Saturday, December 06, 2008

Early Christmas Special

Little Advent House
I finished making this at about 5 minutes to December. I really wanted to do a calendar this year but the idea of making 24 windows or pockets or envelopes filled me with unspeakable ennui. In the end I decided on the house, which lacks a countdown aspect but does help inspire us to do Christmas related activities. Every morning we poke a new activity written on a piece of paper into the chimney. So far we've put the Christmas tree up, made a pie, had stories with puppets, and had dinner by candelight listening to Christmas music. Coming up is a trip to the city to see the decorations, a trip to see Santa at the shopping centre, present making, biscuit making for the neighbours, and painting daddy's toenails. Sometimes I get a bit blue around Christmas, because I miss the Christmases I had, and my own family on Christmas day. Every year I tell myself I'll get organised to start some of my own traditions and every year I let it slide. This year I managed to pull something together at the last minute and I'm ever so happy about it. My little wooden people have no names - anyone want to have a go at naming them? I think it is a boy and a girl, but Una and Fred swear it is 2 girls.


Waiting for Santa

Is he coming yet?

Peering bravely into the dark.

Of course it is an Australian Christmas cottage, so there is a water tank. Smoke in the chimney can be equally authentic at this time of year.

12 comments:

  1. HEY backatcha Una Pearl. :)
    How about Lulu and Asha? Cute names, cute dolls, cute house, and I love the whole poking the activity down the chimney thing. You are craftilicious!

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  2. oh that is adorable!

    how about poppy and pepper?

    i love the name poppy. i wish i were a poppy.

    word verification: joyac (joy at christmas)

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  3. So cute! I love the house.

    And I love your daughter's singing. Adorable!

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  4. For names....I like Pobby and Dingan.

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  5. Oh, i LOVE your activity house!

    I have been lighting a numbered candle for each advent day (with those transfer numbers you get on a sheet), but your advent house has put me to shame!

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  6. omgoodness she is adorable : )
    What a great idea penn

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  7. Anonymous1:54 PM

    Just gorgeous.

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  8. Gorgeous! Wow. I'm not crafty at all, but can admire the work of others. And have been known to be crafty in a Play School Making Things Box kind of way - ie. rough and ready. I'm inspired to do something like that (only less perfect, I fear) myself, now. I am in awe of the wooden people.

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  9. Anonymous3:22 PM

    Hey, I want to do this! We'll call it Penni's House in honor of you and it being your idea!

    I can't wait to show my children that video tomorrow. They will love it and will surely sing along with her. She could not be cuter...

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  10. Your advent house is fab.

    And can I just say that I LOVED the way you slipped into your previous post "I knitted a horse". Just like that.

    (Word verif is jewrics which doesn't sound very PC. Especially at this time of year).

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  11. Penni,
    Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I think your Advent scene is delightful. I am so thrilled you know the story of Kate Crackernuts, or Katie as she was in the book I read to the children when they were little. I wish I could find an in print version of it again but the closest I've found is the 12 Dancing Princesses, which while I am told has hereditary links to the tale, isn't quite the same. I could well be wrong but do we have another Penny, a P. Harrison, in common? I could well be wrong but I feel she's mentioned you.

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  12. What a lovely, lovely house, and a lovely, lovely idea!

    Love the water tank.

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