Festive blue and white

Yesterday afternoon a bitterly cold northerly wind was blowing across our normally mild region and as this can often herald a fall of snow we decided to opt for a bit of festive retail activity.

We enjoy travelling on the open roads at this time of year as the summer holiday-makers have all gone home and locals have the place more or less to themselves. The higher hills were dusted with snow and as we travelled the clouds gathered ominously in a previously clear blue sky.

We passed the lake that feeds our house and many others in north west England with water and it was easy to see why our water it is always so very icy cold.

After 20 miles or so we reached the pretty Lake District town of Keswick. Christmas lights, twinkling blue and white, were strung across the busy street and the sound of carols filled the air. It all looked lovely but I'm afraid I was just a little disappointed as I do so love to see coloured lights at this time of year. I love traditional reds, green and golds but unfortunately for little old me, blue and white (clear glass) lights seem very popular these days and finding other colours is growing increasingly difficult.

As the icy cold northerly wind chilled the shoppers the sight of every shop window strung with blue and white lights did nothing to warm us.

Then happily I spotted some warmth coming from a shop window glowing with red and gold.

Call me old fashioned but this is my kind of Christmas window display.

After buying a number of 'must have' gifts for the family we made our way home.

As we returned to our town we were greeted by more blue and white. I'd love to know if lights in these colours have become the tradition everywhere or if it's just peculiar to our region?

In our house we never bring out the decorations until the weekend before Christmas and so next time you visit I hope my two trees will be festooned with ........colour...... Lots of colour!

Until next time
Eli

Comments

[Suzanne]

Eli, thank you for these pictures. I felt like I was looking at a very enchanted little town stuck in another time period. The toy store reminded me of Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol" peering into the shop window at all the Christmas toys! Thank you for your email and I do hope your back is better too! I am feeling better today but still have a ways to go:-) I will be emailing you soon, I need some info on workhouses of the 19th century!

[Helen]

Hi, Eli,

White lights have been most popular here for many years but blue lights showed up everywhere about 3 years ago.

Something new has taken over this year: LED lights. They are traditional colors but do not look quite the same.

I am with you. I like the traditional colors of the season. But, we have white lights on our home and so do most of our neighbors. We have greenery and red velveteen bows as accents. We are using the same lights for many years that were bought when white was the most popular color. I think it is the manufacturers who dictate the style...sigh.

Traditionally, people decorate around here during the weekend of Thanksgiving in November so lights are up for quite a while.

Your photos are so beautiful. I must look at them some more!

[Rhondi]

Hi Eli
Both Keswick and your town look very festive for Christmas. What charming towns.

[Bellaboo]

Oh,I SO agree with you.Where did the idea come from of putting BLUE lights up at Xmas I wonder?!They've even got BLACK decorations in our garden centre!!
We went to Keswick when we were up in the lakes in Oct and I thought then.. oooh I'd like to come back here and do some Xmas shopping. Look forward to seeing your decorations!
Bellaboo

[dawn]

I'm soooooo jealous of you living in the Lakes - I stay near Cockermouth 2 or 3 times a year and sometimes come up for other visits. At one time I used to be up the weekend before Christmas for a gather and it was always so gorgeous - snow on the tops and just utterly beautiful. Not meant to be back until the weekend after Easter, so might have to sneak in an extra visit before then!
I'm not keen on the blue lights either - a house near me has them outside and they flash and I just think they look silly rather than Christmassy.

[bellaboo]

Thank you Eli for your message.So glad I could be of help in your Christmas search.

Bellaboo

[wee cute treasures]

Hi Eli,

I am with you 100% on the green, red, gold and silver decorations. I have added a little white/cream to represent snow but do find the new 'fad' for blue lights rather unwelcome. I am just glad none of my neighbours have decided to follow this trend and all I see around us is WARM. Looked out tonight and saw the most wonderfully slim crescent moon in a clear cold winter sky. Heaven. Long Live Tradition. Hope you and yours have a wonderfully Happy Christmas Love, Carol :)

[clarice]

Well I mus be old fashioned too xoxoxo Clarice

[Paula]

Dear Eli,

I have enjoyed catching up on all of your posts. The nativities you made are all so beautiful! You have always be very creative and talented! I enjoyed the photos you shared and reading about your trip to town. I, like you, am very old-fashioned and love all of the traditional Christmas colors! It is so beautiful where you live, and the town you visited is very charming. My favorite shop window is the same one you were drawn to. I look forward to seeing your two trees! Thank you for visiting me and for your sweet words!
I hope you and your family have a very blessed and Merry Christmas!!!

Love,
Paula

[Marqueta]

Dear Eli,

I would love to visit Keswick with you, despite the blue lights ;). My grandma had blue lights on her tree way back in the 70s~She was YEARS ahead of her time!

I'm very much looking forward to seeing your bright Christmas colors this year.

Love,

Marqueta