Sunday 18 December 2011

Coming Soon

Today was cold. The windscreen of my car was frozen solid with ice and it was a bit 'mind as you go' on the cobbled yard outside the back door. But the winter sunshine was so nice and there was a light dusting of snow on the top of Middletown Hill so hence my header ..... I am feeling so much brighter than I did yesterday and loving those vibes you sent over. And the realisation that the day after the day after tomorrow will be the shortest day on our little part of the planet. Just think, slowly but surely, bit by bit, the days will start to lengthen again and then the spring and all the bulbs and the seed sowing. I've noticed some green daffodil shoots poking through already. Time soon to start preparing the soil in the poly tunnels for next year's crops.


The seasons have been a bit mixed up this year.


Still got a rose in the front garden, battling the elements


And a basket of pansies holding out.


And a Christmas poinsettia brightening up the window sill

My friend Becky was asking , 'What's a cracker?' 'Is it something you eat?' I never realised how hard it is to describe something to someone who's never seen one if you know what I mean. It's a bit like ....... A Christmas Cracker is a cardboard tube covered in brightly coloured foil. Inside the tube is a paper hat a small plastic (or more expensive) dinky little present and a motto written on a small piece of paper. There is also also a  thin strip of cardboard from one end of the cracker which makes a cracking sort of noise when both ends of the cracker are pulled. The person who has the biggest end wins the present.



 (Grubby fingernails not mine)


And the motto says
Q. What do you get if you cross a stereo with a refrigerator?
A. Cool music.

Well Becks - you did ask.
Happy Christmas xx




12 comments:

  1. we always had crackers (we called them snappers) for New Years....and everyone wore those stupid hats.

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  2. Pretty funny. I was just thinking about you...how's hubby?

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  3. I have seen Cracker for sale a few times but never fully understood them so thanks for the explanation to this American gal.

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  4. Love your header photo. I think a cat in the laundry basket is far worse than one in the weed bucket!!!!
    Cold enough for a fire here yesterday. Should improve later in the week.

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  5. Love the header photo. I agree Mother Nature sure has been a little weird this year, it is supposed to be Summer here and we are still wearing Winter clothes.

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  6. Q. Which is the richest country in the world?

    A. Ireland; because it's capital is always Dublin.

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  7. Isn't it funny how you never notice dirty fingernails until you post pictures of them up on the WWW? (at least, that's what my G.P. friends tell me)

    When is a door not a door? When it's ajar. (A JAR - GEDDITT??)

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  8. We have a rose in bud on the balcony. The bud is not opening though, think the frost has put it off.

    Yes, it is hard to explain Christmas crackers, Americans seem to think it is a sort of biscuit.

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  9. My wife was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.
    She was not happy with what she saw and said to me.
    "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly.
    I really need you to pay me a compliment."
    I replied, "Your eyesight's perfect."
    !!!!
    Now, that's a 'Cracker!
    (Frank Carson).
    They are also biscuits aren't they?
    Cream Crackers.
    Then there is "Animal crackers in my soup."
    Who sang that, I can't remember?
    I think this is a subject for a whole blog post. :)

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  10. I will resist a comment about 'the person with the biggest end' Molly.

    It ain't me anyway LOL!

    Glad you're feeling a bit brighter. I'm sure everything will be OK.x

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  11. When we were growing up and spent Christmas at my Grannys in Linconshire, my wealthy uncle would come with crackers from Harrods. Inside there were gorgeous costume jewelry pieces, pen knives, those little games with balls...all of wonderful quality. I liked the crackers more than anything because they were so extravagant and something my parents could never afford. I've had crackers since with lovely little votive candles with lids...someone should start making crackers with wonderful trinkets...

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  12. Now I remember what a "cracker" is. We always had them on New Year's when I was a child.

    How nice that Mother Nature gave you a gift of a rose in December. You must be special.

    I love your new header!

    Take care Molly.

    Arleen

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