Poncetastic Christmas 2024

[StiffyByngsDogBartholomew]

@vivajen hasn't posted on MN for a year so I've taken the bull by the horns. I can't wait any longer !
Wherever you are, Fellatio, here's to you. I hope you're brining a turkey and had crafting authentic organic woven tinsel somewhere.
"OK, first of all, I know it's still September by we need to start this thread now because as you all know, having a truly Poncetastic Christmas involves precision planning, strategy, bravery, heroics, and frequently martyrdom.
So, if you, like me, actually want to make the next twelve weeks of your life a misery by hand-crafting your cards, finding a huge bucket for Nigella's turkey in brine, pickling pears, shrivelling oranges in a low oven for those rustic au naturel decorations, dragging half a holly bush back from the woods, and just generally being a smug annoying jobs worth ponce, join me on this thread.
Feel free to post photos of previous tree-trimming, cake icing or table centrepiece triumphs, discuss this year's bauble colour themes, debate the merits of Delia versus Gordon, road-test a selection of canapés and cocktails, (all in the line of duty) and link to lovely inspirational photos/craft ideas for a truly Poncetastic Christmas.
Warning: If your idea of a good Christmas involves Pizza, ITV, gravy granules or anything with 'Aunt Bessie’s' on the packet, this is not the thread for you".

🎄🎄🎄🎄

One (mini) tree is up. For the first time ever, we are going to be a two tree household.

The mini tree is only about 40cm tall, sits on a bookcase, and holds all of the precious ornaments that DH and I have collected over the years. The ones that are neither cat nor baby proof.

The normal tree will go up, hopefully later today, and has cheap, shatterproof ornaments that I won’t cry over if children or fur children climb the tree or knock it over.

First Christmas card written today for a friend who is visiting for lunch.

The Advent Calendar is filled and up. I've also been to DD1's and filled hers.

Excited today.
I can get the advent box in and start setting it up . Also a group of us who are separated geographically have a WhatsApp group and each day we light a mini candle and share a photo and our thoughts with the group it’s a time of quiet reflection for me. Last night DH sang in a village church lit

cconly by firelight and candles. The songs were interspersed with old local readings and lore. Truly magical and good food and company to boot!
Artisan craft fair this morning, wreath making this afternoon and dancing and photoshoot to show off our very kindly funded new petticoats!

Advent calendar is filled and the first box opened (it held a clue leading to a can of snow spray)
my aunty made it for me in 1983 and its been in use pretty much from then until 2007 when I got married and left home til I started using it again around 5 years ago. So 41 years :). It's a total pain in the bum filling it and concocting 4 line rhyming clues but I wouldn't have it any other way :)

And for the first time ever I actually remembered the calendar I got for Dh, filled it and put it up. It's all just mini choccies, today he's got a Cadbury Christmas pud
please excuse the mess of my garden post-storm that I have yet to sort out !

dd and I are off Christmas shopping shortly then Dh and I are getting the tree this afternoon. I've got camemberts to bake for a tree trimming evening and pigs in blankets :)

The wreath is now on the door!

It's been laying on the garden path keeping cool and damp since I made it, so has managed to stay fresh, thankfully.

Wreath.

My wreath is homemade but a bit different :)

I love that, @StiffyByngsDogBartholomew!

Loving the wreaths. Unfortunately DH didn't bring enough greenery home to do the banister garland and a wreath so I make not be making one this year.

I'm not poncey enough for a ponce-tastic Xmas, though I love this thread! But I do make my own wreath from stuff from the garden (nicked the variegated ivy from the neighbours' though ) so this is my one contribution!

Front porch done

@Peridot1 Oh very pretty! We do not have a nice entrance at all. Our “front” door is round the back so we always use the kitchen door.
I have porch envy!

Me too @Trumpton ! @Peridot1 your porch looks so welcoming!

Oh @Peridot1 how lovely, I too have porch envy! I don't really have a front door either so I usually put my wreath the gate and hope no-one nicks it!

Thanks all. The porch does lend itself to looking pretty with not much effort! Can’t take credit as it was like that when we bought it.

Calling all Paperwhite Narcissus growers!

Today we start feeding the bulbs with alcohol.
Use a white spirit (I use gin) and dilute it 1:7. Carefully tip away any water in the container if you can and replace with the dilute mix. This will reduce the height of the stems so they don’t flop whilst not affecting the blooms.
My shoots are very tall already so I am going to leave them in the cool porch until I get back from my trip on the 8th then will move them into the warm.

Thanks @Trumpton

Checking back in. I didn't leave mine somewhere cool so they are flowering already but are in a very tall vase so are adequately supported

Mine are also flowering and are beautiful but I did a second round after the tips from @Trumpton so fingers crossed they'll be ready for christmas.

I have tree number one up in the dining room. Normally we only have lights on it but as it's our cat's first Christmas I've put a few tester baubles on it.
This way I can see if she's likely to wreck the real tree going up next week in the living room.
I also have a nearly two year old DD so I'm not hopeful 😂

The first one of my Christmas felt gingerbread decorations is finished and the outstanding mint felt sheet arrived today so it's all looking like an imminent end to that project

Gorgeous gingerbread decoration!

That's gorgeous and I have a lot of brown felt to use up, so I may replicate your idea. Possibly sounds daft, but I hate using felt for shapes like gingerbread men or baubles for example. So much wastage. I like the fact that there wouldn't be quite so much waste with a house shape 😊

@Peridot1 what a gorgeous porch . Seriously envious , it looks like something from Country Living !

I have finally managed to get the last two cakes made . What with retiring at Christmas , and having to do exit interviews and leaving do’s and what not , and then SIL announcing her attendance , I’m am seriously running out of time. Luckily have found 4 extra identical dining chairs on Facebook , so all I have to do is a quick (hahaha ) trip to IKEA after work tomorrow to get new seat covers and I’ll have a dozen matching chairs.

Hall is painted , stair carpet went up today, so the hall is now a blank canvas for poncification . Am leaning towards a Nigella-esque fairy light effect, but DH is pondering the merits of LED lights . Discussions continue!