Time for 'Photos in Advent 2024' - A Christmas/Winter photo everyday until Christmas. A blog tradition going back many years.
Today's photo is all the Christmas cards I got out to write last week and my very ancient Christmas list book to tick when I've written them. I love choosing cards to send and buying them from Charity shops - mostly in the January Sales if possible. I specially like sending cards with pictures that I would like to receive myself! (I have been known to hide a card with a weird picture that I have received behind others 😮). And saying I got them out to write doesn't actually mean I've got them done yet! Although I really must as I want the table for my December jigsaw.
I'm calling 1st December the first day of winter - if it was good enough for the Anglo-Saxons, it's good enough for me............ although some will say - wait until the 22nd.
The Anglo-Saxons called December Wintermonath before they became Christians and Helighmonath meaning 'holy month' afterwards. In Chambers Book of Days I came across the word Dubblachd which I believe is the modern Scottish-Gaelic for December meaning Dark Month.
Blazing fire, and Christmas treat
Love the moon photo. It was raining when we went to bed, so here's hoping it stopped before midnight...
ReplyDeleteRain here this afternoon. I'm not really sure about that weather saying and what it means - doesn't really make sense
DeleteHaving LOST my Christmas cards, I dug a bit deeper in the cupboard I was sure they were in and they turned up, but I shan't be sending many this year. Royal Mail has managed to knock this habit on the head!
ReplyDeleteDubblachd is an appropriate name for these dark December afternoons . . .
I'm glad you found your cards.!
DeleteI need to write letters to go in some cards and keep putting it off
Love the little bird house cards and well done on starting to get them ready for sending. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI've got on with the writing of cards at last
DeleteThe Christmas lights started being put up on houses yesterday. I quite like the string of tiny lights which twinkle gently in the dark.
ReplyDeleteDH is getting the Christmas cards, bought last January, down from the attic today and I shall listen to Carols from Kings’ College and write the ones to post tomorrow. I wrote the list in the back of last year’s journal, it gets a bit shorter each year.
Decadent December? A mug of cocoa instead of a pot of tea when I get home, if it is really cold walking the dog.
Now I don't go far in the evenings I don't get to see many lights - sadly
DeleteReally interesting post to start off December, thank you Sue. Love your picture of the moon and I’ll be buying a 1000 piece jigsaw to start on Christmas Eve. Love a really tough one!
ReplyDeleteJ’nan
I hope to get my puzzle out soon - hope it's complete - always a worry with a second hand puzzle
DeleteI received my first Christmas card last Wednesday! My nephew and his wife always seem to try to be the first one sent! It's very cold here and I am just putting away my Thanksgiving decorations so not quite ready for Christmas decorating yet. Thanks for reminding me to get out my Christmas cards and make sure I have enough for my list!
ReplyDeleteI found a card without an envelope to fit it so I put it on my windowsill - that's my first card!
DeleteOh yes...December 1st is the start of Winter for me too. I managed to wrap all my gifts this morning (not that many these days) and I've found the cards ready to write them later in the week. Most will be handed out personally this year. Hasn't the cost of postage rocketed.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your Blogmas posts Sue!
Angie x
I don't enjoy wrapping presents and still need to get some - I shall panic soon!
DeleteGosh I've done nothing Christmasy yet, unless I count buying myself some new cosy slippers. I must go and fetch my Christmas tree from Alan's top floor. 🎄
ReplyDeleteDon't do as I did. I bought all my Christmas cards in the January sales and put them away safe. Safe. Safe enough that I didn't find them again for three or four years! Mind, two house moves didn't help matters.
ReplyDeleteI got a few Christmas cards to send. I actually got them when I came over to England as I really liked the ones with robins on. It's certainly winter here! I was hoping I had more time, now I have a list of things I meant to get done before the snow and really cold weather came. I'm hoping there will be a break and I can get some of these things done!
ReplyDeleteIt is the season! The outside holiday lights are starting to show up and I love it. Some houses have covered all their outside shrubs and bushes in either white or mixed colored lights. It is cheerful.
ReplyDeleteI've purchased my live tree and got it standing in the living room. Next will be to put the strings of lights on and then the decorations, plus my angel will stand on top.
Like you, I collect cards at the end of each season. Getting them written and in the mail will likely happen next week.
I love Christmas and all the festivities that go with it.
I love to send and receive Christmas cards. Like you, I sometimes hide the ones I don't really like. Xx
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