Sunday

Good morning!   It's the third Sunday in Advent today so I've changed the banner again.  Candles are so Christmassy, aren't they?

I braved the damp yesterday morning to get a few things from Aldi that I can only get from there.  Stupidly, I left my purse at home but, thankfully, I checked my bag before I started shopping, avoiding an embarrassing moment at the checkout.  Once I'd sorted that out, I picked up a parcel from the post office (Beth's Christmas present) and that's now wrapped and under the tree.

I made cinnamon shortbread (lovely recipe, I will definitely make it again in different disguises) and then some biscotti.  The biscotti recipe didn't work quite as well and the results are rather rough and ready but I bet they taste good; they are now bagged and frozen.  The shortbread is in a tin for Alex to make inroads into while he's here.

I was thinking about what I now have in the freezer ready.   Pigs in blankets, stock for gravy, one main Christmas pud and one mini pud (for Dad), mince pies, cheesy biscuits, gingerbread, biscotti, vegetarian sausage rolls . . . we certainly aren't going to starve, are we?  I do love home made Christmas food.

I must think about icing and decorating the Christmas cake this week.  Maybe next weekend, which appears to be pretty free, will work.  One I have done that, I will make some stollen with the leftover marzipan.

The nativity set is now out and looking lovely.

The stable (with an empty manger).

The shepherds and the angel which is not part of the set and isn't really an angel.  It is actually an Easter carving and was made decades ago by a dear and lovely man at the Church my parents went to.  Tom Meeling, his name was, and he had such a talent for carving.  This is relatively simple but in the church there are some lovely carvings depicting Holy Week.
Tom is no longer with us but I think of him regularly with affection and admiration when the angel comes out.

The wise men.

And the whole thing.

Everything n its usual and expected place - until the cleaners dust and then I have to re-arrange them again!

Today's musical Advent Calendar music is two for the price of one.  It's actually the same  carol, done in two different ways, both great in their way and both long standing favourites.

The first is the Pearsall version of In Dulci Jubilo, sung by Kings and favourite of good school choirs (which is when I first met it) and a regular in the Christmas Eve service from Kings.  I love it.
(I love that some carol clips have the score - I always sing along with the altos)

And the other is same carol, totally different interpretation, being very much a dance.  In Dulci Jubilo performed by Mike Oldfield.  I do love a good circle dance type vibe.