A pause in Advent

 My Advent Candle ring came out of storage this weekend. We bought it in London many years ago and it goes on year after year, a little worn, some bits missing, but still a part of Christmas.

We both have fond memories of another Advent wreath, in a little Austrian church near Salzburg. We were staying in the village of Kuchl over Christmas and walked through the snowy street to the Church a few days before the 25th, as we had seen that there was a service to light the last candle on the Advent wreath..

Kuchl Church

I don't think we have ever seen such a huge wreath, suspended from the ceiling of the church . Gradually it was lowered for the last candle to be lit and we realise the wreath was possibly about 4 feet across. I wish I had a photo of it, but found a slightly similar image here (courtesy of Shutterstock).

Neither of us speak a great deal of German, but we could pick up enough to understand the familiar story.

The time we spent in Austria will remain as one of the most 'real' Christmases we have experienced. No tinsel, no shops heaving with 'must haves', no loud advertising. Just the simplicity of beautiful music, a snowy village and a beautiful Christmas Eve service.

It was indeed a 'pause' in Advent.

Leaves around the tree.

 My Cherry tree is almost denuded of leaves. Although it is sad to see it so bare, I have enjoyed watching the leaves gradually pile up on the lawn., surrounding the tree with a protective circle. 

 The colours, shades of red, orange, yellow and brown have sung to me and brought back those lovely memories of scuffling through the crunchy Autumn leaves as a child..

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

Emily Bronte

I hug a little secret to myself.... the tree will not be lonely, for under it are planted Snowdrops, which as the Spring approached will surround it with a snowy circle.

I'm waiting.....

Recycling

When my bedroom was redecorated earlier this year, I knew that I would need a new headboard for the bed. The original one had a very pretty French fabric on, but it was in shades of pink, and my room is now shades of blue.

I pondered, and discussed, and pondered some more. I knew I would prefer a soft colour as there is so much colour on the wall behind the bed.

So, white seemed to be the way to go. I had a tiny brainwave and remembered a beautiful linen table cloth, belonging to my Grandma and maybe a hundred years old. We dont live the sort of life where large linen table cloths figure now.   It had no flaws, so I gave it a hot wash and handed the whole idea over to a clever friend who works as a curtain maker/upholsterer. This week she brought it back for me.

(It's not the bed that's leaning to the left, it's me. Not a proficient photographer)

Sadly the pictures dont do it justice as white isnt easy to photograph. This is a corner of the headboard .She has arranged the design of the cutwork beautifully.

This is the centre of the headboard.

She also made me a little cushion as an extra, which I was thrilled with.

It's lovely to think that Grandma's tablecloth goes on. Reading Angela's post this morning made me smile, as we have both been recycling in similar ways, using lovely old fabrics to recreate something beautiful..