Actually, I don't like to see Christmas in the shops too soon, the 1st of December is soon enough for me, but we popped to our local garden centre yesterday and they've just started putting out their Christmas display so I thought I'd snap a few photos to share with you.
I thought these (not so) little mice were so cute.
We've collected different Christmas decorations over the years but I'd like some new ones this year. We're going to have a proper look at what's on offer before making our choice.
We really need a new tree too but our old one will last one more year. Have you seen the price of Christmas trees? So expensive! I fancy a real one but Mick's concerned that Archie will be cocking his leg all Christmas.
We saw some good bargains in the sale at the beginning of the year so I'm hoping we can pick up something nice for half the price in January ready for next year.
It's not only the garden centres which are getting ready for Christmas, there's mince pies in the supermarkets already, along with other goodies.
So what do you think? Is it too soon for the shops to be stocked full of Christmas things or do you welcome it? Do you like to buy well in advance of the big day or are you a last minute shopper? Do tell.
Was there a nativity scene or crib scene or anything remotely religious for sale at all?
ReplyDeleteThere was, some lovely ones. The garden centre is just putting out the display though so I expect to see more of everything when I visit next.
DeleteI also love Christmas, but I'm not planning to buy anything new, I hope to make a couple of glass ornaments for our tree. Go tree shopping in late December and January when the are hugely reduced in price.
ReplyDeleteWe don't usually buy much each year, just a bauble here or a decoration there, but things are looking a bit tired now so I'd like some new things. I think the glass ornaments will look lovely on the tree, especially when they catch the light, I do love glass. We plan on shopping the sales for a new tree, there were some great reductions last January in this particular garden centre.
DeleteSome of those des were so beautiful. I always loved doing the tree when all the kids were home but with 5 cats it would be a nightmare now, lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
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I can imagine. We used to have a cat, we got him two months after we were first married and we always had fun and games at Christmas. We'd get up on a morning and the tree would be toppled and ornaments would be all over the floor.
DeleteOnly 76 sleeps . . . eeek . . . . that is really not long at all!
ReplyDeleteI know, it will fly by in the blink of an eye. I'm really looking forward to Christmas this year, there was just me, Mick and Eleanor at home last year as Daniel and Jasmine went to her parent's in Colorado, but they'll be here this Christmas. It's not often that the whole family is together now.
DeleteI love the first photo, it's very pretty. I think it's far too soon for shops to have Christmas stuff on display - one store near me had theirs out long before the Halloween stuff. My opinion is the same as yours, December 1st is soon enough but I must admit I do like the tree displays in our local garden centres.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the Christmas music which gets to me most of all. I love all the Christmas tunes but I'm totally fed up of them by the time Christmas comes around as they're playing in the shops for months beforehand. I can't understand having food out this far in advance either, the treats we used to love at Christmas become run of the mill when they're available to buy the year round.
DeleteYes, it's certainly arrived everywhere - like you though, Dec 1st would be early enough for me! I love those mice with dangly legs - we have a santa with dangly legs and he sits on the shelf looking very festive every year! I shall have to look out for the mice.
ReplyDeleteAs for mince pies - would you believe I had my first box in early September when we were on holiday in Cornwall. I bought them in Asda - they're actually vegan friendly ones - (I'm not vegan) and I can recommend them. My favourites though are home made - but I have to be careful as my husband can't stand them so I end up with the lot!! We tend to have a real tree every year - I can understand your concerns about Archie though as we have cat troubles too. Every year she somehow manages to climb up it. One year she actually toppled it! I prefer the no-drop ones though as we used to end up finding pine needles in the carpets for the remainder of the year.
I think those mice are so cute, I very nearly succumbed but I'll see what else is available first. No one here like mince pies, Christmas cake or Christmas pudding, but I usually buy a box of mince pies for Jasmine as she likes them, and for any visitors. I can't remember ever having a real tree but Mick said we did one year and we were finding needles in the carpet months afterwards. My memory is worse than I thought it was!
DeleteIt is far to early to have Christmas things in the shops now, I just ignore it all as far as possible. We have a November birthday in this house, so I find it difficult to think about it at all until after then. The Christmas music is a complete nightmare if you work in a shop over Christmas time. I did it once when I was a student and by the time I finished the contract I vowed I would never do it again. I have been known to walk out of shops if they are playing a track that I particularly hate, there are not many Christmas songs so they are the same every year!
ReplyDeleteIt's very hard to ignore when the shops are filled with it. I can imagine people in retail being thoroughly sick of the music by the time Christmas comes around, it's bad enough when you're just shopping but to have it played from nine till five must be torture, especially in October when it all starts. I do love Christmas but it comes far too early these days.
DeleteNow you've mentioned Christmas displays in the garden centre I think I'll go visit and have a browse at the ornaments as there's sure to be stock out on the shelves. I like to get one or two ornaments for the tree. We bought a real tree with roots one year, but they're so expensive and it didn't survive when planted in the garden. We'll dust off the artificial stored in the loft, but not yet. Granddaughter loves everything to do with Christmas so we'll enjoy her enthusiasm when she eventually comes back for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThe garden centres certainly know how to put on a lovely display of goods at Christmas, I'm always very tempted by their ornaments. We've always had an artificial tree but ours has seen better days now, we're ready for a new one. It does make it special when you have family around, I'm really looking forward to this Christmas with everyone at home.
DeleteWe traditionally decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. Most of our married life we have had a live tree but they have gotten so expensive that last year we bought a pre-lighted artificial tree. We love it, unless you get up close and touch it you wouldn't know it wasn't real!
