At this point in the year, you can bet that Martha will have baked her Christmas Cake, completed festive gift shopping not only for her nearest-and-dearest but also for those unexpected guests who may drop in over the holiday season. Mulled wine is probably even now gently steeping on the Stewart household stove, and the turkey is gobbling a little more anxiously than last week. No such preparations are afoot chez nous; we are tardy as ever. Only Harry is our constant reminder that Christmas is not so far away, as his anticipation builds about the arrival of ‘Farmer Christmas’ (something may have been lost in translation there, but I do like the mental picture of Santa arriving on a large muddy tractor).
The one thing I have done today is plant up some bulbs to ensure that the house is full of festive colour and the intoxicating smells of winter hyacinth and paperwhites….
I love the process of choosing the bulbs; visiting the garden centre and filling a large brown paper bag with handfuls of these rustling bundles of promise. This year I’ve chosen hyacinths of shades of delft blue and rich purples, which I’ll combine with white, silver and wood tones when decorating at home. I’ve planted some in glass forcing jars so that Harry and I can watch the roots reaching out for the water and see the process of growth and flowering happen at close hand.
We carefully carried these into the dark coolness of the garage where they’ll sit for a few weeks until the tips are about 1.5 inches long, when we’ll bring them inside to flourish and scent the hallway.
Paperwhites exude a more subtle scent and love company, so I added a handful of these to a simple tin basin, tips just above the soil, before consigning them to the dark alongside the hyacinths. We filled just about every available container with bulbs; they’re so cheap and plentiful, and their beauty distracts from the fact that they’re housed in old tin cans, mugs, mismatched flowerpots and jars (and besides, this was just never going to be a home where stuff matches, let’s agree..).
When we take to the woods this weekend on our usual expedition to hunt for bears (we more often find the ice cream van and the swings, but Harry remains hopeful), we will also be spotting places for the best mistletoe and holly berries, so that in the midst of one cold December morning we can nip out and gather some for our Christmas table. This may be both the beginning and end of my Christmas preparations for now, but at least we’re off the starting blocks…
Your blog entries are a breath of fresh air. Thank you for keeping it real.earthy.normal. Claire
I love that everything you do in your life revolves around Harry. Our children are our greatest blessings and I don’t think enough people take the time to love and enjoy every minute. You are building a great imagination and fabulous memories for him. He must feel so loved and secure.
Diane
Thank you so much Diana for your lovely comment; a wonderful parenting vote of confidence! Harry seems to grow so fast that I feel like I’m continually trying to imprint happy memories and a sense of absolute security in him in the precious few years before the outside world beckons!
oh! i think i will do this! what a great way to add a fresh scent in the cool months.
My friend gave out paperwhites in containers as a wedding favour many years back. I remember them vividly b/c the scent they emit you can smell everywhere in your house!
A bit of spring in the cold of winter is such magic! We just got our bulbs planted outside, but you have me seriously considering digging a few up for inside.
Hyacinths are simply the best Christmas flower for simple gifts. Amaryllis are wonderful too but pricy in comparison.
My methods are a little different because there are not many really cool spots to put bulbs around here except in a refrigerator, so I put bare hycinth bulbs in a brown paper bag in a refrigerator where no fruits will be stored until they have sufficient chill, then pot up. I used to put them in water vases and mugs filled with stones. Now I put them in clay pots. Either method works. What colors do you have?
Hi Nell, well you’ve answered a question that’s been in my mind, as to whether the ‘fridge method’ works – it sounds like it works a treat. So much easier than leaving random pots of bulbs in dark, damp corners and trying to remember where I left them! So, even though we have he right climae, I think I’m going to switch technique for the next batch – thank you!
This is a really nice idea, not least because it’s so simple. A lovely activity to do with children, but also something you can style up and give as a gift. You have inspired me to order some of those glass forcing jars. x
Pingback: Gifts from the heart and home « Kate's Creative Space
Hey! I accidentally came across your blog one boring
lunch break on my iPhone. Now, it’s turn into a routine during break time. I seriously liked the details you post here. As soon as I get
home, I check your site again. One great thing about your site is that it easily loads on my cell phone, despite the fact that I’m
on 3G. It’s remarkable! Wonderful blog!