Thursday 19 November 2015


Our local 'fancy goods' shop has dressed its windows for Christmas.  Yesterday afternoon friend W and I went in to have a look at the special things they have in for Christmas (and to have a coffee in their lovely cafe upstairs - and to resist the cake).

It is a bit early to put on such a display but when I complimented the lady on her window displays she said they had specially done them early before a lot of the attractive stuff had been sold.   It is easy to get things out of the window so there is no problem. 

It has certainly made our little town look festive.   Inside the shop one of the attractive features is that they have a lot of glassware and crystal and these displays have been fitted with small lights which reflect around the shop.

We certainly came home full of the Christmas spirit.   Then I unwrapped the puds I had made and steamed overnight.   They seem to have shrunk a bit and I am not altogether happy with them, so I am now off into town to buy another small bottle of rum and a small white loaf for more breadcrumbs and then I shall make one more large pudding for our Boxing Day gathering.   The farmer and I might cheat by eating one of these smaller puddings before the big day.  There is always advantage to be gained from adversity if you know where to look.

19 comments:

Heather said...

I think your quality control system for the Christmas puddings is very sensible! Love the festive window even though I don't really want to think about Christmas yet. However, I bought my cards almost two months ago from a charity catalogue.

Dawn said...

I love to see window displays, we always use to do our shop window the week running up to the lights being switch on in town, we used to keep the window covered until the day, there was a competition every year run by the council for the best window display, we had a couple of seconds, the flower shop won every year :-)

Elizabeth said...

Yes, the window certainly is lovely and cheery. Animal themes seem to be popular this year.
I wonder if your rain has cleared up a bit?
Still no frost here - and very little rain.
Thanksgiving next week which is something to look forward to.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Christmas is out in full force in our stores. They are also playing Christmas carols for you to listen to while you shop. Basically, they wait for Remembrance Day on the 11th to be over, then the stores begin their Christmas season. I do like the white animal display you have shown. -Jenn

donna baker said...

Love to see the decorating. I don't think I'll have time this year, but don't want to disappoint the kids and grands so will drag out a few things and try a live tree this year to plant in the garden in spring. Could it have been the mustard you added to the batter? That's a joke Pat. I saw it on The Vicar of Dibley once while everyone pretended the cake was good. It was so funny.

Joanne Noragon said...

How clever to dress her window while there was more than enough stock. It looks lovely.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

I'm an odd one, I won't "do" christmas until first December. Black Friday can rack off, as the Aussies would say.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Seems so far that everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit - no-one has said 'Bah humbug' yet! No Tom, don't be tempted.

Wilma said...

The White Christmas window display is very lovely. Today is "Garifuna Settlement Day" here in Belize, which celebrates the arrival by dugout canoes of the Garinagu "Black Caribs" after their exile from St. Vincent in the Grenadines in 1832. The celebration is a very big deal in Belize, but once the week-long activities are over, the massive buildup for Christmas will begin with decorations and music everywhere. Belizeans love a holiday!

Derek Faulkner said...

Sorry Pat, but you teased me out - I think I'm going to be greatly out-numbered here - but I hate Christmas and have done so for many, many years. To me it simply means short daylight hours, dark and cold days and sheer commercialisation.
Wilma is in the best place to enjoy Christmas, I've always fancied sitting on a hot, sunny beach on Christmas Day.

Rachel Phillips said...

I am sorry but it is not just Tom (if you say so Weave) or Derek, I do not like to see Christmas decorations and the shops like this in November. For me Christmas starts on Christmas Eve. I can appreciate if you have to bake cakes and make puddings it is necessary to start now but the rest of it I pretty much hate and it feels all wrong.

angryparsnip said...

It is early especially for us Americans who still have Thanksgiving next week. But I just love the windows.
All the little animals are darling.
When the dark days come all the sparking lights that go up on the houses just make the evening so pretty.
I like my tree to go up first or latest second week in December. Then you get to enjoy all the lights every evening.
We even drive around our neighborhoon one evening and look at all the lights on the houses.
Such a cherry time.
I think this Christmas will be so nice and needed, as I have been so sick all year and with Gud Dug Watsons death , all the lights will make everything just a little bit nicer.

You live in a wonerful village.
cheers, parsnip

Doc said...

I don't mind window decorating but play Christmas music before December in the first week and I will turn and leave.

Cro Magnon said...

Lady M's making her cake today.... I shall keep well away from the kitchen.

My supermarket has huge garlands hanging from the ceiling already, and the shelves are filled with tons of festive chocolate stuff; all far to early in my view.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I would be hoping for further adversity; it's always seemed unfair to only have such delicious pud only once a year.

Derek Faulkner said...

New Years Day and the Easter eggs start going on the shelves, especially as Easter is early next year. What an impatient population we are these days.

Anonymous said...

Bit early for me to enjoy too much Crimble stuff yet, but if the weather turns as predicted that feeling will probably change! Enjoy your puds :o)

The Weaver of Grass said...

I may have given the wrong impression here. I do not 'do'Christmas until the week in which Christmas Day falls, but presents (and I only buy a few -my grandchildren all get gift tokens, the easy way, puddings and cakes (I make three as presents ) have to be done well in front to mature. Some presents (like a small gift to those who have been especially kind to us over the year) need wrapping - not my strong point.
Thanks for sharing your views on the festive season.

Terry and Linda said...

What beautiful windows! It's starting to look a lot like Christmas there.

Linda
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