Glowing

Lights glowing in windows, and at dusk are one of my favourite sights. Here are some I collected on my walk the other day.

Beachcombing ladder tree, soapy dough and 8th December

Today's door is the snowman card that Timi made today-I like its little quif! Yesterday's door-the second one, was a felt head from here-and it reminds me of Father Christmas, and a porcelain Jesus from here-the two men with beards who are related to Christmas!

Christmas fete tomorrow-and the nativity-going quite well-has its funny moments, like the grumpily sweeping Mary! Very sweet! My contribution to the fete is playdough-the children and I made lots of it yesterday and today, and I have packaged it into plastic cups-two colours in each with a sparkly triangle (tree) on top and a recipe taped to the cup.

It is called 'soapy dough' and makes lovely deeply coloured dough. The recipe is-two cups flour, half cup salt, two table spoons of poster paint, one tablespoon of liquid soap-I used washing up liquid but it is nice to use a lovely smelling soap, and one cup of water. Then just mix until combined, get your hands in there and squish it all together, adding more water or flour as necessary. It keeps for about a week in the fridge in a food bag or airtight container. It is lovely, as you can make the colours bright, and do things like make a rainbow of play dough or try colour mixing using it. It is cheap and easy!

Below is my ladder tree-I bought the ladder in the summer in Rye. I really like it to display things on and thought it would make a good tree substitute. It is really a beachcombing and woods scavenging tree, as most of its decorations are from the beach or woods. There are bones, stones, seed heads, shells, twigs and cones. It also has two little doilies (from Linda Sue) and a couple of sprigs of holly. It has one silver necklace and some safe nightlights (the battery kind) The paper chain is the one from my trimmings and the things at the top are my face candle shades. Cassie likes the bones near the bottom-they swing around in a way that interests her!

You may have to enlarge the picture as it has come out really small!

I love lights, and get even more than normal out at Christmas.

These are snowball lights. The have a soft glow that I like.

The tapestry is Andy's from his family-I love the colours and faded grandeur of it.