Flutterby Patch

Carols and candlelight

Greetings one and all. I hope you enjoyed a very happy Christmas and dear old Santa brought lots of treats to fill your household with fun and laughter. Happily my son's pleasure in using his new camera has resulted in some festive pics for my blog.

Our final decorations went up on Christmas Eve to the sound of carols and the flicker of candlelight.

This year we cut a Christmas tree from the garden. It was completely overshadowing the rhododendrons so it had to come down and it was enormous. Unfortunately quite a bit had to be removed from the top and my daughter thinks the poor fairy looks as if she is perched in a crow's nest. I have to say it is one of the nicest trees I have ever trimmed. The branches are thick and strong and readily hold even the heaviest baubles.

And here, feeling very at home on the tree, is the gorgeous Santa sent from my blogging chum Suzanne at Blueberry Cottage in Massachusetts. Isn't he wonderful... I love him.

Reflected in the mirror over the mantle the tree looks quite small but I can assure you it isn't!! We are keeping it well watered in the hope that we get minimum needle drop.

The coloured lights were made for summer evenings in the garden but as the summer forgot to turn up this year they have put in an appearance for Christmas. Made by my daughter and myself several years ago they are simply jars that have been painted with glass paint and then decorated with gold swirls and stars etc. Tea lights sit nicely in the bottom.


I'm glad I cleaned the brass candlesticks ready for the dining table. 


Candlelight reflected in glass is just wonderful don't you think?

Twinkling Christmas trees always look nicest when its dark outside.

I bought these lights 25 years ago and every year I expect them to flicker and fail like other tree lights seem to, but they just keep on shining. (My thanks go to the German manufacturers).

Christmas is a time of excess and I like to group vintage items that will glow in the candlelight on the dining room mantle.

And in the alcove below sit the nativity figures that I made the year I was married (shepherds and kings stand either side) .


Another little collection! An old Bible and Georgian and Victorian coins that have seen two centuries of Christmas pockets and purses.


And last but not least. My dear son and daughter... I can't imagine Christmas without them.

Have a magical Christmas

The trees are trimmed

The Christmas tree lights are all working! 

Vintage decorations bring back happy memories of Christmases past.

Cards from near and far bring greetings from family and friends

The china children have their carts loaded with festive greenery

My little fairy (who is as old as me) is working her magic

'Tis sweet when Christmastime is here
To call to mind companions dear
There's gladness in remembrance.

Have a Very Happy Christmas 

Flutterby Patch Christmas is taking shape

Thank you for dropping by. I'm happy to tell you that Christmas is slowly arriving at Flutterby Patch.

I've decked the hall with boughs of holly and a tree 

Flicked cobwebs off the lantern in the porch

Lit the lamps

and photographed my favourite glass bauble to show you.

I still have two more trees to decorate and have found a willing little helper but I think she might prove to be more curious than helpful.

There are freshly baked mince pies and a something 'warming' to drink.
 
Perhaps you'd let me tell you a poignant tale about the Christmas tray you can see at the back of the picture. It was about 80 years old, made of paper mache and very battered when I bought it from a 'junk' shop many years ago. Covering it with pictures cut from old Christmas cards and 3 coats of varnish gave it a new lease of life. I remember the day I did it very well. It is a day I will never forget as you will see.

It was 20 years ago, a Wednesday and 4 days before Christmas. The children’s last day at school and my last chance to indulge myself with a bit or creativity. By early evening I had almost completely covered the tray (back and front) in Christmas scenes. I was working at the dining room table surrounded by colourful cards and glue. The children were happily playing upstairs, their squeals of laughter punctuated by my young daughter’s occasional squeaky rendering of carols played on her recorder. I could hear the TV in the sitting room but was paying very little attention to what was being shown until I heard the chilling words, “we interrupt this programme to bring you a newsflash”. It seemed a plane had crashed in our region. I guessed it might be a light aircraft but I was wrong.

It was a Boeing 747.

Twenty years ago, on 21st December 1988, Pan Am 103 left London’s Heathrow airport just after 6pm bound for New York’s JFK.

38 minutes into it’s a flight and at a height of 31,000 ft a powerful explosion shattered the aircraft which came down on the small town of Lockerbie in the Scottish Borders. So enormous was the explosion that debris was scattered over 81 miles of Scottish countryside.

270 people lost their lives that night. 243 were passengers, 16 were flight crew and 11 were residents of Lockerbie.

The mere numbers are easy say but if you follow this link you will see just what those numbers look like as actual names. I was very touched when I saw the list.

Lockerbie is just north of here and this weekend will be particularly poignant as a great many families from around the world will be visiting the town for a 20th anniversary memorial service.

We use the tray every Christmas and it never fails to bring back memories of that fateful night. Our thoughts this Christmas are with the many families who lost a precious friend or loved one in the Lockerbie Air Disaster.