Tuesday 23 December 2014

Merry Christmas from London

It’s ‘little Christmas Eve’ today, the day before the big day for many people around the world, or two days before the big day for other people, depending on which day you celebrate Christmas – if you celebrate at all. I used to celebrate Christmas on the 24th while still living in Norway, but after moving to Britain I have had to postpone the celebration a day, as the 24th is just a normal working day here. My Christmas celebration is mainly about spending the day with family members, exchanging gifts and having extra nice food I normally don’t have. But I also like to surround myself with light inside and outside in these dark, short days of December, while waiting for the days to get longer.

Many people take the opportunity to decorate their houses for Christmas, I found this photo on the Internet, the left one is definitely not my style of decoration but I must admit I have some sympathy for the neighbour to the right!

In my street there are neighbours of all faiths and Christmas is probably not very high on the agenda with most, but some neighbours make up for it pretty well. This neighbour always has lots of lights on their house, and what you can’t see is that all of them are flashing - in different rhythm. I am glad I don’t have my bedroom right opposite them....

I have chosen a bit more toned down approach to decorating with lights, and have wrapped my Garrya elliptica 'James Roof' in battery lights. I think it looks rather festive :-)

The tassels, almost ready to open, look like the perfect Christmas decoration.

And the lights shine bright among the leaves.

There are even a few fuchsia flowers on Fuchsia 'Velvet Crush', next to the Garrya.
Having a bit more light around me at this time of year makes such a difference, it seems it gets dark in the afternoon before I have had time to enjoy the daylight. But Winter Solstice was last Sunday, the days are already getting longer – we are going towards spring!

But let’s finish with Christmas before I start getting into spring mode :-)
Do you remember from previous year I had photos of my cat wearing a Santa hat? Well, my cat is now famous – in Hawaii !! Let me explain…. I have my photos for sale on Fine Art America, you can see them on this website, and in November I was contacted by someone from the CFA cat club located in Hawaii who asked if they could use my cat photo for their poster. I said yes of course, and this being a charity I agreed for them to use it for free.

And here is the poster they made using my photo. The photo I had online was black and white with a red Santa hat, but the person making the poster has coloured the eyes of my cat green – not sure if I would have chosen to do that, but anyway, I have been told they got lots of nice feedback and my cat has been admired by many. So that’s how my cat ended up on a poster in Hawaii :-)

It’s a good few years since I took that photo so I decided to take some new ones this year. My cat is ever so patient when I drag my camera out, it is as if he understands that whatever I am doing with that black box is important, and he (usually) sits still for a long time.

I wonder sometimes what he is thinking!

It’s almost as if he is posing for the camera.

I decided to be a bit braver and try to film him with the Santa hat too, I haven’t done that before. Now, usually when I make my garden movies he is just lying in a chair looking distinctly lazy, so you would think he would do that this time too. Hmmm…well you can see for yourself, here is my Christmas card to you - I wish all my visitors a Merry Christmas, whatever day and however you are celebrating it.
God Jul!




30 comments:

  1. I loved your bright and cheery photos Helene and the beautiful poses of you cat all decked out for the holidays. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2015!

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    1. Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you too, all the best for 2015

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  2. What a beautiful Christmas card! Your kitty is adorable! I wish you a merry Christmas and the happiest of new years!

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    1. Thanks, my cat and I wish you Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

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  3. Your video Christmas card is wonderful Helene! All things considered, I think your cat demonstrated an admirable degree of patience. Mine would have taken off and I'd never see that hat again. Best wishes for a very merry Christmas!

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    1. Thanks Kris, my cat is very patient, but I also think it helps the fact that he is 13 years old and not that playful anymore. Food, lots of cuddles and a soft, warm place to sleep is all he requires. Merry Christmas from my cat and me!

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  4. Your kitty is famous! I think he deserves some fame for being such a patient and handsome guy. The Garrya tree seems like the perfect choice for Christmas lights. Merry Christmas, Helene!

