A Bling Thing

It is that time of the year
when illuminated bling brightens the dreary December darkness,
as households across the land hang their Christmas lights.

Our tree, complete with white lights,
has been in pride of place in the bay window since the second day of December.
On Saturday afternoon I decided to add the outdoor red berry lights to our display.

We had a set that I used to drape unartistically around our front garden at our previous address. Over the years the length had got shorter, as sections had died and been amputated.

Last year when they came down from the loft, we decided they had reached the point of no return, so a replacement set was purchased.

December 2018 was very snowy, and unsurprisingly, the berry lights got rather buried under the metrological whiteness. It was an interesting look.
This year I briefly considered positioning them so that they framed the doorway, before deciding that might give the wrong impression...

I took the lights outside, laid the tangled mass on the sodden lawn and spent the next 10 minutes or so slowly unravelling them. Fortunately, it wasn't raining.

This year's new acquisition is a set of illuminated card holders.
Before you get carried away with thoughts of medieval monks decorating ancient scrolls with ornate illustrations,
I will point out that this is a set of plastic clips to hang Christmas cards from,
each clip features a small led light.
The set comes with a remote control - enabling me to hide the battery pack well out of reach of any inquisitive grandchildren!
I unpacked the set,
and that was where the fun began.
Untangling them was a nightmare,
as the card clips could not pass over each other without snagging.
"I could always give them an almighty pull!" suggested the KHT helpfully.
"If you did that they would not work." I pointed out.
Finally, the set was laid out on the settee.
"Batteries!"
I sent a text to DH, who was playing carols in a nearby nursing home but was intending to go shopping on his way home.

Having sorted two sets of lights I decided to turn my attention to making Christmas cards as December is already a week old.
Handel's Messiah serenaded me, as I stamped and embossed in a variety of colours and the dining table slowly disappeared under a seasonal tide of paper, ink pads, stamps and embossing powders. Despite all the paraphernalia, I have gone for a look that is even more minimalistic than ever - in contrast to the decorations!

DH returned, minus the shopping,
as he had dropped in on the musical rehearsal in church on his way home.
Spare batteries were located and I checked that the card clip lights worked.
They did!
They actually looked better than I anticipated.

I love Christmas cards,
but finding a way of hanging them is always problematic. This was an effective way of displaying them,
without damaging the decor.
Result!

After dinner, DH departed on his delayed trip to the supermarket - a task he happily took on when he retired,
to my great delight.


Later I dug out some battery lights I had purchased a few weeks ago.
One was a necklace - batteries included. However, the holly spring set required batteries.
I sent DH a further text.
"More batteries required."

DH arrived back
and plonked the extra batteries
in what he thought was a space
in the middle of my card making.
Unfortunately, it was right on top of the ink pad I was using.
DH realised his mistake as soon he put it down,
and hurriedly rescued the pack of batteries,
but it was too late!
I have the evidence!