African Vanielje on Dec 02 2007 at 4:04 pm | Filed under: Uncategorized
My mother’s house has always been a treasure trove for children. Countless corners filled with whimsy and every where you turn little vignettes designed to lead the imagination down paths hitherto unexplored. At Christmas time this all takes on a festive air as little nativity scenes spring up everywhere. Not for Kassie, look but don’t touch decorations. For her, it’s all about creating little pockets of magic that children (of all ages) can get totally lost in. At first glance the house may seem unchanged, but the children know to look for detail and are soon swept away in a world of Christmas fantasy, rediscovering old friends like the handmade felt and paper cutout advent calendar below
or the angel delivering baby Jesus from heaven, one day at a time.
And discovering new vignettes as well. Even the duck bookends get a festive ribbon.
Or this beautifully illuminated bible story which stands waiting to be read
over some hot milk and honey
and fresh baked mince pies, just before bed.
My nephew is already on summer holiday and traditionally the whole month of December is spent preparing for and celebrating Christmas, not only the birth of Christ, but a time of family togetherness, joy and thanks for our blessings.
I always find it a little strange in England, for although we have the weather and all the trappings of a Victorian Christmas which is the image we all grew up with, school doesn’t break up until a few days before Christmas and I struggle to find the time to fit in all the usual activities.
In fact, there is no time like the present. It is a miserable grey afternoon, all the lights are on, I am going to go and make some mince pies and get out our Christmas decorations so that we can start right now. I am the Queen of Procrastination, but not when it comes to something like this. Christmas is my most favourite time of the year and I am determined that my daughter find it just as magical as I always have.
Mince Pie recipe to follow…I promise
These pictures are amazing. Your mother’s house looks like a storybook house, indeed the perfect place for children. How welcoming, creative, colorful and lovely.
Today is my day for decorating, too. I want to clean our little house and make it welcoming for the holiday spirit. Your pictures have inspired me to fill it more creatively and with more whim.
Jeni, my mother is indeed inspirational, and tucked in amidst her antique Christmas decorations you will find every decoration ever made by the children in her life. Motheaten fir cones and salt dough baubles sit happily alongside cut glass and more adult sparkle. This is the magic of my mother, she always weaves everything into one harmonious whole.
You lucky, lucky thing! Care to share your Mum? I love the idea of house being a treasure trove for children, all whimsical and magic. I want to create all sorts of memories for my children and the idea of a house like that is just wonderful.
Lots of Things Happening in December, and We’re Also Cooking with Herbs!…
How did 2007 go by so quickly? It feels like I just looked up from the computer keyboard for a few seconds,…
Such beautiful decorations!
Amanda, thanks, she is pretty amazing. Patricia, they are lovely aren’t they. My mom always manages to combine the traditional with the contemporary.
I want to come and play at your mother’s house! In fact, I’m saving this so that when we get our kitchen redone, I can show Paolo what I’d like ours to look like
Sognatrice, I am equally envious. More so actually, because I know what comes out of that kitchen. You can’t see it in the photos but there is a shelf full of vintage biscuit tins. Whenever anyone comes into the kitchen they work their way over to the shelf within 3 minutes and start picking up the tins and shaking them to test if anything is inside. My mom always has a selection of fresh baked biscuits and it is hilarious to watch adults and chidren alike, opening tins until they find their favourite, or how their faces drop when they realise a tin is too light to contain anything. Most of them don’t even realise what they are doing, it is a deeply embedded subconcious Pavlovian response to my mother’s kitchen.
What gorgeous pictures! You are so lucky to have such a wonderful mom and such wonderful Christmas memories. And I agree – Christmas does not feel like CHristmas here because there isn’t that general holiday feeling that prevails back home. Kids aren’t on holiday, offices remain open between Christmas & New Year… it’s not the same!
What an inviting post. I love your Mum’s kitchen and the cat, plus I’m intrigued by the wine estate restaurant. Sounds fascinating. I want to unfurl the advent calender and have a little nosey around also. The mince pies are adorable and funnily enough I have the same tin fetish and experience with people wanting to explore them also. Unfortunatley with all of my moving around I don’t have the collection like I use to, but i love biscuit tins also and they are invariably tied with Christmas, cookies and my Mom also. ciao……
the cups, the cups are gorgeous and so are the pictures – you may be lucky to have her as a mom, but she is truly blessed to have you for a daughter – you really do her justice