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    1. Yes, that 10 year old Garrya has been playing Christmas tree many times before, I did consider giving it some silver sprayed mini cones I have, but I decided against it – I was afraid the squirrels would run away with them the first day! Merry Christmas to you too Beth :-)

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  5. Cute kitty! All looks so nice! have a great week.

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    1. Thanks Endah, my cat and I wish you a Happy Festive Season :-)

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  6. I have to confess I am not a fan of gaudy Christmas decorations. Your twinkly Garrya strikes just the right note for me. Have a lovely Christmas Helene.

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    1. Thanks, wishing you a lovely Christmas too!

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  7. First photo was fun and your cute cat....... I adore him. Your video Christmas card was really wonderful. Your garden looks great, even in December, but this time your famous lovely kitty steals the show.
    I wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS Helene!

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    1. Thanks Janneke, not much of a Christmas look in my garden, it’s 14 degrees C today, but it will get colder this week for a few days - even though we won’t get any snow. Merry Christmas to you and yours from my cat and me!

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  8. Love the middle cat photo - Happy Christmas

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    1. Thanks Sue, and Happy Christmas to you too!

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  9. Your cat is gorgeous Helene.. I have a soft spot for Tabbies.. I've been lucky to have 3 in my life. Your Christmas video was lovely. Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015 :o)

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    1. Thank you Julie, I also think tabbies are the loveliest cats, and apart from my Norwegian Forest cats I had in Norway many years ago, all the other cats I have had were tabbies :-)
      Happy Christmas and all the best for 2015.

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  10. Kudos to your cat for keeping the Santa cat on. One of my cats really does pose for the camera sometimes, once he learned that getting his picture taken was a form of attention.

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    1. Yes, I am sure cats learn to pose, mine certainly do – although he will often lie down and have a snooze after a while wherever I have placed him for a photo-op, so I have lots of photos of him just curled up sleeping :-)

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  11. Oh that was such fun Helene and your cat is such a personality....he has a mind of his own but he kept the hat on....I loved seeing so much growing still and your bulbs are starting already too. Your front door and entrance with the lights on the plants is beautiful! Merry Christmas! God Jul!!

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    1. Thanks Donna, I don’t think my cat even noticed he hat that Santa hat on, he certainly didn’t mind it. It is 2 months and 1 week till spring officially starts here in Britain, but in my garden we always start a bit earlier :-)
      Merry Christmas to you too – God Jul!

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  12. I'm way impressed that your cat actually kept the hat on - any one of mine would have been doing the Hokey Cokey to get it off!
    They do advise not to work with children or animals but you seem to have the gift.
    All the best to you and yours this Christmas time Helene x

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    1. Thanks Angie – and thanks for putting that song in my mind, Jingle Bells has been on my brain since early this morning when I heard it on TV, now Hokey Cokey will probably stay till I wake up tomorrow morning!
      My cat doesn’t seem to mind that Santa hat at all, perhaps it is an age thing? At the ripe old age of 13 he isn’t very playful anymore - food, lots of cuddles and a soft, warm place to sleep is all he requires now.
      Merry Christmas from my cat and me to you and yours!

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  13. A very merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Helene, and may your New Year contain all good things.

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    1. Thank you Dorothy, and the same wishes goes to you and yours!

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  14. Have enjoyed reading your blog this year Helene even if I haven't got round to commenting! The cat looks great! Have a fab 2015, in the garden and out!

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    1. Thanks for your comment and support, there will be one more movie before 2014 ends, on New Year’s Eve, and my cat will be starring – hope you will be back to see it :-)

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  15. Thanks for all the smiles! I enjoyed the video and your famous, though slightly camera-shy kitty. I have enjoyed your blog and look forward to reading your posts in 2015. Happy gardening!

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    1. You are very welcome!
      A short roundup of the gardening year will come on New Year’s Eve in the form of another movie, I filmed today and just need to edit it ready for posting. Happy gardening year to you too!

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