Make do and create

iPad Stand

T needed an iPad stand, so I suggested cutting out parts of a cardboard box used for transporting wine bottles. He has made a beautiful and effective stand. The second one was better than the first.

Because the screen is held about an inch above the table level there is space for a cable to be plugged in. He used some cross-bracing too. Cardboard is very light and has some give to it too.

Chocolate Advent Calendar

A few days ago T said he really wanted a chocolate advent calendar. For years I have been the puritan, just getting ones with openable pictures, no chocolate involved and only religious scenes. It was pretty much ignored last year, even by me, so I didn't get one this year.

So now I have done a 180 degree turn. I took the keys off the rack of key hooks in our kitchen. Then I knitted one little white and red Father Christmas stocking to hang up. I found 2 little foil wrapped chocolates to hide in there. One for T and one for H, both exactly the same.

Now I am knitting one sock a day to add to the calendar/rack and I have added the dates remaining until the 25th. Every night after the house is still I hang up the next stocking and fill it for the morning!

Advent Calendar 6 - Nativity Play

Good - I went to see the children's service and nativity in the next village.
Good - T and H went out and about taking photos in that village while I was busy.

Bad - Why do present discussions get me so riled?
Bad - Coffee keeps me up til 5am, if I had known I would have had another tomato juice.
Bad - A second present discussion went *badly*.

Good - Lots of paths for stomping along round here.
Good - Nice phone call with my parents.
Good - I did listen to a lot of soothing Radio 2 last night, I was one of the 3.46 (am) club.
Good - T and H are out at the cinema.

Advent Calendar 5 - Dinner Party

We had a change of plans last night and found ourselves with 4 boys round the table tucking into pizzas and having some lovely chat.

After that we used all the spare sparklers from 5th November. They burnt quite a few matches too, plus the plastic wrappers. I made comments/squeaks like 'watch your fingers' and 'keep it away from his hair' and they had a great time.

I cleared up the debris from the grass today in the day light. I love parties!

Advent Calendar 3: The Gateway

At our gateway there are some convenient tall stems of a shrub. I have hung a silver star and a beautiful Christmas tree bauble from them.

Since it is customary to put pumpkins out by the gate on Halloween I thought it might be fun to experiment with something Christmassy.

Advent calendar 2: The Crib

I put the crib up today. I like my 3 kings so they are there too.

There isn't an Advent Calendar 1, I just started this idea today!