This is the first of my Christmas posts…Sorry but some things have to be made sooner rather than later if we are going to have the greenest most recyclable Christmas ever…
After all, there are only… 1,193 hours to #Christmas! 71,526 minutes to #Christmas! 4,291,535 seconds to #Christmas! at this moment in time… or quite simply put 50 sleeps.
This year I am going to make crackers and an advent calendar…My crackers could be a problem as no one ships here they are classed as explosives by customs…I have found a tutorial which means stripping down those champagne poppers which could work…I think I will enlist the help of my grandson and let you know or if you don’t hear from me he has blown us up…haha…
For those of you who can purchase cracker snaps through Amazon or Etsy here is a tutorial…
Fir cones…we used to collect lots as a child and then they were made into pretty table decorations, wreaths for the front door or decorations for the tree they look so pretty spray painted or sprayed with artificial snow, unfortunately, I cannot get them here but for those of you who can then…Have fun creating and please share your pictures…
Homemade advent calendars…again something which I cannot get here or get easily…One year I can last year I couldn’t so this year I am going to make my own…
This video has some great ideas and even for your pets…
I hope you find some good ideas here…If we all started to make our own recyclable decorations, it would save us money and so much unwanted plastic and paper ending up in landfill…The figures are horrendous…It also makes them so much more personal …Just think how much pleasure they will bring and how much fun you will have finding that special little gift…
Lastly, just in case you missed it and haven’t made your sweet mincemeat yet here is the recipe again…
Don’t forget… on the 21st of November…Stir–up Sunday‘, so put on your apron and gather family or friends to make a Christmas pudding. It’s the day when wishes are said to come true, so get stirring! Christmas is approaching, and to us, that means one thing: Stir–up Sunday.
That’s all for today I hope you enjoyed it and if you have any ideas please share ..Tomorrow it is Saturday Snippets…please join me for a touch of nostalgia…xx
Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a lovely weekend xx
Why can’t you have things sent at all? It seems a pity. Maybe you can get a replacement for those pine cones with a local plant. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t found anything yet.. It is what it is here.. Christmas is not celebrated I live in a Buddhist country.. But I do what I can.. And they do party poppers so we should have a crack/bang to our crackers..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
LikeLike
Enjoy your exciting preparations for holidays, dear Carol!
LikeLike
Oh, I will I have my checklist and ticking it off as I go …lol xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, and I have my head and my grandchildren who are the most reliable reminders.
LikeLike
Pingback: Christmas…Treats, Traditions and Trivia! Part 2… | Retired? No one told me!
Thank you, Carol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: CarolCooks2 weekly roundup…31st October-6th November 2021…Culinary A-Z, Fig and Sweetmincemeat Recipes, Music and Fire Ants……… | Retired? No one told me!
thanks for puttint me in a festive mood!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, Jim the time will fly 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
the last two years seem to be a blur…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t they just and who would have thought two years later and now it could be 3…x
LikeLiked by 1 person
let’s hope not…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never made my own crackers, but it might be fun to do with the kids!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The kids love it…I’m sure your grandchildren will, Dorothy and you can personalise the little gifts in them 🙂
LikeLike
Interesting ideas for Christmas Carol. Loved the ideas for homemade calendar 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sowmya xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
HI Carol, I do some of these same things. I’ve always enjoyed making Christmas crackers but I’ve never put bangers inside. I don’t like loud noises. I also make decorations from pine cones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the homemade ones as you can personalise them.. I do love the bang though its only like sandpaper rubbing together i’ve been thinking of doing a little experiment with the kids.. smile..
