WOYWW 603

 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

After all the chaos that has ensued after the national lockdowns, it's decidedly odd to know what to say - everything is going to be different this Christmas. I really hope that we all manage to celebrate however we can even though plans may have gone awry - the friendliness, love and caring of the Deskers is second to none, I think we all have to keep ourselves going as best we can and check up on our dear mates. 

There have been some wonderful reminders of the friendships over the past couple of weeks - I may be one of the few that adore Christmas cards, making (or buying!), writing and receiving. I make a gallery of them on the doors in the hallway:

I see them every time I walk through the hall and it's wonderful! I spent a happy couple of hours re-reading the cards and messages and then putting them up with blu-tac. It just makes me smile xxx

And talking about Happy Mail:

A parcel arrived with some sewing kits from Eva in Austria, which was most unexpected and really lovely! Eva has read my blog for quite some time, though she does sew, she doesn't blog but she contacted me by email last year and we've been penpals ever since. She's a lovely thoughtful lady and I've very much enjoyed the correspondence. Maggie in France, if you're reading this, I hope that you and your hubby are ok too. The sewing kits makes a little screen wipe with a towelling back that really cleans your ipad or phone beautifully and you can chuck them in the washing machine too. It's Eva's own design which uses up small scraps of fabric, a clever idea!

And that's what I love about WOYWW, I have made some awesome friends through it, the sharing and caring is something I truly cherish.  So I'll leave you with this:

 



33 comments:

Helen said...

What a great way to display your cards; there is one on the way from me, they seem to be taking a while to arrive anywhere! You're right about this going to be a strange Christmas, although I often spend it alone anyway, so it shouldn't feel that different; but it does seem to! Happy Christmas to you all, and here's to a better, more positive 2021. Hurrah for the deskers. Helen xxxx #?

glitterandglue said...

Morning Jan. What a lovely post. Yes, Christmas will be different for us all this year. Maybe folks will take the quiet opportunity to wonder about lots of things and decide on a new way forward... who knows.
I love your gallery of cards - great place for them as you have such a lovely space there.Great gift sent from afar!! So useful and still with lots of fun in it. Your light ornament is gorgeous - wherever did you find it?
Have a really precious Christmas. Love to you both. Take care. God bless.
Margaret #4

Ali Wade Designs said...

Happy WOYWW. We are also board game fans in this house. I buy a new one every year as a gift to The House. I had to get one that could be played by 2 people this year, and I must remember to get the instructions downloaded (there is just a QR code on the packaging now) so we can play it on Friday afternoon after the Queens Speech. I love your Christmas Card Doors. I have started a Pinterest board for easy sewing projects, that me and my little sewing machine from Aldi could possibly attempt. Enjoy your Christmas Day. Ali x #5

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

A beautiful display of friendship and thoughtfulness. Love the door display indeed a reminder of friends and the happy mail looks fantastic, I can feel the love of receiving you felt when you opened it. Sending best wishes your way & Seasons WoywW Greetings from my house to yours Tracey #6 xx

Sarah Brennan said...

What a lovely array of cards Jan and a great idea for displaying them. Merry Christmas and here's to a better 2021 for all. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #11

Annie said...

What lovely post to receive. I love your doors filled with cards too. WOYWW really has helped so many this year hasn't it? The friendships are second to none.
I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas and hopefully 2021 comes with better news for all.
Hugs,
Annie x #12

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

Your door looks amazing with all the cards, Jan! What a wonderful idea! And also that you made a friend in Austria through your blog! It's a shame Eva doesn't blog - she could be part of the WOYWW family! Have a joyful Christmas and a very happy New Year! xx zsuzsa #21

Sue said...

Hi Jan, Always nice to get unexpected happy mail.

Hope you have a lovely Christmas Day. Sue

Lynn Holland said...

Happy Christmas Jan and many thanks for your friendship.
Enjoy yourself and stay safe
Much love
Lynn #23 xxx

Mary Anne said...

