I've been absent from blogging almost a week.
An almost week-long migraine with one day and a few hours of relief. You see the weather here is ghastly, the heat wilts you at every turn and the humidity squeezes each breath...but it's also the main migraine trigger in my life and the one I have no control over.
Anyhow, I'm 'humming' with this migraine today...it's there, my constant companion, but it's dull in comparison to what it will be tonight and the medication has taken the edge off for now so I wanted to blog a special Christmas pattern for you to make before time ran out.
The watering can filled with berry sprigs is a design from 2018 and I always thought it should be finished as a Christmas display. Last night I stitched the words from a favourite Christmas carol beside the lace heart adorned watering can and popped it in a very old hoop. Truly, my heart was filled with joy and I've been singing that carol all day long.
You know, the words in this carol resonated beyond comfort and joy as I stitched.
In what can be a very busy and stressful season at the end of the year these particular words struck a chord...
" God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay..."
We genuinely need to rest amidst the busyness if we are to experience tidings of joy, comfort and merriment. We need to let go of the anxieties which seem to be stirred up as Christmas approaches and be not dismayed.
"Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day..."
It's about Jesus, this day which isn't actually the day of His birth, but which we choose to hold high in remembrance of a GIFT which no man can equal, no woman can reproduce, no department store can vanquish.
Christmas is about setting our minds on things of wonder and glory, miracles and hope.
It's a time of gentleness towards one another, kindness and thoughtfulness, not a season of rushing to and fro and amassing debt.
I pray you experience glad tidings of comfort and joy this Christmas, both as the giver and the receiver.
At home...
Time with Blossom was spent planning handmade gifts for our family and a few friends, and raiding my bookshelf for ideas meant a big pot of tea and delicious treats. I supplied the tea and my sweet daughter provided the cake, all glistening with gold sparkles and utterly delicious.
We have gathered many supplies from both our craft rooms and only needed to purchase a few extras, such as these soaps which have given my home the most wonderful fragrance.
Mr E and I always buy these soaps for ourselves but after Christmas I'll get a few extra just for fragrance in the sewing room and the living room...
Wrapped in pretty papers and raffia ribbon they will be lovely gifts for neighbours and friends.
(I *love* receiving pretty soaps!)
After the big craft raid in my sewing room I thought it was time to pull everything out and give it a good clean, a re-fold and better organisation.
Here's how that began...
And here's how it finished up later that day.
I still have the opposite side of the room to do but that can wait until my head settles.
At least for now I feel creatively refreshed and ready to begin sewing dolly quilts and pillows for Cully May and Rafaella next week.
In the kitchen I had a glut of eggs to work with and I remembered an old recipe I used to make for the kids when they were younger - Sweet Impossible Pie.
It's all mixed in one bowl, poured into a pie plate and during baking it settles into three distinct layers.
Before the bake...
After the bake...
The yolks from our chickens are rich yellow and make this tart even more lovely.
The three layers are a soft, almost pastry base - then a custard centre - and finally a crusty coconut top. Mr E and I had it last night with tinned apricots and we'll repeat this dessert tonight.
You'll find the recipe HERE
There are a few variations, one of them a citrus pie which is delicious, but for yesterday I simply made the basic favourite.
I shall sign off now and go greet my dear husband who has just arrived home. It's the highlight of my day when he walks through that door...how blessed I am to be his wife all these years and to see so much love in his eyes each morning.
May the December days ahead bring a renewed appreciation to all of us, for what we have and what we have to give; for Jesus who loves us; and for tidings of comfort and joy.
hugs
