Sunday, November 27, 2022

Advent Begins

 


The bright carpet of leaves under the acer tree is thick and colourful, even in the rain. It's thicker today as wind last night blew almost all of the leaves to the ground. Just a few stalwarts hang on to their branches. 


Each year before Christmas we plan an afternoon / evening of fun with our grandchildren. This year we had hoped to include the two youngest grands, but they were sniffling and coughing and everyone thought it best that they stayed home.
The three eldest cooked hot dogs over the fire outside in the light rain, then watched a Christmas movie while they ate, then decorated star-shaped cookie trees.


Before all that they created winter dioramas. Didn't they do a wonderful job? It was fun to observe their interactions and their unique ways of approaching the project. Tim and I prepared the frames (from shoe boxes) ahead of time, but they decided on the backgrounds, the lights, and all the decor items that we provided. 


Just before we drove them all home, they put on their new pajamas and had an impromptu dance in the living room. I'm a little sad about the poor quality of the photos due to inadequate lighting. 


And so it begins once again. Advent. The season of hope and longing. The season of preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth. 

25 comments:

  1. The dioramas are really great! They make a wonderful display!

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  2. What a love idea to have them each making a winter diorama - did you make their lovely cosy nightwear too?

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    1. Yes, Rosemary, I sewed their nightwear - it's become a tradiiton!

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  3. The smiling grandkids in their new pajamas warm the heart.

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  4. What wonderful dioramas!

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  5. What a fun tradition! The dioramas are wonderful!

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  6. They did a fantastic job on the dioramas.
    Love the happy smiles.

    Hugs and blessings, Lorrie!

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  7. They are darling, and so creative!!!!!

    🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄

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  8. What great fun you have with your grandchildren. Those pyjamas look wonderful and I love the winter dioramas

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  9. We do something similar with our three. Such great fun! Love the photos!

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  10. Each of the winter dioramas is unique and lovely. I'm sure the cozy new PJs were much appreciated.

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  11. Fantastic dioramas! A very good job indeed. That is a great holiday group projrct.

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  12. The dioramas look great! Did you make the kids' pajamas?

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  13. The dioramas are beautiful and they did a wonderful job...they are very artistic! And their new pajamas look so cute and will be warm for the winter. You are all talented! Thanks for writing sweet words of comfort on my blog today. I appreciate that so much. Sweet hugs, Diane

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  14. the girls did such a nice job. I love the pyjamas you sewed they are very nice. I also lighted my fist candle on Sunday . I wish I could have Maxime for his first Xmas but they must move to another place their owner is selling his flat and they won’t be able to come.

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  15. Your day with the grandchildren is such a lovely tradition! The dioramas are a great idea, and they did such a beautiful job on them. Blessings to you in this season of Advent, Lorrie.

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  16. One can learn so much from you, Lorrie. What wonderful memories you have created for your sweet grandchildren. I can imagine they thoroughly enjoyed cooking hot dogs outside. I love the diorama idea and they each did such a nice job. Hope the younger two are well on the road to recovery. Love the pj's too.

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  17. That is a very satisfying tradition! I love the dioramas and the pajamas :-)

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  18. I absolutely love the project you did with your grandchildren. What a fun idea. I think my grandson would love that. Hoping you are staying warm. I hear the Seattle area had a bit of snow this morning.

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  19. A wonderful way to start off the Christmas season. Love the fabric you found for the pajamas. I like that idea of creating the dioramas. They really turned out great!

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  20. It sounds like you're having a wonderful Advent already :)

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  21. I loved reading about your fun day with your grands, what a fun grandmother you are, Lorrie! The dioramas are beautiful, so are the jammies. Those are memories that they will always remember and hopefully continue with their own little ones when the time comes. Many blessings to you in this season of Advent. Hugs

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  22. Lorrie - you can't possibly have grandchildren this old! Gorgeous photos, and I am quite impressed with their dioramas!

    I am trying to approach Advent and Christmas in a very simple, reflective way this year. Focusing on what is truly important - Jesus' birth!

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  23. Lorrie, I want to make a Christmas diorama now! I see artist and design careers ahead for your grandchildren, and why not because it has to be in their gene pool. It looks like one of them even wrote a story to go with theirs, hmm, gene pool again! I'm sorry that some of the little ones weren't feeling well but I'm sure they'll have their own Christmas gowns or pajamas too. Amazing sewing project, Lorrie! Your Advent wreath brought back so many memories of my kids going to the local florist with me the day after Thanksgiving for purple heather and home to cut greens from the yard to make ours. I think that Advent devotions were my favorite part of the Christmas season. We managed to keep them up nightly until our youngest sons became teenagers involved in playing for high school basketball games when we skipped too many nights. And of course dating and our youngest moving away for college soon put and end to it. I still try to keep my own Advent quiet time going but miss those little voices sharing it with me.
    A blessed Advent season to you, Lorrie,
    Dewena

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  24. I've never seen winter doloramas. The look like something some of my grands would love to create. Love the tradition to do something with the grands before Christmas. I still want to get them over for a crepe breakfast, baking and craft time.

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