LikeLike
Inspired to make advent calendars for my rescue cats Moon Pie, Bug, and Potato!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely they will love that with tasty treats I adore the names 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, thanks! I struggle with naming cat and they always end up with multiple names. (Dang you, T.S. Eliot! *shakes fist* Ha!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Different and quirky..I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the article and the featured items. A fun and informative read. Keep them coming. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank so much I am pleased you enjoyed the read 🙂
LikeLike
No decorations or tree for us this year as we will be using the lounge for all out boxes currently in the last room that needs to be decorated… but there will be mince pies…♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe have it in the garden if there is somewhere sheltered with a plug we did that one year or just outside your front door 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too wet I think Carol… but we will be fine… a glass of mulled wine or two will put us in the spirit..lol.xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it will, Sally and yes I was forgeting all about the rain….Hugs xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: CarolCooks2…Weekly roundup…Chocolate, Health, Recipes …Week ending 10th Nov 2019… | Retired? No one told me!
I love this! Bring on Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Carly 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Carol,
Some great ideas… I am particularly tempted by the ‘Beer Advent Calendar’… I am sure I should be able to pull that one off in Vietnam, maybe not in the classroom though…
Lieve
LikeLiked by 2 people
HAha…maybe you could sub the beer with something else a tad more suitable and keep the beer for after class…..Caz xx
LikeLike
Hi Carol! So many great Christmacy ideas! I believe I will try to make the Christmas Calendars.. I love your being always so sensitive to environmental Issues!!! #SeniSal
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi…Thank you…Please share if you make them we would all love to see it 🙂
LikeLike
Aren’t crackers something that you eat with veggie spreads or pulverize to make a pie crust? Just kidding, dear Carol!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Haha…we do eat crackers with cheese but yes both are called crackers…like me at times a bit crackers…:) xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
There are also Florida crackers; those are descendants of guys who cracked whips over the backs of plantation workers…
LikeLike
Oooo!! DIY CRACKERS!! I need to do this for my mother in law. She buys crackers for EVERYTHING!! I mean, literally… It doesn’t even have to be a holiday. She has a stockpile of them somewhere so sometimes it like “Tuesday night?? Everyone needs crackers!!” (she may be a bit crackers, herself. 😉)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha… If she loves crackers that much she would love a personal one and I am sure you could make it just awesome.. X
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesome AND hilarious! … At least to me! 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s it then..Cracker making for the mother in law in earnest…:) x
LikeLike
Loved every aspect of this story but one: only 49 days to Christmas?????? Eek!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha..a sad fact of life, John and one nobody can change 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we used to make pine cones decorations, as a child. Advent calendars are fun, but homemade would give pleasure twice!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think so too…I am going to give it a go 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
So pleased to see your Christmas feature back, Carol.
I only ever buy advent calendars that are fully recyclable. Fortunately, many are, although I understand that some naughty people will still put them in black binbags that go to landfill after they’ve finished opening all the windows.
I can’t help but buy Christmas decorations every year. Even though we have enough, I always end up finding more I like. However, I now donate decorations I know I won’t use to local charity shops. That way, I know the money raised is going to a good cause.
Stir-up Sunday is always a big day in our house, although I don’t get involved (other than stirring the pudding mixture and making a wish).
I’m already looking forward to more posts in this feature.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Hugh…I always buy some new decorations and get out my Christmas kitsch which has come around the world with me…haha..I look forward to featuring your Christmas jumper again this year. Calendars and crackers is because I cannot get them here and the grandkids love them although I cannot get the snaps at the moment and not sure if I will as Amazon and etsy class them as explosives so won’t or can’t send them here but I might see if my son can send me some if not the crackers with have to be velcroed and then there won’t be a snap unless we dissect a champagne popper to make a snap which I am sure my grandson would love to do…haha…Good idea about donating decorations…Thank you for dropping by Hugh and leaving a comment 🙂 Have a great week 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can buy snaps on Amazon UK and try sending them to you. Let me know if it helps, Carol. I also saw that they are available on ebay.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cracker-Snaps-Money-Together-Christmas/dp/B017XPJW1M/ref=asc_df_B017XPJW1M/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375428856852&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8996921517530108065&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045398&hvtargid=pla-843863245084&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=83648335824&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375428856852&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8996921517530108065&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045398&hvtargid=pla-843863245084
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll check ebay Hugh, Thank you to see if thewy deliver here most companies won’t …Thank you for your kind offer,Hugh if I can’t find a way I will let you know…Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person