LITERALLY not 5 minutes ago, my hubby asked me WHY this year, for the first time in forever, I seemed to be mad keen on sending cards. Normally I hate doing it, just don't. I hand deliver a few every year but it's a rarity. The down side is I have few actual addresses which I could send to. Stupid and short-sighted, that's me!

Ah well. Maybe I will mend my wicked ways and next year have a lovely display like yours. So festive and cheery.

Merry Christmas to all of WOYWW!
Mary Anne (3)

Diana Taylor said...

That's a lovely display of cards Jan, what a happy sight whenever you walk by. It was lovely to see you the other day, I hope you have a lovely Christmas with your menfolk. Stay safe and well,
Diana xx #18

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

So glad you've got the card in one piece, Jan! I didn't think it would get there before Christmas with the lockdown and everything, so it just says Happy New Year - but obviously warm Christmas wishes are included as well! xx

Lynnecrafts said...

Hi Jan, your cards look lovely. Sorry we haven’t got into cards this year. If O has to stay with you because of lockdown, at least you’ve got him safe.
Hope you and the boys have a great Christmas and a much improved new year.
Love
Lynnecrafts 22

StampinCarol said...

I love your card display! Such visual reminders of how much people care! How sweet of Eva and how wonderful a friendship!
I think I mailed out about 40 and hand delivered another 10 to close church friends.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas and God bless you!
Carol N #29

Twiglet said...

Hi Jan - like you I do like to sit and re-read my cards and enjoy them. Mine are round window sills and cupboard tops. A lovely little gift there - what a great idea the little washable pads are. Thanks for being such a thoughtful and fun friend through the year - we have certainly needed WOYWW this year haven't we. I hope you and your lovely family have a Happy Christmas and let's hope for a better New Year! xx Jo

Crafting With Jack said...

Merry Christmas Jan. surprise presents are lovely aren’t they! I love the variety of Christmas card designs that we see each year. Have a great Christmas and a Covid free New Year x Angela #19

Lillianb said...

Merry Christmas Jan and the card is lovely and thank you, and may your Christmas be a great one, I love the way you have displayed all your cards, what a great idea,

Take care and stay safe

Lilian B #14

Karen said...

What a wonderful way to display the cards you received this year. I mailed 42 so I love it too. Eva sounds like a sweet pen pal and your lucky to have one another to get us through these strange times. Blessings and well wishes ~ Merry Christmas! Love, Karen #32

Heather M said...

Hi Jan, such a lovely way to display your Christmas cards - you must smile every time you walk past them. Happy mail - always lovely to receive unexpected happy mail. That's a great idea for washable screen wipes. The fingerprints on my tablet wind me up constantly. Thanks for stopping by my blog- I am trying to join in as often as I can. I realised I hadn't included a pic of what Mr M bought me, so I've updated it now- no excused for me not to make plenty of cards now. Glad you like the colours and design of my cards - I now have to use the stash Mr M bought me, so I'll be making a lot more cards than I usually do lol. Thank you for your friendship- WoYWW really is a friendly, inspiring, caring gang to be part of ... oooh, can I say I am part of the gang lol? Have a lovely Christmas and take care, hugs Heather xx #30

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Thanks Jan for the visit and sharing your fun pieces of Christmas cheer. I treasure all my cards and messages. The years of WOYWW have been so fun and the zoom time was great. May you and yours enjoy all that the season offers. Merry Merry Christmas. Cheers in a stemmed crystal glass for fun and happiness.

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi I'm here at last. It's been a busy day as the washing machine is feeling poorly and the second guy has been out to try and fix it and we think he has now found the problem but can't complete the job until the new year. Following his visit we went to pick up the Christmas order from the supermarket. I'm with you on the card front. I always display mine and for me they are such an important part of Christmas. We have so many friends and relatives that we don't get chance to see very often and it's great to get a card and a little catch-up from them. It is the Christmas card above all else that has helped to keep me in touch with friends, one of them I lived with when I was at Teacher Training College and she lives quite a way from us so we don't see her very often. Wishing you the happiest Christmas possible. Angela x10x

Neet said...

