Getting Festive, Naturally

We won't be decking the hall with boughs of holly. And the awesome sight of myriad fairy lights over the front of the house, flashing on and off in a synchronised display of twinkling brilliance, will be conspicuous by its absence.

But pop a few ferns, dried flowers, berries and pine cones into a vase, plus some twigs sprayed with a bit of gold and silver and glitter, and things start to look quite interesting. Teasel is good if you can find it, as is some Honesty. It all reminds me of Christmases at home, when Mum used to make decorations like this out of whatever she found in the garden and around on the bank.