Thursday 24 December 2009

Hoping for fair fancies



Events have, as they say, overtaken me over the last week or so, but I am sure that is a state which I share with very many, and be sure that I have been with you in heart if not in virtual reality.

So my last Pause in Advent for Floss has become a pause on the threshold of Christmas. But I have been reading Unplug the Christmas Machine (worth getting for next year if at this point you feel that you are in need of a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on), and thus I am actually feeling quite relaxed about presents unwrapped and shelves undusted.

Anyway it seems to have become one of our family traditions to wrap presents at the last minute on Christmas Eve - somehow it adds to the excitement, and it is the closest I will get to living on the edge.



The Head Chef and Princess Bunchy have taken over the kitchen and I am only required to admire and congratulate - I had hoped to bake some buns, but I know my place, and am happy to bow to greater skill.

So all that remains is for me to wish you all a very merry Christmas and leave you with one of my favourite Christmas poems. Dear old Thomas Hardy - a bit of an Eeyore, perhaps, but his way with words is wonderful, and his vision, though pained, is never less than percipient.




And with that I thank you all for your good counsel over the past months, and for your kind greetings, and in return wish you what you wish for yourselves.




The Oxen

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
'Now they are all on their knees,'
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
'Come; see the oxen kneel

'In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,'
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

1915

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)



52 comments:

whoatemycrayons said...

Have a wonderful christmas Pomona ad family, I am so glad I found you in 2009 and here's to more in 2010! x

Karen Lewis Textiles said...

What an amazing image, Pomona, of the washing reflection. Wishing you a very happy christmas. Karen x

Marigold Jam said...

I really must get hold of that book for next time! I often think I am the only one who doesn't really like Christmas and who can't remember one which didn't end in tears usually mine so it might be very helpful to me!

Love the photos you have used to illustrate your post and as Blueberry Park says especially the one of the reflections on the washing - no tumble drier there then!!!

Hope that your Christmas is just the way you would wish and look forward to more contact in 2010.

Jane x

dottycookie said...

Have a lovely Christmas; if you light enough candles and turn the ovcerhead lights off no-one can see the dust anyway - or at least that's what I'm banking on!

We have some last minute sewing and baking to do here accompanied by the Nine Lessons and Carols then it'll be teatime and champagne time and sleeping time :-)

...Nina Nixon... said...

...and a very happy Christmas to you and yours. Warm wishes for 2010 and hoping to meet up in the New Year.

take care and enjoy,

Nina xxxx

cathleen said...

Merry Christmas, Pomona...and I hope it's a magical one for you.

janie said...

Merry, merry, merry!

Lululiz said...

I have left the wrapping for tonight as well, I love filling the stockings, putting the presents under the tree etc the night before Christmas, seems right somehow. It might have something to do with being German ( when I grew up in Germany, the tree would only be put up on Christmas Eve, and presents put under it in the afternoon, to be opened at 6pm ).
Have a wonderful time over the Christmas period! x

harmony and rosie said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family. And a very Happy New Year too.

Kate x

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

I found your Christmas message, an oasis amongst all the frenzy that comes with the festive season.
Wishing you happiness and peace in equal measures for Christmas Day and beyond..

Michele

Lola Nova said...

Wishing you a most joyful, relaxed, silly, tasty, gleeful, comforting and wonderful holiday!

Emma said...

We have last minute wrapping to do too!

It's been wonderful to 'meet' you ion 2009 and read your wise words here. Have a lovely time over the coming days and all best thoughts for 2010,

Emma
x

Anna said...

I wish you a lovely christmas!

Anna x

Unknown said...

Thank you for you kind wishes! I wish you and your family a very joyful christmas! suzie. xxx

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Though there are years and miles that separate us I have come to realize there is a kinship shared between us.
Your love of family and for the Earth on which we live to name just a few...
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and thank you for sharing your life these past few months that I have come to read about.
x Susan

Sal said...

Have a wonderful Christmas !
Love,Sal ;-)

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Merry Christmas
Sending you lots of love

Carolyn xx

Beki said...

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas.
Off to finish the wrapping now
Love and ((hugs))
Beki xxx

Joshy and belle said...

hope you have a very merry christmas!
fliss xx

Annalisa said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Hugs,
Annalisa

Callies Cottage said...

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful prosperous new year.
Warm Winter Wishes,
Callyx

Simply H said...

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas Pomona! x

Floss said...

Good old Hardy. I'm nearly back in his territory here in Somerset, and can just picture the accents and faces I encountered while shopping this morning, going to the stable to see the animals kneel. I have found a lovely new Christmas poem on the blog 'burnedthumb' - you will find it on my bloglist if you want to read it.