ReplyDeleteWe don't usually decorate until the middle of December, I get fed up with it all by the time Christmas is here otherwise. There's some great artificial trees about, as you say, you can't tell them apart from the real thing sometimes.
DeleteI'm rather thrilled as a teacher stuff is coming out - our school year is over on December 12, so It will give me a month or so to do some things with the 5 year olds. We'll be in Europe for Christmas and I've only ever done that once and that was in 1996! It'll be different all round being cold and dark and in a foreign country too! Even supermarket shopping will be exciting! I have a living tree that comes inside at Christmas and rest of year lives outside in a pot. Probably should buy a tiny fake one for the classroom... i'm not a fan of fake trees at all.
ReplyDeleteIt will be lovely having all those excited five year olds around you in the run up to Christmas. It's going to be very different for you this year when you're used to Christmas in the sunshine, probably a shock to the system when you get over here, but very exciting too. How lovely that you have a living tree which you can use again and again, the real ones here are usually disposed of after one use which is such a shame.
DeleteOh dear, we haven't even had Halloween yet! I think it just spoils Christmas if everything is on display too early, where's all that delicious anticipation, everyone's exhausted with it by the time the day comes.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Half the fun of Christmas is waiting for it to arrive but we've been hearing the Christmas tunes and seeing all the goods on offer for months beforehand, so as you say, everyone's exhausted with it by the time it arrives.
DeleteI know what you mean, it does make things easier if you're able to spread out the buying rather than rushing round at the last minute, but I do think that October is too soon. It doesn't stop me looking though, I love Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI think it's way way way toooooooooo soon for Christmas stuff to be up. But, like you, I've seen it already too. By the time Christmas actually comes I'm sick of seeing the stuff, of the stores being over crowded, of not be able to find what I want because things have been moved to make room for decorations. It's not even Halloween. Used to be you saw one holiday at a time, now you see Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all together. Overkill and makes me not want to buy any of it. I don't shop or decorate early. We always get a real tree, but never had trouble with either dogs or cats with trees. Though I know some say their cats climb up in the tree and knock it over, I've never heard of a dog lifting its' leg on one. That would be bad.
ReplyDeleteSandy's Space
Ha ha, if it's going to happen, it'll happen to me! I know what you mean about each celebration merging into one now. Halloween is on the shelves right next to Christmas, one in October, one in December. If that doesn't say it's too early I don't know what does.
DeleteOh, how I wish the shops and garden centers would wait! Love these decorations though, I'll have to get more into Christmas now we have Littl'urchin! I had a real tree and Sam and Buddy cocked their leg on it repeatedly! Don't go there!xxx
ReplyDeleteI think Christmas will take on a new meaning for you now with a little one in the house. Oh no, I thought Mick was being over cautious but perhaps he's right.
DeleteI think it's a bit too soon for Christmas talk, esp. here in North America where we still have Thanksgiving (in Canada it's this weekend) and Halloween to celebrate (& decorate for!). About 2 years ago, we finally got a new tree after 25+ years with our old one (it pre-dates when I met my husband!). It was well worth it as it's a lot fuller, taller and pre-lit (that makes such a difference as putting on the lights is the one aspect of decorating the tree that I didn't enjoy).
ReplyDeleteWe have Halloween, and Bonfire Night in November, but they seem to get pushed to one side these days with so much Christmas stuff about. Mick fancies a pre-lit tree, he always struggles with the lights and I end up having to take over, but I'm not so sure. I think it will be a case of seeing what's available in the sales.
DeleteThe trouble is, if you don't buy things when you first see them, when you go back, they are gone. I've been caught like that before so now, just buy! CN x
ReplyDeleteThat's true. Having things on sale early makes shoppers buy sooner than they'd like to.
DeleteThose mice!!! So, so cute. I love Christmas, although I'm trying not to get too excited too soon. X
ReplyDeleteI may have to have one of those cute mice. I love Christmas too, though I don't like to see it in shops too soon, I love the anticipation of it.
DeleteMmmm, how did I miss this post??? -smile- Well, anyway... I know I tend to moan about Christmas displays, *too early.* Probably more of the "Follow the herd" mentality, that I don't like.
ReplyDeleteSee the silliness?
I say I don't like "Follow the Herd" mentality, and I succumb to it! Bahhh-humbug... If someone posts, against early holiday displays, I go along and do the same.
Each person is entitle to their own opinion on this. I have no right to moan about something, in their blog. Now *should* I sound as if, my view, is the only view, in my blog.
You are perfectly fine, liking early Christmas displays. After all, many people do prepare early. And anyway, my view is not for all.
There, have I made up for any moaning I have done, on this??????? -grin- I know, you are not looking for anyone to say that. I just felt like doing so. -smile-
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I personally don't like to see the displays in the shops too soon, but I don't judge anyone else if they do, each to their own, as you say. I do love Christmas though and I'm excited this year as the whole family will be here.
DeleteGoodness it was 76 and now I think it's only 72 sleeps!!!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy seeing the Christmas decorations in the shops and garden centres …
I have bought some Christmas cards, so I've made a start :)
All the best Jan
The time will fly by between now and Christmas, I'm getting a bit excited already if truth be told as I'm looking forward to the whole family being together again.
DeleteAre those female versions of Roland Rat?! :D (Showing my age now!).
ReplyDeleteOh, they do look a bit like Roland Rat now you mention it, ha ha.
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