Sunday, 12 December 2021

Sunday: Advent day twelve

 Good morning.  Yesterday's red sky foretold accurately.  It was dry (just) when I walked home wreath in hand, but it started drizzling soon after and it has obviously been raining overnight although it is dry and mild at the moment (around six o'clock).  I think today might be a day to snuggle down inside although I've not checked.

Yesterday was lovely!  The wreath making morning was great fun - there were ten of us but only two of us hadn't been to one of these before.  The basic ring had been done for us and there were so many different ornaments/decorations to choose from to wire and fasten to the ring.  Now I know how they make those bows.

It's on the front door now and will stay there until after Christmas.


No, it's not brilliant, I can already see where there are 'problems' but it's the first I've ever made so I'm pleased with it and it does look nice on the door.

I did a bit of sorting and tidying but most of the day was pretty lazy really.  The new Pinch of Nom books looks promising after a first flick through and I will read in more depth today.  There are loads and loads of things I want to watch over the Christmas period so there's an awful lot of highlighting in my copy of the Radio Times.

Did you watch Strictly?  However can one choose; they were all so good that they really should all be in the final and, if there hadn't been dropouts, probably would have been.  I've voted but I did feel a bit mean!
I know that the info about who has been eliminated is out there already but I never go looking, I wait for the results programme.
And I am very much looking forward to the final next week.

Today, the Christmas thing is to put out the Christmas door mats.  That means washing the others ready for the New Year.  I think I might also do some mince pie making for the freezer and I do need to read through my biscotti recipe and make a list of ingredients I need to buy (pistachios, for example).
Really, though, it is going to be another lazy day and I will make the most of it as next week is busier, one way and another.


Today's music is 'The Carol of the Bells', composed by Ukrainian Mykola Leontovych.  It is musically interesting, being based on an ostinato.
Wiki says:
The music is based on a four note ostinato and is in 3/4 time signature.  The ringer of the B-flat bell, though, feels it in 6/8 time.  The carol is metrically bi-stable, and a listener can focus on either metre or switch between them.  It has been performed in many gentres:  classica, metal, jazz, country music, rock and pop.

I like music with a bit of a listening puzzle to solve.

There's a lot of choice on YouTube and, if you're interested, it's worth listening to a few versions in different styles.  I was torn between Pentatonix and Libera but went for the latter in the end!


Enjoy!


30 comments:

  1. Oh, Joy, it is beautiful! You've chosen some gorgeous adornments, and I certainly don't see any 'problems'.
    It looks lovely on the door. X

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    1. Aw, thank you, that is very kind. I guess we are always out sternest critics. I was happy with it and I am pleased.
      xx

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  2. Your wreath is beautiful, if I saw it for sale I would buy it. Xx

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    1. Aw, thanks, Sooze. It looks nice on the door, for sure.
      xx

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  3. Such a beautiful carol, and I love your wreath! xx

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    1. It's a lovely carol, I think. A bit different too.
      And thank you.
      xx

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  4. Thank you for the carols each day, a lovely start to the morning. Your wreath is beautiful.

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    1. It's a shame we can only sensibly listen to them in December - there's some lovely music there.
      Or perhaps we love them so much because we only hear them in December.
      xx

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  5. Love your wreath and today's music.
    (I went looking for the results but not on the spoiler website yet)

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    1. It must get harder for 'them' to discover the eliminated couple with such a limited audience. xx

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  6. your wreath is beautiful and looks lovely on the door. I agree that it is so difficult to choose at Strictly. I do not look at spoilers and will feel for the couple that will be eliminated. Val.

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    1. Some like spoilers and some don't. I'm different with books - I often look at the end fairly soon after starting -but not detective books!
      xx

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  7. I think the wreath is lovely, you're obviously a perfectionist. Looks really good on the door.

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    1. LOL - maybe I am. :-)
      Thanks, Chrissie
      xx

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  8. Love the wreath it looks very professional.

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    1. To be fair, most of it was prepared by the pro, wasn't it?
      I think I will go again next year though - it really was fun.
      xx

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  9. The wreath looks more than brilliant to me it looks fabulous and very striking! In comparison to my wreath making efforts, which incidentally I would never show off on my blog as it is awful, this is a dream! I'd love to have that on display on my front door :-). Enjoy. Amanda x

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    1. Aw - thank you so much, you are very kind. I bet yours is lovely too though.
      xx

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  10. Your wreath looks amazing, I can't see any faults from here at all. Although I did think the two cinnamon sticks on the left hand side were the legs of a Barbie-like doll hiding behind the bow and had to have a closer look!!

    I don't usually watch Strictly but I did catch a couple of the dances yesterday, they were indistinguishable from completely professional pairs.

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    1. ROFL - they do rather, don't they. lol!
      xx

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  11. 10/10 for your first attempt at wreathe making. It's brilliant!

    I'm not familiar with the Libera version of Carol of the Bells. I usually opt for Pentatonix but the Libera version is equally as good. I hadn't realised before reading up about them that Libera aren't actually a church choir but see themselves as an alternative boy band!

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    1. That's a lovely way of looking at what they are . . . they are very good, aren't they?
      It was pretty much 50-50 which version I posted to be honest.

      And thank you for the kind words. xx

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  12. The wreath is fabulous. Take a bow...the kind where you bend at the waist. :)

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    1. < chuckle > As opposed to the bow I learned how to make!
      Consider my waist bent! And thank you. xx

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  13. When I saw the picture of your wreath, before knowing you had made it, I thought to myself how nice it looked. You did a terrific job in making the wreath!

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    1. That's so kind, t5habnk you very much. I'm obviously a bit too pernickety!
      Actually, I do really like it I can just see where I could improve it - but that's part of the creative process, I guess.
      xx

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  14. Oh Joy, that wreath is beautiful and you should be rightly proud of it. Can I ask how you have attached it to the door?

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    1. Brown twine, fixed to the metal wreath ring and tied onto my door knocker - you can't see it for all the greenery. So no one can use the door knocker but what are bells and knuckles for?
      Thanks, Cherie. xx

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  15. The wreath is really beautiful! You did a lovely job.

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. It does look nice on the door.
      xx

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