So, congratulations on your mellow approach to Christmas. We are well-mellow too, having helped Ben's parents to prepare all day today, and with very little to do tomorrow except sit back and enjoy the ride! Slightly wondering if everyone will be happy with our homemade presents, but generally contented...

Anonymous said...

Have a lovely Christmas, not sure if you've clung onto any of the snow, over here Maidstone way we have a smattering, which is nice. Wishing you all the best for 2010.

Bethx

willow said...

A very Happy Christmas to you and your family and all the best for 2010.

Greedy Nan said...

Hey-ho-ho-ho! Merry Christmas. Think I've finished doing the wrapping up but as usual left it all MUCH too late. As it always said in my school reports: must try harder and could do better!
Enjoy it!

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family, thank you for being such a wonderful blog friend this year

Victoria xx

Lucille said...

Your holly had berries too! I had to cheat with some Skimmia berries. So glad to have made your acquaintance Pomona.

Reading Tea Leaves said...

I have so enjoyed your wonderful posts this year Pomono and look forward to more in 2010!

I wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas ... loved the Thomas Hardy poem too!

Jeanne x

Gillian said...

Hoping you and your family have a really lovely Christmas!

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas Hunny! Blessings to you and your Family xx
Annie xxxx

Shirleyanne said...

Wishing you & your family a Very Happy Christmas!
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XXX

Sue Pinner said...

Merry Christmas xx

BusyLizzie said...

Seasons Greetings to you & your family. Lizzie xx

PS How do you get that "You may also like" feature on your blog? (Obviously I dont need an answer until after Christmas.. smile) xx

Beck said...

Hope you have a lovely and happy Christmas Pomona, thanks for all your comments & thoughts this year. I hope 2010 is a wonderful year for you xo

MILLY said...

Happy Christmas,
Have a lovely day.
millyx

Paul C said...

Thanks for the Thomas Hardy poem,..and the beautiful holly bush photo. So appropriate for the time of year. Holiday best wishes.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Pomona. Ours was great, dust and all, lots of food and wine and laughter and now I am having my day off when no cooking takes place!

Barbara said...

I like the Hardy poem and that is an interesting photo with the shadows on the white sheet.

Hope the coming year is a great one for you.

andamento said...

Merry Christmas!

A little late but it's not over yet!

Jennifer Montero said...

Happy Holidays Pomona. Thanks for the wonderful posts AND for the recipes. I'm rubbish at making flapjacks so I'm going to give yours a try. May also pick your brain for best way to sterilse jam jars - 1/4 of my hedgerow jam went mouldy.

I digress. All best wishes for 2010 x Jen

Renaissance Grace said...

hi,
good to hear from you, hope you had a good xmas.
watch turn of the screw tomorrow.
Tom Meek,had a long chat with him, hopefully putting some brides his way for exquisite place cards etc.
very talented man.
Happy New Year from Brympton Towers.
Susanxx

Lisa said...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!! Hugs Lisa

Michela said...

Happy New Year Pomona! All the best to you and your family! ..back to normal very soon I hope! xxx

Unknown said...

Back again to wish you a very happy new year! suzie. xxx

Crafty Green Poet said...

Thomas Hardy is one of my favourite poets. I love the washing line shadows! Have a very happy new year!

Flower Girl said...

Thank you so much for your kind Christmas wishes! In return I wish you a very Happy New Year & I look forward to keeping up with your posts in 2010! Rebecca x

Kelly said...

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas!
The poem was lovely you always find such lovely words!

BusyLizzie said...

Happy new year! Hope you have had a good Christmas. No need to answer my silly question.. Mrs Durr brain here has finally worked out the mystery of the "You might also like" link. Best wishes, Lizzie x

Cathy said...

I hope you had a lovely Christmas Pomona and that it was definitely unplugged (love that title). We all need to read the book. I think we have gone as far with Christmas Commercial as we can and it is time to re-evaluate. I definitely don't want to lose Christmas cards though - I love them.

Anyway Happy New Year to you and yours and all good wishes for 2010.

mooi hoor... said...

a wonderful 2010 to you pomona, and of course to the head chief, the three chiefs-in-waiting, and all the merry creatures in and about your cottage!

Indigo Blue said...

Hi Pomona!

I have always felt that January is a bit of an anit-climax after Christmas so I am with a on this one. I get the feeling that you are a busy lady with a B abd B allotment etc so a blog absence every now and then is needed I would have thought. i had a bit of a break before and during Christmas but back now. lovely loaf of bread you made there!! Lovely button tin too, I have one the same.
Take care and chin up!
xx

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