dashing about...

 

...'cause Christmas is nearly here and I still have a ton do do! How about you? Every year at about this time, I tell myself that in the coming year I will start my Christmas preps earlier, but then when November rolls around, it always seems too early for me to start... Perhaps I feel a bit under the gun at the moment because, instead of decking the halls at home last weekend, I was away in Portland, Oregon, to watch our oldest, Stefania, play in a soccer tournament; it was all great fun and, while we didn't do a lot of shopping (too many people and queues for me!), I did pick up the snow globe you see above... What do you think? I love snow globes, but this is the first one I've ever bought because I always find the ones I see around a bit "over the top"; perhaps I should just make one... Hmmm, maybe next year!

 

I thought I would be able to post more often in this leadup to Christmas but, as usual, I've underestimated how much time it takes me to get ready for the big event! I do have a fair amount of food still to prepare as we have our close friends over for Wigilia, which is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland when we eat yummy things like barszcz (beetroot soup) with uszki (mushroom ravioli), pierogi, herring, makowiec (poppy cake), and then I also make a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas day for our family. Of course, there are still lots of cookies to bake which I'm off to do as soon as I finish writing this little post and, while our tree is up, we still have the rest of the house "to deck" and, yes, there are gifts to wrap... Speaking of gifts, what do you think of the vintage Christmas wrap I picked up recently at a local thrift shop?... I bought it because it brought back memories of Christmas pasts for me, but I still have to figure out how I'll use it because I do think it's too precious to wrap gifts in!

I was hoping to show you a few new pillowcases before Christmas, but I don't think I will have them done in time; more than likely, I'll share them with you right after Christmas and before the New Year, one of my favourite weeks of the year because it feels so re-e-e-estful compared to the pre-Christmas frenzy... I did however have time to make up a few pillowcases in a style I made two Christmases ago (definitely one of my all-time favourites) and I've listed them in my Etsy shop. In case you may also be wondering, I am also still working on my patterns and I'll update you on my progress right after Christmas.

I do have to run now because I can hear my oven timer going off, so thanks for popping by and I do hope you are enjoying this time of year, albeit a bit crazy for some of us!...

 

Comments

[krissie]

Wow~ so nice to hear that someone else is having Wigilia too! I have been reading your blog for a long time now and didint realise you were of a polish background too!

I made 90 pierogi the other day - it was quite labour intensive! I bought the fish and sledzie and also a makowiec for dessert!

Enjoy yours and wesolych swiat!

[Alessandra]

have fun in this cagy time!!!!!
xxxxx Ale

[jooles]

Hello!
It is crazing what we have to fit in this time of the year, I hope you catch up and feel same calm very soon x
All the Polish food sounds amazing!
pretty Christmas pillow case.
Wishing you and your lovely family a magical Christmas~time
love jooles x x x

[Sarah]

You can't tempt us with treats like mushroom ravioli and not include a recipe! :D Have an amazing Yuletide and enjoy all of the lovely treats this time of year has to offer!

[Angela-Southern USA]

I'm the same, Christmas rolls around the same time, every year, but I just can't seem to start soon enough. Will we ever learn?!My hooks are smokin' trying to finish in time, and the oven seems to be running non stop! Love the snow globe and pillow case! A thought, or two for the wrapping paper, decoupage some sort of ornaments with them, cover some re- usable boxes perhaps, a stack in those would be pretty (the blues and greens could be out all year). Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

[Anna]

Merry christmas!

[Carol]

Hope you are enjoying your Wigilia celebration this evening.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Carol xx

[Taciana Simmons]

So interesting to hear that you were right here in Oregon. I live in portland, OR and it would've been so nice to meet you ... If you ever come back maybe you could have a few minutes and we could meet ? We are also avid soccer fans. My husband coaches my soms's HS team and we are going to Brazil for the World Cup this next year ( my family lives there). ... Well maybe next time ... :) I love your work and love the pillow cases.
Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas !!!!
( I'm one of your followers and fans) :)

[Sharrieboberry]

I hope to use the busyness of making stuff at Christmas, after Christmas, to make stuff for next year. I do like working on projects this time of year which isn't logical! There is plenty of things that I need to do that keep me busy at Christmas!