I have been pondering over the ‘Advent’ part of Christmas in my head for a while now. Over the years I have done various things including these tiny old-fashioned advent calendars that contained no sweets at all just a different little Christmas picture each day when the window was opened. 
It was opening this Advent calendar that reminded me most of the anticipation I felt as a child and the delight of revealing a glowing candle or a decorated Christmas tree picture on peeling back the little doors – I thought they were the most wonderful and magical part of Christmas and I could hardly wait each day to see what the Christmas picture was going to be.
A truly simple pleasure.
Then one sleepless night recently I thought about all I wanted to do in the days before Christmas; all the things that generated the same excitement for me – which ideally is a mixture of simple Christmas pleasures, a few trips out and about to one or two festive towns and villages, and of course lots of crafts. To pace myself I hit upon the idea of using the daily advent as a way to ‘timetable’ the things that are both important and pleasurable for me to do.
For the calendar itself I decided upon some simple craft card (from a tiny pad I bought from The Range for £1) and stamped numbers on them in white or gold from 1 to 25. On the back I stuck a little ‘surprise’ activity of something pleasurable and Christmassy to do or make that day. 
Then placed them all on my photo stand.
Of course the activities couldn’t be a complete random surprise as I have had to work around days when we are in Scotland and my mum visits and other commitments – I also had to make sure I had all the bits ready to make the crafts – so a little planning had to be done. 
And so DH doesn’t feel left out I have individually wrapped some Amoretti biscuits as a little daily treat in some greaseproof paper decorated with a gold pen.
With all that in place, but not actually posted on my blog, imagine my surprise when I got home late last night and read Gillian’s post from Tales from a happy house (see my blog list at the side) where she has had an almost identical idea – and her little envelopes are so lovely. (If you are reading this Gillian I have left you a comment).
We are heading off to Scotland tomorrow and my Advent trail will begin from there on Saturday (I hope we have an internet connection) and each day I will do a quick post revealing the activity for the day and a few photos.
I hope you will join in and let me know of your pleasurable Christmas activities as we go along. Of course there is a chance that ‘events’ might steer me off course a little – you know how it is with the Christmas build up – but fingers crossed.
Welcome to my recent new followers – I try to post most days – apologies for lack of post and comments yesterday I went out to the pub last night! A lovely pre-Christmas gathering of old friends round a warm log fire.
wherethejourneytakesme2.blog 