Searching for Christmas greenery...

One of our Christmas family traditions is to gather some holly and ivy and other greenery to decorate our home on the weekend before Christmas. We set out in the car to find a local woodland but with hindsight it might have been better to look at the map first rather than trust our memories from over 20 years ago!


The West Dorset countryside landscape is very rolling and full of secret little villages huddled amongst the hills, along winding lanes, some or which we travelled along more than once! In the end we gave up on our search for woods and went for a walk in the countryside instead!

The church bells were ringing very loudly for morning service, and the local cows were curious to meet a young puppy! Tavi was unconcerned by both of these new experiences but was very frightened when he heard a cock crowing!


We passed pretty little stone cottages with thatched roofs, many with Christmas trees lit up in the little windows and beautiful wreaths hanging on the doors.


 This reminded me of the cottage featured in the Christmas film" Holiday". The only difference was the cottage below was just a realistic fibreglass set, rather than the real thing.

Rosehill Cottage



Our son will be coming home for Christmas, so we will be enjoying  our first family Christmas in our new home with the four of us and the animals too. On Christmas Day is one of our traditions that we will still be following. 

Finally just to say wishing you and your families
  a very

 

Sarah x

Comments

  1. Sweetest Sarah, these cottages tug at my heart. The seaside message, so gorgeous, and those COWS!!!!!! I bet Tavi was enjoying all the stimuli of the countryside!

    Happy Christmas and thank you for an enchanting year in your world. Much love, Anita

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  2. Happy Christmas in your new home with your family Sarah - it has been lovely being in touch over the past year and seeing your wonderful images of the sea and beyond.

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  3. Have a very lovely Christmas Sarah, so glad you are settled in your new home. Jx

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  4. What beautiful photos, especially the village in the distance. I'm wishing you and yours a really wonderful Christmas as well. CJ xx

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  5. Those cows look quite menacing!!!
    Your beach message is such a good idea for you!x

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  6. I was thinking of that cottage when I saw the one you found on your walk! It is so funny the way that dogs aren't worried at all by things like cows and horses that are so much bigger than them, and an unusual noise worries them, but I guess we all have our different things don't we - says the person terrified of spiders!! Anyhow, enough of that, I hope that you found some beautiful things to decorate your home and that you have a wonderful Christmas! Happy Christmas! xx

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  7. Love that cottage, my mum has a holly bush in her front garden and usually has loads of people ask if they can have some, she says yes of course! Although she wishes they would bring a step ladder as it looks a wee bit mis shapen when they all take it from the bottom :) Happy Christmas to you!

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  8. Enjoy your family. All four of mine will be home for Christmastide. Wishing you a merry one by the sea xxo

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  9. Happy Christmas Sarah! Family traditions are so wonderful! It's lovely when all the children come home and spend Christmas isn't it? It somehow feels very complete when they are all there together. Wishing you and your family and little Tavi a wonderful joyful, blessed Christmas. Sharon x

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  10. Dear Sarah,
    What a delightful walk.. Those thatched cottages are so lovely.
    Wishing you a Very Happy Christmas, together with your family.
    val xxx

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  11. Merry Christmas, Sarah! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating with your family. I'm sure Tavi will be the centre of attention this holiday season!

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  12. Dear Sarah,
    have a wonderful, peaceful and blessed Christmas with all your loved ones!
    Your new home is wonderful!
    Sending Love and hugs
    Claudia

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  13. I'm so pleased to have found your blog.

    Merry Christmas to You and your Family.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  14. Have a wonderful Christmas Sarah.

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  15. Well, at least you saw some of that lovely scenery! Hope you have a nice relaxing holiday with your family around you. Thanks for regaling us with so many wonderful images on your blog during 2014.

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  16. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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  17. A very merry Christmas to you and your family, Sarah xx

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  18. Beautiful photos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
    Blessings!

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  19. Happy Christmas Sarah.. have a lovely time :o) x

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  20. Happy Christmas to you from very sunny and unseasonable San Diego.

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  21. It was a lovely ride through the countryside with you! Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you and your family!

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  22. Lovely, hope you have a relaxing time with the family, Antonia x

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  23. A lovely walk you took us on. I love the curious looks the cows have on their faces. Merry Christmas to all of your family.

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  24. England, and Dorset must have the prettiest cottages in the world! Enjoy your first Christmas in your new home Sarah and thank you for your lovely blog.

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  25. Merry Christmas to you too ! I shall be looking for a sprig of holly to put on the Christmas pud.
    I love the film The Holiday - watched it again a few nights ago !

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  26. Merry Christmas Sarah! Beautiful walk....lovely photos. We too enjoy "The Holiday" movie......and have added Christmas Eve Fetuccine to our yearly traditions :)

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  27. Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas Sarah and that 2015 will be kind to you and yours x

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  28. Well I never knew that about the cottage in the 'Holiday' film! Thanks for digging that up, I was particularly interested as the fibreglass cottage was built near to where my grandparents lived. I paused for a moment of nostalgia there. I also did the country foraging walk - Chilterns for me - muddy but satisfying. I've still got to clean the mud off my boots but it reminds me of a lovely day out, walking in the winter sunshine. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, lovely to have your son home to complete the set! Caro xx

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  29. I've arrived too late for Christmas but HAPPY NEW YEAR! (The photo of cows makes my heart lurch. I love cows - their look, their smell, their coats, their eyes - but there are none round here.)

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