Deck the halls...

...is what I've been doing all weekend. I love Christmas: the smell of pine needles and jasmine, plum pudding, gift shopping, family holidays at home. So, this being the first weekend of December, I made a good start:

Trimming the tree. Still a little way to go before I'm satisfied. Painting a partridge in a pear tree as a gift card for friends. Gathering pinecones on a walk with Oliver and Mr B; painting them gold. Making solid progress in wrapping all the Christmas presents. Baking chewy lemon snowdrop cookies for a sweet Christmas treat.

I've also been re-reading the Harry Potter books, because somehow they feel like Christmas to me. Next, I think I'll make paper snowflakes and decorate the house. How do you get into the holiday spirit?