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