I still can’t believe it’s almost Christmas. Normally, I count down from sometime in October until the day I can put our tree up on December 1st, but this year… not so much. Perhaps it’s because Reuben and I aren’t in our own home, so it just doesn’t feel “right”? Maybe it’s because my dad and brother won’t be able to visit (and Reuben’s family don’t celebrate Christmas) so it’ll be very quiet this year. Or because we’ve been a bit distracted by bigger things. Perhaps it’s all of the above!

This week I have tried to get myself into the festive spirit a little. I decided I couldn’t bear another Christmas with a fake tree (I’m sure that sounds ridiculous but I’ve always hated them!) so over the weekend Reuben and I bought a tiny little Norfolk Pine in a pot. It’s only an itty bitty thing this year, but by next year or the year after, it should be the perfect size. I like the idea of a tree that will grow with each year, and a small tree seems somehow apt for a Christmas that doesn’t really feel like Christmas. On Sunday we listened to Christmas carols and made rum balls. I baked a bunch of salt dough stars, while Reubs crocheted some little baubles (which are smaller versions of the baubles he designed for this book). Then yesterday I painted the stars white, smothered them with glitter and hung them on our tiny tree, along with Reuben’s crocheted decorations, my three french hens and some tiny vintage baubles. So the lack of feeling festive is not for a want of trying! Maybe another batch of rum balls would do the trick?

Have you ever had a year that just didn’t feel like Christmas?  What do you do to get into spirit of things? I’d really love some suggestions!

Katie x

PS I used this salt dough recipe.