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Saturday, November 23, 2019

Belated Five on Friday: Twinkle Light Season & A Giveaway

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

I open the door. The gorgeous guest
from afar sweeps in. In her hands are
her gifts--the gifts of hours and far-seeing
moments, the gift of mornings and evenings,
the gift of spring and summer, the gift
of autumn and winter. She must have searched
the heavens for boons so rare.
ABBIE GRAHAM


Dear Beautiful You,

Another day, another week gone in a flash -- I hope that for all its swiftness it has been a good one for you. Let's see, since the last time I posted, we've had cold snow days. We've had sunny, melting days and a plethora of grey overcast days ... all typical November weather here in northerly Alberta.

If you were to ask what kinds of things have been keeping me busy of late, I'd be hard-pressed to give you any answer that would whelm you over. There are no big projects, but lots of little things filling my days: visits with family and friends; meals, laundry, dishes, errands and shopping. A wee bit of dusting in those too obvious sunny spots. I'm reading from my pile of books from the library and from my own bookshelves, which includes re-reading the ever comfort-rending novel Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon and the ever-charming epistolary memoir 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. I also re-watched for the dozen-th time the delightful movie by the same title starring Ann Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. Oh, and I'm taking some French lessons on Duolingo.com (bonjour!), watching movies in the evenings on Netflix, and making lists for the upcoming holiday season. Just to name a few things...

Last weekend we met with friends and took in the local art society's Christmas Market, where we bought a wee stash of Christmas cookies like gingersnaps and shortbread. With the stash eaten over tea through the week, this morning we are off to another friend's church Christmas market, hoping to stock up on a few other seasonal treats. AND, we're making Christmas cake later today, using our favourite Light Christmas Cake, recipe found in this POST. It's always a joint effort, someone chopping and and stirring, someone getting the pans ready with flour dusting and wax paper forming. Taste testing done by one of us... can you guess who?

At our house, the weekend when mountain daylight time goes back to mountain standard time signals Twinkle Light Season! So I've been slowly gathering my LED candles and twinkle lights aiming to make the season bright and cheerful. Hubby frowns on candles with real flames, a carry over from when we had curious kitties with long furry tails and whiskers. 

To add to the building commotion of cheer, I'm excited to offer my seasonal ***GIVEAWAY*** for two copies of this year's Cotswold Advent e-Calendar created by Jacquie Lawson. Scroll down for details.

Wondering what else I could share with you today, I opted to show a small gathering of items I purchased over the last while. It's only November, but you'll see a theme unfolding. It's not hard to get in the mood when the weather has been so helpful in providing some cool temperatures, a few snowy days, and lots of grey skies. 



~ONE~
A new box of sparkly Christmas cards made by Papyrus
It's always been one of my favourite traditions to write out
and send Christmas cards and letters. These days I find
myself doing a mix of both snail mail and e-cards.
How about you? Do you still write Christmas cards?



~TWO~
Glass globe with candle and berry wreath
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.



~THREE~
A new decoration for our tree
Found this cute stained glass tree ornament at
the Christmas Market last weekend.




~FOUR~
'Awww, aren't these cute' Seasonal Napkins
We found these at the local wildbird general store. I know
who's gonna find them in their Christmas stocking this year.




~FIVE~
Cotswold E-Advent Calendar
 jacquielawson.com

The 2019 Advent calendar arrived in my inbox a few days ago -- a
surprise gift from my lovely friend, Barbara, who knows
I love all things English and how much I enjoyed our visit to England
a few summers ago. The best treat of that trip was sharing a couple
of hours over tea with Barbara while we were in Cornwall.

To pay forward the joy, I'm having a GIVEAWAY for two of these
e-calendars just in time to begin opening
the daily treats on December 1st.

The draw will be held on
Wednesday, November 27th.

To enter the draw, leave a comment
in the comment box.  
  

* * *


"One kind word can warm three winter months."
JAPANESE PROVERB


* * *

On that note, I'm wishing you a beautiful weekend
and don't forget to leave a comment for the draw.

Hugs,
Brenda
xox



30 comments:

  1. Such beautiful and charming finds! My dad made stained glass later in life so that craft hols a special place in my heart.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, that is special, Lynn. Do you have any pieces you'd consider your most favourite of your dad's work?
      Thanks for stopping by. Your name is in the draw pot! Brenda

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  2. Isn't Jan Karon a wonderful writer? We have read evey single book and loved them...and re-read them!
    I have happy memories of our meeting, it was so good to have time to talk nd share our life experiences.

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    1. She really is a wonderful writer. Have loved every book of hers, I even have her kids' books, eg Miss Fanny's Hat and enjoyed very much. I hope one day we'll have another chance for a real visit over tea. B xox

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  3. How sweet of you! Aren't those napkins the cutest! Enjoy your weekend sweet lady!

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  4. your week sounds delightful! as are your finds. isn't it fun to shop and find little treasures that still thrill?!

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    Replies
    1. Oh Yes, it is great fun to shop and find those little treasures ... they are life's little thrills.

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  5. I love this time before Christmas.The excitement slowly builds. I also love all the lights and festive displays.

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    1. Grey Cup today ... not that I'm a big football fan but I do enjoy the excitement of having the game on and watching the fans. Thanksgiving for our American friends on Thursday. And then we can blaze straight ahead for Christmas and all its beauty. Thanks, Ruth, for stopping by.

