Thursday 24 December 2020

Christmas Eve, A Different and Thankful One

 One morning I got a glimpse of special beauty. It was a frosty, blue skied, sun shining brightly morning. The old dried summer grass rimming the frozen pond was sparkling with bits of ice, looking like a field of diamonds shimmering in the sun. A little breeze added to the shimmering effect.  I took a photo but a bad one that did not do the scene justice. But it made me think how nature provides such beauty when left to her own devices, no matter the season. 

I found this tiny evergreen growing among the cedars. He will have to fight for his right to stay there but we know how strong trees are especially if they have the opportunity to run their roots deep. 

And on that same walk through an unfamiliar trail I found out why I occasionally find large pine cones close to the house like the ones Robbie and I collected. A huge pine tree reaching to the sky in amongst those cedars was loaded with large pine cones. Hard to see but all the blacker blobs are pine cones.

I succumbed to the yarny goodness lure and began crocheting an afghan for a Christmas gift. It's for Robbie so I chose blues and a few browns for contrast. 

 
Here it is now and it's all ready to give away.  He likes to get cozy in the one I made for his mom, the Sweet Pea version, so I thought he should have his own.  All treble crochet with Stylecraft Dk yarn; I order it from the Wool Warehouse in the UK. They provide excellent and fast service.
I also sewed this. ???
 I had never heard of Among Us, the newly popular online game. I was told Robbie will like getting it. They are astronauts apparently and it needed a little back pack which I made like a pouch and attached separately.
No pattern available, of course, so I had to wing it by looking at a little plush toy on Amazon. It reminds me of Minions or Teletubbies.  Fingers crossed it will pass muster with the 7 year old.

Cookies from daughter. I look forward to one each night as an after dinner treat. Almost too pretty to eat. Almost...

The Santa Claus parade was cancelled so our neighbours went ahead with making a little float for their grandkids and driving them around the neighbourhood. We appeared at the end of our driveway to cheer them on. That's grandad there dressed as the Grinch coming toward us to hand out candy canes and that's grandma waving. 

What wonderful grandparents!
While at the end of our driveways, our next closest neighbours, who we've just waved to up till now, trotted over to meet us. They had their house built the same time as our wooden one was being built so knew lots about it. For instance, they told us why a second well was dug down by the pond. Apparently the brothers who built the house loved animals and enjoyed how the pond was used by them. When it dried up the first summer, they decided to dig a well down there to keep the pond flooded. Which I am using for the same purpose these late years and so pleased to know I'm carrying on what they would have liked.  Up till now we thought it was to flood the pond for wintertime skating. The former owners had a skating shack and electric lights rigged up for their teenage son and his friends who used it quite a bit. 

Ontario is back to a complete lockdown as of Boxing Day. Though low where I live, the numbers keep rising and I think there is renewed concern because of the mutated version appearing in England and Europe.  

  I have a lot of things that need doing, one of which is a delicious one-cook a turkey. I'm really looking forward to having Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. However, the weather is not very Christmasy looking with rain pouring down. A heavy rainfall warning is in effect.  

The three of us here will enjoy the day very much nonetheless. We are thankful to have avoided illness so far and know enough to count our blessings, naming them one by one.  We hope your Christmas will be equally peaceful and wonderful! 













27 comments :

Brian's Home Blog said...

Such a beautiful photo and the evergreens are always lovely. The afghan is so pretty and those cookies, WOW, she should be on the Christmas Cookie Championship on the TV! Merry Christmas from all of us!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

love all our photos and how nice to learn a little of your house from neighbors you had not had a chance to speak to before - what a nice holiday parade :)
the cookies are beautiful and yes would be hard to bite into being so pretty. Merry Christmas to you and your family

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Mmmmmm - I would force myself to eat those cookies too! I love the colours of the afghan and I know he will love snuggling with it. Thank you for the link to a new-to-me source for yarn. I normally use either Mary Maxim or Yarn Canada (in BC) but it's always nice to have another place to wish over.
Covid numbers are low here too but we're within easy driving distance of Toronto and the fear is that the people from there are traveling to shop and bringing the virus with them which will overload our small hospitals. We're hugely relieved that the closure is province-wide.
Have a very happy Christmas. It will be different this year but it's to be hope by doing this that we'll be able to enjoy our 'normal' next year.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I very much enjoy going with you on your walks and seeing what you see, Jocelyn! It's always so lovely getting out in the woods. The blanket you crocheted for Robbie is fun - he will love it, I'm sure. Enjoy those cookies and your turkey dinner, and have a lovely Christmas!

Jenn Jilks said...

Merry Christmas!
Lovely seasonal photos all!

Jenny said...

