Woooooooahhhhh, we're half way there! Countdown to Christmas 2026 (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

183

Phew, it's a scorcher!

Happy birthday to 70's DD. Best date for a birthday ever!

I love decorating our canopy! Fairy lights galore! Have fun with the planning.

I just got 25m of lights (that is just the lights, not the lead too) for £15. And a little pre-lit tree as well.

Garland and baubles next!

136

Morning!

Dare I say it (sorry to all those still suffering heatwave conditions)...the early mornings are feeling a bit autumnal now. The sun is lower and the light has a different colour to it, plus the overnight chill is still there when I'm out with the dog. It was lovely and cool today!

We have a few hotter days coming this week, but the nights aren't terribly hot alongside, thankfully.

Is anybody else being made to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to see the alignment of the planets? DS wants to see them.

I didn’t know about the alignment, I’m more interested in seeing the meteors but will look up the timing.

I was thinking I can begin to feel the turning of the season. I’m feeling very september-ish. I didn’t realise people set new years type goals at september. I’m thinking that might work for me.

im trying the artists way, it’s a book that you follow for 12 weeks to help tap into your creativity. I have to write three pages every morning of ramblings and thoughts. I think it’s helping me have more focus for the day. i need to add in a thought about Christmas planning. I did all my glazing of finished pottery yesterday so will fire the kiln today. And I’m going to make the first of my charcuteries and start thinking about luminaries that I could make as gifts.

We're doing the bloody meteors too. 😴 I'm gonna be dead on Thursday. 🤣

Your gift ideas sound lovely.

Actually @NoWordForFluffyeven here where we are still in pretty tropical heat till Thursday. Yesterday evening felt autumnal and I could smell it in the air (husband thinks that is a bit weird) but I can.

I can smell the recycling centre on fire 🤣🫣

I start my new job on Thursday and I just got an email with my staff discount. They do a Christmas launch event for members every year with 20% off, and then I’ll get my 25% staff discount. So I’m going to buy us new fairy lights for the front of the house! I want gutter lights too.

Please, please send rain our way. Hosepipe ban and in draught. Garden is dead. We are having building work done and consequently new patio has to be paid - digger and skip in back garden. Will have to re-turf/seed lawn later in the autumn.

We did invest in a Veg Trug this year. Radish doing well, lambs lettuce is taking for ages may need to sew again. We have a few tomato plants in a poly greenhouse - they are still green.

Christmas present wise I pre-ordered PricklePapers Letter Magic for DGD which is due in September. I saw a String in a Tin for DH at an historic house which seem rather expensive so will check local garden centre, should fit in the stocking.

And in case you didn't get the message - please please send rain

Awww, that's lovely for you! Hope your new job is everything you hope for!🌺

Apparently if it's too hot it stops tomatoes ripening. Take them inside and place with banana and they'll come good!

I remember when DD1 worked at Hobbycraft. They had a couple of days when they were allowed to buy with a good discount around the beginning of December. It cost me a fortune. I'm still working my way through the card stock I bought - she left about 6 years ago

Good luck - hope it all goes well

@FurForksSakeA recycling centre was on fire locally to me last night and everywhere smelt of smoke.

@whydoesitalwayshappentome I wonder if we live in the same area or roundabouts?

Sounds like we might unless there are loads of recycling plants on fire.

Oooh thank you, I shall try that

I have black tomatoes I need to harvest but as I didn’t plant the seeds I don’t know how big they are supposed to get!

135

We're watching the news about the eclipse on TV , not brave enough to venture out .
I need to put water out for any garden visitors

When it was the 1999 eclipse , I heard unborn DS heartbeat for the firstt time ( midwife appointment) Aaaahhhh

We went out to watch. It was a bit dull waiting for it! We had the special glasses and they were great. 👓 🌒

I don't remember where I was for the 1999 one, 70. I'm sure I would if I'd had that kind of experience though!

I had newborn DD2 in 1999. MIL was visiting and we made a pinhole camera for DD1.

I know where I was, my parents were away, I was 17 and I had my boyfriend over 🤣

Anticlimactic here, too cloudy. I was 13 for the last one and don't remember it at all!

134 Didn’t get to see the eclipse from here, we’re in a valley and sun had gone down behind the mountain before it.

I remember the 1999 one though. I was 14ish and snuck away with my then boyfriend to watch up at the top of the local mountain whilst having a cuddle. Very romantic 😂

Also, proud to say this trip has added 3 new baubles to the collection as we’ve been to 2 new towns and 1 whole new country.

Even prouder to say that I mentioned something about Christmas, DH rolled his eyes and said ‘not Christmas, it’s too early’ in a funny voice to LO and as a result, LO has decided the funniest thing in the world at the minute is to do one of 2 things:

1. ”Daddy, guess what? Merry Christmas”
2. Sing Jingle Bells very very loudly - this is the best as he doesn’t actually know the words so just sings ‘jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells the way’ over and over

While we were on a hike last week my 13 year old started belting out a Christmas song, he told me it’s fine because we are in the Christmas end of the year.