looks wonderful, and the quilt was well worth it, it's beautiful.

Lynn said...

Thank goodness for our stoves! Yours looks so nice and warm cozy. How nice to be able to sit by it and sew. The little Christmas heart is so cute, love the birds on it. How pretty your tree looks. It is nice to enjoy putting up the tree. I love getting the ornaments out, so many memories they hold, I too have ones from my parents, very special.

Jo, a retired teacher said...

Have a wonderfully happy holiday. Merry Christmas!

scraphappy said...

Your Christmas decorations are absolutely charming. I feel much the same way about our tree. Each ornament has a story that goes with it. I'm glad the stove is fully functional. A chilly kitchen is no fun at all.