Merry Christmas wishes to you in your snowy wonderland. Over here, the sun is shining after a couple of rather wet days.

LA Paylor said...

always such pretty pictures and your narrative is calming to me. Love continues on doesn't it? Our gov. begged the citizens not to visit, to stay home and wear masks in public but people refuse.
So happy week to you my good friend, scritches to murphy
LeeAnna

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Awesome likes The fir/pine trees are amazing. For some reason they don't grow really well on my property. Gorgeous Christmas cookies? Merry Christmas!

Jackie McGuinness said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours. I am also looking forward to cooking a turkey.
Still raining here in Toronto. Port Perry has 20cm according to a friend and she says it is coming our way.

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! What a lovely post. You have such a wonderful eye for photography and I always enjoy those you share. Those cookies look very yummy. How nice to have finally met your nearest neighbors and to hear a bit of history about your home. The pond flooding would certainly warm the brothers' hearts to know the tradition continues. Merry Merry Christmas, my friend. ~smile~ Roseanne

Libby in TN said...

Merry Christmas, Dear Friend!

PaintedThread said...

I had to google Among US. I think you nailed it! Those cookies are lovely. I bet they taste as good as they look. I especially like the Christmas trees. Merry Christmas!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

We are staying home or walking where no one else goes. But hopefully we'll get through it and will have learned a lot. Take care and stay healthy. Merry Christmas! holiday hugs from way down South!

MissPat said...

Merry Christmas, Jocelyn. Those cookies do look too good to eat, but you'll just have to make the sacrifice. I made lemon squares (a favorite of a quilt friend whose birthday is today and with whom I shared) and Russian Tea Cakes. Both yummy and, of course, no calories at all.
Stay warm and dry.
Pat

Ruth Hiebert said...

Those cookies are so beautiful . Wishing you a Merry Christmas .

QuiltGranma said...

We, unfortunately, didn't get on anyone's nice list to receive cookies, so we'll be having Christmas without. Always enjoy whatever you are up to and have to say. Thank you, and Merry Christmas from Oregon.

Michele McLaughlin said...

What a nice afghan for your grandson! I love your daughter's cookies, is she a professional baker? Nice photographs of nature too~! I love walking down to our neighborhood pond every day with my dogs because it grounds me and I never know what I'll see down there. Have a great and grand Christmas! Hugs!

Yvonne said...

We are also in lockdown here for 5 weeks till January 20th. We are starting vaccinating in January here, hopefully that will increase the number of diseases. Your Afghan looks fabulous and the cookies delicious! 😋
Have a wonderful Christmas!

Linda said...

You are a fast crochet-er! That is a very nice afghan. I may have to get my yarn out this afternoon. Your place must have an interesting history - would love to hear more about how you came to purchase it. Your daughter must be a professional - those cookies are beautiful. Merry Christmas Jocelyn!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

What a beautiful post! I love the Afghan, not sure about the other 'thing' (LOL) and your neighbor loves the grandkids! So nice they did that. If you daughter made and decorated the cookies she is extremely talented. They are too pretty to eat! (not really). Have a Merry Christmas!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

What a beautiful post! I love the Afghan, not sure about the other 'thing' (LOL) and your neighbor loves the grandkids! So nice they did that. If you daughter made and decorated the cookies she is extremely talented. They are too pretty to eat! (not really). Have a Merry Christmas!

Nana said...

What a wonderful blankett and I am crocheting myself right now.
The cookies are so lovely, very well done and I bet they taste great.

Over here no snow, but that´s usual for the cost in Northgermany.

Nana

Karen said...

Your afghan is really nice. The colors really caught my attention. My partner has decided to put business on hold for the duration of our Ontario lockdown. He's a one man business and it's often hard to schedule vacation. Fortunately we live in the countryside in a touristy kind of area so we are hoping to play in the snow and try to have fun.

Michelle Ridgway said...

Merry Christmas Jocelyn. I loved seeing your snowy pics! Your Afghan is so lovely. Sure to be treasured. Stay safe and warm and cosy xx

Stewart M said...

What a nice post - love finding small things (like trees!) as a surprise!

Hope all is well.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Angie said...

Jocelyn - the cookies from your daughter look so good. Professional, even! I am a sucker for that type of cookie - I couldn't possibly limit myself to one!!! Belated Merry Christmas, and wishing the very happiest of new years!

Kate said...

Love your walks in the woods. You always show us something so interesting. We aren't as locked down as many are, but I live a pretty quiet life anyway so it doesn't bother me a bit. My husband is doing a new puzzle, a picture of different quilt patterns and I am quilting with an online quilt along so we are keeping busy and happy. Happy New Year to you and your family and may it be a healthy, happy one.