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  6. Oh my, you’ve been very busy! I love your little seasonal treasures. I do the same thing, it’s a fun time of year. Thanks for the opportunity for the giveaway. 💚

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    1. Linda, I'm so glad you let me know you were this unknown person. Good luck to you, and everyone, in the giveaway.

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  7. It's been a busy busy few weeks around here, but today was quietly spent at home (mostly) doing homely things that are so satisfying. Your Christmas cards are beautiful. I like to send a few cards out, too, not as many as in previous years, but it's delightful to sit down on an afternoon (usually Sunday) and take the time to think about the people in my life and to write a short greeting.
    Please don't enter me in the drawing, as Barbara also gifted me with a Cotswold calendar. I've played a few games of Solitaire and have lit the lamps and decorated the tree. More fun to come!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I turned on the lamps too, played a few rounds of Solitaire and Spider. A week from today (imagine that) and we can begin exploring in earnest.

      I agree Sunday afternoons are often a great time to sit and write out Christmas notes and cards. I might start today, when the Grey Cup game comes on. I'm not a football fan, but do I like having the game on and taking in the excitement of all the fans. There's an energy in that.

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  8. How very beautiful you are and how beautiful you make me feel when I read your posts...
    ..dear friend.

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  9. how cheerful and fun to read about your holiday activities...cookies and tea sounds good right now. Maybe I'll go fix some and dig out my ginger snap cookies...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lin, do you make sugar free/reduced ginger snaps? Hubby doesn't like them when they are sugar coated, if I make them then I don't do that extra step, but I do like the crunch of both the cookie and the baked sugar.

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  10. Loved all your recent finds! Hiw kind to share the advent calendars with some fortunate readers. Blessings.

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  11. Dear Brenda....What a lovely post, as always. Looks like you are getting into the spirit of the upcoming holidays. Same here. The house is starting to look festive but there is still much work to do.
    I love the Lawson calendars so please put my name in the pot. Hope you have a most beautiful new week. Hugs. Susan P.S. Did the magazine you were printing ever get printed? Just curious.

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    1. Susan, please be assured your name is in the pot! I hang my head, no the anniversary magazine is still not done. It got lost when I started other projects. But enough lagging, I owe you one! I shall begin it again and aim to get it done in the New Year. Which introduces the new decade -- one FB friend termed it the Roaring Twenties. It's hard to believe a century has gone by since that exciting decades of the 1920's. And it's hard to believe that twenty years have scooted by since the turn of the new century. It hardly seems that long.

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  12. Dear Brenda, as always a lovely post. You have given me a gentle nudge, much needed, to get busy with the holiday preparations. I do have the tree up and a few things out and about. Still much to do. I always enjoy what you are reading. I have not read that particular book by Jan Karon. Will put it on my long list.
    Happy day and week to you. Know how much I always enjoy your posts.

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  13. Sandra, if you enjoy the other Jan Karon's books, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one too. It's a tender book, one that holds one's heart tenderly, so it's a lovely winter read, a great read for around Christmas time too, as part of the story revolves around the coming season.

    Brenda xox

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  14. As a woman who loves simple pleasures best, I think your week sounds delightful!

    "Twinkle Light Season." I love the sound of that! The past few years, I have so enjoyed having some candles and lights with timers that cheer the winter evenings. I was surprised by how much joy they brought me and so I add a little something to my collection each year.

    I do still write out Christmas cards. It can be a lot of work, but so rewarding to keep in touch with loved ones near and far. Your new ornament is so pretty!

    How kind of you to offer that lovely Jacquie Lawson calendar to a couple of your readers!

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  15. Brenda, Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good is my favorite Jan Karon book. We share other likes too as I have 5 treasured books by Abbie Graham and 84, Charing Cross Road is also a favorite, my copy given to me by blog friend Melanie. I love the Graham quote you used, I read her little books over and over, charmed by her unique writing style. It's wonderful that you are studying French! How I wish I had studied that in school. Did your Christmas Cake turn out well? I'm sure it did. Your Christmas card choice is lovely! I haven't yet begun even to address my own cards but it won't take long as I rely now on the Jacquie Lawson e-cards myself, they are beautiful. But please let someone else have my chance at the draw since I use them myself. It sounds as if you are already beginning to enjoy preparation for Christmas, I am too! What a wonderful time of year this is!

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    1. I didn't know Abby had little books ... she's new to me. So I'm going in search of more of her works. Based on that quote above, I know I shall delight in her writings. Thank you for telling about her.

      Dewena, the Christmas cake turned out beautifully. It's soaking with its first drenching in Christmas spirits. I too rely on the Jacquie Lawson e-cards on many occasions, but this year for some reason I'm particularly moved to putting pen to paper again the old-fashioned way. And I agree, it's a wonderful time of the year.

      Many happy thoughts to you,
      Brenda xox

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  16. Yes, I still write out and send Christmas cards via snail mail. It's one of my favourite holiday traditions. I give cookie exchanges a hard pass, but I'm always up for a card exchange!

    I also like the stained glass ornament. So cute! Back in September, I commissioned a local stained glass artist to make a stained glass ornament of our logo. This will be my Christmas gift to my boss.

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    1. Yes, I wouldn't be up for doing cookie exchanges either. I like to eat them but am less enthused about baking them first.

      Oh, I do hope you will show pictures of that commissioned stained glass ornament (once it's been opened by your boss).

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  17. I particular;y loved the new tress glass ornament. I have been recently trying our stained glass, there is a real knack to it, but it is such fun to do!

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo