Friday 19 December 2014

Five on Friday

Five slightly festive things that I've been enjoying this week.


Candlelight on glass.  It always makes a room look quite special.  I find that it's best enjoyed after fire-loving boys have gone to bed though.  What is it about boys and danger?  They're like, well, moths to flames.


Rope swings in the woods.  More things that boys love.  I really enjoy watching them have good healthy outdoor fun, and it's a pleasure at the moment to get outside somewhere where there's space and cold clean air.  School has become a bit claustrophobic this past week or two.  It seems to be endless party days and hours of watching DVDs.  It sounds good, but to be honest they're fed up with it now.


Mince pies at dawn.  Way before dawn in fact.  I don't always sleep well, I was up at 5 o'clock this morning, so I made some mince pies with the cranberry mincemeat I made the other day.  I even tiptoed off and got my camera.  It's important to bake quietly at 5am.  


I'm a bit obsessed with beech hedges at the moment.  They really come into their own at this time of year.  Suddenly you notice them everywhere.  In the summer they blend in a bit more.  I love how they retain their leaves for a long time.  It means that even though they're deciduous they're still a screen even in the winter.  And with the sun on them, they're gorgeous.  I've put pictures here before of lollipop shaped beeches and a beech arch, it makes me wonder if I could squeeze one into the front garden.  


It was the school Christmas carol service tonight.  It was in turn beautiful, moving and hilarious.  The lights were turned off and solo voices sang sweetly in the candlelight.  The tiniest people dressed as nativity characters and sang a verse of Away in a Manger.  Toddlers charged about the place, shaking the Christmas tree violently and yelling to go outside.  A cartoon about the meaning of Christmas was handed out to everyone.  The biggest boy had done it.  Little bit proud of him.  The middle boy played the recorder very nicely.  The littlest boy conducted the recorder group from where he was sat with his class.  He had the flashing lights on his shoes turned on and had possibly smuggled in a Loom band bracelet, all of which is highly forbidden.  We play to our strengths around here.

Joining in with Five on Friday, taking five minutes from our day to enjoy five things.  To visit the other bloggers joining in this week, click on the links below.

           Amy at Love Made My Home                        Jill from Emerald Cottage

           Nicole from My Garden Diaries                     Beth from the Whimsical Dowager

           Alison at Sylvan House

24 comments:

  1. A sense of calm has fallen over me. How about you? I can just imagine the school program.. all the long hours of practice, the little babies in the audience crying, the toddlers talking loudly because they don't know yet about being quiet.. the kids making you proud.. what fun. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Early risers around here too - although not quite so productive! Hurray for rope swings, mince pies, candlelight and carol services. I love the colour of beech hedges too - they always manage to lift the spirits at this time of year. The thought of the flashing shoes and loom band bracelet made me smile - with such independence your youngest will go far. Enjoy the holiday with your boys. x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bracing myself for similar carol service this afternoon, it's a double header, one for the infants and one for juniors - eek! Beech hedges are ace, Chatsworth has the Crinkle Crankle beech hedge, I think you'd love it. I've never baked at 5am at home, I think just the smell wafting up the stairs would wake them up!! Lovely 5 on Friday post xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. mince pies at 5am - yum, perfect breakfast food I'd say. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely mix of Christmas photos. Particularly like the beech leaves. Don't know why, but remind me of my childhood winters. I'm on Five on Friday next week. Looking forward to it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful Five things!! Thank you so much for taking part and for such a great post. I love number five with the nativity most of all, especially the flashing shoes and the loom bands!! I hope you have a great weekend. Happy Christmas! xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well done the biggest boy. Do we get to see his cartoon?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I so miss the school productions from when mine were little, there was always something memorable about each year's offering.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Excellent mantel, CJ! And mince pies at dawn, you are amazing. I'd be on my third cup of tea and wasting time on instagram if that was me. I applaud your time management skills! xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. This post made me smile, and well done to the littlest boy for being a bit of a rebel. Lovely photos. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your holiday decorations. It looks so warm and cozy in that room, perfect to snuggle up on the sofa with some hot cocoa. I've gone through bits of problems sleeping, too. It's no fun. You were so productive, though! I would have just watched TV:) I love all the Christmas activities this time of year, but I'm ready for some down time, too. Just time to relax and bask in the glow of the candlelight. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, CJ!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi CJ, nice to meet you. I really enjoyed your holiday flavored 5 sprinkled with a little bit of nature! Often times I am up until 5 a.m.! We would pass one another as you were getting up and I was going to sleep, lol!
    Hugs and Happy Holidays,
    Beth P

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mince pies for breakfast sounds really rather nice. I think I could get used to that.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's been party days, DVDs, games, Christmas craft at our school too. And mine were a bit bored of it now too. They're very glad to be off, and I'm looking forward to the absence of deadlines :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. How lovely it all sounds, except the waking at 5 am.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love that you got baking done in the early morning hours...looks delicious CJ!!! And oh my I hear you about boys and danger! My 4 year old is just starting to show me the ropes in this department! Your mantle looks so amazing and cozy!! Such a beautiful vignette you have there! And you had me cracking up about your little guy! Such great memories made! A very festive weekend to you! Nicole xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like you're enjoying the run-up to Christmas. And maybe I should have a go at early-morning baking. I'm sure it'd be quite relaxing (but then again I'd be tiptoeing about and no doubt dropping baking tins all over the place, and then everyone would be up and bothering me)...
    I have a thing about beech hedges in the New Year, when all the little snowdrops are growing beneath them. Such a lovely combination.
    S xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. lovely post! I'm now noticing the beech hedges :) The school nativity sounds perfect

    ReplyDelete
  19. Baking quietly at 5 am sounds wonderful to me. I'm often awake when I "should" be sleeping, and I lie there thinking about all the things I need to do. I should just get up and do it if I'm going to lie there agonizing about it anyway! Your mantel looks really pretty, I love the candles. Hope you're having a restful weekend, CJ.

    ReplyDelete
  20. There is something special about baking at dawn. The family must have woken to wonderful smells too! The Christmas carol service made me smile! Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Cranberry mincemeat sounds delicious! Our youngest is in his final year of school; I really miss the Christmas musical programs.

    ReplyDelete
  22. A lovely selection of festive things. School nativity plays are the best!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm sure no one noticed those glowing shoes except you! ;) Glad you had some quiet baking time - that alone is a treat.

    ReplyDelete