I like to keep the 12 days of Christmas so the Christmas decorations are still up and New Year falls as part of the Christmastime festivities for me. Today I was pretty glad for some twinkle and sparkle as it was such a dark, rainy, windy New Year’s day.

(click on images to enlarge)

I am so grateful for everyone’s generosity this Christmas and I have been enjoying my presents. I received such lovely gifts and cards from friends, family and neighbours including many that were handmade.

I shall be making the most of the next five days of Christmas and will be sad to take the decorations down. I do feel a bit melancholy at New Year, I think this is due in part to knowing that soon all the special trinkets and treasures of the season will be getting packed away for another year. However, these things wouldn’t be quite as special if they were on display all the time.