Hello Ed, I do keep in touch with both schools, some parents and my former students. I cleaned the stones and crystals and lit my first candle this evening. I have a bit of catching up to do re. the candles. I want to stagger them to ensure that when Jesse (grandson) arrives they will be hopefully all the correct heights. I would love to put out my setting of Mary's journey however I do not have any where safe for it from Jesse. Perhaps next year? I am just so happy that Shannon asked for a tree last year. and that Father Christmas could arrive. My darling DIL, Amira grew up in a family who never celebrated Christmas. My son, Shannon, wants Jesse to experience what he did as a child. The magic. It sounds like a few parties  going on near me. We have a thing called 'Schoolies Week.' It is a celebration of teengers completing year 12. They all gather at various holiday places. No parents although I think that the parents pay for it. Lot's of loud music. Hopefully it will be over next week as they return to school for their Graduation ceromonies. Enjoy your new day ED

⛄🎀💦🎀⛄ spied a field mouse who left a forest ruby. Thanks!

Now my computer is acting funny.!! I have Kevind baseboard heater going now and it is nice in here. Talked to Scott on his way home for the hospital last night(he had some surgery on his elbow and he told me it is probably an air lock in the system causing the heat to not get through to me!!. I am warm enough in here now(their electric bill will be paying the price) so will continue on with trying to finish deccorating and then get to wrapping and maybe I will get some help putting up the tree. Have a good day and sounds like you are making good progress towards Christmas.

xx

Morning splash-- It is bright but no sunshine and cold with more snow in out futurek, Tea yesterday got interesting-- I have a feeling that the lady running the office is not long for here--beside ignorning my need for heat she apparently has ignored several other problems(like getting the plumbers on a water leak in someones bathroom and them calling in an outside plumber. Also the note that was sent around regarding the storage lockers did not mean our buildjust the other one and people had emptied their locker as was instructed but didn't have to. Tea was good and we are going to order in on the 17th for our supp
er.

Golden Dragon

Hello Ed, I found the terracotta tray that I needed for my Advent Candles. You asked how does it work. You have 4 candles for each Sunday before Christmas day. A central candle for the day itself. The first week you only light 1 candle. The 2nd week 2 and so on. At school we sang a song when we lit the candle/s. "Light the Advent candle one, Now the waiting has begun, Candle, candle burning bright, Guide us to the perfect light."  I always had a setting showing Mary, Joseph and the donkey's journey towards the stable. Brian made a stable for me. An empty straw crib was in the stable. I placed gold stars to represent each day of Advent and the children would move Mary, Joseph and the donkey closer to the crib. I would then read a chapter of a book, 'Mary's little Donkey.' to the children. In Steiner schools the 1st week represented the mineral world (not that I told the children this, and I would place stones along the path. 2nd week  the plant world, 3rd, the animal world, that's when the sheep appeared and 4th the human world. The shepherd's appeared then. Long answer to your question. Sleep well.

Spotted a pm, thanks!

:)

Splash