What a lovely display of, well, love, you have on your door. I am sure every one of those cards carries lots of love to you and the family. And the gifts, I can just imagine the joy you got on opening them. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. The lockdown cannot take away the feeling we get when we have time with our loved ones.
Here's hoping you and yours have a Wonderful Christmas and Stay Safe and Well
Hugs, Neet 8 xxx

Shoshi said...

I love all your cards on those handsome double doors, Jan. We always stick ours up on the bannisters all the way up the stairs. This year we've had so many that my hubby put them on the new/old box and 2 cabinets on the landing, and Ruby promptly rampaged through the lot of them and they all ended up on the floor! I love the card you've made for us all, too. Beautiful.

Thank you for your visit - glad Ruby raised a laugh with her box antics! I'm glad you like my latest Celtic knot card. I love tracing the overs and unders, too!

Have a lovely Christmas and happy WOYWW,
Shoshi x #25

Elizabeth said...

I peered and peered at your fabulous card display and didn't spot my card. It's on its way and should have been with you by now. Nice doors. I so agree with you, the friends we've made through WOYWW have helped us through this awful year and I really appreciate every one. Merry Christmas to you, G and the boys. Hugs Elizabeth x #35

Caro said...

Loving your Christmas card display - ours are scattered on surfaces round the house. The light ornament is stunning. Happy WOYWW. Wishing you a very special Christmas despite the circumstances. With love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#27)

Stacy Sheldon said...

Merry Christmas Jan, looks like some really special happy mail and I love your card gallery display a lot :) ~Stacy #33

Spyder said...

I usually put my cards on red ribbon and hang them down the walls, when the kids were little they covered the whole living room, not now though! Love the light card, very Christmasy! Have a great rest of the week and a very Merry Christmas! Stay safe, Happy WOYWW ((Lyn)) #24

My name is Cindy said...

Hi Jan, Happy Christmas Eve! Sorry I'm so late, had to go back to bed yesterday but feeling much better today. Am already on the lemon barley water (I did like the gin idea by the way) but only time it will tell if it works as a preventative. It's been a strange week, with young'uns still waiting for test results, starting to wonder if we will be getting round the table on Friday. Love your card display! You are not the only one who loves Christmas cards! I do find writing them hard, and it does bring home to me how bad I am at keeping in touch. This year I did try to put a bit more in and I have actually had someone contact me and say thank you, which was nice. (Especially hard as I didn't really have any news......) We now have shutters in our living room so that means I can utilise the windowsill for card display and that works quite well. You are right, deskers are the best - and who doesn't love Happy Mail!! Hold your family close and have a very safe, well and Merry Christmas, love and hugs, Cindy xx

BJ said...

Lovely to see all your cards on the doors and your happy mail.
Have a Happy Christmas, Love BJ#17

Lindart said...

Hi Jan! I love your wall of cards! Beautiful! We are also all in lockdown starting the day after Christmas in Ontario, for 28 days. So we all seem to be in the same boat. Christmas Eve traditions tonight have changed, we will be doing them over Face Time. We can all make Christmas what we want it to be, we have chosen happy, and as "normal" as possible with just the 2 of us. I hope you have too! Have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year, it's GOT to be better than 2020! Lindart #31

Eva said...

Dear Jan! I'm belateted. I was so touched by your post.
Thank you for your frienship! This means a lot to me. ♥♥♥
Eva from Austria

Sue said...

Happy Boxing Day Jan. I'm the latecomer to the party, having blogged this afternoon❣️ Thanks for popping by. Your home looks very festive. Hugs, Sue. xx

Dorlene Durham said...

I agree Jan, I have received many Christmas cards and photos this year compared to other years. I also sent some out which I don’t always (mostly because I forget and then it’s too late). It was very quiet in our house this year since we normally host my entire family on Christmas Day, but we all managed to call, FaceTime or someone greet one another. Thanks for your earlier visit...I’m really, really late. Happy Holidays! Dorlene #36

WOYWW 769

 WE'LL MEET AGAIN.... I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - please don't worry, all is ok! - think I just need a...