Skip to main content

December - Christmas Challenge 2022

 When I saw the clauses for the Christmas Challenge (the monthly badge for December) I knew that I would be able to do it. 

Make a festive wreath: I made a ribbon wreath which I had seen advertised last year, and I bought the supplies this year - and supplemented them with ribbons from my own stash. I think I might end up adding a ribbon bow at the bottom of it - but it is fine to use as it is. I was surprised at how long it took to fill the wreath shape I had created, but it was quite relaxing and easy to do of an evening sat watching some TV.

Make a festive ornament. Our tree has several ornaments that I have made previously, and there was a suggestion with the ribbon wreath to use a single piece of wire to make a mini wreath for the tree - which I did. The ribbons on this wreath needed a little trimming. I went to put a hanging loop on it this morning, only to discover I’d done this when I’d put all the ribbons on!

Take part in Whamageddon: I did this previously and managed to get to about 4.30pm on Christmas Eve (back in 2019). This year I did fairly well - I entered Whamhalla at 8.32pm Friday 9th December. It was playing at our fostering agency Christmas meal. I had managed to avoid hearing it at 2 other Christmas meals that week, and hadn’t heard it in any supermarkets, nor on the radio (not that I listen to the radio that often these days).

Do a good deed for a stranger: I make quilts, and donate them to Project Linus - we have a Project Linus group that meets once a month. At the start of December I was able to hand over 4 quilts I had made, and our local Project Linus Coordinator took 100 quilts to our local hospital in mid December to comfort the children in hospital over Christmas.


Handmade at least one present: I made 6 quilts - for 6 of my grandchildren, who have recently had a change in circumstances and living arrangements, so I thought they could do with a Nanny hug!

Learn about the different celebrations that take place in December around the world: I chose to learn a out Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. It was interesting to learn about the menorah and the lighting of the candles - and about the types of presents given and food eaten. With Kwanzaa I was intrigued to see it is a comparatively recent creation, a specifically African-American holiday. It is also interesting to note that it’s popularity has been waning, and that white institutions celebrate it. I had considered looking at different Christmas traditions around the world, but I considered this a little too easy - as I seem to remember creating worksheets for language lessons at the end of term - I would out up signs around the classroom with information on them, and pupils had to go round to find the answers to the questions on their worksheets - I still have them in our home office, and I know exactly where to find them! I could mention Dinner for One, and St Nicholas, and using molten lead to tell the future…

Watch a least 3 Christmas movies: The Grinch, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Scrooged, The Muppets Christmas Carol, The Box of Delights - for me it isn’t really Christmas until I’ve seen these films!

Take part in a festive event: we attend a Christmas meal at the golf club each year, with several of our friends - this year one of our friends had 2 of his children there - and they had their children. On previous occasions there have been 4 generations of his family there; we had about 20 people there. Now this Christmas meal marks the start of Christmas for me. It takes place on the second weekend of the Whiskey Foursomes competition (which didn’t happen this year due to the weather - so there wasn’t the usual rush this year), and the Appledore Band come along and play carols for us - and our table always joins in. This year was no exception, and we were on fine form - noticing how the words in their song book differed from the words we’ve grown up with (and so know by heart) - in particular the words for O Come All Ye Faithful, which had been a bit modernised. I really can’t be doing with people messing around with the words to carols, changing them to a more modern version so I stuck to those I know (for which I don’t need a song sheet!). I had prepared for the carol singing, by learning the tune and the chorus for the Appledore Carol (Sweet Chiming Christmas Bells) - the verses are those of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night.

So - that is 8 clauses completed. We do have a gingerbread house ready to decorate, and I hope to make some mulled wine at the end of the week. I did attempt some lino cutting to make my own Christmas cards, but I wasn’t so happy with the result so didn’t end up sending them…next year maybe…


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Critic badge - Review of an Exhibition

  Being a quilter I like to go to local quilt exhibitions, as they can provide great inspiration for future projects. In August 2024 Little Stitches held an exhibition at Littleham. The group Little Stitches have been going since 2011; they meet on a Saturday at Littleham Village Hall once a month, and they have had around 50 members. They hold an exhibition fairly regularly, every 2 or 3 years - and I have attended most of them.  I attended the exhibition with the young adult who lives with us, on a Sunday - the exhibition was on for just 2 days. We received a warm welcome as soon as we walked through the door - helped by knowing the member who greeted us! Coming from North Devon and being a part of the quilting community, it is becoming increasingly common to see people I recoggnise. On entering the room where the quilts were exhibited, we came across the raffle. I bought tickets - I wasn’t lucky on this occasion - but never mind, as the money raised went to North Devon Agai...
Post a Comment
Read more

World Book Day 2025

  The World Book Day badge has a lot of appeal (like all of the monthly badges), and it was a little difficult to try to decide which clauses to do. However, I had to be sensible, and think about what I could realistically manage - and as reading is one of my ‘winding down’ activities at night, I knew I would struggle to get through lots of books.  The first book I read was ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck - a book on the banned reading list. I chose it as it is quite a short book. The language used in it about black people is one of the reasons it is on the banned list. Another reason is the depiction of what George does at the end of the story - which could be argued to be an act of love for his friend - the end result was always going to be the same, but George’s actions were perhaps a kinder way of doing it.  Another clause asked us to read a book which was then made into a film, then watch the film and compare. I chose to read ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ by Joh...
Post a Comment
Read more

Critic Badge - Review of an album

The album I’ve chosen to review by George Ezra - Staying at Tamara’s. I’m a bit late to the party as far as George Ezra is concerned. I knew that I would enjoy at least one of his songs, as it is one that I heard several times whilst chaperoning our local youth theatre show, and is a song that always makes me feel good - reminding me of happy times and the camaraderie of the group - how it was then (it is just as good now, but different!). The album is in general a feel good album - I’d happily listen to it on car journeys. Certainly the first five songs are quite bouncy - and have what I would call the ‘George Ezra vibe’. The feature that comes through in the first song is that lovely deep round sounding voice - I suppose some people may call it a dark brown chocolate voice. It sounds so rich - and reminds me of Rick Astley’s sound. Although the first five songs sound bouncy, there are some darker undertones - talk of anxiety, certain words that prompt some deeper thinking. It surpris...
Post a Comment
Read more