Wednesday 1 December 2021

Wednesday: Advent day one

 Good morning, everyone!  December at last, Happy Advent (sort of)

After a pretty dull day yesterday, there was a lovely sunset so I rushed out to snap it.  We haven't had so many colourful sunsets recently so this was worth catching.

It felt considerably milder, thank goodness, but I worked out why I've been feeling colder than I should feel - one of the big radiators in the living room area was turned right down and, as they all have individual thermostats, it just wasn't warming up.  Doh!

I felt I got loads done.  Lots of bits and pieces, odds and ends, some clearing, some tidying, some garden stuff, plus some of the planned Goldster classes.

The minarette pear arrived and is now planted out.  I rather wished I had something in the nature of a partridge to put on it!  I sorted out the other two mini trees too so they should now be OK, fingers crossed.  It'll be interesting to see how they do next summer/autumn.

My Christmas build up has now started.  

The bedding is now in use and I think it looks lovely.







I will light the advent candle this evening.  Remember that candle holder, made in pottery a couple of years ago, pre pandemic?  Happy days!




Here's one of my Advent Calendars - did I mention I like candles?









And the other - the Jacquie Lawson online calendar for this year - I took a screen shot yesterday which is why the sky isn't right.  Now it is dark with twinkling stars.

I'll open day one when I've finished this.

Apart from all that self indulgence, I have started using my Christmas china with my first coffee of the day.  I was sorely tempted yesterday but behaved myself!

One more photo . . . 

Would you  believe tomatoes in December?  They may taste horrible, of course, we haven't had much sun to sweeten them.   I'm picking what I can today and the remaining plants go in the bin as there's a brown bin collection tomorrow.














The only other definite thing today is online personal; training with Lindsey.  I'm looking forward to that.

And finally - Advent music:

As I have done for a couple of years, I will be posting a link to some of my favourite Christmas music each day, usually via a YouTube link.
Most of them will be the same (although I'm not looking back) because a favourite carol or arrangement remains a favourite carol or arrangement.  
And I will apologise now for the adverts that you are almost certain to get at the start of each clip.  I can't do anything about them and even if I did pay for an advert free service (which I don't), there's no guarantee that they would link to advert free for you.  So - really sorry, just fast forward.

Today's is here because it just HAS to be.  The greatest Advent hymn I know - O come, O come Emmanuel.

This version is a most beautiful arrangement for piano and cello.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.



I also found this, a much more energetic, rocky, Celtic type rendition which I also absolutely loved.  It segues into something else half way through, just after the audience is invited to join in with the chorus.  I didn't watch beyond that so don't know if it goes back to 'O come' at the end; it might do


Two for the price of one.  :-)
(There's some lovely traditional versions on YouTube too, if you look)

22 comments:

  1. Good morning, Joy! And a happy first day of the month.
    I'm looking forward to enjoying your choice of music each day. X

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    1. Thanks, Jules. I do get a lot of enjoyment from posting the music every day and it is lovely that others like to share with me.
      xx

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  2. What a lovely beginning to the month. I so enjoyed the gentle music with my first coffee of the day. Happy december .Valx

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    1. Bit of a contrast between the two versions, isn't there? The cello version is so gentle and the Celtic so exciting.
      xx

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  3. I'm looking forward to your music selection to start my days.

    That second version would wake people up if they'd nodded off during the sermon! - It's brilliant
    (and no ads seen)

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    1. Oh, that's good (about the ads). Yes, it rather woke me up after the lilting of the cello version! :-)
      xx

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  4. What a lovely start to the Christmas countdown Joy. Let the festivities begin.
    I remember you making the candle holder and it is perfect with the new Advent candle.
    That is a beautiful carol to start us off, I think I have it down on my must play list for later in the month. Not sure when,as it is a surprise in my Advent calendar.
    Have a great day x

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    1. It looks lovely and I'm looking forward to lighting it later on.
      What a lovely idea - a carol playlist Advent calendar.
      xx

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  5. Let the festivities begin... I will look forward to seeing your choice of music each day. I blimmin love that candle holder and I coulduse 'air dry clay' is fluttering around the back of my mind. I know that I have some somewhere in my stash.

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    1. Yes, why not use air clay, it's good stuff. I look forward to seeing the results on your blog. :-)
      xx

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  6. That published before I was finished correcting the spacing..:-(

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    1. < grin > It takes over sometimes, doesn't it?
      xx

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  7. I am starting to feel both excited and panicked now. Love the choice of music. I was sent a surprise Advent yesterday - just a little card but it is so cute.x

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    1. How lovely is that. Little thing can really pack a punch, can't they? In a nice way . . .
      xx

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  8. Thanks for sharing the advent music.

    Good to hear you were able to sort out the pear trees--bet you could find a small partridge ornament to hang on one of them. I did a quick search online and found quite a few cute outdoor ones that weren't too expensive (etsy had some). Just a thought. :)

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    1. Thank you so much. I had a little look and found one. I was sorely tempted by some pears too but no!
      xx

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  9. We've had some lovely sunsets too. Don't think I've ever seen an Advent candle, although I do remember you having one last year as well. And tomatoes in December! xx

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    1. I always get an Advent candle but generally in the past they've been the usual candle shape with marks on the side. I saw a pyramid shaped candle at Hyde Hall and since then I've gone for that kind.
      I'm hoping to have the tomatoes today (Thursday) so fingers crossed they are OK.
      xx

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  10. I love both version of this carol and many thanks for introducing me to For King and Country in the second video. I've not heard of them before but love their style and have spent some time listening to some of their other music. xx

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    1. It's a great pleasure, Eileen. I like their style too.
      xx

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  11. Love this carol. Thanks for sharing.

    God bless.

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    1. It's a pleasure, Jackie. There's so much wonderful Christmas music about, isn't there?
      xx

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