There has been a certain amount of cheating going on over the last week. Mrs J hasn’t quite been able to stay off the Christmas decorations.

Finally today it’s 1st Advent. So now she doesn’t have to sneak around with those candles any more and the outdoor lights can actually be turned on!

Mrs J loves Christmas. Sometimes she loves what comes before Christmas even more than actual Christmas. Religious aspects aside, of course. Preparing, cooking and looking forward to it is sometimes as important as the Christmas days and the Christmas meals themselves to Mrs J.

After all Advent has a lot going for it in itself. Gingerbread, glögg, Lucia, tree decorating, candle lighting…. to name a few things.

For now, it’s just 1st Advent. This year, Mrs J rolled up her sleeves to make her own Advent wreath. This involved a trip to the attic where Mrs J industriously collects bits and bobs that may come in useful.

A trip to she shop was still necessary to find some suitable candles. Surprisingly difficult to find good candles around here, unless you want the scented kind.

Then Mrs J stepped into the “garden” to get some green.

Snowspray on green. Looks cool.

Gerrit? Snow… cool…. oh never mind.

General assembly, with the help of some glue.

By this time Master C and Ms Crazypants had to be locked up. Their particular brand of help wasn’t required.

Turned out pretty well, if Mrs J may say so herself.